| The term "biotech," short for "biotechnology," | | | | endangeredspecies, including artificial breeding |
| refers to the application and manipulation of | | | | verification and authentication of costly food |
| biological resources to develop products and | | | | products |
| processes that fulfill industrial and other human | | | | Bioinformatics |
| objectives. While popular imagination tends to latch | | | | Under this broad heading come:computational |
| onto controversial fields of biotechnological | | | | biologysupercomputingstatistical and actuarial |
| research like DNA typing, cloning, and stem cell | | | | functionsdata analysis, data transfer, database |
| research, the fact is that biotechnology has | | | | creation, and other data-related functions |
| commonplace applications ranging from bread | | | | Law |
| production to wastewater recycling that influence | | | | With the rise in the use of biotechnology, openings |
| our daily lives. The consequence of this wide | | | | for biotechnologists have also opened up in the |
| reach of biotechnology is that the number biotech | | | | legal field. Openings are principally located in the |
| jobs continues to grow faster than the numbers | | | | following functional areas:patent specialties and |
| of jobs in other sectors. | | | | litigationacademiaethical, social, and legal |
| The Divisions of Biotech | | | | issuesforensic sciences, including gene testing for |
| A great number of industries are directly | | | | identification purposes |
| influenced by biotechnology, and it would be | | | | Guided Missile Development and Space |
| difficult to mention all of them in a short article. | | | | Technology |
| However, to provide abroader perspective, jobs | | | | Biotechnologists are required in organizations |
| in biotechnology can be grouped into three | | | | engaged in manufacturing guided missiles and |
| functional categories: | | | | space vehicles. Functional areas include:creation of |
| Research and development: Considered by some | | | | closed artificial environmentscreation of |
| to be the most prestigious division of biotech | | | | life-supporting equipment and systemsresearch |
| research and development (R&D) creates the | | | | into the effects of space on biological |
| frontiers ofbiotechnology and sets the paradigms | | | | systemscybernetics |
| that influence both humanity and the biotech job | | | | Engineering |
| market. The three major divisions of | | | | There are many opportunities for biotechnologists |
| biotechnological R&D are research for discoveries, | | | | in the field of engineering. Biotechnologists working |
| veterinary sciences, and bioinformatics. Jobs in this | | | | in this area may be involved in:designing |
| sector are usually reserved for life scientists. | | | | bioprocessing containers and equipmentcreating |
| Clinical research and safety: Once a functional | | | | new energy sources such as biofuelsbiomedical |
| process or product is developed by R&D, the | | | | engineering |
| necessity to establish trials to determine the | | | | Education |
| impact of the product or process on public health | | | | Obviously a need for biotechnologists who can |
| and safety emerges. Biotechnologists working in | | | | teach will always exist. Types of opportunities |
| this field ensure the safety of biotechnological | | | | available in biotechnological education reflect the |
| products and processes. | | | | needs ofuniversities and traditional academic |
| Compliance: Issues of compliance with respect to | | | | structure. |
| biotechnological products and processes-in terms | | | | Besides the above fields, there are myriad other |
| of both quality and standards and rules established | | | | divisions of applied biotechnology, including |
| by thestate-create openings for biotechnologists. | | | | life-science research, anthropology, history, |
| Openings for biotechnologists are also available in | | | | military, bio-sciencecommunication, and chemical |
| the following specific areas and functional fields: | | | | manufacturing. |
| Medicine and Pharmaceuticals | | | | Biotech Job Designations |
| In this broad field, the following functional areas | | | | Biotech job designations are as varied as the |
| need biotechnologists:genetics, including medical | | | | fields in which biotechnology finds application. |
| genetics, genetic counseling, and genetic | | | | Though designations can reflect the imagination of |
| nursingorgan transplantation, reproduction, and | | | | the employer, some standard, industry-recognized |
| regenerative medicinepublic health and safety, | | | | designations that are related to biotechnology or |
| which includes projects ranging from vaccine | | | | the application of biotechnical knowledge are |
| development to wastewater treatment by | | | | veterinary assistant, veterinarian, technician, |
| bacterial coloniesgene testing and genetic therapy | | | | technologist, chemist, pharmacologist, laboratory |
| Agriculture | | | | technician, chemical technician, engineer, computer |
| Under the broad heading of agriculture, the | | | | system analyst, health service worker, physician, |
| following functional areas rely on the application of | | | | biological scientist, biotechnologist, and agricultural |
| biotechnology and consequently are the areas | | | | technician. One's designation depends on the |
| where biotech jobs are to be found:development | | | | organization, industry, and sector in which he or |
| of genetically modified variations of plants and | | | | she works, and job designations can be |
| seeds development of biological pesticides and | | | | superficially misleading. |
| nutrition identification and protection of | | | | |