December’s Career of the Month is Biotechnology

Biotechnology refers to the use of living organisms or their products to modify human health and the human environment.

Biotechnology has been around since prehistoric times. The discovery that milk could be converted into cheese and yogurt and that humans could plant their own crops and breed their own animals are just a few examples of biotechnology in action. You might picture a scientist in a white lab coat developing drugs for depression or cancer when you think of this career. You would be right but there are SO many additional career opportunities in the field of biotechnology and here are a few more examples:

• Environmental biotechnology products make it possible to clean up hazardous waste more efficiently by harnessing pollution-eating microbes without the use of caustic chemicals.
• Industrial biotechnology applications have led to cleaner processes that produce less waste and use less energy and water in such industrial sectors as chemicals, pulp and paper, textiles, food, energy, and metals and minerals. For example, most laundry detergents produced in the United States contain biotechnology-based enzymes.
• DNA fingerprinting, a biotech process, has dramatically improved criminal investigation and forensic medicine, as well as afforded significant advances in anthropology and wildlife management.

Additionally, there are career opportunities that range from sales and marketing to research development to manufacturing and quality control. This is a field that is constantly growing; the number of employees in this field has increased by more than 90% over the last ten years!

Education and training requirements vary greatly depending on the type of position and the industry sector. This degree will require a substantial background interest in math and science. The education needed for specific positions varies from an Associate’s degree all the way to a Doctoral degree. While many positions require a 4 year (Bachelors degree,) a significant number of positions now require a two year degree or less.
Check out the Associate’s degree program in Biotechnology at Mount Wachusett Community College for an example of how to get started and which courses you will have to take in college. www.mwcc.edu