Wednesday, December 15, 2010

India is likely to rely a great deal on biotechnology

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India is likely to rely a great deal on biotechnology in food crops to ease growing demand for food amid rising prices, even though the country has clamped a moratorium on Bt brinjal, its first genetically engineered food crop. A working group suggest for long-term solutions to high food inflation, which submitted its report to the PM on Wednesday, has said a second green revolution would not be possible without biotechnology-led breakthroughs.To solve this type of problem Biotechnology jobs should increase in India.

“A second Green Revolution focusing on the rainfed areas is possible only through a technological breakthrough in the use of bio-technology … by evolving plant varieties resistant to pest and diseases, tolerant to adverse weather conditions, better nutritional value and enhanced durability of product,”

The working group, one of the three set up by the PM to look into ways to cool prices, has advised loans for farmers at not more than 4% and called for MSP that are 50% higher than cost of cultivation. Ironically, yearly increases in MSP, or the floor price, are one of the reasons for rising food costs.

India could raise overall food production by around 36% by rising Biotechnology jobs if widespread yield gaps can be bridged, the report has said. “If we take up average yields in deficient states, we can produce an additional 80 million more tonnes of foodgrains. This is do-able,” agriculture secretary PK Basu said.

Friday, December 10, 2010

Media Misinformation Puts a Spin on the Biotech Job Market

recently in a popular annualized directory of careers that the bio pharma industry is superhot. In fact, the publication goes on to say that if you are a biologist--B.S., M.S., or Ph.D.--you will be earning a mid level salary of $93,000. According to the directory, salaries, benefits, and work hours in biology are among the best for any career choice and in any industry.

Sounds wonderful. But this isn't the biotechnology job that I've been working in for many years!

In fact, nothing about biotechnology jobs in that publication rings true. Although some senior scientists with special expertise might earn more than six figures, they are not in the majority. Perhaps the authors forgot about the many postdocs earning $30,000 and an equally large number of B.S.-level research associates running assays for $40,000 a year. And how about those Forest Service and Fisheries biologists earning $25,000 to $30,000?

Further reading only supports the conclusion that the comments about work hours appear to be pure fiction as well. This book states that biologists get high marks for quality of life because of their 45-hour workweek. (Do you know anyone in biotech who works a 45-hour workweek? Neither do I.)

Just what is going on here? Why is the biotechnology job market being presented in such glowing terms by the lay press?

Friday, May 7, 2010

Exploring Careers in Biotechnology

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Choosing a career is a very exciting, yet challenging task. There are many different fields that a person can choose from when deciding how they would like to spend most of their time in life. It is essential to select a career that offers you the ability to maximize the unique talents and abilities that you have. Sometimes, people who are researching career paths must take a step back to see what the future holds. For many of these individuals, a career in biotechnology seems to be the answer. Here, we will explore careers in the field of biotechnology so that you can better understand exactly what this career consists of, and the opportunities you may experience as a result of choosing this career.

When you pursue a career in biotechnology, you will be entering the branch of science that is responsible for taking basic living things, such as cells, and generating new items to benefit the quality of life for humans. The products that you will be taking part in creating may be various items in the pharmaceutical field, environmental products, items that can assist in various aspects of the agricultural field, as well as items that are diagnostic in nature. This career uses both science and technology in order to create items that will benefit society as a whole.

When working in biotechnology, you have the opportunity to choose from a wide assortment of exciting jobs. The following outlines some basic jobs that one may select from in the biotechnology field:

Administrative Positions in Biotechnology

Human Resources Administrator of Patents Recruiter

Research Positions in Biotechnology

Laboratory Personnel - These particular positions involve performing an assortment of tasks that are directly related to experiments that are occurring in the research department.
Research Specialists - This specialist works closely with others in order to establish important scientific data on the experiment being conducted.
Breeder in Plants - These specialists focus on taking various parts of plants and similar molecular setups and using them in order to create new and unique forms of life.

Information Positions in Biotechnology

Marketing Positions - This person is responsible for evaluating trends in the competitive market and promoting products in such a manner that will establish long term clients.
Programmers - Develops computer programs in order to conduct and track various procedures and operations within the biotechnology field.
Sales - This position is just as it states; a person who promotes the sales of products that are created within the biotechnological field.

