Careers in Biotechnology, a Counselor's Guide to the Best Jobs
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Careers in BIOTECHNOLOGY A Counselor’s Guide to the Best JJbobs in the UUidnited States 3rd Edition Animal Caretaker Animal Technician Bioinformatics Specialist Clinical Research Associate Documentation Coordinator Forensic DNA Analyst By Greenhouse and Field Technician Greenhouse and Field Worker Gina Frierman-Hunt Health and Safety Specialist Instrumentation/Calibration Technician Julie Solberg Laboratory Assistant Laboratory Automation Specialist California Community Colleges Laboratory Support Worker Economic Workforce Development Laboratory Technician California Applied Biotechnology Centers Manufacturing Assistant Statewide Initiative and Hubs Manufacturing Technician Material Handler Quality Assurance Specialist Quality Co nt ro l Tec hnic ia n Research Associate Sales Representative Scientist Technical Service Representative cccbiotech.org Careers in Biotechnology 3rd Edition A Counselor’s Guide to the Best Jobs in the United States By Gina Frierman‐Hunt Julie Solberg Sponsored by: California Community Colleges Economic and Workforce Development Program California Applied Biotechnology Centers and Hubs www.cccbiotech.org and Bio‐Link, a National Science Foundation Advanced Technology Education Center www.bio‐link.org © Chancellors Office California Community Colleges Careers in Biotechnology may be copied and used by educators and counselors. Please acknowledge the source when making electronic or printed copies. The third edition is a joint project of the California Applied Biotechnology Centers and Hubs, California Community Colleges Economic and Workforce Development Program and Bio-Link, a National Science Foundation Advanced Technology Education Center. The Biotechnology Centers Directors are: Los Angeles / Orange County Biotechnology Center Wendie Johnston, Ph.D. Hosted by Pasadena City College (626) 507-8488 California Applied Biotechnology Center-North Valley Director: TBA Hosted by American River College (916) 484-8660 Northern California Bay Area Biotechnology Center Josie Sette M.S. Hosted by Ohlone College (510) 979-7952 Southern California Biotechnology Center Sandra Slivka Ph.D. Hosted by Miramar College (619) 388-7490 Northern California Applied Biotechnology Center Hub at American River College Peter Matlock Southern California Biotechnology Center Hub at Pasadena City College Richard Johnston Biotechnology Initiative - California Community Colleges, Economic and Workforce Development Jeffery O’Neal, State Director For more information about the California Colleges Biotechnology Initiative, visit the website at www.cccbiotech.org To obtain additional copies of this guide, contact your area regional biotechnology center. Contents 1. Biotechnology in the United States 6 2. Qualifications, Training and Interests 29 3. Best Jobs in Biotechnology 57 4. Finding a Job 141 5. Bibliography and Acknowledgements 156 6. Glossary 165 Careers in Biotechnology 3 How to Use This Guide How to use this guide This guide is a quick information source for counselors, instructors and any other person interested in a biotechnology career. Most of the guide is about entry level jobs for people holding high school diplomas, associate or bachelor’s degrees. Pages are easily photocopied or available in electronic format from www.cccbiotech.org. Chapters and subsections can be quickly referenced using the tabs. Chapter 1: Biotechnology in the United States • Why choose a career in biotechnology? • Definition • History • Products • Jobs and job locations • Overviews of states with the highest number of biotech jobs Chapter 2: Qualifications, Training and Interests • Required skills • Community College biotechnology programs • Bioscience/related community college programs • Interests, Education and Training • Where to find a job • Map of California Community College Applied Biotechnology Centers Chapter 3: Best Jobs in Biotechnology • A total of 23 entry‐level and other jobs in alphabetical order • Skill, Training, interests • Wages • Training programs at the Community College level Chapter 4: Finding a Job • Find biotechnology employers in each state • How of fine a job • List of web sites useful to job seekers Chapter 5: Bibliography and Acknowledgements—References used for this edition of Careers in Biotechnology including people who kindly helped with information. Chapter 6: Glossary—definitions of technical terms. This section provides definitions of technical terms used in this book. Careers in Biotechnology 4 Chapter 1 Biotechnology in the United States Why Choose a Career in Biotechnology 6 What is Biotechnology? 