The Growing Field of Bioscience
So you think you'd like to work in bioscience. Well, if test tubes,
bacteria, biology and chemistry sound appealing, then you're probably on the
right track.
But working in bioscience doesn't mean that all you have to look forward
to is research and white lab coats. You might be working in the wetlands,
in a hospital or in a fancy office for a large corporation.
"Bioscience is a very broad area," says Albert Chudley. He is head of genetics
and metabolism at a children's hospital. He says students' career choices
can include fields such as research, medicine, genetics, drug development,
environmental sciences, agricultural sciences, aquaculture and forestry.
And because the field is so diverse, the type of education needed varies
greatly. Bioscience in the environment would require courses in biology and
ecology and perhaps botany. But if human clinical trials interest you, then
you'll need human biology courses and quite possibly a medical degree.
Because biotechnology is used in so many different industries, the field
of bioscience has grown rapidly worldwide in the last 20 years. As a result,
several different types of employees are now in demand.
Edward Jakobovits is president of SciWeb, Inc. He says biotechnology is
the next major growth industry after high tech. And the area that has seen
the biggest growth is the health-care industry, specifically in genetics and
drug development.
"Biotech is a really big business," says Jakobovits.
And that doesn't mean just research and development. "There's a lot more
to it than just that," he says. Drugs have to be created, tested, passed,
marketed and packaged.
Just the developing stage alone can take years. It involves several different
steps and several different people before the drug ever makes it to a clinical
trial.
"Someone first needs to understand the mechanisms of disease in the body,"
says Hans de Haan. He is the vice-president of career and professional development
for the American Academy of Pharmaceutical Physicians.
Medicinal chemists would start the process by studying the structure of
the body's chemicals. They would then develop new compounds that they think
would resist disease. These would then be tested by biologists or pharmacologists
to see if the drug had the desired effects.
Pathologists or toxicologists would then test the drug for safety in animal
systems. It would then be tested by pharmacologists to see if the product
was safe for human systems. From there, clinical researchers would test the
drug to see if it actually worked on humans.
Good career opportunities exist in all of these areas. "There's a shortage
of good scientists, and there are opportunities all over the country," says
de Haan.
So choosing any profession in bioscience is going to be a good career move.
And the best way to get started is with a degree in science.
However, an even better option, says Jakobovits, is earning a master's
or PhD. The more education you have, the better your chance of moving up the
corporate ladder.
In some cases, companies will offer to pay for an employee's continued
education. This option is definitely cheaper for the employee. But the process
takes a lot longer. Most employees are expected to work full time while going
to school at nights and on weekends.
Companies tend to offer this after an employee has been employed for a
specific amount of time. If you're not in a rush, and you can handle the cost
of earning a PhD, it's not a bad option.
Depending on the type of career you have in mind, a master's degree may
be enough. Andrea Shugar is a genetic counselor. She earned her master's degree
in genetic counseling.
She says there's not a lot of room for upward movement. But there is a
great opportunity to move laterally. That gives you the chance to experience
several different areas in genetics.
Genetic counseling is still a relatively new area. But "it has definitely
boomed," says Shugar. She adds that there are always lots of jobs available,
especially for genetic and molecular lab technologists.
Another area that needs qualified people is environmental science. Ken
Passarella owns his own private consulting firm in Florida. He says people
with degrees in the natural sciences are in demand.
Because there are several environmental regulations in Florida, a series
of steps must be followed before approval is gained to develop land. His firm
helps people get through these steps by ensuring the regulatory process goes
smoothly.
But employees must also know how to accurately determine soil types, plant
types, and the effects of water. That's why they need a degree in natural
sciences.
But not all careers in bioscience focus entirely on science activities.
Take sales and marketing, for example. Salespeople and marketers are needed
to sell and promote particular drugs and chemicals. Although a science background
helps, it isn't mandatory.
Computer programmers also play an important role in bioscience. They're
needed to maintain huge research databases. In fact, trained people are needed
in a relatively new career called bioinformatics, which is the use of computer
technology to manage biological information.
Administrative people are also required, such as accountants, lawyers,
human resource and communications people. Jakobovits adds that workers are
desperately needed to work in regulatory affairs and in patents.
Products need to be approved and patented by government bodies before they
can be sold.
Although some of these positions don't require science degrees, you can
never go wrong having some science in your background. On top of science skills,
Jakobovits insists that having good communication skills and being a team
player is critical.
But according to Chudley, there's something even more important than all
three of those together. "You have to want to make a difference," he says.
And that piece of advice will carry through to whichever field you choose.
"You just have to find your niche," says Jakobovits.
It seems there's a growing need for employees in all types of positions.
"And right now, we're just at the beginning," says Jakobovits.
Links
Society of Wetland Scientists
Jobs, training and education are just a few of the topics covered
at this site
BioJobBlog
An interesting blog with a focus on the job outlook
National Center for Biotechnology Information
Read up on interesting facts and findings in the world of biotechnology
Bioscience Magazine
Industry magazine with a wide range of material
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