Biotechnology Engineering: There are a lot of career options after B.Tech (biotechnology). B.Tech. Biotech. A graduate can seek employment in the chemical and textile industries, agricultural sectors, pharmaceutical firms, and manufacturing industries.
This and more like the course details, eligibility, and salary update I will discuss here with you. Before I proceed, note these few points because I will be discussing them with you
Professionals in this career can also opt for teaching jobs in universities and colleges. They can also work in research laboratories, which are run by government or private sector companies.
What is Biotechnology Engineering?
Biotechnology engineering is an undergraduate degree program in applied sciences that amalgamates the facts from both Biological sciences and technology.
This study utilizes the biological processes which include the study of microorganisms or knowledge of antibiotics and further implement them for various industrial purposes.
In simple terms, Biotechnology is a study that involves the use of living organisms. The living organisms are used to make useful chemicals which can be utilized in industries. Biotechnological products are used in areas like agriculture, food sciences, and medicine.
About B.Tech Biotech
B.Tech. Biotech stands for Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) in Biotechnology and is an undergraduate engineering program. Biotechnology is a combination of biology and technology and it is an applied science.
B. Tech in Biotechnology uses various concepts of biology for modifying biological systems, cell structures, and processes in engineering as well as technology-related applications.
B. Tech Biotech students have a vast scope as they can work in sectors of pharmaceuticals, agriculture, healthcare, food processing, nutrition, animal science, and environmental conservation. Not in terms of opportunities, even salary packages of biotechnology professionals are lucrative.
Required Skillsets for Biotechnology Engineers
Biotechnology engineers tend to work with a broad range of medical, technical, and admin professionals. The key skillsets include:
- Tissue culture is one of the most widely used techniques in any biological or biomedical research lab. If you are looking for a placement or job, tissue culture will be a very valuable biotechnology skill to have.
- PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) is a technique used to make many copies of a specific DNA region in vitro.
- Gel electrophoresis is another widely used technique in molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics, and modern biotechnology.
- Western blot, also known as protein immunoblot, is a popular molecular biology technique for the detection and analysis of proteins based on their ability to bind to specific antibodies.
- ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) is a popular format of “wet-lab” type analytic biochemistry assay that uses a solid-phase enzyme immunoassay (EIA) to detect the presence of a substance, usually an antigen ( peptides, proteins, antibodies, and hormones), in a liquid sample or wet sample.
- Molecular cloning or simply gene cloning is a molecular biology technique that is used to assemble recombinant DNA molecules and to direct their replication within host organisms.
- Flow cytometry is a laser- or impedance-based technique used in cell counting, cell sorting, biomarker detection, and protein engineering, by suspending cells in a stream of fluid and passing them through an electronic detection apparatus.
- Mass spectrometry (MS) is an analytical technique that ionizes chemical species and sorts the ions based on their mass-to-charge ratio.
- Confocal microscopy is an optical imaging technique for increasing optical resolution and contrast of a micrograph using adding a spatial pinhole placed at the confocal plane of the lens to eliminate out-of-focus light.
- Cell-based assays are extremely useful for studying cellular mechanisms in a biological context.
- Apart from the wet lab techniques, data analysis using proper statistical methods and software is very important in biotechnology and medical research.
There are many career options that you can choose after B.Tech Biotech, some of which are listed below:
B. Tech Biotech Career Options Available are as follows
Research Scientist
Biotechnology not only combines theoretical scientific attitudes such as cell biology, molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry, and embryology but also practical scientific aptitudes such as robotics, chemical engineering, and information technology.
Being a B.tech Biotech student, If you have a keen interest in the biological sciences and have an analytical mind as well as problem-solving skills, you can have a successful career in research in biotechnology.
You can work as a research scientist in several Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) research institutes such as National Brain Research Institute (NBRI), Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (CSIR-IGIB), National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI).
Many research labs or institute options are also there such as Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), National Center for Biological Sciences (NCBS), National Institute of Plant Genome Research (NIPGR), National Brain Research Centre (NBRC), National Institute of Immunology (NII), MS Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), etc.
Skills Required:
- CSIR NET / GATE Qualification can easily get you a job in any of the research institutes listed above.
- Non-Net Candidates can also apply at research labs & institutes but most of them seek some experience.
Drug/Pharmaceutical companies
B.tech Biotech students can also join, pharmaceutical companies, as these chemical industries need candidates for this profile. You can work as a marketing manager, research analyst, production-in charge, quality control officer, in various pharmaceutical companies which include Dabur, Hindustan Antibiotics Limited, and Cipla.
