Biotechnology is an integration of several sciences, applied to living cells, with the possibility of producing from widely available renewable resources, substances and compounds essential to life and the well being of human. So it is an interdisciplinary science encompassing not only biology, bu also othe subjects, including physics, chemistyr, mathematics and engineering. Mainly research oriented, it is the field that has created Dolly, the cloned lamb, and introduced scientific methods for genetic engineering, and new modes of propagation.
The biotechnology profession offers excellent prospects, particularly in the areas of medicine and agriculture.
Areas of work in biotechnology
Employment opportunities are in research, production and marketing in the following fields:
- Medicine and healthcare
- Agriculture
- Animal Husbandry
- Environment and industry
Work of Biotechnologists
The work of biotechnologists is essentially scientific and research oriented, which aims at the application of technology to the improvement of life and development of a variety of end uses. Main areas of work are following:
- Producation - of various bioprocessed materials.
- Marketing - of biotechnology products and processes in various areas.
- Research
- Bioinformatics - Application of information technology to the management of biological information.
Entry & eligibility for biotechnology
Entry into biotechnology is mostly at the postgraduate level, although thee are some undergraduate courses also. Science students with physics, chemisty, biology and agriculture are expected to do well. Science, with zoology, biology or chemisty in standard XII, is required for the BSc. and BTech. degree courses in biotechnology as well as the five-year integrted MTech. programme offered by the IITs.
Biotechnology Colleges in India
Three year BSc. in biotechnology is offered at very few universities in India. IITs offer MTech. courses in biotechnology. For mode details checkout the listing of all biotechnology colleges and degrees offered by them below:
- Biotechnology Colleges in Andhra Pradesh (5)
- Biotechnology Colleges in Assam (2)
- Biotechnology Colleges in Bihar (2)
- Biotechnology Colleges in Delhi (30)
- Biotechnology Colleges in Goa (1)
- Biotechnology Colleges in Gujarat (1)
- Biotechnology Colleges in Haryana (2)
- Biotechnology Colleges in Himachal Pradesh (2)
- Biotechnology Colleges in Jharkhand (1)
- Biotechnology Colleges in Karnataka (6)
- Biotechnology Colleges in Kerala (5)
- Biotechnology Colleges in Madhya Pradesh (13)
- Biotechnology Colleges in Maharashtra (10)
- Biotechnology Colleges in Pondicherry (1)
- Biotechnology Colleges in Punjab (9)
- Biotechnology Colleges in Rajasthan (3)
- Biotechnology Colleges in Tamil Nadu (14)
- Biotechnology Colleges in Uttar Pradesh (7)
- Biotechnology Colleges in Uttaranchal (2)
- Biotechnology Colleges in West Bengal (6)
Job prospects in Biotechnology
There are number of job opportunities for postgraduates in biotechnology today. Job prospects are available in drug and pharmaceutical research, public funded laboratories, chemicals, environment control, waste management, energy, agriculture, food processing and bio-process industries. Most biotechnologists find employment on a large scale in research laboratories run by the government of India.
Remuneration
A postgraduate joining a private sector pharmaceutical company can expect to get a salary in the range or Rs. 12,000 to Rs. 20,000 per month. Those employed in government research can start on Rs. 9,000 along with government allowances.