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Job outlook for biotechnologists in the United States
Are biotechnologist jobs in demand?
Biotechnologist job and salary trends over time
Biotechnologist jobs over time
Biotechnologist job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 80 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 85 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 84 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 82 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 79 | 0.00% |
Average biotechnologist salary over time
Biotechnologist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $54,160 | $26.04 | +1.0% |
| 2024 | $53,599 | $25.77 | +3.1% |
| 2023 | $52,009 | $25.00 | +1.6% |
| 2022 | $51,191 | $24.61 | +3.0% |
| 2021 | $49,695 | $23.89 | +2.1% |
Biotechnologist jobs by state
Most common states for biotechnologists
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,004 | 15% |
| 2 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 77 | 11% |
| 3 | Vermont | 623,657 | 32 | 5% |
| 4 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 244 | 4% |
| 5 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 238 | 4% |
| 6 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 145 | 4% |
| 7 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 47 | 4% |
| 8 | Alaska | 739,795 | 32 | 4% |
| 9 | California | 39,536,653 | 1,118 | 3% |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 430 | 3% |
| 11 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 275 | 3% |
| 12 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 227 | 3% |
| 13 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 201 | 3% |
| 14 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 168 | 3% |
| 15 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 80 | 3% |
| 16 | New York | 19,849,399 | 477 | 2% |
| 17 | Texas | 28,304,596 | 457 | 2% |
| 18 | Ohio | 11,658,609 | 205 | 2% |
| 19 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 76 | 2% |
| 20 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 28 | 2% |
Most common cities for biotechnologists
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Decatur | 1 | 1% | $55,336 |
Biotechnologist job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of biotechnologist experts
Rollins College
Utah State University
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Georgetown University Medical Center
Utah Valley University
University of New Hampshire- Manchester
Georgetown University School of Medicine
University of Guam
Johns Hopkins University
Drexel University
University of Arizona
University of San Francisco
California University of Pennsylvania
Worcester State University
University of Wisconsin
Zach Russell
Associate Professor and Department ChairRollins College
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, And Population Biology
What experience really stands out on Biotechnologist resumes?
Zach Russell: The whole point of a resume is to stand apart from the crowd and do that while coming across as genuine. Anything that shows you are passionate about your field should be in there. It depends on the type of biology you are interested in.
One thing an employer usually wishes to see is hands-on experience, and particularly if you sought it out yourself. There is typically a story there. This can be shadowing doctors or working in an administrative position at a clinic in a clinical setting. Being exposed to multiple fields also helps assure an employer that you have tried different things and understand what you truly want. One great thing is showing that you volunteered your time at a nonprofit or something of this nature.
Another asset for a resume focused on biology is research experience. Biology is a science, and conducting research is the best way to apply the theories you learned. This can show employers that you understand the process of coming up with a solution to challenging problems. Another asset is computing and quantitative skills. This is often overlooked in biology training, but scientific tests itself, with statistics, is becoming increasingly challenged by issues like how to store, query, and analyze SO MUCH DATA. As technology advances, this will become more important, I feel.
How do you envision technology impacting Biotechnologists in the next 5 years?
Zach Russell: Biology always changes with technology, and new methods bring new challenges. The most significant impacts in the next five years will likely shift many things to remote learning and working. The pandemic has forced everything online and has shown us that many things "could have been an email." In the next five years, I envision collaborators on projects working entirely remotely and sharing their data. Also, many labs and clinical practices are starting to automate, whether through a robot system (like, say, automated pipettors) or advances in AI and machine learning. In as little as five years, I can see the classic biological training starting to look more like a computer course. Biologists will still need to know the necessary skills, but they will have to supplement their training to understand how and when to use the new technology.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Biotechnologists?
Zach Russell: I do not know the future; however, I am generally optimistic. The pandemic has highlighted, I feel, the role of science in our lives, and I like to think will open up new funding for the training of the next generation of scientists. Technological advancements have already changed the nature of education and how scientists work and engage with the community. Most graduates with a biology (or related) degree are interested in health and allied professions, and of course, this pandemic should reinvigorate them, in theory. I can see more funding and interest in health and health research in the coming years; however, this is dependent on how economics plays out. To a lesser extent, I think there is renewed interest in the environment, and I can see NGOs popping up that will require biology to institute sustainable solutions to problems.
