Career in biotechnology , Courses and Job Profiles

Scope in Biotechnology for Students

Biotechnology has made a very important place in India. All possible fields such as, pharmaceutical, food manufacturing, healthcare, agriculture, education and research related work have been included under this field. Apart from the above mentioned fields, the contribution of biotechnology in many other fields cannot be ignored.

Be it issues related to biofertilizers, biopesticides, green revolution or bioinformatics that will revolutionize the field of IT, biotechnology is providing a plethora of job opportunities to the youth of India. Now let us mention the various areas in which there is a lot of potential for the phenomenal growth of the career of students studying Biotechnology.

1. Medical Writings
2. Colleges and Universities
3. Pharmaceutical Companies
4. IT Companies
5. Health Care Centers
6. Agriculture Sector
7. Animal Husbandry
8. Genetic Engineering
9. Research Laboratories
10. Food Manufacturing Industry

Salary prospects (Career in biotechnology)

According to the report of Make in India.com, India is one of the top 12 biotech destinations in the world and ranks third in Asia Pacific. This shows that the demand for professionals from the field of Biotechnology is increasing continuously. There are more than 350 biotechnological companies in India and taking a specialization course in Biotech can prove to be very beneficial now.

Firms Famous for Biotech Engineers

As per the recommendations of Indian Brand Equity Foundation i.e. IBEF, the following top 10 firms offer growth opportunities for the excellent growth of the career of Biotech Engineers:

1. Biocon Limited
2. Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL) operated by National Dairy Development Board (NDDB)
3. GlaxoSmithKlin Pharmaceuticals Ltd
4. TransAsia Bio-Medicals
5. Wockhardt
6. Piramal Group
7. Serum Institute of India Limited
8. Rasi Seeds (P) Ltd.
9. 9 Shantha Biotechnic Limited
10. Krebs Biochemicals & Industries Limited (KBIL)

The companies listed by IBEF include agriculture, dairy, chemicals, pharmaceutical and many other sectors. These companies not only provide ample job opportunities to budding biotechnologists with well-known job profiles but also provide them opportunities for unique innovations and these innovations can make a positive difference in the way we work today .

Types and duration of courses / Career in biotechnology

Biotechnology is a promising course under which many courses and syllabus can be included. Candidates willing to make their career in this stream can do this course even after completing 10th class (intermediate level). By reading, understanding and analyzing this course, you can get a lot of good information. You can also get a doctoral degree under this course provided you want to explore the various nuances and details involved in this branch of science.

Diploma courses Career in biotechnology

To get a diploma in Biotechnology, students can apply for this course in those colleges which offer this diploma course to the students after passing 10th class. The duration of this course in India is 3 years.

Undergraduate courses Career in biotechnology

You can apply for graduation in Biotechnology from the institutes and universities that offer undergraduate courses. The duration of this undergraduate course is 4 years and students have to pass an entrance exam to take admission in this undergraduate course.

Postgraduate courses Career in biotechnology

At the postgraduation level, this course is often referred to as MTech in Biotechnology or MSc in Biotechnology. It depends on the university or institute that offers post graduation degree or diploma to the candidates. The duration of this course at postgraduation level is only 2 years.

Doctoral programs Career in biotechnology

Candidates who want to pursue doctoral degree in Biotechnology can apply for PhD courses after completing their postgraduation. The duration of PhD courses is usually 3 to 4 years depending on the research work involved in completing the thesis. PhD can be done in full time and part time mode.

Sub-specialization courses under Biotechnology

When a student wants to pursue a Biotechnology program, he can choose any one of the following specialization courses. These specializations can be done at undergraduate and postgraduate level but, not every institute offers all the following specializations to its students. If you want to start your career in a particular domain, then before taking admission in any institute, check the name of specialization courses offered by that institute in the program brochure of this institute.

Genetics

Students interested in scientific research related to genetics and cell biology can choose this course. They will be taught about various medical diagnostics, therapies and therapeutics. For example: projects on sequencing the human genome.

Virology

This subject is usually taught in the fourth semester of Biotechnology. Studying virology helps you understand the fundamentals of molecular virology and its applications in the real world.

