Career in BioTechnology

Overview

‘Why trouble to make compounds yourself when a bug will do it for you’ – these words of J.B.S. Haldane (one of the perceptive scientists of his time) in 1929, encapsulated the logic behind what is now termed biotechnology.

Biotechnology is the fastest growing applied science of our times, it is rapidly becoming the cornerstone of industrial development. Biotechnology involves the use of plant and animal cells and microbes in the manufacture of goods useful to mankind. But mainly, the biotechnology boom is due to genetic engineering, in which simple life forms are created to make entirely new products.

Anyone who wants to know how science is changing our world will need to know about the dramatic progress of biotechnology. The food processing industry has seen great advances due to biotechnology.

Nature of Work

Biotechnology has an enormous range of applications and this has created a wide variety of work for biotechnilogists. Biotechnogists may be working on spectacular applications in medicine. They can make antibodies to diagnose and treat diseases, make human insulin widely available, and find new vaccines to ward off hitherto intractable infections and it may soon be possible even to compensate for defective human genes.

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For the food industry biotechnologists have been working to induce cattle to grow faster to produce new enzymes for making cheeses. They are working on eradicating crop diseases to making foodstuffs that consist entirely of tiny organisms. Biotechnologists can provide abundant energy from renewable resources such as alcohol for motor fuel.

Biotechnology can help make plastic, paints, and artificial fibres using enzymes
Instead of chemical processes. Biotechnologists can greatly improve the nutritional value of even existing foods. In the textile industry biotechnology finds application such as when the stonewash effect in jeans is produced by using enzymes, whereas in the food processing industry enzymes are used for tenderizing meat and for improving the extraction of juice from fruits by rupturing cell walls.
The nature of work in the field of biotechnology is essentially scientific and research-oriented.

Work Environment

Most biotechnologists are involved in scientific research and development and its application. Laboratory work, desk work, attending seminars, conferences and trade exhibitions are all important. In the private/public sector as well as in government, biotechnologists are found working to speak off a new industrial revolution.

Specialisations

Animal biotechnology, industrial biotechnology, seribiotechnology, aquaculture and marine biotechnology, medical biotechnology, microbial biotechnology and food biotechnology are the various areas of specialization in biotechnology.

During the BTech Industrial Biotechnology course at Anna University, students are allowed to specialise in genetic engineering, process development, computer application in bioprocess, design and development of materials and machines in the bioprocess.

Physical and Psychological Requirements

Well above average intelligence; ability to concentrate for long hours; an inquiring mind; imagination, capacity for original though; perseverance; interest in acquiring knowledge beyond immediate requirement, organizing ability; ability for team work; methodical, practical approach to scientific problems, resourcesfulness and ability and willingness to get to the bottom of a problem.

Study/Training

Basic groundwork preparation for entry into biotechnology would be the science stream at the Plus Two level. After this your options are to go through a degree in agriculture, veterinary science and animal husbandary, medical, life science, genetics, pharmacy, microbiology, botony, zoology, chemistry, chemical engg. Tech. agricultural engg., food technology, human biology, and allied subjects before embarking on specialization in biotechnology.

One can start off with Biotechnology/Genetics as a subsidiary/applied /applied component/subject at the graduation level after a Plus Two in the science group.

Enrolling for the Integrated MTech., of 5 years in Biochemical Engg., and Biotechnology at Delhi or Integrated MTech (51/2 years) at IIT Kharagpur after Plus Two Science (qualifying through IIT JEE) is the other option.

Admission through an entrance examination is also possible for the 4-year BTech Industrial Biotechnology course at Anna University for those completing Plus Two with PCM.

For admission to the 2-year MSc in Biotechnology requirements are BSc in Life Science (Biochem.,Bot.,Zoo., Microbiol., Home Science, Appl. Microbiol., Env.,Bio) Maths, Physics, Chem.,Agri., or BE, MBBS, BPharm., BDS.

An admission test is expected.

Specialist study in biotechnology would imply commitment for years of study beyond the postgraduate degree as you would be automatically be looking at careers dealing with academic study and pracatical research projects research laboratories/ R & D organisations in the private and public sector.

A doctoral programme along the path of specialization would be entirely in order. For this there is the CSIR-UGC JRF examination you can take to work on a research project leading to a doctorate and you are entitled to a fellowship if you make it successfully through the entrance exam.

The Department of Biotechnology has evolved an Integrated Programme of Manpower Development to generate a critical mass of well-trained scientific personnel for the various biotechnical research, training and industrial activities in the country. At present these cover teaching, training and popularization of biotechnology. The major ones are: Postgraduate Teaching and Postdoctoral Research Programme; Biotechnology Associateship (Overseas and National) short term training courses for mid-career scientists; Technician Training and School Teachers ‘ Training programmes; Programmes for Biology Teaching in Schools, DBT Scholarships in Biology, and popularization of biotechnology.

In most advanced areas of modern biology and biotechnology, the infrastructure facilities have been a tremendous boost for R & D and services.

Employment Prospects

The potential in biotechnology is encouraging companies to strengthen their existing research and development operations to meet the growing demand for biotechnology products. State governments have also drawn up plans to develop biotechnology-based industries.

Postgraduation/doctoral qualifications in biotechnology can lead to placements in pharmaceutical companies, in the chemical industry, in agriculture and allied industries as well as in research laboratories run by the government and the corporate sector. The pharmaceutical industry contains the maximum number of multinational companies with the chemical industry following not far behind and they offer the best remuneration packages. The biotech business is growing at an accelerated rate and the number of companies in this business is multiplying fast. With biotechnology making itself lucrative to the Indian corporate sector, prospects of a career in this field are bright.

Career Progression

Advancement opportunities in biotechnology are entirely dependent upon educational/academic qualifications, record of successful research projects, application of these to industry or future advances in the various industries affected by it.

Biotechnology is leading us to the brink of a new industrial revolution- the bioindustrial revolution. The muriad prospects of biotechnology are even more far-reaching than that of a the silicon microchip. The microchip is essentially for handling information, while biotech can produce materials – from fuels to medicines, from foods to vaccines, andfrom chemicals to plastics.
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Predictions of future worldwide market potential for biotechnological products in the year 2000 had been estimated at nearly $ 65 billion.

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The ramifications of the bioindustirual revolution will extend far beyond the industries directly affected by it. The potential benefits – better health, more food, renewable energy sources, cheaper and more efficient industrial processes and reduced pollution – are immense.