Quality Positions in Biotechnology

Quality Control Specialists âEUR" This person will focus on reviewing materials used in various experiments to ensure that the proper level of quality is maintained for maximum results.
Technician - This job requires an individual to ensure that all jobs are worked on and completed by means of meeting all legal and regulatory standards as outlined for that particular task.
Engineer - This job requires one to ensure that a job or experiment is completed to finish while maintaining a high level of quality.

Clinical Positions in Biotechnology

Clinical Administrator - this job requires that all data is collected, preserved, and entered about tasks in the clinical part of the biotechnology career.
Coordinator - Establishes tasks as outlined on the basis of scientific process.
Technical Writer - Writes and edits operations, clinical studies, manuals, and similar documents.

When choosing to pursue one of the above mentioned careers in biotechnology, or any of the others not listed as examples here, it is important to understand what type of education is required. In order for this to be properly determined, it is important for you to conduct a search on the particular job in the field that interests you. You may do this by performing an internet search, or by contacting a company that you are interested in being hired with. Normally, you will require at least a two year college education with course work and laboratory experience in the job that you choose. Science and math courses are two essential keys in the education of a biotechnological science major.

There are many different wages offered for jobs in the biotechnology field. These wages are determined by many different things. The first is the education that is required to perform a particular job. The second depends on various job environments. The third depends on if the company is privately owned, or if the government owns the biotechnology company that you choose to work for. Basic jobs in biotechnology that require little education and training must pay at least the standard minimum wage in the particular state that it operates. The highest paid positions in the biotechnology field can offer hundreds of thousands of dollars each year.

Friday, April 16, 2010

Tips for Pharmacist job interview

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Obtaining a job in the medical industry can be highly competitive. One medical career area that has becoming increasingly more competitive is Pharmacy. Candidates must prepare for a job interview much like they would for a Pharmacy exam. Adequately preparing for a Pharmacist job interview will increase the chances of landing a career in your most preferred job location.

The following is a list of helpful tips to help one get ready for a Pharmacist job interview:

  • Research All Aspects of the Job: Find out more about the company by researching their website and talking to past employees. Make sure you know exactly what the position entails. This can include responsibilities, hours of operation, management, number of employees...etc. Make sure your resume is up-to-date and includes information that is relevant to the position of which you are applying. You can also drive to the location before the interview to make sure you know exactly where it is.
  • Create Possible Employer Questions and Practice Answers: You should come up with various questions an employer may ask. You can then practice answering them. You can work on content, speech pattern, and body language. Create some difficult questions to answer so that you are thoroughly prepared.
  • Create Your own Questions: The interviewer will ask if you have any questions. Make sure your questions are relevant to the position you are applying for. Don't ask a question that is too simple. You have to show you are interested in the organisation and the job.
  • Prepare a List of Your Strengths and Weaknesses: Create a list of your strengths and weaknesses and make sure you include a story or example that highlights your strengths. With your weaknesses, explain the weakness and how you overcame it. Also, show how your strengths are an asset for the job. You have to make sure that you can sell your strengths. Provide examples that show how your strengths have made a positive impact in your or another organization. Keep the stories short. Rehearse several times before the interview.
  • Highlight Accomplishments; Prepare a list of your accomplishments and how these accomplishments will be an asset to the organization. Explain the process of achieving the accomplishment that will include skills such as working well with others, being a team player, technical and medical skills, leadership skills...etc.
  • Prepare For Arrival: Prepare to arrive 10 minutes early for the interview. Check your appearance in the washroom. Don't chew any gum and greet the employer by making eye contact and shaking his or her hand. Make sure that you smile and are friendly with the employees. You should be dressed professionally and in a conservative business outfit. Your outfit should be clean and pressed.
  • Employers looking to fill a pharmacy job know exactly what kind of employee will be a valuable addition to their organization. Preparing for a job as a Pharmacist entails coming up with information that will show that you will be an efficient, well-liked, and qualified contributor to the organization. The goal of the job interview is to leave a positive long-lasting impression. By going into the interview well-prepared, you will drastically increase your chances of getting hired.