Pharmaceuticals and biotech companies are inter-related. Biotechnologist students know about molecular biology so it is easier for them to understand about various health-related diseases and their effects on organs or cells.
It is easy for them to understand the effect of the drug on humans. Companies like Jubilant and Reliance Ltd have a biotechnology division where job opportunities are available. Some other pharmaceutical companies are Invitrogen, Dr. Reddy’s Labs, Cipla, Wockhardt, Cadila, Torrent Pharma, Novozymes, and many more.
Skills Needed:
- B.tech Biotech Freshers can join the above companies as an Intern, Job openings for which are frequently posted at Biotecnika. Do check our job section for that.
- Almost all the pharma companies seek candidates who have prior Hands-on experience in techniques like basic protein purification and characterization work via chromatography techniques alongside basic immunohistochemistry techniques and ELISA assays.
Business Developer
B.tech Biotech Candidates can take up the work of a Business Developer (BD) in marketing divisions as a career option in companies such as Cipla, Glenmark, GSK and Govt Organization like the Indian Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (IDPL).
The role of a business developer is to develop business for the company in sectors where its products are required. Companies train their employees for this job as the person who is working as a business developer to have a pleasant personality, good analytical, technical, and communication skills. Most importantly profound knowledge of biotechnology if you are working for Biotech company.
Skills Required:
- Excellent communication Skills
- Good Presentation Skills & Fluency in thought & speech
- Flexibility to work in shifts
- Some kind of experience in field marketing
Information Technology/Bioinformatics
There is a great demand for Information technology in the biotechnology industry. The researchers, scientists, and big corporate houses, often involved in experiments that are nowadays done in digital mode. It also has an important role in biomedical research as work in the area of genetic diseases, medicine, the genome is increasing.
B.tech Biotech candidates take up IT / Bioinformatics as a career option & can work in companies like Accenture, Wipro, and HCL to work as a data analyst for various projects such as healthcare, etc.
Skills Required:
- Knowledge of additional tools like R, Python, Perl, tableau, and data analytical skills will help to find a job.
Waste Management/Environment Control
B. Tech Biotech can find a lot of career opportunities in various private sector companies that utilize different environmental products. They can work as environmental engineers in water treatment or disposal industries, fertilizer plants.
There is a lot of scope in government sectors, you can work in various government pollution control boards like Punjab Pollution Control Board, Central Pollution Control Board, etc.
You can work in different government departments such as the Agricultural Department, Forest Department, Water Authority, and Urban department.
You can also work in environmental research institutes like the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) which researches effective solutions to various environmental problems.
B.Tech in Environmental Engineering graduates is also recruited by this institute for various posts like technical or project assistant and scientist.
Higher Studies
Higher studies are important for career growth. In today’s competitive world just a graduation degree is not sufficient. It’s better if you go for higher studies as it will be helpful for your personal and career growth.
After B.Tech Biotech You can do your Master’s from reputed organizations like IIT’s, NIIT, and IISC after qualifying the GATE exam which is an important gateway for these institutions.
There are many governments and private universities and institutes as well from where you can do your Masters. M.tech /M.Sc. You can also give CSIR UGC/DBT BET examinations after completing your B.Tech (B.Tech final year exam students are also eligible). If you qualify these exams, you will be eligible for JRF and lectureship. You can pursue a Ph.D. or join institutes as an assistant professor or lecturer.
Study/Research in Foreign
If you want to study in foreign universities prepare for & also look for scholarships alongside which could support you for abroad studies. If you are looking for job opportunities in foreign countries, there are wide opportunities available, but it is only for candidates with work experience. B. Tech Biotech Candidates with a doctoral degree and some work experience can apply for suitable vacancies.
Intellectual property rights (IPR)
Intellectual Property Right (IPR) is also a very promising field which you can pursue after B.tech Biotech as a career. You can work as an IPR specialist in companies after doing a diploma or master’s degree in IPR.
You can pursue LLB (Bachelor in Law) in IPR from Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), IIT Kharagpur, National Academy of Legal Studies and Research (NALSAR) to become IP Lawyer. Due to an increase in R&D expenditure global demand for IPR specialists is anticipated to increase in the future.
Bioprocessing (Agriculture/Food)
There is a great career scope for B.tech Biotech students in the bioprocessing industry. The bioprocessing is required in both agriculture and the food industry for the production of useful products.
As a biotechnology student has the knowledge of biocatalysts they can design and produce improved or new products related to agriculture like chemicals for plant and animal disease control, for increasing as well as improving crop yield, biological herbicides or insecticides, use of plant cell culture system to produce chemical substances or secondary metabolites of importance.
