Career Description
Career Outlook
Career Opportunities
Salaries and Benefits
How do I Start?
Career Description
Biotechnology uses living organisms or enzymes from them to produce products. Examples are pharmaceuticals, ethanol, foods, and industrial chemicals. The number of products is growing rapidly, and requires trained technicians to produce the products. Biotechnology is a rapidly growing field that encompasses many areas of science. The new techniques are often better for the environment than the processes they replace, and allow novel products that can’t be made any other way.
Products include plants and animals with unique traits such as BT corn and low-fat pigs, enzymes and bio-pharmaceuticals, antibiotics and vaccines, as well as old products made in a cheaper and cleaner way.
Biotechnicians are vital in production plants and laboratories. They perform many different functions which involve various scientific disciplines. With increasing automation and the use of computer technology, the work is often less hands-on and more analytical.
Return to top of page
Career Outlook
There is a high demand for qualified biotechnicians. This demand is expected to remain high well into the future as products in the pipeline move into production, and new ones are developed. New technologies will also provide additional demand.
Return to top of page
Career Opportunities
Biotechnicians are in demand at:
- Medical schools
- Pharmaceutical companies
- Industrial companies
- Food processing industries
- Agricultural companies
- Colleges and universities
- Research and development companies
After completing a program you can find an entry-level position in industry, government, or educational and research institutions. Possible job titles include:
General areas include:
- Biological science technicians
- Scientific helper
- Laboratory assistant
- Laboratory technician
- Laboratory tester
- Clinical research associates
- Laboratory worker
- Chemical analysts
- Chemical technicians
- Physical science technician
- Genetic research technician
- Biological scientist
Specialty areas include:
- Molecular biology
- Genetic engineering
- Molecular diagnostics
- Vaccine production
- Environmental testing
- Regulatory Agencies and Inspections
- Waste water treatment
- Food safety
- Industrial production
- Agricultural engineering
- Biotechnology Companies
- Sales for Healthcare Industry
Salaries and Benefits for Biotechnicians
Entry level positions can start at $25,000 to $30,000, and reach $50,000 in five years. Benefits are excellent and many companies provide tuition reimbursements for additional education. An associate degree program gives you career mobility and can be the first step toward a B.S or higher degree.
How do I become a Biotechnician?
|
