LET'S KNOW ABOUT BIOTECHNOLOGY ENGINEERING ?
Required Skillset for Biotechnology Engineering
Biotechnology engineers tend to work with a broad range of medical, technical and admin professionals. The key skillsets include:
- Tissue culture is one of the most widely used techniques in any biological or biomedical research lab. If you are looking for a placement or job, tissue culture will be a very valuable biotechnology skill to have.
- PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) is a technique used to make many copies of a specific DNA region in vitro.
- Gel electrophoresis is another widely used technique in molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics and modern biotechnology.
- Western blot, also known as protein immunoblot, is a popular molecular biology technique for the detection and analysis of proteins based on their ability to bind to specific antibodies.
- ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) is a popular format of “wet-lab” type analytic biochemistry assay that uses a solid-phase enzyme immunoassay (EIA) to detect the presence of a substance, usually an antigen ( peptides, proteins, antibodies and hormones), in a liquid sample or wet sample.
- Molecular cloning or simply gene cloning is a molecular biology technique that is used to assemble recombinant DNA molecules and to direct their replication within host organisms.
- Flow cytometry is a laser- or impedance-based technique used in cell counting, cell sorting, biomarker detection and protein engineering, by suspending cells in a stream of fluid and passing them through an electronic detection apparatus.
- Mass spectrometry (MS) is an analytical technique that ionises chemical species and sorts the ions based on their mass-to-charge ratio.
- Confocal microscopy is an optical imaging technique for increasing optical resolution and contrast of a micrograph by means of adding a spatial pin-hole placed at the confocal plane of the lens to eliminate out-of-focus light.
- Cell-based assays are extremely useful for studying cellular mechanisms in a biological context.
- Apart from the wet lab techniques, data analysis using proper statistical methods and software is very important in biotechnology and medical research.
Biotechnology Engineering Eligibility Criteria
The minimum eligibility criteria required in order to pursue a BTech programme in Biotechnology states that a candidate should have completed their + 2 education with PCB. While there are engineering institutes that consider Mathematics a compulsory subject in order to offer admissions to candidates, institutes like JNU does not make maths mandatory for seeking admissions into the BTech in Biotechnology programmes. Candidates who have studied Biology in +2 can also apply for admissions.
Course Curriculum for Biotechnology Engineering
The syllabus and course curriculum for BTech in Biotechnology vary for each university. However, we have enlisted a general list of topics included in the course programmes.
Subjects
| Topics | Objective |
Inorganic chemistry | Chemical bonding Acids and Bases Catalysis Polymers Colloids | This course introduces the concepts of inorganic chemistry. |
Foundation course in physics | Interference by the division of wavefront Diffraction Polarization Introduction to lasers Fibre optical | This course is designed to provide fundamental knowledge of theories and concepts in physics. |
Life sciences | Origin of life Histology Nutrition Energy utilization | This course focuses on the discipline of Life Sciences and concepts related to it. |
Essential in mathematics | Algebra of matrices Quadratic forms Mean value theorems Partial derivatives | Mathematics is an essential part of the core curriculum for engineering courses. |
Concepts in biotechnology | Introduction to biotechnology Protein structure and engineering Plant cell culture | This course introduces to the discipline of biotechnology and explains some of the basic concepts of biotechnology. |
Introduction to computers | Introduction Data storage Programming using C | In this course, students learn the basics of computer and programming languages. |
Foundation course in organic chemistry | Electronic displacements Reactive intermediaries Stereochemistry | Organic Chemistry is an important subject in Biotechnology. This course explains the basic ideas in organic chemistry. |
Life sciences | Coordination and control Homeostasis Asexual reproduction | This course intends to study Life Science in a broader horizon. |
Electric sciences | Properties of conductor and insulators Alternating currents Measuring instruments Transformers | This paper focuses on the basic concepts of electronics and electrical science. |
Microbiology | Microbes in human life Functional anatomy Microbial growth | Microbiology is another important paper for Biotechnology. It introduces topics and concepts of microbiology. |
Bioenergetics | Biochemical evolution Carbohydrates Nucleic acids Lipids | This course focuses on the study of energy flow through living systems. |
Cell biology | Cell Nucleus Cell signalling Cell cycle and division | This course intends to study the structure and function of living cells. |
Chemical engineering | Chemical equations Hearts of solution The flow of incompressible fluids | This course focuses on the basic concepts of chemical engineering. |
Molecular biology | Structure and properties of nucleic acids DNA replication Gene mutation | This paper aims to study biological activity at the molecular level. |
Enzyme technology | Introduction to enzymes Specificity of enzymes Immobilization of enzyme | Enzyme technology is a subfield of biotechnology. This course introduces the concepts and theories of this field. |
Plant tissue culture | Cellular totipotency Cell and suspension culture Protoplast culture Haploid culture | This course studies techniques used to maintain or grow plant cells, tissues or organs artificially in a lab. |
Animal biotechnology | Introduction to animal tissue culture Design, layout and equipment Primary culture | It is the study of science and engineering to modify living beings. |
Developmental biology | History and basic concepts Germ cell morphogenesis | This course focuses on the study of the process by which animals and plants grow and develop. |
Biotechnology Engineering Career
A huge list of Pharmaceutical companies offers job opportunities for Biotechnology engineers. However, there are breweries, health care services, environmental departments also require biomedical engineers. Key responsibilities as a biotechnology engineer are to harness biological systems as a way of producing new products. As a professional, it is required to get into the nitty-gritty of how biological processes occur and also find ways to adapt, alter, change and control their function.