6 How is Biotechnology Used? 10 Biotechnology Job Areas 16 Biotechnology Employment in the United States 19 Outlook for the Future 26 Careers in Biotechnology 5 Biotechnology in the United States Why Choose a Career in Biotechnology? ‐ Because you can help save lives, cure diseases, help feed the hungry, help create a substitute for oil energy use, and be a pioneer in green technology. The people who work in biotechnology make discoveries at the forefront of science in the areas of • drug discovery, • food and fiber crop improvement, • environmental protection and • manufacturing (medical devices, biotech drugs and other bioscience products). Biotechnology is a growing industry in United States offering excellent opportunities, pay and benefits. Many positions are available for people with a background in biological science with good laboratory and computer science skills. What is Biotechnology? ‐ Definition: The use of advances in life science to create products and services for our world. The products of biotechnology come from living things called organisms. The science of biotechnology is based on the DNA molecules located in the cells of each living organism. Only in the second half of the 20th century did scientists begin to learn how DNA controls the characteristics of living organisms (including plants, animals and bacteria and the viruses that infect them). Major Event Timeline 1972—The “birth” of biotechnology is generally dated from 1972, when three scientists developed a modified DNA molecule by transplanting or “recombining” DNA from two different organisms. Before that, DNA had been moved between organisms that were the same. 1976—Genentech Incorporated was founded. 1982—Genentech was approved to sell the first biotech drug, human insulin. Insulin occurs naturally in human beings except for people with diabetes. Before 1982, insulin was harvested from blood of other animals so supply was limited and expensive. Human insulin was developed by moving an insulin gene (a piece of DNA) from a human cell to cells of a bacterium called E. coli. Putting this human insulin gene into bacteria meant that the supply of insulin Careers in Biotechnology 6 could be greatly increased and would be less expensive. To make enough insulin to sell, millions upon millions of bacterial cells with the human gene were grown in bioreactors, then the human insulin was harvested, bottled and sold. This date marked the beginning of making profit from biotechnology. The San Francisco Bay Area, where Genentech Inc. began, remains one of the major centers of biotechnology in the United States. U.S. and global biotechnology companies apply science to many areas to: • develop medicines that help patients with AIDS, stroke, heart disease, asthma, cancer, diabetes and many other diseases. • develop diagnostic tests used for pregnancy, AIDS, cancer and other conditions. The techniques of biotechnology are • use in agriculture, industrial applications, forensics and security, mining, biofuels and environmental cleanup. • Overlap between biotechnology and other areas include nanotechnology, anthropology, instrumentation, and supplies. 1980s—This decade produces hundreds of biotechnology advances too numerous to repeat here. 1988—Congress funded the Human Genome Project, one of the most ambitious undertakings of the biotechnology community. The purpose of this Project was to decode the entire genetic sequence of humans. Other countries became involved as well, as did a private company that wanted to patent human genes. Due to a race to complete the sequence with public and not private funds and prevent human gene patenting, the code was completed in just twelve years. 1998—the C. elegans worm genome sequenced. 2000—Government and private researchers announced the completed mapping the sequence of the human genome. 2001—Rice genome sequenced, the first food plant genome, which could help create nutrient rich rice to help feed people in developing countries. 2002—Japanese puffer fish genome sequenced 2003—Dog, chicken, laboratory rat, and chimpanzee genomes sequenced 2006—Malaria parasite genome sequenced, which is planned to lead to a better understanding of malaria and help scientists treat and prevent it. 2008—Duckbilled platypus genome sequenced Careers in Biotechnology 7 Other Biotechnology Breakthroughs The 1990s… • Human Genome project launched • In vitro testing technique unveiled • Flavrsavr tomato produced, first whole food produced through biotechnology • First mammal cloned, Dolly the sheep • Commercial genetically modified crops grown worldwide reach 5 million acres • First complete animal genome, the C. elegans worm, is sequenced In the 2000s… • Genetically modified crops growth reaches 122 million acres in more than 18 countries including the United States • First complete food plant, rice, is sequenced • Japanese develop a biotech coffee bean that is naturally decaffeinated • The United Nations endorses biotech crops •