Career Opportunities for Majors in Biotechnology


Introduction

The field of biotechnology has emerged as a major contributor to the advancement of agriculture, medicine, and environmental sciences. The biotechnology industry is one of the newest and most promising commercial segments in the nation. The industry's primary goal is to invent new biologically active substances for the treatment of disease and the management of agriculture. Recent developments in biotechnology, particularly molecular biology, promise major improvements in agricultural productivity, breakthroughs in human health care, and new solutions to environmental problems. Biotechnology also focuses on the role of genetics and how they will shape the future of medicine, health care and food production.

While most graduates work in a related occupations and eventually obtain an advanced degree, others choose another direction. Many careers do not require a specific major but rather a wide range of demonstrated skills and accomplishments. Regardless of your career choices, increase your marketability to employers through internships, responsible work experience, good grades and involvement in college activities.


A Sample of Related Occupations

Biochemist Horticulturist Pharmaceutical Sales Rep.
Biophysicist Hospital Administrator Pharmacologist
Biostatistician Industrial Hygienist Physical Therapist
Biotechnologist Laboratory Technician Public Health Specialist
Business Development Manager Marketing Rep Quality Control Specialist
Crop Physiologist Medical Doctor Research Assistant
Ecologist Medical Technician Research Scientist
Engineer Microbiologist Scientific Librarian
Environmental Health Educator Natural Resources Mgr. Technical Writer
Environ. Impact Analyst Naturalist Wildlife Biologist
Geneticist Patent Specialist


Types of Employers

 

Private and Non-Profit Organizations
Biotechnology Firms Health Maintenance Organizations
Chemical Manufacturers Hospitals
Clinics Pharmaceutical Companies
Computer Firms Research and Development Labs
Crime Labs Research Foundations
Educational Institutions Scientific Journals
Environ. Consulting Firms Soap/Cosmetics Companies
Health Care Producers Testing Labs
 
Government Agencies
Air Pollution Control National Institutes of Health
Centers for Disease Control National Park Service
Dept. of Agriculture NJ State Dept. of Health
Dept. of Environ. Protection OSHA
Environ. Protection Agency Peace Corps/Americorps
Fish & Wildlife Service Public Health Service
Food & Drug Administration U.S. Forest Service
Land Use Planning Comm. Water Resource Council
National Cancer Institute

 

Jobs Obtained by Rutgers Graduates
 
Jobs of Recent and Experienced Alumni
Assistant Coordinator, National Institutes of Health Professor, North Carolina State Univ. (PhD)
Biochemist, Schering-Plough Program Examiner, U.S. Office of Management & Budget
Clinical Affairs Associate, Enzo Biochem Research Associate, Weinberg Consulting Group
Consultant, ID Business Solutions Research Associate, Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison
Formulation Technician, ImClone Systems Research Coordinator, Mount Sinai Medical Center
Lab Manager, Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Research Technician, The Research Foundation, SONYA
Lab Technician/Network Administrator, Exponential Biotherapies, Inc. Research Technician, Thomas Jefferson Univ.
Molecular Virologist, St. Michael's Medical Center Senior Lab Technician, UMDNJ
Patent Examiner, U.S. Patent & Trademark Office Senior Research Technician, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Post Doctoral Appointment, U-Mass. Medical (PhD) Senior Scientist, Mendel Biotechnology

 

Graduate Schools Attended
Columbia University, MS, Biotechnology
Cornell University, MS, Microbiology
Johns Hopkins University, MS, Biotechnology
Lehigh University, MS, Biotechnology
Princeton University, PhD, Molecular Biology
Queens College-CUNY, MS, Biological Sciences
University of Maryland, MS, Public Policy
University of Maryland, MBA, Admin./Commerce/Mgmt.

 


 


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Created by the Rutgers University, New Brunswick Career Services staff

 

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Updated 3/27/06

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