One concern is if the pandemic takes years to subside, we could see a dip in educational abilities and skill sets with classes worldwide going virtual; however, I think the pandemic would need to take years for this to occur on a large-enough scale to matter.
Dr. Mrunalini Pattarkine PhD
ProfessorWhat general advice would you give to a Biotechnologist?
Dr. Mrunalini Pattarkine PhD: With the advancement in technologies and innovation, the industry will need a workforce that is firmly grounded in basic biotechnology concepts. The skills needed would be high-throughput assay development, integrated AI technologies for drug discovery and biomanufacturing, wearable biomedical devices, 3D cell culture, Bioprinting, microfluidics -these are some of the areas. Along with these technical skills, soft skills will be very critical. Teamwork, critical thinking, collaboration, time management, conflict resolution, and communication will be very important. Last but not least is networking. It is an important activity that will help professionally.
What Biotechnologist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Mrunalini Pattarkine PhD: Be aware of the industry needs and acquire knowledge that aligns with that need. Convince the employer how you can add value to their talent pool. Be confident in demonstrating that you are the best candidate for that position. While finishing education, look for opportunities to gain real-world hands-on experience.
What will help Biotechnologists increase their earning potential?
Dr. Mrunalini Pattarkine PhD: The biotechnology field is an interdisciplinary field of applied science. Certain concepts and technical skills are transferable across multiple sectors such as Biomanufacturing, Research-Development, Healthcare, as well as Regulatory -Quality Control fields. If one is interested in making a targeted approach to a certain industry, it is best to find programs (Harrisburg University MS BTEC program) that already has in-built specializations. These allow students to get specialized knowledge base and an option to customize their capstone portfolios. Being current with the emerging technologies and following an agile curriculum is very important. Our program has a tremendous advantage due to our corporate faculty who are seasoned industry professionals. Last but not least is networking. It is an important activity that will help professionally.
What general advice would you give to a Biotechnologist?
Ronald Sims: Communication skills, especially including verbal and visualization skills utilized in explaining complex biological processes and statistical design of experiments with interpretation of data. Be able to communicate with both scientists and engineers in addressing technical aspects and issues related to product development. Leadership and management skills related to team building and collaborative approaches, as well as sharing credit for accomplishments with others. Trust. An attitude of innovation and change for improvement in quality of the work or product. Computer management, modeling, and interrogation of large data sets of measurements is becoming increasingly important.
What Biotechnologist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Ronald Sims: Be flexible and adaptable in considering employers and employment opportunities to take advantage of the very broad field of biological engineering that includes bioprocess, biopharmaceutical, bioagricultural, bioenvironmental, and biomedical applications. Let the experiences of the first employment opportunity be your "real world teacher" to learn practical applications of theories from the classroom and academic laboratory sessions. These experiences will help you make decisions about future positions while you are building your resume with experience at the same time.
What will help Biotechnologists increase their earning potential?
Ronald Sims: Be less focused on jobs that are technician-oriented and involve operating automated diagnostic testing machines as these are generally much lower paying. Industry-based positions generally pay higher starting salaries than positions with government and consulting organizations. Demonstrate pro-active behavior, interest, and initiative in taking on new and difficult tasks. Demonstrate that you can represent the company or organization to outside audiences or at least show an interest in doing that (customer relations).
Adam Lowenstein
news bureau chiefWhat general advice would you give to a Biotechnologist?
Adam Lowenstein: Get in touch with as many people as possible in the field to showcase your Biotech knowledge. Research the Biotech companies around you. Use social media to make connections and expand your network.
What Biotechnologist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Adam Lowenstein: Teamwork and soft skills. Excellent communication and mindset for business. Computational and regulatory compliance knowledge.
What will help Biotechnologists increase their earning potential?
Adam Lowenstein: Identify areas of specialization that you like and that align with the goals of your company.
Professor Susan Bergeson
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Biotechnology
What general advice would you give to a Biotechnologist?
