Who's a Biotechnologist?
Do you enjoy learning about biology and different living things – how they work and what they do? Are you curious about how science and technology have made everything so easy? If so, consider a career in biotechnology! As a Biotechnologist, you will essentially study biotechnology. Biotechnology commonly translates to a mixture of biology and technology.
Your role will be to produce useful products from living systems. You will be required to conduct experiments in government and private laboratories to modify or manipulate living organisms to develop new products in the fields of health, agriculture, cell biology, plant physiology, seed technology, etc. Curious to know more about this career? Keep scrolling!
What will you do?
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Where will you work?
How do you get there?
What skills would you need?
How do you make it to the top ranks?
Intern
You can work under a reputed biotechnologist by assisting them with research and day-to-day operations. Make the most of this opportunity to learn the ins and outs of their job, as it will help you understand what to prepare for.
Junior Research Assistant
This would be your entry-level position as a working professional. Most biotech companies prefer hiring someone who is familiar with hands-on lab techniques learnt through an internship during their studies. As a junior research assistant, you would perform routine laboratory support work, assist with research, and maintain a safe working environment.
Assistant Research Associate
Apart from performing complex tests and experiments, you will also be in charge of overseeing various laboratory operations. You’ll work closely with the principal investigator and guide other members of the research team.
Associate Scientist
As an Associate Scientist, you would lead junior research associates and be in charge of the department’s research and laboratory operations. You’d work with the lead researcher, but you will also be responsible for developing protocols, conducting in-depth research, and directing team members. You need at least 2-5 years of experience to take on this role.
Research Scientist
As a research scientist, you’d be responsible for formulating, planning and conducting experiments, preparing research proposals and funding applications, and supervising the junior staff. You will act as a bridge between junior researchers and highly experienced lead scientists.
Lead Scientist
As the lead scientist, you will be responsible for routinely managing large and multi-technique R&D projects. You will navigate the regulatory framework and provide technical leadership to meet the project’s objectives. You’d lead a team of junior and senior researchers, who will rely on you to make important decisions and resolve their challenges.
Principal Scientist
At this stage, your job responsibilities will depend on the job profile and company, but the primary responsibility remains the same: to coordinate the actions of all teams, train newer researchers, conduct performance reviews, and act as a knowledge source in the laboratory. Quick decision-making, analytical thinking, and commitment are must-haves for this position.
Chief Scientist
This is one of the highest positions in the Research and Development Sector! You’ll be a part of the policy and decision-making board of the company, you need to develop a budget, manage different departments within the company, and coordinate with various research members across departments. Other duties include supervising various research departments within the company and providing ongoing support to employees.
Pursuing your career locally VS abroad
Biotechnology offers an array of career opportunities in India. A postgraduate degree or MSc will further boost your employment opportunities and salary package. Some of the most popular and preferred roles you can explore are Biochemist, Quality Control Analyst, Senior Research Scientist, Biomedical Engineer, and Crime Lab Technician among others. If you have a master’s degree in BioSciences, you can work with both corporate and government sectors. You’d mostly be employed by drug (pharmaceutical) companies, chemical or bioprocessing industries, agriculture-related industries, and pollution control industries.
If you’re planning to pursue your education in India, a bachelor’s course in Biotechnology should cost you anywhere between INR 25,000 to INR 7,00,000 and a master’s course in Biotechnology should cost you anywhere between INR 40,000 to INR 2,40,000 per year.
A master’s degree in Biotechnology makes you eligible for most research jobs. Some organisations even consider students who have qualified for national level entrance exams like DBT BET, CSIR NET, GATE, ARS NET, ICMR JRF, etc. As a qualified biotechnologist, you can also opt to do a PhD, which makes you eligible for a corporate research job or as a professor in a university.
This is a field with a great demand abroad. If you are looking for opportunities after your master’s degree, you need to be well aware of the latest technologies and advancements in this fast-emerging field. International companies will check your proficiency across many disciplines of biotechnology. This makes it difficult for people who are trained in just one discipline. However, securing a job abroad is not an easy task. One way to go about it would be to study your master’s course abroad after a few years’ experience, and take up as many internships as possible during your course.
Germany and the USA are known to be the best countries to pursue your career in Biotechnology. The average salary for biotechnologists abroad is around USD 58,175 per annum. Some of the prominent organisations that hire postgraduates in Biotechnology are Baxter, Merck, Biocon, Bio-ceramics, Torrent Pharma, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Cipla, Ranbaxy, Cadila Healthcare, GlaxoSmithKline, Invitrogen, IFGL, Abbott Laboratories, Johnson & Johnson, and Pfizer among others.
A bachelor’s course in Biotechnology should cost you anywhere between USD 4,000 USD to 45,000 per year. A master’s course in Biotechnology should cost you anywhere between USD 5,000 to 50,000 per year. If you want to know more about studying biotechnology abroad, click here.
How much would you get paid?
As a biotechnologist, your salary broadly depends on the area of your employment, the organisation you’re working with and your experience in the field. The annual pay scale ranges from INR 2.1 lakhs for an entry-level biotechnologist to INR 60 lakhs for an experienced chief scientist.
What are your career options?
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