Biological technicians also work at Universities or commercial lab assisting in various researches. Biochemists, Biophysicists or Microbiologists are s few of the Biotechnology technicians job profiles.
Enlisted below is the list of a few reputed companies that offer job opportunities to Biotechnology engineering professionals.
Companies | Products and Services | About |
Siemens Healthcare
| Products Group: Hearing Instruments, Laboratory Diagnostics, Medical Imaging, Therapy Systems
| Siemens Healthcare is a medical technology company which is headquartered in Erlangen, Germany. |
Johnson & Johnson
| Medical Devices Products: Orthopedics , Cardiovascular Disease, Coronary Artery Disease, Peripheral Vascular and Obstructive Disease, Neurovascular Disease, Arrhythmias, Diabetes Care, Self-Measured Blood Glucose Monitors, Insulin Delivery Devices, Diagnostics,
| Johnson & Johnson is an American multinational medical device, pharmaceutical and consumer packaged goods manufacturer which was founded in 1886. |
Dräger
| Products: Anaesthesia Workstations, Consumables and Accessories, IT and Software Solutions, Patient Monitoring, Ventilation and Respiratory Monitoring, Warming Therapy and Neonatal Care
| Drägerwerk AG is a German company based in Lübeck which is involved in the manufacturing of breathing and protection equipment, gas detection and analysis systems, and noninvasive patient monitoring technologies |
Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGAA
| Products and services: Hemodialysis, Peritoneal dialysis, Acute dialysis, Infusion therapy, Transfusion technology, Liver support therapy
| Fresenius Medical Care is a German company specializing in the production of medical supplies, primarily to facilitate or aid renal dialysis. |
Stryker
| Product Categories: Laparoscopic cameras, endoscopy, Neurosurgical, Spine & ENT, OR Equipment and Connectivity, Surgical Navigation Software, OR Equipment and Connectivity
| Stryker Corporation is a Fortune 500 medical technologies firm based in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Stryker’s products include implants used in joint replacement and trauma surgeries; surgical equipment and surgical navigation systems; endoscopic and communications systems; patient handling and emergency medical equipment; neurosurgical, neurovascular and spinal devices; as well as other medical device products used in a variety of medical specialities. |
Philips Healthcare:
| Products and services: Radiography, Ultrasound, Diagnostic ECG, Patient monitoring, Mammography, Computed tomography,
| Koninklijke Philips N.V. (stylized as PHILIPS) is a Dutch technology company. Philips Healthcare is headquartered in both Best, Netherlands (near Eindhoven) and Andover, Massachusetts, United States (near Boston) |
Samsung Healthcare:
| Products: Digital Radiography, Ultrasound, Ultrasound,
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Smiths Medical
| Products: Anesthesia Airway, Infusion Systems, Interventional Imaging, Pain Management, Patient Monitoring, Pressure Monitoring, Respiratory, Tracheostomy Tubes and Kits, Vascular Access, Ventilation
| Smiths Medical is a leading supplier of speciality medical devices and consumables that are vital to patient care around the world. |
Toshiba Medical Systems:
| Products: Computed Tomography, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Ultrasound, X-Ray, Nuclear Medicine
| Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation is a medical equipment company based in ?tawara, Tochigi, Japan. |
Olympus Medical:
| Products: Imaging systems, Endoscopes, Endotherapy devices, Hand Instruments.