Professor Susan Bergeson: Ability to maximize use of AI, especially with large data sets requiring bioinformatics analyses
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Biotechnologists in the next 3-5 years?
Professor Susan Bergeson: Personalized medicine and better drug delivery have been, and will likely continue to be, areas of active research for the next decade. Honing specialized skills and advancing your knowledge of a broad spectrum of disease processes will likely pay dividends.
How would you rate the starting salaries for Biotechnologists, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Professor Susan Bergeson: Salaries for biotechnology technicians, research associates, and research scientists vary widely by experience and location. Graduates in biotechnology with engineering or bioinformatics backgrounds may start at higher salaries. I encourage my biotechnology students to consider adding an MBA as this broadens their potential for advancement and gives them a better understanding of how the company works while they simultaneously enjoy the scientific process.
What Biotechnologist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Professor Susan Bergeson: Do your homework. What is the track record for training and advancement of the company in which you seek to work?
What will help Biotechnologists increase their earning potential?
Professor Susan Bergeson: A joint MBA along with an MS in Biotechnology is usually helpful.
Ivica Labuda
Professor and DirectorGeorgetown University Medical Center
Department of Biochemistry Molecular and Cell Biology
What skills stand out on Biotechnologist resumes?
Ivica Labuda: Collaboration and flexibility Biotechnology is an extremely varied field that offers many opportunities for those with either deep domain knowledge in a specific field or with diverse, cross-field skillsets. For example, laboratory expertise opens the door to basic research and quality control jobs, while fermentation and bioprocessing skills allow graduates to enter the manufacturing space. A deep understanding of the regulatory and policy landscape is tremendously important in industry-guiding careers. This is why tailoring one's studies towards a particular field are critical and reflects well on resumes. As one builds deep knowledge in multiple biotechnology sub-fields over the course of a career, one's opportunities multiply.
What soft skills should all Biotechnologists possess?
Ivica Labuda: Time management and a positive attitude. Some key soft skills that are rewarded in biotech workplaces are time management and effective teamwork. With a lot of impressive competition, it's soft skills and a positive personality that allow graduates to succeed.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Biotechnologists?
Ivica Labuda: The competitive nature of the industry means that strong technical skills are a must. Technical skills like a fairly deep knowledge of biology and chemistry, current industry best practices, and recent biotech developments are a prerequisite for success, as they give students the deep foundation and comprehension needed to make difficult project-specific decisions in manufacturing, regulatory, policy, or business issues.
What skills will help Biotechnologists earn the most?
Ivica Labuda: The most important skills are those that will put the graduate on their unique path to personal success. At the end of the day, if you're dedicated to your craft and work hard with an open mind, the monetary reward will come. Not just that, you'll be able to help others and improve global society. The key is simple, honest hard work.
Jim Price Ph.D.
Faculty MemberUtah Valley University
Biology Department
What skills stand out on Biotechnologist resumes?
Jim Price Ph.D.: My first impression is that different employers seem to look at different things. It's hard for me to guess what they want.
If I try to generalize, my impression is the number one thing they want is someone who will think for themselves, so troubleshooting experience.
We have a lot of students working in industries that require extreme cleanliness and attention to detail. So courses or experience that teach the students how to avoid contamination. So experience with microbiology or tissue culture will be very helpful.
Employers are also very concerned with an employee’s ability to follow protocol. So any training in lab procedures that involve following a protocol is helpful.
Familiarity with regulatory requirements and quality control standards would be a real plus on a resume.
What soft skills should all Biotechnologists possess?
Jim Price Ph.D.: Soft skills of good communication practices, teamwork, and record-keeping would be very helpful.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Biotechnologists?
Jim Price Ph.D.: I guess if I try to break these down into soft skills and technical skills, cleanliness, attention to detail, ability to follow protocols will be the technical skills.
What skills will help Biotechnologists earn the most?
Jim Price Ph.D.: I really think critical thinking and management skills ( including communication and teamwork/leadership) are going to be the things that help biotechnologists improve their salaries.
