Siddharth Jhunjhunwala, Asst. Professor, Centre for Bio-Systems Science and Engineering, IISc, Bengaluru, has an interesting take on why he chose to study biotechnology. I was passionate about biotechnology, but the truth was, I found it hard to decide what I wanted to do after school,” he says. He was interested in most subjects in his first group (M/P/C/B) in Class XII, so he thought: Why not biotech for an opportunity to learn more of each of these basic sciences? Looking back, “My choice may have been motivated by not wanting to make a choice,” he says. But it turned out great. “I have enjoyed studying and conducting research in biotechnology.”
Bindu Ajit, Program Director, Biocon Academy, defines biotechnology as a science that uses biological entities either directly or after genetic modification to improve the quality of human life. For example, in the area of biopharmaceuticals, molecular techniques are applied to develop life-saving drugs through a combination of biology and technology. “If you’re interested in areas that include but are not limited to food, pharmaceuticals, veterinary practices or healthcare, a course in biotechnology/bioengineering is for you,” says Siddharth.
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The Indian biotech sector is growing at a Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of about 20%, says Bindu Ajit. “You can work in healthcare or in fast-growing segments like bio-agri, bio-informatics, etc. Biopharma is the largest contributor to the biotech sector. With greenfield and brownfield projects as well as mergers and acquisitions, the demand for talented, trained manpower has increased in this sector,” she explains.
From bio-statistics, bio-Informatics, clinical trials to bio-agriculture, animal husbandry, cropping systems, crop management to cell biology, food manufacturing, genetics, biochemistry, microbiology, immunology, virology, chemistry and engineering — biotechnology offers a large canvas of opportunities for those with an apptitude for R&D.
A new door has opened with the emergence of biotech “start-ups”. This phenomenon gives you scope to innovate, apply and run your own firm. And it gets good government support if you contribute to quality growth in the biotech sector. “Biotechnology/bioengineering has the potential to make strong impacts on each of our lives. Advances in these areas are bound to transform the pharmaceuticals and healthcare industries. Further, this area is likely to have an impact on improving our water and food resources in the near future,” says Siddharth.
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Remuneration depends on various factors like who’s hiring and the students’ qualification, skill-sets and experience. The salary ranges from 2.5 lakh to 5 lakh per annum for freshers.
Increasing demand
Industries in the areas of biotechnology/bioengineering appear to be growing, and this means an increase in the demand for trained people. However, it’s good to remember that both employment numbers and compensation will be low for those with just a bachelor’s degree. Higher education and extensive skill-training are essential for employment in this area. An engineering degree (BTech/BE) in biotechnology is a better idea than a BSc/MSc. Engineering concepts are essential to gain in-depth understanding of biotechnology, and will prove more useful on the job.
“There is a wide gap between industry needs and the quality of biotech graduates/postgraduates. Companies are on the lookout for industry-ready candidates who can start contributing from Day-1 and our job-seekers are unequipped,” says Siddharth.
Can they start contributing to the organisation after graduation? “With the right training, biotechnology and engineering graduates can benefit from the opportunities that will open up as global MNCs are investing heavily.”