Hospital Job Offer Excellent Pay And Benefits When Compared To Other Entry-Level Jobs

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If you are searching for a job, an excellent place to put your application is in a hospital. Hospitals hire a lot more than just registered nurses, doctors and pharmacist. Hospitals have need for every type of worker just as other corporations do.

Hospital jobs usually pay a higher rate for entry-level positions. Many hospital jobs are union. Another benefit of working for a hospital is health care. Hospital jobs usually offer the best health care benefits because these benefits must be comparable to the benefits afforded the professional staff which is comprised of Doctors and Nurses.

Hospital jobs offer employee benefits that are equal or better than the majority of other industries. The benefit programs are constantly being reviewed to provide a high level employee retention program. With nursing shortages and doctor retention problems, hospitals realize that they need to provide the best in health care benefits for their employees.

Whether you are trained as a secretary, IT professional or have janitorial experience, a hospital job may be something to consider hospital jobs offer some other unique advantages.

You can be assured that you will work in a clean safe environment. By its very industry standards, hospitals must maintain a clean healthy environment. Hospitals are held to a higher standard than other industries so you do not have to worry about working around being unprotected working with toxic chemicals.

Hospitals are particularly compliant with OSHA standards whose mission is to "assure safe and healthful working conditions for today's workers. Hospitals are mandated to provide a safe work environment."

Hospitals have superior Human Resources Departments that search for interview and hire top-notch talent. These Human Resources department put guidelines in place that insure that personnel are treated fairly. Because most hospitals have some type of government involvement, they are very forward thinking in the way employees are treated.

For the most part hospital jobs offer a pleasant employee interface. People who have dedicated their lives to helping others are usually pleasant people to work with. Hospitals have codes of conduct that dictate how people are treated within the workplace.

The chance for advancement is high in hospitals. With training you can move from one position to another with relative ease. Hospital jobs often offer tuition reimbursement to individuals who want to major in subject that will benefit their jobs and the hospital.

A hospital needs a variety of skills to run their operation. It does not matter what your work history contains, there is probably a hospital job that you can apply for and get hired. No matter where you start in a hospital job, there will be room for advancement.

The level of experience that you can obtain by being associated with medical care professional will help you decide on a career path. Whether you want to be involved in direct patient care or go to school to do medical research, starting a hospital job can be the first step for you to reach your career goals.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Biotech Companies Are A Focus Point For Investors

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Most of the world's population is getting older and demanding more medication and procedures to keep them in good health. That makes biotech companies particularly attractive to investors. Not only do these companies provide potential employment opportunities for many, they also may offer the investor an opportunity to offset some of the losses experienced in other sectors. For those investing in their future by seeking careers in biotech, the area also provides ample opportunity for growth and solid employment.

Buying stock or seeking jobs in this area both require vigilance in selecting the right company. In many ways, job or career seeking individuals look for the same stability and financial strength as investors. Both groups depend on the company sustaining growth and remaining strong even during tough economic times so selecting the right company becomes imperative for both groups of people.

According to a recently published report by Ernst & Young, LLP called "Focus on Fundamentals: The Biotechnology Report," The companies involved in the biotechnology sector provide greater security to both the job seeker and investor because of their investment in not only the research and development of new products but also their investment in their future by retaining secure capital reserves.

Company philosophy, sales growth, profitability, trading stability, level of debt and employee performance among other factors, all play an important role in the company's financial success. These are important factors to consider regardless of the sector, before purchasing a stock or seeking employment. Each company grows its business differently from others. Look for a company that offers potential for growth without sacrificing its profitability or financial strength.

Some companies, for instance, believe that bigger is better regardless of financial situations. During hard economic times, maintaining a company with a high level of debt often calls for layoffs, thus creating investor concern and lower stock prices. It should also be of concern for those seeking a career. If the company has to cut back employees, your job may be on the line at a time where other employment is difficult to find.

While a Large Biotech Company is a sign of prestige to both investor and those seeking careers, smaller companies may offer big opportunities. If you find a smaller company that formed alliances with a larger more established pharmaceutical firm, you may have a bigger potential for growth in the areas of both jobs and the future growth of stock prices.