Immunology

This course helps us understand more about the workings of the human immune system so that we can learn how technology can help humans to prevent weakening of the immune system.

Bio-statistics

Bio-statistics is the field of biotechnology through which one can apply the concepts of mathematics and statistics to various experiments conducted by researchers. Using this information, biostatisticians can collect, dissect and summarize data and then, present concrete information.

Pharmacology

Students studying pharmacology learn how to prepare drugs at a low cost and evaluate the effects of these drugs on tissue and cell function in humans and animals.

Molecular biology

This specialization helps in understanding the nuances of nucleic acids and proteins for applications in areas such as human and animal health, agriculture and the environment. Students pursuing this course can use their knowledge to develop drugs, therapies and diagnostic tests to maintain human and animal health.

Animal husbandry

Biotechnology has become an astonishing boon for livestock breeding. This branch of Biotechnology helps students to gain knowledge of embryo transfer, artificial insemination, cloning and many other concepts for the health and welfare of the animals on earth.

These were some of the specialization courses that students pursuing Biotechnology often opt for. There are also some other specializations which are becoming popular nowadays.

How to get admission in Biotechnology courses?

The admission process is a very challenging but important step to start any great career. When a student wants to take admission in a particular course in a college, then it is necessary to follow various steps in sequence. In this entire process, the first step is to understand the eligibility criteria for a particular course. Once you know the eligibility criteria, then you want to apply for that course, then the next step in this process is to find out about the prescribed exams to get admission in the desired college.

First, we go through the eligibility criteria required for biotechnological courses at various levels:

Eligibility Criteria at various levels to take admission in Biotech

Any student must know about the eligibility to take admission in Biotechnology. If a candidate does not fulfill the eligibility criteria then he/she will not get admission in the college. In this regard, institutes and exam taking institutes have issued some guidelines. Candidates aspiring to do Biotech must have complete knowledge in this context to get a seat in any of the best Biotechnology Institute in India.

Diploma

Students who have passed class 10th with Mathematics and Science subjects can apply for Diploma course in Biotechnology.

Graduation

To apply for the undergraduate course, the student must have passed class 12th with Physics, Maths, Biology and Chemistry. Students who have obtained diploma after passing class 10th can also take admission in undergraduate courses. More importance is given to the students who get diploma than the students who have passed 12th class. Diploma holders will be given direct entry in the 2-year B.Tech / BE course of Biotechnology.

Post graduation

For students applying for MTech in Biotechnology, it is very important to have graduation or its equivalent qualification with at least 50% marks. The required percentage of each institute may vary as per the reservation quota and admission policy of the institute.

Doctoral programs

Master’s degree in Biotechnology is very important for taking admission in any doctoral programme. Some universities may also ask about Master in Philosophy (MPhil) for admission to their PhD programs.

Entrance Exams for Courses in Biotechnology

At the undergraduate level, JEE Mains and JEE Advanced exams are the most popular entrance exams for taking admission in B.Tech courses. Those who are preparing to take admission in higher education i.e. post-graduate level often prepare for entrance exams like GATE and IIT JAM. To get admission in IITs and other best engineering colleges in India, students work very hard for engineering entrance exams considering the difficulty level of these exams.

For Diploma courses:

Usually institutes shortlist students for ‘Diploma in Biotechnology’ on the basis of state level engineering diploma entrance exams. Some popular engineering diploma entrance exams are:

1. Delhi Polytechnic Common Entrance Exam (Delhi CET)
2. Joint Entrance Examination Council, Uttar Pradesh (JEECUP)
3. JEXPO & VOCLET Polytechnic Entrance Exam (West Bengal)
4. Punjab Joint Entrance Test (Punjab PET)
5. Haryana Diploma Entrance Test (HSTES DET)

For Undergraduate courses:

National Level Exams:

JEE Main 2018 conducted by CBSE

JEE Advanced 2018 for taking admission in IITs and NITs

State Level Exams:

AP EAMCET 2018

TS EAMCET 2018

KCET 2018

MAH-CET 2018

university level exams

VITEE 2018

For Postgraduate courses:

National Level Exams:

GATE 2018

IIT JAM (Joint Admission Test for MSc)

State Level Exams:

Joint Graduate Entrance Examination for Biology and Interdisciplinary Biology (JGEEBILS) conducted by Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Graduate School

university level exams

AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences) MSc Biotechnology

JNU CEEB Combined Biotechnology Entrance Exam

What is Biotechnology?

