A Biotechnologist is a professional scientist concerned with the use of living things, especially cells and bacteria in the industrial process. With the ever-increasing population of the earth, the demand for food, medicines, and other consumables is increasing at a fast rate whereas the resources of the earth are depleting with every new day. Thus to keep pace with the demand within the limited resources, there is a great need to improve the quality and quantity of the existing resources so that they could be used up to the optimum level to fill the gap between the demand and supply of the consumables biological resources on the earth. For making this a reality a lot of research work is needed and Bio-Technology is a research-oriented science covering a wide variety of related subjects like Genetics, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Immunology, Virology besides Health and Medicine, Agriculture, and Animal Husbandry, etc. to name a few.
Biotechnologists are the professionals which are largely responsible for the improvement of animal breeding. The research work of the last 20 years or so has enabled us to improve the quality of seeds, insecticides, and to larger extents of the fertilizers that we are using to enhance the much-needed production of agricultural products. Not only has this Environmental biotechnology helped in pollution control and waste management. There is a great scope in this field as the demand for biotechnologists is growing not only in developing countries like India but also in the developed countries of Europe and America as well.
On the basis of their findings and analysis, Biotechnologists suggest potential applications of the results of their research and help to improve the methods and use of technology in the various biological fields. Although it demands a lot of hard work and effort at the same time, it offers enormous scope for the building of one’s career. But on the other hand, this profession is such a profession that demands high perfection, hard work, and a high level of patience.
Biotechnologist Eligibility
Educational Qualification
Students should be passed the 10+2 or equivalent examinations, with physics, chemistry, and mathematics with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks.
Biotechnologist Required Skills
- Biotechnologists should have utmost efficiency, good interpretation skills, confidence in accepting challenges, and the ability to understand things as they come before them.
- They also possess skills like patience and perseverance; investigative and enquiring; detail-oriented; observant; creativity and innovation.
- They should be good at problem-solving, planning, and organizing things.
- They should also have a methodical approach to work; a high level of accuracy and attention to detail; the ability to analyze statistical and technical data.
How to become a Biotechnologist?
To be a Biotechnologist one has to undergo one or more of the following Courses:
1. Undergraduate courses
Eligibility: Educational Qualification
Candidates who wish to apply for the above-given Under Graduate degree courses should have passed 10+2 or equivalent examination, with physics, chemistry, and mathematics with a minimum of 50% marks in the aggregate in the subjects concerned.
2. Post Graduate Courses
- MSc Biotechnology
- M.Sc Agriculture Biotechnology
- M.V.Sc Animal Biotechnology
- MTech Biotechnology
- M.Sc / M.V.Sc in Veterinary Biotechnology
- MSc Marine Biotechnology
- MSc Medical Biotechnology
- M.Tech in Biomedical Engineering
Five years integrated M.Tech courses in Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology.
3. More advanced courses such as Ph.D. and Post-Doctoral Research in Biotechnology can also be pursued.
Eligibility: Educational Qualification
Graduates in all Sciences / Engineering / Technology / Medicine are eligible for the postgraduate (M.Sc) course in biotechnology.
The process to join these courses
Step 1
- Interested candidate has to apply for the entrance test conducted by the various Universities and independent institutions like IIT, etc. providing above given graduate and undergraduate course of varying duration (usually 3 to 4 years for the graduates, 2-3 years for the Post Graduate and 5 years of the integrated M.Sc / M.Tech Programmes).
Step 2
- Selection to the graduate courses (BE / B.Tech) is based on merit i.e., the marks secured in the final exams of 10+2 and through the entrance test.
- Entrance to the IITs is through JEE (Joint Entrance Exam) and for other institutions through their own separate entrance exams and other state-level and national-level exams. Apart from the IITs, some other famous institutes also recognize JEE scores for selection.
- Selection to the postgraduate courses (M.Sc / M.Tech) in different universities is through an All India Combined Entrance exam conducted by JNU, New Delhi, and to IITs through GATE in Two years/ 4-semester Master of Technology courses and through JEE in five years integrated M.Tech courses in Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology.
Step 3
- After completion of his studies, one can find careers with pharmaceutical companies, chemicals, agriculture, and allied industries.
Institutes offering Courses for Biotechnologist
- Jaypee Institute of Information Technology University, Noida
- The Oxford College of Science, Bangalore
- School of Biotechnology, Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi
- School of Biotechnology, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Biotechnologist Job Description
There are some duties and roles played by a biotechnologist:
- Design and implement research studies
- Set up the laboratory equipment to conduct and monitor experiments
- Develop new research procedures
- Identify how the research can be applied to improving human life
- Work with lab technicians or other colleagues on research
- Collect, study and test samples like food, cells, blood samples, and tissues
- Record findings and analyze the results
Biotechnologist Career Prospects
As there is increasing popularity and explosive growth, there are plenty of opportunities available in the Biotechnology field. You can be a Research Scientist, Teacher, Marketing Manager, Science Writer, Quality Control Officer, or Production in-charge in the Food, Chemical, and Pharmaceutical industries. A graduate in Biotechnology can also get a job in government sectors such as Universities and Colleges, Research Institutes.
Biotechnologist Salary
Biotechnologist Salary depends largely upon their academic qualification, institute, or university from which the degree is attained and the level of work experience they have achieved.
To start with fresh Graduates from prestigious institutes like IIT etc. can get anything between Rs. 5,00,000/- to Rs. 6,00,000/- as annual income in the corporate sector with rapid growth with a little experience, likewise, the B.Sc graduates from other universities can get anywhere near Rs. 4,00,000/- to Rs. 5,00,000/- with a lot of increment in the future to come.