In the food industry, you will get a good knowledge of various food and drink processing techniques like how they are prepared, type of microorganisms involved for their production, techniques used for production, production of fermented foods, separation and purification of products.
They also have a role to play in the management and treatment of waste that has been generated in the agriculture or food processing industry.
Summer Training Programmes/Internship
You can undergo some summer training programs or internship at various institutes such as Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB), Animal Biotechnology Centre ICAR- National Dairy Research Institute Karnal, IARI – Indian Agricultural Research Institute Internship Training, World Health Organization (WHO) Internship Programme, IIT Mandi Research Internship Summer Program and many more.
You can also attend the workshops, conferences or seminars organized by academic institutes and universities as it will help you make your resume more attractive when you are going for an interview or applying for a job.
Average Salary Package For B.Tech Biotech Students
- B. Tech Biotech students in their Careers have a lot of confusion regarding salary packages that they are very low in the Biotechnology field. It is quite obvious that when you are fresher you are not being paid much and this very must apply to other fields as well and not only Biotech. But as you gain experience in this field, there are very good salary packages which you can grab.
- For example, if you are an employee in government research laboratories you may have an initial salary of Rs. 12,000 per month along with government perks/allowances. But if you are working in CSIR labs as Junior researcher, then you receive a fellowship of Rs. 30,000 per month (under revision) along with the contingency.
- In the private sector, like in pharmaceutical companies salary between Rs. 12,000- Rs. 20,000 per month can be offered to a fresher graduate or postgraduate.
- The salary package offered during B.Tech Biotech Career depends on several factors, like the field of specialization, type of job, whether it is government or private and also job position as well as location. The institute from which the course has been completed, skills, knowledge, experience, position, and the company you are associated with also matter.
- The average annual salary by the leading biotech companies ranges from Rs.2,29,238 to Rs.8,28,746 per year.
Admission
Students are admitted to undergraduate and postgraduate engineering courses in the field of biotechnology through the entrance exam. The entrance exams are conducted at the national level, state level, and University level.
For admission to B.Tech/B.E. courses, you have to apply for JEE Main 2020 which is the national level entrance exam and conducted by CBSE. Admission into IITs & NITs is done through JEE Advanced 2021 which is the second stage of JEE Main. Besides this, the other popular entrance exams are AP EAMCET 2021 , TS EAMCET 2021 , VITEEE 2021, KCET 2021, and many more.
Those wishing to take admission in M.Tech/M.E. courses are required to apply for GATE 2020. It is the perfect gateway for admission to IITs and NITs for pursuing postgraduate engineering courses.
Here, we are listing some best colleges for pursuing biotechnology engineering:
- Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee
- Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi
- Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Noida
- School of Biotechnology, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi
Jobs & Career
There is a big opportunity to get the highest-paid and reputed job in the field of biotechnology engineering in India and abroad.
Biotechnology Engineering is a rapidly growing field. The demand for biotechnical experts has been growing nowadays. This field is a blend of many specializations. Those specializing in this field can easily seek jobs in private and government undertakings.
Various pharmaceutical companies, government & private research lab, analysis laboratories, agricultural research lab, clinical research bodies, and various reputed and related organizations are hiring the Biotechnology engineers, at the current employment scenario.
The job titles of the Biotechnology Engineers:
- Lab Technician
- Teacher/Professor
- Research Associate
- Science Writer
- Biotechnologist
- Sales Representative
- Quality Control Officer
There is an opportunity to get a job in government sectors and the public & private sectors.
Here are some reputed firms which require the Biotechnology engineers whenever (Biotechnology Recruiters):
- Hindustan Lever Ltd
- Thapar Group
- Indo-American Hybrid seeds
- Biocon India Ltd
- IDPL
- India Vaccines Corporation
- Hindustan Antibiotics
- NCL
- Tata Engineering Research Institute
Salary
Yes. It is good if you are seeking a higher degree as M.Tech or MS or Ph.D. in one of the specializations of biotechnology engineering.
A fresher graduate can earn the initial package of 2.5 lakh per annum. After getting the experience of two or more years, he can get the double or multiple of it.
Abroad, you can get an average salary of $100000 per annum.
There are lots of opportunities available for B.Tech Biotech Candidates, only you have to find your area of interest and the field in which you want to make your career or the company you want to work with.
Keep yourself updated with the latest happenings both nationally and internationally related to the Biotechnology field. Most importantly believe in yourself, if you believe anything can be possible.
Share this article too with your friends and loved ones. Good luck!
StudentsandScholarship Team.
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