Generally, when people give thought to Biotechnology, the picture of a scientist wearing a typical laboratory coat strikes their mind. Most people still feel that a biotechnologist either develops a lifesaving drug or a medical device for certain medical procedure applications. In effect, the picture of a scientist working in a lab represents only a single aspect of careers available to the Biotechnology professionals after they complete their B.Tech in Biotechnology from a reputed institution.
With a large number of problems to solve and numberless discoveries to make, there is a sea of opportunities for Biotechnology professionals apart from just wearing a lab coat. One more encouraging fact is that the Biotechnology industry has become one of the most significant economic drivers around the globe. This is the reason B Tech Biotechnology has emerged as one of the most preferred courses for thousands of students across the country and the globe.
Some functional areas of Biotechnology apart from drug development
There are a large number of streams in Biotechnology that students can choose to make a bright career. They don’t necessarily need to be a biotech technician or a typical coat wearer making a medical device in an isolated chamber of a pharmaceutical company. Biotechnology being an intriguing, complex, and interdisciplinary subject goes beyond even typical biology and chemistry. And, these disciplines apply to a wide range of industries.
Individuals after completing their B. Tech courses in Biotechnology can find and explore very exciting, offbeat, challenging, and well-paid jobs apart from just doing drug development. The functional areas of Biotechnology are a part and parcel of the process through which various biotechnology products are brought to market.
Some of these functional areas include the following:
- Manufacturing
- Clinical research
- Government (policymaking)
- Research and development
- Quality assurance/regulatory affairs
- Food, animal, and environmental science
- Sales and technical support
- Business management
- Project management.
Some of the most in-demand careers in the field of biotechnology:
1. Biomedical Engineer
Biomedical engineers design and develop different types of solutions to medical and biological problems. They possess a unique combination of biomedical expertise and contemporary engineering to accomplish all these things. They primarily focus on bringing qualitative improvement and stability to the health concerns of the patients suffering from different diseases. Some of the solutions they design and develop include:
- Biomedical tools and equipment
- Electronic devices
- Medical software
- Artificial human organs
- Prostheses, and
- Diagnostic machines, etc.
Biomedical engineering is an important part of the B. Tech Biotechnology courses universities and colleges across the country offer.
2. Biochemist
The job of a biochemist deals with the in-depth studies of different biological processes and chemical properties of living things that include:
- Cell development
- Cell growth
- Heredity, and
- Disease.
These professionals are also responsible for carrying out comprehensive research projects wherein they isolate, analyze, and synthesize:
- Proteins
- Lipids (fats)
- DNA
- Carbohydrates (sugars), and
- Various other molecules.
During their B. Tech program, they gain a comprehensive knowledge of researching the effects of different drugs, hormones, and nutrients on the biological processes and tissues to design and develop certain biotech products accordingly.
3. Medical Scientist
Medical scientists are the individuals responsible for conducting clinical trials and research that aim to improve the patient’s health concerns through proper investigation and prevention methodologies. Some other job roles include:
- Developing and testing different types of medical devices
- Preparing and analyzing medical samples
- Investigating the causes behind chronic diseases, toxicity, and pathogens
- Helping in the standardization of drug potencies
- Supervising and determining the doses and production methodology of different drugs and medicinal compounds.
Most students choose to be medical scientists after their B.Tech in Biotechnology. Some of India’s premier institutions actively involved in Biotechnology research that hire medical scientists include the following:
- National Biotechnology Board (NBTB)
- The Department of Science and Technology (DST)
- Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
- Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR)
- Department of Atomic Energy (DAE)
- Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR)
- Defense Research Development Organization (DRDO)
- Indian Institute of Science (IISC)
- Biotechnology Consortium of India Ltd (BCIL).
4. Biological/Clinical Technician
Biological/Clinical technicians, also well-known as laboratory scientists, are the individuals who collect samples, perform tests, and make a comprehensive analysis of the bacteria cultures, tissues, and body fluids. During their B. Tech in Biotechnology, these professionals gain in-depth knowledge of using different advanced laboratory instruments, software solutions, and robotics to gather and model a huge amount of experimental data.
5. Process Development Scientist
Process development scientists are the individuals responsible for watching and directing the production process of a new product in a company’s laboratory. Their job involves finding newer ways to increase a particular product’s overall quality and efficacy.
When any new product qualifies all the tests and experiments and gets approved for manufacturing, process development scientists strive hard to scale up the production by developing newer ways with complete adherence to standard protocols. Most students seeking a process development career go for higher studies in Biotechnology after completing their B.Tech courses.
6. Director of Product Strategy/Commercialization
In the field of Biotechnology, many roles have a connection with business-related activities in an organization. The Director of Product Strategy/Commercialization is an individual who oversees all aspects associated with a new biotechnology product. He is often responsible for everything right from preparation to:
- Execution of the commercialization strategy
- Launching of the product
- Market development activities
- Sales and logistics matters
- Driving the growth and profitability
- Ensuring compliance with all the quality and regulatory requirements.
Why GLA University for B Tech in Biotechnology?
GLA is one of the top universities in North India, offering a B. Tech in Biotechnology. The university focuses on imparting quality education by providing credible consultancy and extension services as per current and emerging socio-economic needs. Being a completely student-centric institution, the university promotes the overall growth and development of the intellect and personality of its prime stakeholders, namely students.