Kristen Johnson Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of BiotechnologyUniversity of New Hampshire- Manchester
Biotechnology Department
What skills stand out on Biotechnologist resumes?
Kristen Johnson Ph.D.: Ability to critically think and be flexible in an ever-changing industry; breadth of experience.
What soft skills should all Biotechnologists possess?
Kristen Johnson Ph.D.: Communication, Team work, problem-solving.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Biotechnologists?
Kristen Johnson Ph.D.: This is entirely dependent upon the position, as there are so many different positions in the biotech industry. For R&D;, PD, MS&T;, QC, manufacturing type positions, for example, hands-on lab skills are important. For this, the aseptic technique work in microbiology, cell culture, liquid chromatography, and with various assay equipment. Bio and chemical engineers are also in demand in these areas in order to under the fluid dynamics in manufacturing. Depending upon the size of the company and the stage of R&D;, there is a wide range of (molecular and cellular biology) technical skills that can be very useful for particular positions. Computational Biology has become a big part of many biotech company’s portfolios.
What skills will help Biotechnologists earn the most?
Kristen Johnson Ph.D.: Again, this is really dependent upon the job. In many cases, some of the highest-earning jobs in the biotech industry are those that may fall in the business side rather than R&D.; So, complementing one's lab skills with business acumen and full knowledge of the business of biotech can be very helpful.
Kyle DiVito Ph.D.
Associate Director of Biotechnology, Assistant ProfessorGeorgetown University School of Medicine
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology
What skills stand out on Biotechnologist resumes?
Kyle DiVito Ph.D.: Biotechnology is such a diverse scientific discipline. It can include everything from wet-bench molecular biology to in-silico computer-aided modeling and artificial intelligence. With that being said, it can be hard for those just entering the field to feel that their resume is sufficient to get the traction needed to be noticed by a hiring manager. But a few things will always stand out. Simply stated, hands-on training is essential. An individual with a diverse background that contains immersion training, even if it is only a semester or two, working in either a laboratory or another aspect of biotech will always stand out to hiring managers, and without this asset, job-seekers may find it difficult to land a position that will be both challenging and rewarding. This is especially true now, where employers are looking for a well-qualified and eager workforce for the very technically challenging positions that are required of the biotechnologist. The other skill-set that becomes almost immediately apparent on a resume is communication skills. Is the resume/cv easy to read? Does it provide important information like relevant internships or work experience upfront rather than being hidden? These small details indicate that the individual considered the reader when drafting the resume and likely has well-defined communication skills, which are of immense value for small-scale startups and large pharma alike.
What soft skills should all Biotechnologists possess?
Kyle DiVito Ph.D.: I cannot state the importance of communication enough. I believe the soft skills that we think of today, such as public speaking and professional writing, are all housed under the umbrella of superior communication skills. If an applicant is a great writer, it will come across in the resume. If an applicant is better at speaking than writing, ask a friend, colleague, or, even better, their College/University alumni association to proofread their resume to make it to the in-person interview where they can showcase their public speaking talents. The other soft skill that I feel is often overlooked is problem-solving and critical thinking. Suppose an employee is always thinking about the next step. In that case, whether it be how to solve a problem or how to anticipate the client's request, this sheds the employee and ultimately the company in a great light and will surely pay dividends for the employee. The advantage of the trained biotechnologist is that they are inherently better at this than most other individuals. Biotechnologists are trained to be problem solvers!
What hard/technical skills are most important for Biotechnologists?
Kyle DiVito Ph.D.: From my perspective, the technical skills that are frequently noticed are individuals with training in specific techniques such as gene editing (think CRISPR), vaccine development, tissue engineering, fermentation/bioprocessing skills, and broad knowledge of immunology. While these are a list of varied topics, the biotechnology sector itself is broad and varied, and therefore students or employees seeking to enter the discipline should consider taking courses in these areas or seeking professional advancement in one of the many opportunities that are available within this sector.
What skills will help Biotechnologists earn the most?