Biotechnology is commonly known as ‘Biotech’ and it is one of the most preferred courses among engineering aspirants. Biotechnology is the branch of science in which the amazing combination of biology and technology transforms raw materials into amazing innovations, discoveries and products. In the year 1919, the Hungarian agricultural engineer Karl Ereky first used the term biotechnology. Whether it is biological substances such as bacteria, yeasts or enzymes, once you acquire the knowledge of biotech, you will be able to use each microorganism to perform tasks related to industrial or manufacturing processes.

What does a Biotechnology Engineer do?

There is a famous saying, “Winners don’t do different things, they do things differently.” This proverb holds true for a biotechnologist / biotech engineer. Biotechnology is concerned with finding different aspects to do things differently so that change can be brought in this world. A Biotechnology Engineer specialization done at the graduation and postgraduation level and works related to various fields such as Animal Husbandry, Agriculture, Medicine, Genetic Engineering, Environment Conservation, Healthcare and Research and Development as per their interest.

Top 10 Biotechnology Institutes in India

Biotechnology is one of the important courses offered by various institutes in India. Among them, the following are the names of Top 10 Biotechnological Institutes recognized by UGC, which have also been highly appreciated with prominent position in NIRF Ranking for the year 2018:

Serial Number	Institute	Location
1	Indian Institute of Technology	Madras
2	Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering (BSBE), IIT	Bombay
3	Department of Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology	New Delhi
4	Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology	Kharagpur
5	Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, IIT	Kanpur
6	Department of Biotechnology, IIT	Roorkee
7	Department of Biotechnology, IIT	Guwahati
8	Center for Biotechnology, Anna University	Chennai
9	Department of Biotechnology, IIT	Hyderabad
10	institute of chemical technology	Mumbai

The above Biotechnological Institutes have been selected on the basis of excellent placement record, state of the art infrastructure, highly qualified faculty and strict admission process followed by them. We hope that the above list will help you in choosing the best Biotechnological Institute for your wonderful career.

Career options for Biotechnology students

The field of Biotechnology is developing at a very fast pace and there is no dearth of opportunities for the students pursuing Diploma/B.Tech/M.Tech or Doctoral degree in Biotechnology. Be it a private sector or a government job, Biotech candidates can get excellent job profiles in various companies. Given below is a list of some of the popular job profiles commonly offered to biotech candidates:

Job profiles

Job Profiles Available After Diploma

Freshers doing Diploma in Biotechnology in various Polytechnics in India get the following job offers after completion of the course:

1. Clinical Laboratory Technician
2. Biological Supplies Manufacturer
3. Environmental Technician
4. Food Safety Technician
5. Pharmaceutical Research Technician

Job Profiles Available After B.Tech

Students pursuing B.Tech in Biotechnology usually get the following job offers from Indian and multinational firms:

1. Laboratory Assistant
2. Professor / Associate Professor
3. Biotechnology Expert
4. Business Development Executive
5. Sales Manager
6. Marketing Executive Trainee

Job Profiles Available After MTech

Students pursuing MTech in Biotechnology get job opportunities in excellent and rewarding job profiles for their illustrious career:

1. Bacteriologist
2. Molecular Biologist
3. Embryologist
4. Geneticist
5. Immunologist
6. Microbiologist
7. Bio-Informatician
8. Pharmacologist
9. Bio-Analytical Chemist
10. Food Chemist
11. Environmental Chemist
12. Medical Biochemist

Job Profiles Available After PhD

Studying for a doctoral degree is a difficult task. But, once you get a PhD or doctoral degree, you are offered leading roles in the industry. Following are some of the special job roles:

1. Biotechnology Researcher
2. Process Engineer
3. Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Research Analyst
4. Lead Biotechnology Consultant
5. Clinical Project Manager
6. Patent Search Analyst
7. Research Scientist
8. Medical Technologist and Laboratory Technologist
9. Quality Assurance / Quality Control Executive
10. Biotechnology Expert