Biotechnology Industry Careers (and More) use living cells and their products to create pharmaceutical, diagnostic, agricultural, environmental and other products. Biotechnologists integrate such areas as biochemistry, cell biology, chemistry, genetics, chemical engineering, process engineering and computer science to alter genetic information in living organisms to improve them or to make them more useful. Below are some subsets of this area:

Biopharmaceuticals (drugs and drug therapies)

Biotechnology diagnostic products (disease detection and identification)

Agricultural Products (improved growth, production, nutrition)

Bioremediation products (environmental clean-up with living cells)

Health Care (vaccines, drugs, vitamins)

No single degree leads to biotechnology careers, but many believe that students can best prepare by training in a traditional discipline like biochemistry while learning the tools of biotechnology through experience. Laboratory skills, computer skills, and instrumental skills are essential.

Interests and Skills for Success

Interests: Science, treating disease, preventing disease, how things work

Skills: Laboratory Skills, Creative thinking, effective communication, manual dexterity, endurance, tackling problems from many angles, teamwork, setting and achieving goals

 

Read more about Genetics Research: http://recruit.sciencemag.org/feature/advice/foc-genre.shl