Genetic Engineer or Biotechnologist is an expert who uses genetic and biotechnological techniques to manipulate genetic material and develops new and improved living organisms. His job includes a wide range of work from the creation of an antidote vaccine to a crop or microorganism that can help to gives a higher yield, to cloning the animal or even human life.
Genetic Engineer’s job profile includes extracting DNA out of one organism, changing and modifying it using chemicals or radiation and subsequently putting it back into the same or a different organism. This can help to correct severe hereditary defects by introducing normal genes into cells in place of missing or defective ones.
As genetic engineering is directly related to the development and sustained survival of living being, there is great importance and demand for the experts i.e. genetic engineers practising it. Being one of the most complicated and advanced branches of engineering which involves a wide range of techniques used in changing the genetic material in the DNA code in a living organism, it has gained a lot of importance in short span of time.
With increasing emphasis on research work to develop new verities and improve the existing one, there is huge demand of genetic engineer in research and development organization and educational research institutes thereby a great scope for qualified genetic engineers in the field of genetic engineering.
Genetic Engineer Eligibility
Educational Qualification
Eligibility to join a Bachelor's Degree course in Genetics Engineering is 10+2 Class pass (with 60% marks in some institutes of repute) or appeared, with Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics as well as genetics as part of the biology.
Genetic Engineer Required Skills
- Genetic Engineers possess strong analytical skills for interpreting their test results and administering long-term observations.
- They must be willing to acknowledge failed experiments and find effective ways to communicate findings in publications or presentations to the scientific community.
- They should have to good all-round education; ability to get on with others in a team and sound moral sense.
- They should have the ability to love your subject of study/research and show individual initiative; creative imagination and a flair for problem-solving.
How to become a Genetic Engineer?
One has to follow the given steps for becoming a Genetic Engineer:
Step 1
After clearing +2 with the non-medical stream the aspiring candidates have to appear in the engineering entrance exams like JEE etc. to provide admission in some of the best engineering institutes of India. Aspiring candidate gets admission into these colleges for four-year degree programme according to merit in the entrance examination and stream of their interest as selected by them.
Step 2
After successful completion of Bachelors of Genetic Engineering course, the candidate is eligible to join Government, Semi-government or Privates sector as an Assistant Engineer.
As another option, a genetic engineering graduate can opt for higher qualification like Master's in Genetic Engineering followed by PhD and post-doctorate if he wants to go for research work or for academics.
List of institute providing courses related to Genetic Engineer
- IIT Delhi
- IIT, Kharagpur
- JNU, New Delhi
- BHU, Varanasi
- Puna University
- MS University, Baroda
- GND University, Amritsar
- JNTU, Hyderabad
- SRM University
- Indian Institute of Sciences, Bangalore
- Centre for Plant Molecular Biology, Tamilnadu Agriculture University
- Jadavpur University, Kolkata
- GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar
Genetic Engineer Job Description
Genetic Engineer is also responsible in finding and supervising the laboratory testing (ex. temperature testing, microbial testing, sterility testing to name a few of them) of various genetically modified chemicals, drugs and other products before starting its mass production for the practical application. Genetic Engineer is involved in researching, developing, and testing of new methods and products in his area of specialization that can help to improve certain natural characteristics like increased resistance to disease or damage, development of new characteristics like the change of colour, size, texture etc. of plants and other living beings.
Genetic Engineer Job Prospects
There is a spurt increasing in demand for genetic engineers not only in developed countries but also developing Asian countries like India. These professionals are mainly absorbed in the medical and pharmaceutical industries, the agricultural sector, corporate research and development organization and research departments of various government organization and educational institutes.
Genetic Engineer Salary
Salary of Genetic Engineer varies depending on their education, experience and their expertise in the field. However, a well qualified genetic engineer in India can expect to get an average salary between Rs.30,000 to Rs.35,000 to start with. However in MNC’s or offshore companies the median salary for a genetic engineer working for scientific research and development services is nearly $ 65,000 per annum. With benefits include paid holidays and vacations, health insurance, and pension plans etc.