Kyle DiVito Ph.D.: By far, the experience will help biotechnology earn the most. The more experience a potential employee has, the more of an asset they will be to an employer, and a capable asset is worth paying for to the employer. This leads back to my initial comment on hands-on learning. Job-seekers looking to establish a foothold in biotechnology, who consistently challenge themselves and seek new opportunities to learn and develop their skills, are likely the best way to become more experienced and the most direct manner to earn at the highest possible potential.
Daniel Lindstrom Ph.D.
Associate Professor of BiologyUniversity of Guam
Chair, Division of Natural Sciences
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Biotechnologist job market given the pandemic?
Daniel Lindstrom Ph.D.: Obviously, the pandemic and all the questions and needs surrounding it has piqued the interest of everyone threatened and affected by this virus. The wealth of information (both solid and imaginary) being distributed is both encouraging and terrifying at the same time. Folks on the front lines fall into many categories that range from purely clinical to those participating in research into the causes, mechanisms and dynamics of this disease to provide reliable information that can be used to control its spread, develop treatments for the infected and perfect preventative measures such as antivirals and vaccines. Graduates with training in any of the STEM disciplines will be sought to fill these needs.
What skills stand out on Biotechnologist resumes?
Daniel Lindstrom Ph.D.: I would expect that individuals that have developed skills that span disciplines will be the most desirable. For instance, someone who has mathematical/data analysis abilities or technical/laboratory skills/experience in addition to knowledge of basic biology will be far more employable. The pandemic has also forced us to rethink how to conduct business where physical distancing from coworkers is mandatory and those with computer application skills may have an advantage in this new abnormal world we have been forced to occupy. This may be a gift in disguise for already isolated places like Guam and may open an at a distance job market for some of our graduates. Historically, the bulk of the market for these types of jobs were near Mainland urban centers and large Universities and Medical Centers.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Biotechnologists to find work opportunities?
Daniel Lindstrom Ph.D.: There should be more opportunities emerging in places further away from these traditional settings. Many of my colleagues have noted recent cultural trend towards doubts or even decreasing trust in science as one of the greatest sources of solutions to modern problems. I believe that this has contributed to some of the weak responses to the COViD pandemic. Hopefully, what we have been forced to face and what we will hopefully learn from this experience will mark a significant positive change in how people view the relationship between science and society. This will lead to many exciting opportunities for our well-trained graduates.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Biotechnologist job market given the pandemic?
Travis Rieder Ph.D.: COVID-19 has made bioethics the stuff of everyday discussion: resource allocation, how to weigh health promotion against restrictions on personal freedom, research ethics, and more. My fervent hope is that employers in a wide variety of fields will see – now more than ever – the value of those with formal training in how to conduct careful, ethical reasoning about health, medicine, and science.
Roy Carriker Ph.D.
Visiting ProfessorDrexel University
The Charles D Close School of Entrepreneurship
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Biotechnologist job market given the pandemic?
Roy Carriker Ph.D.: There has been a longer-term, pre-pandemic trend that all students should be aware of, which is only going to be exacerbated by COVID-19. In the past three to four years, three independent surveys found 41 to 46 percent of recent graduates felt they didn’t need their college degree to get the job they were able to get upon graduation. Given the rising expense of higher education, this statistic implies students need to have much greater awareness of the potential for any particular career course they pursue.
Certainly post-pandemic, the case can be made that many jobs will not return to the “new normal” due to technology enhancing working at a distance, causing businesses to realize they can be more efficient while simultaneously lowering costs by utilizing new tools being developed. Think about businesses utilizing considerable commercial real estate in major cities. They are now recognizing the savings potential attainable through a redistribution of where the workers do their work, thereby reducing expensive leases, city wage taxes, and more. The domino effect of major businesses exiting heavy commitments to inner-city offices is the reduced need for workers in the infrastructures that support the offices like janitorial services, area restaurants, retail establishments, public transport, and more. Obviously, this impact is more at the lower end of the wage spectrum. However, since many recent graduates find themselves in the job market as opposed to in a career, students should be aware of these realities.
