When we think about biotechnology, many of the people picture it as a scientist in a lab wearing coat developing a lifesaving drug for numerous medicines. While this represents one common biotechnology career path, being a lab worker is not the only option. This is a predominant thinking style but in reality, there are a plethora of career paths for biotechnologists. There are interesting career paths which are never to dry out even during layoff times. Only in the United States, biotech firms are hiring more than countable (more than millions) people to innovate cures. In genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry, embryology, and cell biology, information technology, and robotics, both in theoretical and practical, biotech professionals can make their suitable careers. In industries like the nutrition, pharmaceutical, chemical, bio-product manufacturing, garment, and environmental conservation biotech graduates can also make their careers.

Eligibility 

Students completing 12th standard with science are eligible to study B.Tech (Biotechnology)/M.Tech (Biotechnology). Top-notch institutions of the country like IIT Delhi and Kharagpur have five years of integrated M.Tech after clearing JEE.

Career Paths in Biotechnology

The different areas where biotechnology graduates can work in the above-mentioned industries include –

1. Project Management

2. Business Management

3. Sales and Technical Support

4. Food, Animal and Environmental Science

5. Software Engineering

6. Government (Policy Making)

7. Clinical Research

8. Manufacturing

9. Quality Assurance/Regulatory Affairs

10. Research Development

Let us look into the different career paths now –

• Biomedical Engineering – With an in-hand average salary of INR 26k, a biomedical engineer, who is an expert of engineering and biology knows to solve problems related to biology and medicine. They mainly stay focused on assuring qualitative and applicable healthcare for patients. Biomedical engineers are highly skilled in designing biomedical equipment, devices, and medical software. And in recent days with the development of technology in biomedical engineering, the engineers are finding solutions like artificial organs, prostheses, and more advanced diagnostic machines.
• Biochemist – The prediction for the growth of biochemical engineering is encouraging and in the time when coronavirus has created a hazardous impact, the need for more skilled and knowledgeable biochemists will be in demand more than ever. The pay for biochemists is also lucrative as they earn around 47k a month. Mainly their work involves studying chemical properties of living things and biological processes for finding new cell development processes, cell growth techniques, mapping heredity, and finding a cure for diseases. Through research and projects, they analyze the structure and composition and synthesize proteins, lipids, DNA, carbs, etc. 
• Medical Scientist – Earning around INR 59k monthly, a medical scientist knows clinical research processes for the betterment of the patients’ health and how to prevent diseases. In addition, medical scientists participate in creating medical devices, analyzing medical samples for finding solutions of toxicity, pathogens, and chronic diseases. They also lay helping hand in deciding drug potency, doses, and processes for the manufacture of drugs and medicines for the general population.
• Process Development Scientist - Maintaining the quality and efficiency of the work in manufacturing, process development scientists are responsible for developing methods for scaling production as per to the industry norms.
• Biomanufacturing Professionals – The salary ranges between INR 2.6l and 6.96l of biomanufacturing professionals. Biomanufacturing professionals are experts in using tools and methods for pledging about purity, safety, potency, and quality during the entire manufacturing process. They know about the laws and industry norms so that no problem happens during or after production.
• Business Development Manager – Business development managers earn around INR 27k in a month for providing reports on market and competition and help biotechnology firms to execute marketing plans. According to the needs, business development managers contribute by assisting in business expansion, market acquisition, research, and collaboration to increase business growth.