Some Career Choices for the Biotechnology Student

Biotechnology is an applied science at the forefront of biomedical, genomic, and proteomic research. The Bachelor of Science degree in Biotechnology prepares a graduate to become a member of a team working in biomedical, forensic, or industrial research laboratories, and pharmaceutical and biological production facilities.

CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR

Biochemist - Biochemists study the complex chemical structures and reactions involved in metabolism, reproduction, growth and heredity. It requires a strong background in chemistry and biology. Recommended skills are: the ability to work in a laboratory setting, use instrumentation, perform mathematical calculations, evaluate data and write reports. A strong background in both chemistry and biology is recommended.

Sample Work Places - Diagnostic testing, product development, and basic research in laboratories for industry, medicine, universities and other research institutes.

Biophysicist - Scientists with strong backgrounds in both biology and physics apply the principles of physics, such as electrical and mechanical energy and related phenomena, to understand processes in living cells and organisms.

Sample Work Places - Large hospitals, laboratories, nonprofit research foundations, secondary schools, universities, armed forces and drug companies.

Geneticist - Geneticists study the inheritance of traits at the molecular, the whole organism, or the population level. Some do basic research on the processes of inheritance, and others, such as human geneticists, apply genetics to practical situations.

Sample Work Places - Academic and medical settings, industries of various types including pharmaceutical companies, agricultural companies, food and beverage processing, biotechnology and genetics corporations.

Immunologist - Immunologists study the ways by which the body is able to resist disease. Immunologists measure antibodies against bacterial and viral disease-causing microbes, examine immunoglobulin in patients, perform blood grouping and investigate transplant reactions by the body's immune system.

Sample Work Places - Hospitals, private practices, clinical and academic research laboratories, universities, pharmaceutical industries, public health and other governmental agencies.

Molecular Biologist and Biotechnologist - Molecular Biologists study the molecules that make up living things, in particular the ways that genes function. Biotechnologists apply biological functions and processes for beneficial purposes, for example to create new or improved products such as pharmaceuticals, diagnostic technologies, and agricultural and environmental goods and materials.

Sample Work Places - Academic and medical settings, industries of various type including pharmaceutical companies, agricultural companies, food and beverage processing, biotechnology and genetics corporations.

HEALTH-RELATED

Dentist and Related Professions - For the person interested in helping people maintain dental or oral health, there are a number of careers. Dentists have doctoral degrees, provide routine dental care, and treat diseases and other problems of the mouth and teeth. In addition to general dentistry, there are specialty areas, such as oral surgery, periodontics, orthodontics all requiring additional training. Other members of the dental team include dental hygienists, dental assistants and dental laboratory technicians.

Sample Work Places - Private practices, hospitals, dental schools, other institutions. Dental assistants and dental hygienists typically work under the supervision of dentists. Dental laboratory technicians work in private laboratories or laboratories associated with dental practices.

Medical Lab Technician/Medical Technologist - Both medical technologists and medical laboratory technicians perform tests on specimens from patients and provide the results to physicians. Medical lab technicians work under the supervision of medical technologists.

Sample Work Places - Laboratories in hospitals, clinics, other institutions, industry as well as private laboratories.

Pharmacist - Pharmacists dispense drugs that are prescribed by doctors as well as educate the patients about the drugs. Other pharmacists formulate drugs or develop medications and study their effects.

Sample Work Places - Private businesses, hospitals, other medical facilities, universities, industry.

Physical Therapist - Physical therapists help patients to improve or recover muscular movement of the body. Diagnosis of the problem is followed by treatment. Some physical therapists continue their studies to specialize in an area of physical therapy.

Sample Work Places - Hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, private practices, health centers, schools, industry.

Physician - Becoming a physician requires, after a bachelor's degree, four years of medical school and then several years of specialized training. Physicians not only treat disease and injuries, but also help patients remain healthy. There are specialties based on the patient's age (pediatrics, gerontology) or the body system (cardiology, dermatology). Physicians may have either an M.D. (Medical Doctor) or D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathy) degree.

Sample Work Places - Private or group practice, hospitals, public health agencies, educational institutions, correctional facilities, industry.

Physician Assistant - Physician Assistants work under the supervision of physicians to perform routing examinations and to examine, diagnose, and treat diseases.

Sample Work Places - Hospitals, clinics, private practices, schools and correctional institutions.

Podiatrist - Doctors of Podiatric Medicine diagnose and treat foot and ankle injuries and diseases and provide care to prevent these problems. To do so they may, for example, perform surgery, prescribe medications, or fit orthotics.

Sample Work Places - Private practice, hospitals, sports facilities.

Veterinarian - Veterinarians are medical professionals who provide routine care of animals and diagnose and treat their medical problems. Routine care can include regular health check-ups and inoculations. For ill or injured animals, veterinarians can prescribe medication and perform surgery. Some veterinarians treat only small animals, while others care for large animals such as horses and cattle. Some veterinarians specialize in specific areas of disease after additional training.

Sample Work Places - Private practices, animal hospitals, medical and academic research institutions, zoos, government agencies and industry.

ORGANISMAL AND ECOLOGICAL

Botanist - Botanists study plants and their environments. Some botanists study all aspects of plant life; others specialize in areas such as identification and classification of plants, the structure and function of plan parts, the biochemistry of plan processes, the causes and cures of plant diseases, and geological record of plants.

Sample Work Places - Industrial and academic laboratories, museums, parks, botanical gardens, teaching in various academic environments, garden centers, government agencies (such as the Department of Agriculture).

Ecologist - Ecologists study the relationships of living things to their environment and with each other, and examine the effects of a wide range of factors such as population size, rainfall, temperature, forest fires and major construction projects. Utilizing knowledge of various scientific disciplines, they may collect, study and report data on air, food, soil and water.

Sample Work Places - Laboratories, indoors and outdoors.

Zoologist - Zoologists study animal behavior, diseases, life processes, interactions and evolution. Some study animal functions by observing behavior in controlled or natural surroundings. Others examine animal anatomy or physiology at the molecular level or at the whole organism level. Zoologists usually are identified by the animal groups they study (e.g., Ornithologists study birds, primatologists study primates).

Sample Work Places - Museums, zoos, aquariums, animal hospitals, pet stores, academic laboratories.

SCIENCE AND THE PUBLIC

Forensic Scientist - Forensic scientists examine evidence from scenes of crimes, accidents, or disasters and then testify as expert witnesses about their findings. Excellent speaking and writing skills are essential in addition to excellent scientific ability.

Sample Work Places - Courts, government agencies, law enforcement departments, laboratories, medical examiner offices, independent practice.

Medical Illustrator - Medical illustrators make anatomical drawings, models, and other types of illustration for medical books, journals, computer programs, films and other types of visual presentations.

Sample Work Places - Hospitals, academic institutions, publishing houses, advertising agencies, law offices.

Science Writer - Science writers should have a strong background and interest in medicine or science as well as training in a specialized field. They may write for professional scientific or medical journals, or they may interpret scientific material for general readers. They often organize and edit information for advertising or public relations.

Sample Work Places - Newspapers, magazines, professional science publications, scientific or medical journals, books and textbook publishers.

Teacher - Teachers work in classrooms with content-based material, depending on the subject. An advanced degree is needed for college-level teaching, and many public schools systems require state certification, although private schools will hire a qualified candidate without certification.

There are opportunities to teach all age groups, from preschoolers to senior citizens about living things. For preschool, elementary school and high school education courses as well as biology and other sciences courses are part of the program. To teach biological sciences in a college or university, a master's or doctor's degree is usually required.

Sample Work Places - Public and private schools and colleges, hospitals, private health or environmental organizations.