Not as specific to the impact of the pandemic on students graduating to pursue their careers – the statistic cited earlier about 41 to 46 percent of the respondents. What created such a gap between aspiration and attainment? Part of the answer lies in the accelerating pace of technology that enables a few to accomplish the work of many. This is compounded by the pace of technological innovation moving faster than the education system can adapt. For a great example of this, consider a finance major who went on to get a prestigious MBA and was hired by a major firm to do stock analysis – a great career path with a big upside. However, shortly thereafter, the firm announced it was turning to AI for stock analysis due to its demonstrated superiority to human analysis. This isn’t a hypothetical, but an actual event. Not only can AI analyze much greater volumes of data but also provide better outcomes. Any career that relies on analyzing large amounts of data and using algorithms to provide outcomes has the potential to be negatively impacted by AI.
Bottom line: students and graduates already in the workforce need to keep their eye on the horizon for new technological advancements and to consider the potential positive or negative impact on their careers. Awareness is key.
What Biotechnologist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Roy Carriker Ph.D.: Having helped build a school of entrepreneurship, my bias is strongly around development of an entrepreneurial mindset and skills. This is not to suggest one should try to become what most think of as an “entrepreneur” but rather to think on what will help you become the entrepreneur of your own life.
What do I mean by “entrepreneurial mindset"? It begins with curiosity. Am I curious about new things on the horizon? Are they opportunities or threats to me? In either case, do I consider possible ways to deal with it? Or do I just carry on without further thought? Beyond heightened awareness, do I have a bias toward action? Am I willing to take reasoned risks? If I try something and it doesn’t work out, do I consider it a failure or a learning experience? These are some of the basic dimensions of entrepreneurial mindset. For more insight, there is plenty of searchable material on the subject.
A very useful way to utilize a gap year is to enhance your personal development by assessing your skill set with respect to:
-Succinct writing
-Oral presentation
-Negotiation
-Personal finance
-Leadership and team participation
-Personal branding
These skills are important to entrepreneurs, but more importantly, they are valuable to everyone regardless of career path and are highly prized by employers. The number one skill valued by employers beyond specific job-related skills, like mechanical engineering, is the ability to present well. For each of these skill areas there is a wealth of free or inexpensive materials, workshops, and resources to help you hone your skills. Most graduates have had little or no training.
Dependent on financial circumstances, a gap year could be used to find ways to broaden your experience portfolio. Volunteer in a social enterprise or non-profit, intern in an area of interest, or try to participate in an entrepreneurial startup. Also, there are many quality online courses becoming available which you could take to broaden your value.
What general advice would you give to a Biotechnologist?
Roy Carriker Ph.D.: The best advice I can give a graduate at the beginning of their career is to keep looking ahead and assessing the path forward. Just because you started your career as a chemist or in supply chain management doesn’t necessarily mean you have to stick with that path the rest of your life.
In fact, the pace of change in the world suggests you may have several careers in your lifetime. I have practiced what I preach – starting life as a physicist, pivoting to an entrepreneurial endeavor, pivoting again to a global corporate career, pivoting again to venture capital, and finally giving back through education. Each of these steps grew me as a person and were exciting, as well as rewarding. Remember in pivoting, you don’t lose what you have learned and experienced; you have it to build on.
Anne Wertheimer Ph.D.
Assistant Research Professor, Assistant Professor, Applied BioSciences - GIDP, Director, Viper InstituteUniversity of Arizona
Department of Immunobiology, Department of Medicine
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Biotechnologist job market given the pandemic?
Anne Wertheimer Ph.D.: More need for employees with strong bioinformatics and computational skills in general.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Biotechnologists in the next 3-5 years?
Anne Wertheimer Ph.D.: Remote accessing and remote operational capability of biomedical/biotech instrumentation, including remote exportation of the data, would be great.
Will there be an increase or decrease in demand for Biotechnologists in the next 5 years?
Anne Wertheimer Ph.D.: I anticipate an increased need for software and instrumentation design.
What are the best companies to work for a Biotechnologist?
Cary Lai Ph.D.: Ranking which company is the best to work for is very subjective and student dependent. For students who do well in a more structured environment, with excellent training and facilities, working at a large, established company like Genentech or Amgen may be ideal. For students who thrive in a less structured environment and want to have more control over the direction of their work, working at a biotech start-up may be best.
