Biotechnology Careers
Tony Jacowski
Biotechnology refers to technological applications that employ living
organisms and biological systems extensively in the field of medicine,
food science and agriculture. Biotechnology is successfully applied to
produce organic products as well as biological weapons. Applications of
biotechnology include recycling and treating waste. Using biotechnology
can effectively clean areas that are contaminated owing to continuous
industrial activities. Red biotechnology is a branch of biotechnology
that is utilized in a variety of medicinal processes to produce
different antibiotics. While white biotechnology is applied to
industrial processes, green biotechnology is incorporated in
agricultural processes. Blue biotechnology has been applied in marine
and aquatic processes; however, this form of biotechnology is not very
common. Statistics reveal a growth rate of 24% in the sales figures of
biotechnology products, with maximum growth being witnessed in Latin
America. Out of the estimated 4000 biotechnology firms around the
world, about 30% of them are located in the United States. Due to
widespread application of biotechnology, this field has also become a
vital career option for many people.
Career Options
Individuals interested in biotechnology can find an array of career
choices, as this field is rapidly expanding. It is important for such
individuals to be aware of the various disciplines of biotechnology
before deciding their field of specialization. Typically, biotechnology
students can specialize in any of the six major fields of
biotechnology.
a. Biological Scientists - Biological scientists conduct a detailed
study on living organisms by effectively employing advanced technology.
This field comprises of the study of animals, plants and microscopic
organisms. Individuals can have a promising career in this field as
food and agricultural scientists, pharmacists, veterinarians,
biomedical engineers, conservation and forensic scientists and general
practitioners.
b. Biomedical Engineers - Biomedical engineers have the knowledge and
expertise to form artificial body parts, commonly known as prostheses.
Individuals specialized in this field can pursue a career as physical
therapists, computer hardware engineers, mechanical engineers and
surgeons.
c. Clinical Laboratory Technologists - Individuals can obtain expertise
to detect body fluids and tissues, to check for symptoms of any disease
after conducting various tests. Such individuals can pursue a career as
a pathologist, biological scientist, chemist or a materials scientist.
d. Forensic Scientists - Forensic scientists or crime laboratory
analysts are instrumental in providing vital scientific information
that can be crucial for criminal proceedings. Career options for such
individuals include detectives, archaeologists, anthropologists, and
detectives.
e. Medical Scientists - They conduct intensive research on bacteria and
various viruses that are the root cause of various diseases, and
utilize their research to create a variety of medicines and vaccines to
treat or eradicate these diseases. There are plenty of career options
such as statisticians, internists, chemists, and material scientists.
f. Pharmacists - Pharmacists are responsible for distributing medicines
and also guiding patients in terms of correct medication and
appropriate dosage. Career options are unlimited and include advanced
practice nurses, anesthesiologists, psychiatrists, and pharmacy
technicians.
Biotechnology schools are found everywhere and they impart knowledge to
students about various aspects of this field. Some of best known
universities in America that offer courses in Biotechnology include
Northeastern University, Yale University, American University,
Pennsylvania State University, University of Florida, Iowa State
University, and University of Minnesota.
Tony Jacowski is a quality analyst for The MBA Journal. Aveta
Solution's Six Sigma Online (
http://www.sixsigmaonline.org ) offers
online six sigma training and certification classes for lean six sigma, black
belts, green belts, and yellow belts.
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