Biotechnology is the technological application in which living systems and organisms are used to develop products. With the global biotechnology market expected to reach a value of over $ 727 billion by 2025, the biotechnology employment rate is expected to increase by 5% by 2029.
The biotech industry in India was valued at $ 63 billion in 2019 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 16.4%, while it is estimated at $ 150 billion by 2025.
This industry is a major economic engine in the country and around the world. India is also the 3rd largest biotechnology destination in Asia-Pacific and is among the top 12 global destinations.
1. Plant biotechnologist
This field falls under the domain of agricultural science and is mainly articulated around research. Students wishing to pursue a career in this field should have a basic understanding of the industry, as well as a knowledge of the requirements of businesses that deal with food production. Apart from this, people interested in this career field should have a fundamental learning of biotechnology concepts. This field offers careers in fields such as plant breeder, production manager, teacher, sales manager and more.
A person pursuing plant biotechnology can work to create a sustainable and reliable food source for global use, apply genetic and biochemical technologies to improve the condition of crops and the quality of seeds used to grow the crops. In addition to this, plant biotechnologists also play a role in medical research and also work to make crops resistant to disease, drought and other disasters.
2. Industrial biotechnologist
This field plays an important role in the medical and health sectors. Students who wish to obtain a graduate degree must achieve at least 50% on their HSC exams, while those who wish to pursue postgraduate studies must have a minimum score of 60% in industrial biotechnology, biotechnology or any other related field.
The role of an industrial biotechnologist is to develop and monitor manufacturing processes, set up and operate standard laboratory models, analyze test data and evaluate results.
Industrial biotechnologists offer employment opportunities in positions such as bioproduction operators, technical solutions manager, biomedical engineers, intern research associates and many more.
Students interested in this field should have a talent for various skills such as problem solving, time management, analytical skills, technical skills, communication skills, etc. The applicability of industrial biotechnology is expected to be responsible for the 39 percent of the economic value by 2030 produced by biotechnology.
This field has a great future as different industries allow the use of biotechnology for sustainability. Since it is funded by private and government companies, the future scope for action in this field is vast and emerging at a rapid pace.
3. Environmental biotechnologist
This field is in the mainstream of science which deals with microorganisms to improve the environment. It is a combination of biology and engineering in which students learn how to eliminate harmless microbes, bacteria, and more organelles that will benefit the environment.
There is a notable demand for environmental biologists where the industry is said to be looking to appoint people to more than 13,000 different positions by 2022 and with a growth rate of over 15% in the industry. Students wishing to pursue this field must have a bachelor’s or biotechnology degree with a scientific component and must have learned subjects such as natural sciences, research methods, agricultural sciences and more.
Environmental biotechnologists work to convert sustainable resources into biofuels, perform complex laboratory tests, maintain a record and analyze field and laboratory results, etc. Apart from this, another job of an environmental biotechnologist is to oversee data quality and process improvements as this helps business and science working groups.
This field offers career opportunities for environmental scientists, lecturers, waste management directors, environmental specialists, environmental consultants and more. These jobs are offered by many industries, environmental watchdogs, NGOs, public and private industries and many other sectors.
Careers in biotechnology are immense, as are the opportunities, as there are significant advances in this field. As this field is constantly evolving and growing, the sector is attracting a lot of attention. The government is also working to stimulate the biotechnology industry by working to develop national talent.
Article by Sachin Gupta, Chancellor of the University of Sanskriti.
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