Will there be an increase or decrease in demand for Biotechnologists in the next 5 years?
Cary Lai Ph.D.: We expect to see the demand for new biotechnology employees continue to increase over the next five years. Companies will be interested in hiring students with Masters degrees in particular, and students with lab research experience.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Biotechnologists to find work opportunities?
Cary Lai Ph.D.: The biotechnology industry is very localized in the United States. Most jobs are in the three major biotechnology hubs - Boston, San Francisco, and San Diego. Seattle and the North Carolina 'research triangle' area may be emerging new biotechnology hubs as well.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Biotechnologist job market given the pandemic?
Dr. David G. Argent: The job market will be one of two extremes, with jobs that get us outside and those that make sheltering in place bearable. I believe that we will continue to see an uptick in jobs that require training in the outdoors, careers like recreation and leisure, and fisheries, and wildlife, as well as those in the medical profession. Also, those companies that promote such activities focused on getting people outside - kayaking, canoeing, and fishing. In addition, I believe, now that companies have invested in remote methods to carry on the day-to-day activities, they will remain. I also believe that as more people remain unemployed, they will turn to trade schools, colleges, and universities to re-train themselves.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Biotechnologists in the next 3-5 years?
Dr. David G. Argent: Remote technology - there are still places in the U.S. that do not have Internet support needed to learn online. Laptop computers and tablets will likely increase in popularity. In addition, communications technology will continue to improve.
Will there be an increase or decrease in demand for Biotechnologists in the next 5 years?
Dr. David G. Argent: Well, if we believe the Bureau of Labor Statistics - yes. As I often tell my students, Biology covers all topics that affect life. Regrettably, part of life is death - yet we continue to discover ways to increase our own longevity. I see a need for more research scientists in the medical field, more doctors, and more nurses. In addition, as we continue to affect our environment (especially now with increased use), I see a need for people trained to protect and to enhance our outside spaces.
Dr. Roger S. Greenwell, Jr.
Associate Professor, Biology Department Co-Coordinator, Undergraduate Biotechnology ProgramWorcester State University
What type of skills will young Biotechnologists need?
Dr. Roger S. Greenwell, Jr.: The skills that students should have as they graduate fall into two major categories: the technical skills and the interpersonal “professional” skills (often referred to as “soft” skills). The technical skills include scientific knowledge and laboratory practices, such as aseptic technique, pipetting, proper recording keeping, and so forth. An important technical skill is also following the established protocols and procedures without deviation. Those are skills many graduates gain through their coursework, independent research, and/or internship opportunities. Some advanced laboratory skills acquired (for example, hands-on experience with flow cytometry, electron microscopy, etc.) may be a requirement for certain roles, and that experience can make candidates stand out, but are not essential for every role as you are entering the field.
The second category, the interpersonal “professional” skills, are just as (or, arguably, more) important than the technical skills. Communication is at the forefront of these skills – being able to collaborate clearly and effectively with others, to problem solve individually and as part of a team, and to engage in purposeful and respectful interpersonal interactions. A person can have all of the technical skills needed but may struggle in the role if they cannot effectively communicate and interact with their colleagues.
The working environment, by its very nature, requires communication and collaboration for success. These communication skills can include things like writing an appropriate email, using active listening and having meaningful dialogues with colleagues, and receiving and processing constructive criticism. Problem solving and creativity are also skills that fall into this category – you have to have the initiative to seek the answers and address issues; at the same time, you also need to recognize when to ask for help and seek that assistance. Lastly, time management, being flexible to situations, and a willingness to work hard are the bedrock of the skills that will be expected for a professional in biotechnology (or any field, for that matter). A 2019 article in Scientific American by Karla Talanian from the Massachusetts Biotechnology Foundation (MassBioEd) highlights more of the “soft skills” that biotechnology companies and laboratories are looking for in their new hires and employees.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Biotechnologists to find work opportunities?
Dr. Roger S. Greenwell, Jr.: The United States is the world leader in biotechnology. Many biotechnology hubs are found throughout the country, with some of the largest regions being the northeast and the west coast.
