Introduction of Biotechnology
The applications of this stream of science are wide and simply mind-boggling. On one side, it caters to the industrial zone such as biological products, textiles industry, medicines and pharmaceuticals, food and beverages industry while on the other side this stream of science caters to the requirements of agriculture, nutrition and environmental conservation, animal husbandry. The list is a long and a jealous one.
What is more, the branch of science we are discussing about is in itself not fastened or bound as a single discipline. Rather it is an interdisciplinary stream of science that is rapidly obtaining significance and prospects for youngsters who need to explore the new frontiers of science are limitless. The name of the teaching is Biotechnology.
Although, the name may describe that this stream of science is steeped in biology but this is not the form. Apart from biology, this stream of science also assimilates diverse subjects such as chemistry, physics, and mathematics. Furthermore, engineering applications are also a main constituent of biotechnology.
The ideas derived from this dissimilar mix of sciences is applied to biological affairs, generally living cells, for advancing new and improved industrial and biological products. Most of the duties done by professionals engaged in biotechnology is relating with research and development work in different laboratories.
Candidates are showing majestic interest in biotechnology. The beginning reason behind this interest rise from the fact that the procedural and technical application of biotechnology touches a wide array of disciplines. This in turn starts a lot many job portals for candidates who are seeking a permeant career in their life. Biotechnology, along with its many sub-streams, finds use in a lot of applications that many new stream have and are being expanded from within it.
Various roles, various names
Biotechnology, as the name describe is the technology of biology and the opportunity of both put together. On the one side, it has ideas from biology explored in depth. On the other side, this subject explores the aftereffect and the influence of technology on the subject affairs. This subject is same as Bioinformatics, which explores biological message in depth using analytical and scientific apparatus.
Market Watch
Biotechnology has been making permanent progress in last decade and a half. More than half of the income from this industry presently come from exports and the trend is hope to remain the same in the next years.
Although, candidates doing research work in this stream have a tendency to employ in foreign countries, yet there is huge potential for candidates who wish to stand and work in India. According to the latest survey, India is stated to become an international focal drop for development of biotechnology.
The field where biotechnology has flourished in India contain Agricultural Biotechnology, Bioinformatics, Animal Husbandry, Dairy development and Bio fertilizers. Growth has also been seen in the field of Bio-resource Development, Marine Biotechnology, Plant Biology, Genetic research, Microbiology.
The changes in the patent regime along with the initiatives obtain by the government are hope to bear fruit. All this will lead to a rapid improvement and expansion of biotechnological industries in the nation.
International Focus
At the international level, India has ready to making its presence felt in the field of biotechnology. However, there is several scopes for graduate and post-graduate candidates from this stream especially in the European countries and in the United States.
Numerous post-graduate candidates and research scholars dare to move out of India to finish their higher studies. Furthermore, these candidates prefer to seek employment in the nation where they finish their studies or research projects.
Positives/Negatives
+ves:
• This is an upcoming and permanently growing science and has worldwide opportunity mainly in terms of research.
• The opportunity for research is very vast and efficient work gain fast ovation within multinationals.
• If you succeed in passing the tests and interviews, it is assumed that you are the correct fit for the profession.
-ves:
• The number of seats for biotechnology courses is available is very limited across institutes in comparison with subjects such as chemistry, physics, or biology.
• The testing and interviewing processes generally are difficult and one has to be technically specialist.
• The number of firms employing biotechnology candidates is less when compared with number of firms hiring finance professionals or IT professionals.
• You will have to make in a lot of hard work which can be desperate at times.
• This is not a profession for individual who want to keep fast buck but for people who are searching for a long and a well charted careers.
Step-by-Step
In choosing for a specialized profession such as biotechnology, you should have to plan your career right from your school periods. In this situation, the combination of subjects of learn at the 10+2 level must primarily contain Chemistry, Biology, Physics and even Mathematics. Once you have completed schooling you can choose for a suitable undergraduate program (BSc, BE, BTech) in Biotechnology from different academic institutions circulate across the country. The time period of a BSc program in biotechnology is 3 years whereas it is 4 years for BE and BTech courses.
The qualification criterion for getting into an undergraduate program changes from 1 institution to another. In some colleges the qualification criteria contain a 10+2 with 50% marks in Chemistry, Physics, Biology and Mathematics. In some other collages, the 10+2 pass percentage needed is 55%. Whereas some institutes consider chemistry, physics, and biology combination of subjects as a fundamental entry level qualification and others taken into account the chemistry, physics, and mathematics association. Once this qualification criterion is met, you can obtain admission in to BSc programs.
However, for a lot of undergraduate courses in biotechnology you require to sit for common engineering entrance exams like:
• The Joint Entrance Examination for IITs (IITJEE): for admission to different IITs
• All-India Engineering Entrance Exam (AIEEE): for admission to different regional engineering colleges or National Institutes of Technology
Other than these general entrance examinations, engineering institutions providing undergraduate programs organize their own entrance examinations. The result of these entrances will permit you to get admission in to an undergraduate course in biotechnology in famous engineering colleges.
Once you have obtained a graduate degree in this stream you can go for the master’s level (MSc, ME, MTech). For a Masters in Biotechnology, you must either have a graduate degree in biotechnology or in any subject that is concerned to biological sciences. A graduate degree in subjects like organic chemistry, biology, botany, chemistry, pharmacy, veterinary sciences or zoological science,microbiology, is agreeable for an entry into a post-graduate process in biotechnology.