These companies caught the eye of large pharmaceutical firms that recognize marketable products. The larger company has the resources to not only do additional research on the smaller company's product and get it to market but also know the potential for sales of the product. Those seeking careers with this type of smaller company should look into the potential of stock purchase programs as part of the company's financial package.

Strong fundamentals, a good pipeline of products and a competent team at the helm of the company offer the investor and those seeking careers an abundant opportunity for a secure and prosperous future. As the American public ages, more and more demand creates an ever-growing need for the products produced by those in the biotech sector. This does not mean that the investor should stop using fiscally sound practices of diversification, quite the contrary. However, it does mean that the well-informed investor should include biotech stocks in their portfolio to boost their returns. Selecting the best companies in that sector will make a difference for fiscal future of both the job seeker and investor.

Growing Career Opportunities In Biotechnology

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Biotechnology unifies biology and technology by covering a wide range of subjects like agriculture, animal husbandry, biochemistry, bio-statistics, cell biology, chemistry, crop management, cropping system, ecology, engineering, genetics, health, immunology, medicine, microbiology, plant physiology, soil science, soil conservation, seed technology, and virology, etc. In biotechnology the living things, especially cells and bacteria are used in industrial process. Through these researches, various medicines, and vaccines are developed.

Scope of biotechnology in India

There is an immense possibility of getting jobs in this field as the demand for biotechnologists is growing in India as well as abroad. It is estimated that more than 6000 biotechnologists of top skill are required in India as per the survey made by the Human Resource Development Ministry.

Eligibility criteria to get into the field of biotechnology

The eligibility for this field requires graduation in science that is in physics, chemistry and biology. There is B.Tech for the undergraduates. Some universities in India offer the B.Sc biotechnology for which you can join after class 12 or equivalent examination, with physics, chemistry and mathematics. Graduates in all sciences, engineering technology, or medicine are eligible for the postgraduate (M.Sc.) course in biotechnology.

There are P.G. courses available in M.Sc. Biotechnology, M.Sc. (Agriculture) Biotechnology, M.V.Sc. (Animal) Biotechnology, M.Tech. Biotechnology, M.Sc./M.V.Sc. in Veterinary Biotechnology, M.Sc. (Marine) Biotechnology and a host of other courses are available.

Institutes that provide biotechnology course

Here are some well-known institutions of biotechnology, which offer graduate courses in the subjects:

  • Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
  • Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi
  • Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi
  • GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Uttar Pradesh
  • National Centre for Plant Genome Research, New Delhi
  • National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi
  • National Dairy Research Institute, Bangalore

The following are some of the universities that also offer graduate and post graduate courses in biotechnology:

  • Osmania University, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh
  • Visva-Bharati, Birbhum, West Bengal
  • Madras University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
  • Biotechnology University of Mysore, Karnataka
  • Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
  • Benaras Hindu University
  • Patna University, Bihar
  • Rajasthan University, Rajasthan
  • Biotechnology Banglore University, Karnataka
  • Sai College Of Medical Science and Technology, Uttar Pradesh
  • Biotechnology Gulbarga University, Karnataka

Jobs in biotechnology

Biotechnology as a subject has grown rapidly. A biotechnologist can get into government institutes and organizations, such as Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Development of Education, Science and Technology at Thiruvananthapuram.

Other fields include agriculture, dairy and horticulture institutes. Pharmaceutical companies like Dabur, Ranbaxy, Hindustan Lever, and Dr. Reddy's Labs, and many more. Food processing industry, chemical industry, and the textile industry are the other areas where you can look for jobs. Hindustan Lever, Thapar Group, Indo American Hybrid Seeds, Bincon India Ltd., IDPL, Hindustan Antibiotics, etc. are some of the big companies that employ biotechnologists.

Remuneration in biotechnology field

India is the next biotech frontier and there's immense scope to earn a lot in this field, but as always, the more well read you are more the amount you can expect. The factors for remuneration depend upon academic qualification, institute or university from which the degree is attained and the level of work experience.

In the corporate sector, a fresher with B.Sc. or B.Tech. degree can expect somewhere from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 7,000 per month. Candidates with masters degrees, PhDs, or research background can expect Rs. 10,000 to Rs.15,000 per month. Salary increases with your experience, but due to lesser number of openings in this field as compared to other sectors, the salary hikes are low.