A Bird's-Eye View of Biotech Jobs
by: BiotechCrossing
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Word Count: 812
The term
"biotech," short for "biotechnology," refers to the
application and manipulation of biological resources to develop products and
processes that fulfill industrial and other human objectives. While popular
imagination tends to latch onto controversial fields of biotechnological
research like DNA typing, cloning, and stem cell research, the fact is that
biotechnology has commonplace applications ranging from bread production to
wastewater recycling that influence our daily lives. The consequence of this
wide reach of biotechnology is that the number biotech jobs continues to grow
faster than the numbers of jobs in other sectors.
The Divisions of
Biotech
A great number of
industries are directly influenced by biotechnology, and it would be difficult
to mention all of them in a short article. However, to provide a broader
perspective, jobs in biotechnology can be grouped into three functional
categories:
Research and
development: Considered by some to be the most prestigious division of biotech
research and development (R&D) creates the frontiers of biotechnology and
sets the paradigms that influence both humanity and the biotech job market. The
three major divisions of biotechnological R&D are research for discoveries,
veterinary sciences, and bioinformatics. Jobs in this sector are usually
reserved for life scientists.
Clinical
research and safety: Once a
functional process or product is developed by R&D, the necessity to
establish trials to determine the impact of the product or process on public
health and safety emerges. Biotechnologists working in this field ensure the
safety of biotechnological products and processes.
Compliance: Issues
of compliance with respect to biotechnological products and processes—in terms
of both quality and standards and rules established by the state—create
openings for biotechnologists.
Openings for
biotechnologists are also available in the following specific areas and
functional fields:
Medicine and
Pharmaceuticals
In this broad field,
the following functional areas need biotechnologists:
genetics, including
medical genetics, genetic counseling, and genetic nursing
organ
transplantation, reproduction, and regenerative medicine
public health and
safety, which includes projects ranging from vaccine development to wastewater
treatment by bacterial colonies
gene testing and
genetic therapy
Agriculture
Under the broad
heading of agriculture, the following functional areas rely on the application
of biotechnology and consequently are the areas where biotech jobs are to be
found:
development of
genetically modified variations of plants and seeds
development of
biological pesticides and nutrition
identification and
protection of endangered species, including artificial breeding
verification and
authentication of costly food products
Bioinformatics
Under this broad
heading come:
computational
biology
supercomputing
statistical and
actuarial functions
data analysis, data
transfer, database creation, and other data-related functions
Law
With the rise in the
use of biotechnology, openings for biotechnologists have also opened up in the
legal field. Openings are principally located in the following functional
areas:
patent specialties
and litigation
academia
ethical, social, and
legal issues
forensic sciences,
including gene testing for identification purposes
Guided Missile
Development and Space Technology
Biotechnologists are
required in organizations engaged in manufacturing guided missiles and space
vehicles. Functional areas include:
creation of closed
artificial environments
creation of
life-supporting equipment and systems
research into the
effects of space on biological systems
cybernetics
Engineering
There are many
opportunities for biotechnologists in the field of engineering.
Biotechnologists working in this area may be involved in:
designing
bioprocessing containers and equipment
creating new energy
sources such as biofuels
biomedical
engineering
Education
Obviously a need for
biotechnologists who can teach will always exist. Types of opportunities
available in biotechnological education reflect the needs of universities and
traditional academic structure.
Besides the above
fields, there are myriad other divisions of applied biotechnology, including
life-science research, anthropology, history, military, bio-science
communication, and chemical manufacturing.
Biotech Job
Designations
Biotech job
designations are as varied as the fields in which biotechnology finds
application. Though designations can reflect the imagination of the employer,
some standard, industry-recognized designations that are related to
biotechnology or the application of biotechnical knowledge are veterinary
assistant, veterinarian, technician, technologist, chemist, pharmacologist,
laboratory technician, chemical technician, engineer, computer system analyst,
health service worker, physician, biological scientist, biotechnologist, and agricultural
technician. One's designation depends on the organization, industry, and sector
in which he or she works, and job designations can be superficially misleading.
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