Apart from undergraduate programs, several colleges and universities give 5 and five-and-a-half year integrate programs (BTech/MTech) for candidates. It should be kept in mind that a post-graduate eligibility in biotechnology is a have to enter the lucrative and ever-expanding stream of bio technical applications.
As it is a blend of a lot of disciplines, you have to do a specialization in a number of streams. Some general areas of analysis contain fields like: Agriculture and Agricultural Development, organic chemistry, Animal Husbandry, Biophysics, Botany, Environmental Protection, Dairy farm Technology, Fishery advancement, Horticulture, , Medicine, Molecular Biology, Nutrition, Microbiology, Tissue Culture and Zoology, medical specialty,Genetics.
After post-graduation, you can solicit for a doctoral program and from then on if required be, entered yourself in post-doctoral research. Here, it is vital to point out that a majority of candidates prefer to done their post-doctoral research and PhD from foreign universities.
Start Early
To pursue biotechnology as a preferred profession, you should have a sound grounding in science from the early school periods. You should have keen interest in different branches of science not just for learn sake or for getting good grades. Rather, you should have a keen perception to know scientific applications and even keep pace with the recent news from the scientific world.
Once you are go through 10+2, you should either choose for an undergraduate course in biotechnology or any other subject that is directly or indirectly concerned to biological science. Remember a master’s degree is an essential to make a successful career in the stream of biotechnology.
Is it the Right Career ?
Important traits for obtaining into this stream are a high degree of intelligence and a general interest
for science and scientific applications.
Since biotechnology is redefining the restraint of science, to become a part of such a modern field you should possess an inherent behaviour of imagination and originality. Other talents that will sail you through a victorious and a fulfilling career in this way-breaking area are perseverance, analytical proficiency, immense patience, capacity to work for long hours, team spirit and communication talents.
Pay Packet
Like any other work profile, the pay packet largely based on your academic eligibility, your field of specialization and the institution from where you have obtained your degree. New graduates in this stream can generally bag a monthly salary in between range of Rs 8,000 to Rs 20,000.
It has been observed that students with a Master’s degree in Biotechnology get a better beginning salary as compared with candidates who just have a graduate degree in this stream. With a raise in the level of experience, there is abundant opportunity for getting fatter pay cheques in this forceful and inspiring profession.
What would it Cost?
A typical course in biotechnology can cost annually in the range between Rs 20,000 to Rs 2,00,000 or above based on the college you learn.
Usually, government and regional institutes that select candidates through tough entrance exams charge below as compared to programs given by private owned institutes.
Funding/Scholarship
Different academic institutions and universities provide scholarships to deserving candidates who perform anomalously in the entrance test and post-entrance interviews. However, easy loans are getting from banks for candidates to follow their academics. The money borrowed may be repaid after a candidate gets a job.
For instance, Allahabad Bank, State Bank of Mysore, State Bank of India and Bank of Baroda are some popular banks that provide attractive loans to candidates. These loans contain library fees, travel expenses, book purchases and often allow candidates to purchase accessories, computers and scientific equipment required to complete their job.
Job opportunities
Biotechnology accommodate in itself a number of disciplines. Further, there is a large demand for biotechnical skilful man in countless industries and streams. The following list are the applications where biotechnological techniques are used widely:
| Agriculture | Environment Conservation |
| Health Care | Animal Husbandry |
| Genetic Engineering | Medicine |
| Biofuels | Industrial Research and Development |
Career prospects for candidates in biotechnology abound. Those specializing in various sub-disciplines of this stream can easily search jobs in both government and private sector undertakings. If you have achieved a post-graduate degree in biotechnology then you can simply find a suitable position in a lot of industries.
Major recruiters contain industries engaged in making and enhancing agricultural and biological products, pharmaceutical and chemical industries, bio-processing industries. There are several opportunities in industries manufacturing healthcare products, cosmetics, textile industry, and organizations engaged in various types of industrial research and enhancement.
These days an increasing number of eligible biotechnical experts are engaged by various industries for environment protection actions and for the safe disposal of hazardous items
Demand and Supply
A number of elements determine the demand of professionals from this interdisciplinary stream. India chiefly being an agrarian economy, needs professionals who can enhance agrarian practices and optimize agricultural output. The enhancing population of the country needs improved life sciences concerned products and medicines. This in turn fuels the demand for a raised research and development of medicines, vaccines, tissue culture process and so on.
There is a permanent demand for these professionals in a lot of organizations engaged in various types of industrial research and advancement. On the supply side, technical institutes are trying their top to meet the enhancing demand for qualified professionals.
One main problem faced on the demand side is that a wide majority of candidates who are engaged in cutting point research often tend to leave in India to finish their research projects. Moreover, once these candidates finish their research work they tend to occupy and employ abroad.
Tips for Getting Hired
- Apply to at least 5 to 10 top companies to have options for choosing the best job offer out of the ones accepted.
- Carry proof of your technical experience and assure as much as possible that you will be an riches to the firms that hires you.
- Demand a reasonable salary as in the initiation, your focus should be to learn how the industry jobs, overall.
- Explore all the possible studying and development prospects that the firms you have applied to, will offer you. This will help you in opting the best out of all the offers earned.
Top Companies
Some firms to work with:
| Rasi Seeds | Panacea Biotech |
| Serum Institute of India | Indian Immunologicals |
| Venkateshwara Hatcheries | Piramal Healthcare |
| Aventis | Biocon |
| Mahyco Monsanto Biotech | Dr. Reddy’s Labs |
| Ranbaxy | Novo Nordisk |
Overall, these are some main names in Indian biotechnological industry which widely use biotechnological methods and techniques to enhance and innovate products and methods.
