Biotechnology is a field that revolves around utilizing biological systems with technology to develop a product or a process. The outcomes of biotechnology help in addressing many problems across many industries. Interdisciplinary nature of biotechnology results in numerous products and technologies and opportunities to create a great career in biotechnology. The sphere of biotechnology includes medical biotechnology, pharmaceutical biotechnology, plant biotechnology, cellular biotechnology, fermentation biotechnology, food biotechnology, environmental biotechnology, and bioinformatics.
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Medical Biotechnology
Medical Biotechnology implies the application of biotechnology in the field of the healthcare sector. The Healthcare sector is powered by biotechnology companies that always play a major role, be it in developing diagnostic kits, vaccines, biologics, drugs, or medical machinery. The domains of biotechnology like molecular biology, cell biology, recombinant technology, and immunotherapeutic succored in the evolution of the medical sector.
Opportunities for a Career in Biotechnology:
There are many career opportunities available in Research and Development, Pharmaceutical Companies, Hospitals, Diagnostic Centres, the Manufacturing Sector of Biotechnology, Academic Sector for students who want to make a career in Medical Biotechnology:
Job Profiles for Graduates in Medical Biotechnology:
- Clinical Laboratory Technician
- Biological Supplier Manufacturing
- Environmental Technician
- Food Safety Mechanism
- Pharmaceutical Research Technician
- Research associate
- Teaching
Pharmaceutical biotechnology
Earlier this field only dealt with discovering and developing small molecules (drugs) but time has witnessed the evolution of this industry. The horizon of this sector widened. The emergence of Biopharmaceutics has brought a new dimension. Biotechnology was always a part of drug development and discovery, but biologics as therapeutic elements resulted in the surge of biotech companies involved in the pharmaceutical industry. Cell-based therapies, monoclonal antibodies, vaccines, and other therapeutics are a few examples to start with
Job Profiles of a Pharmaceutical Biotechnologist
- Medical Scientist
- Chemical Engineer
- Biological Technician
- Chemical Technician
Plant biotechnology
Plants are a vital source of many raw materials and food on earth. Human dependency on plants is not a new fact. Biotechnology helps to bring the best of it. Agriculture has witnessed many problems like low crop yield, crop quality deterioration, infestation, weeds, loss of soil fertility, abiotic stress, and biotic stress. Genetically Modified Crops (GMC) ensued from genetic engineering helped in developing abiotic stress-resistant, biotic stress-resistant crops and also improved crop quality. BT cotton is a common example of an insect-resistant plant. Flavr Tomato crop (quality improved crop) is an outcome of recombinant technology.
Job Profiles of a Plant Biotechnologist
- Greenhouse or Field Technician
- Laboratory Assistant
- Genomics Technician
- Molecular Biology Technician
- Plant tissue Culture Technician
- Research Associate
- Lecturer
- Trainer
- Research Investigator
- Project Assistant
Food Biotechnology
The increasing human population is proportional to the demand for food. Food biotechnology surmounts the difficulties in food production, food processing, and food preservation. Biotechnology brings out alternate sources of food. The best examples are the single-cell proteins derived from various microorganisms and the development of value-added food products. Biotechnology always helps in introducing technology that aims to enhance the production, processing, packaging, and preservation of food. The scope of biotechnology in this field is limitless.
Employment Sector for Food Biotechnologists
- Storage Units
- Research Units
- Laboratories
- Food and Beverage Department
- Food Marketing
- Processing and Distributing Units
Job Profiles of a Food Biotechnologist
- Quality Manager
- Food Technologist
- Regulatory Affairs Officer
- Technical Brewer
- Chefs
- Nutritional Therapist
- Product Development Scientist
Environment Biotechnology
Environment biotechnology aims to restore the balance between nature, ecology, and human interest. Bioremediation and biological intervention are only possible by the way of the utilization of techniques of biotechnology. Waste management of plastic has been a question mark ever since its discovery. Oil spills, and accumulation of heavy metals in natural sources of water and soil are a few major issues. All these issues are now being addressed by using biotech processes. Microbes like bacteria, fungi algae, and plants are being used in the process of bioremediation. One can say that biotechnology is indispensable to the environment and humankind
Job Profiles of an Environmental Biotechnologist
- Environmental Science and Protection Technician
- Environmental Scientist
- Agricultural Engineer
- Sustainability Specialist
- Environmental Engineer
Bioinformatics
The necessity for interpretation, analysis, and visualization of biological data gave rise to a new interdisciplinary field- Bioinformatics. Till the time study of the biological system will exist, bioinformatics will run parallel to it.
Top Job Profiles in Bioinformatics
- Bio Analysts
- Data Scientists
- Informatics Developer
- Bioinformatics Researcher
- Pharmaco-genetic Engineer
Biotechnology is not a very old field of science. It is still in its budding state. Once it stretches horizons only the sky is the limit to it. Nowadays its scope is more due to covid-19. Now every country needs biotechnologists.
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Salary of biotechnologist or Bioinformatics:
Salary starts from 30k-200k. If you start your laboratory your earnings will be more.
Universities Offering Biotechnology Programs:
There are a lot of universities offering biotechnology and bioinformatics. In the coming years, the merit of biotechnology will be reached to the highest points, and getting admission in this field will be very tough. Few Top public universities which are offering biotechnology or bioinformatics program are:
- Punjab University, Lahore
- Women University Azad Jammu & Kashmir
- Cholistan University Of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Bwp
- The Islamia University Of Bahawalpur
- University Of Science & Technology, Bannu
- University Of Malakand,Chakdara
- Bacha Khan University,Charsada
- Gomal University, D I Khan
- Government College University, Fsd
- University Of Gujrat, Gujrat
- National University Of Science & Technology, Islamabad
- International Islamic University, Islamabad
- Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad
- University Of Sindh, Jamshoro
- Dow University Of Health Sciences, Karachi
- University Of Karachi, Karachi
- The University Of Management Sciences & Information Technology, Kotli
- Government College University, Lahore
- University Of Kotli, Kotli
- Kinnaird College For Women, Lahore
- Lahore College For Women University
- BZU, Multan
- Comsats University
- University of Sargodha, Sargodha
- Kohat University of Science and Technology (KUST)
- University of agriculture, Faisalabad (only bioinformatics)
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