FAQs :
Ques1) What Biotech course is all about?
Ans) Biotechnology, part of life sciences domain, is an interdisciplinary science which relies on biology, as well as subjects like mathematics, physics, chemistry and engineering.
It is a blend of various technologies applied together to living cells & their genetic configuration for production of an intended product quality or for improving upon it.
Ques2) What is the application areas of this field?
Ans) Its use and application range from fields like agriculture to industry (food, pharmaceutical, chemical, byproducts, textiles etc) medicine & human life sciences, nutrition, environmental conservation, animal sciences etc. making it one of the fastest growing fields and branch of knowledge with bright future scope and application.
Ques3) What is the growth rate of this sector?
Ans) From a dozen companies some half-a-decade back currently there are 600 (+) established and successful companies in the biotechnology field and exponential growth is in the offing.
Despite recent economic ups and downs, career growth opportunities in biotechnology for chemists remain promising. Chemistry is an excellent training ground for biotech careers such as quality assurance, quality control, process development, regulatory affairs, and clinical development. Strategic alliances, joint ventures, mergers, and acquisitions between big pharma and biotech and between biotechs, have also opened windows of opportunities for chemists and chemical engineers to make a transition into the biotech sector.
Ques4) What work is expected from a biotechnologist?
Ans) The nature of work of biotechnologists, being interdisciplinary, requires working together of people from different fields such as biology, chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, molecular biology, immunology, genetics, engineering, food sciences, agriculture etc.
Ques5) What are the different career options in this field?
Ans) - Medicine and Health Care: Biotechnology application in this area has helped in the development of various medicines, vaccines and diagnostics.
- Industrial Research and Development: Both the government and the private sector employ biotechnologists to conduct research and development work for increasing productivity, improving energy production and conservation, minimizing pollution and industrial waste etc.
- Agriculture and Animal Husbandry: The latest technologies like micro propagation and tissue culture have further helped agriculture to overcome problem like soil imbalance, genetic breeding and crop diseases.
- Environment: In this field, the job of a biotechnologist spans from checking industrial & air pollution levels, treatment of industrial wastes, recycling of sewage sludge using bio technological inputs & controls.
Ques6) What qualities are needed to become a successful biotechnologist ?
Ans) Hard work and high level of intelligence with scientific bent of mind, determination, perseverance, imagination, innovative attitude, ability to work for long hours, originality of thought, team spirit are some important essentials for becoming a successful biotechnologist.
Ques7) Can I go for higher studies in this field ?
Ans) After opting for B.Sc (Bio-Technology) one can go for an M.Sc. (Bio-Technology) postgraduate degree, if they so desire.
Depending upon the aptitude and necessity, more advanced courses such as Ph.D. and Post-Doctoral Research in Biotechnology can also be pursued, especially by those intending to concentrate on R&D & Scientific research.
Ques8)What are job and career prospects in this field?
Ans)
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Candidates with B.Tech/, PG. Degrees. get absorbed in corporate and government sector both.
- Qualified biotechnologists are being employed in leading Indian business houses and MNC's including pharmaceutical companies , Chemical, Industrial , Bio-processing ,Industrial, Agriculture & related Industrial and pollution control activities of the major corporates.
- They can even join government and corporate run research and development organizations.
On the whole making it a good career opportunity for the bright young people .B.Sc. (Bio-Tech) may also find employment as above but initially in a non executive or support role. The published figures of Biotechnology Association shows a demand forecast pf 2.5 million jobs in next decade, out of which 2.5 lakh jobs will be quality jobs requiring B.Tech./Graduate /P.G. Degrees and Diplomas.
Ques9) What is the package offered to Biotechnologists?
Ans) In the corporate sector, fresher B.Tech graduates from reputed College/, University may get minm. Rs.2.5 l. p.a to Rs. 4.5 l.p.a. B.Sc.’s may get about 30% lesser. Research institutes & development centres of MNC’s needing excellent research aptitude can pay around Rs. 5. l.p.a to 7 l.p.a. in the beginning of the career itself.
Ques10) In which fields bioengineers are needed?
Ans) Bioengineers are often employed to scale up bio processes from the laboratory scale to the manufacturing scale. Moreover, as with most engineers, they often deal with management, economic and legal issues. Since patents and regulation (e.g., U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulation in the U.S.) are very important issues for biotech enterprises, bioengineers are often required to have knowledge related to these issues. |
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