Consistently, the top two states for the biotechnology industries (based on # of positions per capita) are Massachusetts and California. The opportunities available range from positions in start-up companies to established, world-class biotechnology companies and research institutions.
The reasons that these two states are the leaders in the industry is in part due to the academic institutions that develop new ideas, train and educate students for employment, and acquiring federal funding and other grants that support both the basic and applied research needed. This provides the brainpower and workforce needed for medical, industrial, and agricultural biotechnology. Additionally, there is significant state support for companies to come and establish in those states. There are also extensive collaborations between academia, industry, and non-profit organizations that also make these areas stand out for providing career opportunities to graduates interested in biotechnology.
While large cities like Boston and Cambridge in Massachusetts, and San Diego, San Francisco, and Los Angeles in California have numerous opportunities, many companies are moving their research and production facilities to other locations due to the high costs associated with the spaces in those cities. In Massachusetts, companies are expanding to locations north of Boston and around the Worcester area.
That said, I want to emphasize that there are also a large number of opportunities outside of these states. Cities with large or multiple academic institutions will have opportunities in campus research laboratories; often, there are also companies at or nearby those locations. No matter where you are located, you should focus on any networking opportunities (particularly with alumni) and career events held with various company and research lab representatives to get your foot in the door!
How do you envision technology impacting Biotechnologists in the next 5 years?
Dr. Roger S. Greenwell, Jr.: Biotechnology is an amalgamation of biology and technology – and technology is constantly changing, especially in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. We see that technology is keeping industry players connected and collaborating while maintaining necessary distancing and safety parameters, and I envision this continuing to influence industry partnerships and collaborations post-Covid. Additionally, for as much as technology will influence the biotechnology industry, the same can be said for biotechnology influencing the development of new technology types. Bioinformatics, with big data set processing, is in a constant state of advancement, and there is a large market for individuals with both computational skills and biological & chemical knowledge. Increased information capacity and analysis are going to greatly influence the industry – examples can include cloud computing NGS data, molecular and biochemical pathway modeling, and regulatory compliance, to name a few.
The development of CRISPR and gene editing tools are influencing everything from diagnostics, to disease prevention and treatment, to therapeutics and beyond. The area of synthetic biology – engineering and/or redesigning biological systems - is making strides in healthcare and beyond, and is expected to be a growing force for the field in the future. One current example in synthetic biology that I expect to expand in the future is the chimeric antigen receptor technology used to modify T-cells (CAR-T cells) as immunomodulatory treatments for cancer and other diseases. Biologics development and other chemotherapeutics will continue to be expanding in the future.
Each of these areas will also be influenced by the incorporation of artificial intelligence and augmented intelligence systems. AI-derived compounds and technologies will be impacting healthcare, pharmaceuticals, bioenergy, and environmental biotechnology, and beyond. AI has already influenced the development of novel small molecules for target-based drug discovery and screening patient clinical records/data sets for biomarker identification. These are just a few examples of the influence that technology will have on the biotechnology industry.
David Baum
Professor, Department of Botany Fellow, Wisconsin Institute for DIscoveryUniversity of Wisconsin
What general advice would you give to a Biotechnologist?
David Baum: Remember that despite their importance in providing all our food, oxygen, and other key resources, most people know very little about plants so, with a degree in Botany, you can stand out from the crowd. With a strong science and all the other skills you will have acquired as a student; you will have many directions to go in. Use all contacts and career services from your university to help you decide how best to parlay your scientific knowledge and skills into a career that excites you.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Biotechnologists in the next 3-5 years?
David Baum: Bioinformatics and computational methods (e.g., computer vision, machine learning) are more and more important in botany and plant science. Botanically-informed computing expertise will likely be an area with a great job.
How would you rate the starting salaries for Biotechnologists, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
David Baum: Salaries vary greatly across the subdisciplines (ecology, agbiotech, horticulture, molecular biology, phycology, mycology, physiology, etc. ). But, regardless of starting salaries, given the diversity of skills you will have acquired as a botany major, especially if it was tied to a liberal arts degree, you should be well-positioned to be flexible in the workplace, to learn new skills, and move up the salary ladder (if that is your priority).