| Olympus is a pioneer in innovative technologies in endoscopy and laparoscopy and supports healthcare professionals to improve the quality of patient care. |
Karl Storz:
| Product Groups: Videoscopes, Borescopes, Flexoscopes, Light sources, Measurement Systems and Documentation, Portable Systems
| KARL STORZ Endoscopy-America, Inc., is a leading provider of reusable products for endoscopy and related medical technologies. |
Allengers Medical Systems:
| Products profile: Radiology, Cardiology, Urology, Neurology, Orthopaedics, IT solutions.
| Incorporated in the year 1987, Allengers Medical Systems Ltd. is headquartered at Chandigarh, India, and is one of the leading manufacturers and exporters of a wide range of medical diagnostic equipment comprising X-ray systems, DR systems, DSA systems, C-arms, Cathlabs, Remote controlled RF table, Mammography, Lithotripters, OPG, MPM, ECG, EEG, EMG, PSG, etc. Known for functionally superior and cost-effective nature, all the products offered by us are manufactured using the finest quality raw material. |
Abbott
| Product range: Anti-Coagulants, Cardiology, Immunology, Neurology, Thyroid, Diabetes & Urology,
| Abbott has a broad range of branded generic pharmaceuticals, medical devices, diagnostics, and nutrition products. The company’s in-vitro diagnostics business performs immunoassays and blood screening. Its medical tests and diagnostic instrument systems are used worldwide by hospitals, laboratories, blood banks, and physician offices to diagnose and monitor diseases such as HIV, hepatitis, cancer, heart failure and metabolic disorders, as well as assess other indicators of health. |
Hamilton Medical
| Product Range: Ventilators, Respiratory care supplies
| Hamilton Medical provides intelligent ventilation solutions for all patients and situations. |
A huge list of Pharmaceutical companies offers job opportunities for Biotechnology engineers. However, there are breweries, health care services, environmental departments also require biomedical engineers. Key responsibilities as a biotechnology engineer are to harness biological systems as a way of producing new products. As a professional, it is required to get into the nitty-gritty of how biological processes occur and also find ways to adapt, alter, change and control their function.
Biological technicians also work at Universities or commercial lab assisting in various researches. Biochemists, Biophysicists or Microbiologists are s few of the Biotechnology technicians job profiles.
Enlisted below is the list of a few reputed companies that offer job opportunities to Biotechnology engineering professionals
FAQs Related to BioTechnology Engineering
Q. Why should one choose Biotechnology as a career option?
A. It is one of the fastest-growing sectors in India and expected to be a 100 billion dollar industry by 2025. Moreover, it encompasses the vibrant biotech industry, innovative entrepreneurial ecosystem, and better industry-academia interface that will help one to have a stable professional career with lots of opportunities.
Q. How did Biotechnology develop as a branch of science and technology?
A. Better integration of biology with physical, computational and earth science, mathematicians, and engineering helped the stream to find solutions to societal needs such as sustainable food production, ecosystem restoration, optimised biofuels production and improvement in human health.
Q. What is the scope for Biotechnology graduates?
A. Biotechnology has emerged as a major subject of study in graduate and postgraduate programmes. The scope for students of Biotechnology for the coming years is immense. Incubation centers created by the government are also aiding towards the potential production of human resources in the field.
Q. Please provide me more information about graduate and postgraduate programmes in biotechnology?
A. Candidates can check the article above to get all the information about the various course eligibility and scope after completion of any degree course.
Q. What are the things a candidate keep in mind while preparing for the job interview in the field of Biotechnology?
A. For the interview, candidates must brush up their basic science fundamentals about Biotechnology. He also should go through the job profile thoroughly before appearing in the interview.
Q. What kinds of jobs are available in the field of Biotechnology?
A. Biotechnology related jobs are available both in the public and private sectors. One can join national and international research institutes at positions such as scientists, research assistants, research associates, technical assistants or technical officers, pool officers, etc. Candidates can also get into production and quality management divisions of the food & pharmaceutical industry, drug & vaccine industry, dairy, etc.
Q. What is the global-scope of the subject?
A. Knowledge and technology sharing amongst different nations are growing fast in this field and provide opportunities for global exposure. Bio-services is another sector requiring manpower with base in biotechnology.
Q. What are the areas in which research is carried out under Biotechnology?
A. The key areas of research are:
- Medical Biotechnology
- Plant Biotechnology
- Environmental Biotechnology
- Applied Microbiology
- Bioinformatics
