Biotechnology – A promising Career Opportunity
by Aasis Vinayak.P.G.
There is much talk about ‘Biotechnology’. It even turned into a part of out routine chats. Biotechnology is one of the most emerging carrier opportunities in India as well as abroad. There were tremendous improvements in output from the biology section in the past one decade. The surfacing of new technologies also contributed a lot. The developments in full genome sequencing project under takings, comprising human genome, have resulted in engendering very large data.
There are sub fields here also. Few are noted as Red Biotechnology which can be practical to medical processes. Say making organisms suitable to manufacture antibiotics, and the engineering of genetic cures to heal diseases using ‘genomic manipulation’. White Biotechnology , (also grey biotechnology), is biotechnology applied to industrial processes. Say using an organism to produce a useful chemical. The next in this group is Green Biotechnology which is generally useful to agricultural processes. Bioinformatics is another field allied to Biotechnology which generally addresses biological problems deploying computational techniques (also called computational biology). It takes part in a vital character in various areas like structural genomics, functional genomics, and proteomics. Another is blue biotechnology, which is application of Biotechnology in the marine and aquatic division.
There are so many institutes who offer courses (and jobs too – in research field and teaching position). The main institutes who offer research assistance in India include Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD), Hyderabad ; Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD), Imphal, Manipur ; Institute of Life Sciences, Bhuvaneswar ; National Institute Of Immunology, New Delhi ; National Centre For Plant Genome Research (NCPGR), JNU, New Delhi ; National Brain Research Centre (NBRC), Gurgaon ; National Centre for Cell Sciences, Pune . In the public sector undertaking side the leaders are Bharat Immunologicals & Biologicals Corporation Limited, Bulandshahar and Indian Vaccines Corporation Limited, Gurgaon.
Hardly the younger generation understands that India was the first nation to institute (in 1987) a Biotechnology Information System (BTIS) network to craft an infrastructure that facilitates it to harness, “biotechnology through the application of Bioinformatics”. The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) says: “BTIS is today recognized as one of the major scientific network in the world dedicated to provide the-state-of-the-art infrastructure, education, manpower and tools in bioinformatics.” It further states “The principal aim of the bioinformatics programme is to ensure that India emerges as a key international player in the field of bioinformatics; enabling a greater access to wealth of information created during the post-genomic era and catalyse the country’s attainment of lead position in medical, agricultural, animal and environmental biotechnology. India should create a niche in Bioinformatics industry and would work to create bioinformatics industry with turnover of US$ 5 billion by the end of 10 th Plan period.”
There are various programmes which are formulated for skilled students. It includes – 1. in PG section the ongoing post-graduate biotechnology teaching courses include 27 M. Sc. Courses in General Biotechnology ; 7 M. Sc. Courses in Agriculture Biotechnology ; 1 M. Sc. Course in Medical Biotechnology ; 2 M. Sc. Courses in Marine Biotechnology ; 1 M. Sc. (3 years) in Neurosciences ; 6 M. Tech Courses in Biochemical Engineering, Bio-process Technology and Bio-technology ; 2 One-year Post MD/MS Certificate courses in Medical Biotechnology ; 2 One-year PG diploma courses in “ Molecular and Biochemical Technology” and “Genetic Engineering and Bioprocess Development.
Normally around 850 students are entering every year. Students can enter different universities based on their performance an all India joint (combined) entrance examination, conducted by Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi and IITs via ‘GATE’ in Two-year/4-semester M. Tech. courses and via JEE in Five-year integrated M. Tech. Courses in Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology. To get information about JNU entrance examinations contact:
Dr. S. Chandrasekaran
Coordinator (Evaluation) Academic,
Administrative Building
JNU, New Delhi – 110 067
Addresses of Other Institutes offering M.Sc. in Biotechnology can be found here.
There are various post doctoral fellowship programmes being offered by DBT. It is mainly through Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore . The selected fellows can choose the R&D organization or university. As per this programme, Post Doctoral Fellowship of Rs. 11,000/- per PDF per month and contingency grant of Rs. 50,000/- per PDF per annum is offered for the period of 2 years. Assortment is done by the specialist team constituted at Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore . For details you can contact the coordinator
Prof. K. Muniyappa
Deptt. of Biochemistry,
Indian Institute of Science,
Bangalore —560 012 (Karnataka)
There is good news for the students of plus two level. DBT is offering scholarships in Biology at the CBSE 10+2 level examinations. Each scholarship award comprises of Rs. 15,000/-, a gold plated medal and a certificate of merit. Selection of the 25 students is prepared from the merit list made available by CBSE listing who are pursuing higher education in biology or allied subjects after 10+2, which includes Biotechnology.
In the pinnacle of publicly-traded biotechnology companies (ranked by 2003 sales), the first 10 ones are: Amgen, Genentech, Serono, Biogen Idec, Chiron Corporation, Genzyme, MedImmune, Pfizer, Millennium Pharmaceuticals and Applied Bio-systems. With the emergence of new opportunities in Biotechnology job slice is increasing by leaps and bounds. Indian Government is starting Biotechnology parks in various states to improve the infrastructural side of the country. India is a good destination for the aspirants in Biotechnology career.
About the Author : Aasis Vinayak.P.G. is a young Inventor from Kerala.He invented a unique water-drawing system, which will a boon to the
crisis-ridden power sector. Aasis has developed the system using the gravitational force and atmospheric pressure. He writes articles for http://www.successcds.net
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