Biotechnology Careers: HighTech, HighWage Jobs

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Biotechnology CareersHigh-Tech, High-Wage Jobs

• Career Pathways Training in Northern California

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What is Biotechnology?

• The use of living organisms, or parts thereof, to
  provide useful products, processes and services.

Scientists in the field of biotechnology modify
cellular DNA in order to produce useful proteins
other molecules
Cells are the basic building blocks of living
organisms
DNA
Protein
Transcription Translation
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Agricultural Biotechnology

• Enhanced pest and disease resistance
• Decrease use of chemicals on farmland
• Enhanced vitamins, micronutrients, etc.
• Increased stress tolerance drought, salinity,
  cold, etc.
• Pharming to make vaccines and therapeutics.
• Use of cellulosic biomass for biofuels

GMOs are feared by somethere is no scientific
evidence to support such fears
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Industrial Biotechnology
Useful proteins or biomolecules produced on an
industrial scale by modifying, adding or deleting
genetic information (DNA) in an organism,
followed by large scale fermentation and
biomolecule collection

• Enzymes needed for
• Cheese
• Bread
• Detergents
• Textiles

• Therapeutic molecules to treat human diseases
  disorders
• Human Growth Factor
• Insulin
• Other pharmaceuticals
• Antibodies used in
• Vaccines
• Disease treatment
• Medical Diagnostics
• Cell Identification
• Biosensors

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Bioengineering Biomedical Applications

• DNA Protein biochips
• Medical diagnostics
• Basic Genomics Research
• Nanobiotechnology
• Biomaterials, such as quantum dots
• Biophotonics
• Biosensors
• Biomedical Engineering
• Tissue Engineering
• In-vivo Imaging
• Robotics

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Genomics, Proteomics Bioinformatics

• Many Human Diseases are Associated with Single
  Base Changes in the Human Genome
• Sickle cell anemia
• Hypercholesterolemia
• Cystic fibrosis
• Congenital heart defects
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Marfan syndrome

www.hapmap.org

• The HapMap is a catalog of common genetic
  variants that occur in human beings.
• Current Study Populations are from
• Ibadan, Nigeria
• Tokyo, Japan
• Beijing, China
• United States (northern western European
  ancestry)

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Environmental Biotechnology

• Biofuels
• New 25 million collaborative research
  partnership with Chevron
• Cellulytic enzymes
• GMO feedstocks for easier processing
• Bioenergy
• Bioremediation
• Biomass conversion

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Stem Cells Tissue Engineering

• October 2005, NIH awarded UC Davis a 6 million
  grant to launch the Center of Excellence in
  Translational Human Stem Cell Research
• Director, Dr. Alice Tarantal
• It is one of two centers in the nation!
• Three major research projects
• Increase umbilical cord blood stem cells
  available for cell transplants
• Cell therapy for urinary tract obstruction in
  children with kidney disease
• improve cell imaging that could be used for
  tracking transplanted stem cells in clinical
  studies

Stem Cells
http//www.surgery.wisc.edu/transplant/research/od
oricolab/stemcellpics.shtml
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Biotech was born in N. California!

• The Interstate-80 corridor between the Bay Area
  and Sacramento is home to a high concentration of
  biotech companies

We need a highly skilled regional workforce to
maintain our preeminence in biotechnology and
compete in the global marketplace!
http//www.bio-link.org/centersCAN.htm
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Early Training for Careers in Biotechnology

• Take College Prep High School Courses
• Science Classes (Biology, Chemistry, Physiology,
  etc) with hands-on laboratory training
• Math Classes (Algebra, Geometry, Calculus, etc)
• Computer Classes
• English Classes
• In High School, build the skills needed to
• Work effectively as the member of a team
• Precisely handle lab equipment and gather data
• Carefully analyze and solve problems, based on
  known facts or data
• Clearly communicate the results of your work
  (written and verbal)

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Education Training for a Career in the Life
Science Industry
Community College Certificate
1-2yrs
High School Diploma
Laboratory Technician 35-40,000/yr
2yrs
Community College AS Degree
More years of experience
2yrs

Bachelors of Science (BS) Degree
4-5yrs
Research Scientist 50-70,000/yr
2yrs

Masters of Science (MS) Degree
Laboratory Director 65-100,000/yr
5yrs

Doctoral Degree (PhD)
Biotech Company CEO 100,000/yr
5yrs
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Education Training for a Career in Life
Science Academia
Community College Certificate
Laboratory Technician 35-45,000/yr
1-2yrs
High School Diploma
2yrs
K-12 Teacher 45-70,000/yr
K-12 Credential
Community College AS Degree
2yrs
2yrs
Research Scientist 50-70,000/yr
Bachelors of Science (BS) Degree
4-5yrs
Adjunct Faculty (temporary) 40-50,000/yr
2yrs
Masters of Science (MS) Degree
Community College Professor/Administrator 50-100
,000/yr
University Professor/Administrator
50-100,000/yr
5yrs
Doctoral Degree (PhD)
Post-doctoral Researcher (temporary) 40-50,000/
yr
5yrs
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2-Year Biotech Training Programs in the Greater
Sacramento Region

• American River College / North Valley Mountain
  Biotech Center
• Biotech Certificate
• Biotech Degree (AS)
• http//www.arc.losrios.edu/catalog/Biology.pdf
• Solano Community College
• Applied Biotech Certificate
• Industrial Biotech Certificate
• Industrial Biotech Degree (AS)
• http//www.solano.edu/degrees/catalog_200708/biote
  ch.pdf

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4-Year Graduate Training Programs in the
Greater Sacramento Region

• CSU Sacramento
• BS, MS in Biological Sciences (various majors)
• http//www.csus.edu/bios/
• UC Davis
• BA/BS in Biological Sciences (various majors)
• http//admissions.ucdavis.edu/academics/major_view
  .cfm?majorbbis
• BS in Biotechnology
• http//admissions.ucdavis.edu/academics/major_view
  .cfm?majorabit
• MS/PhD in Biological Sciences (various majors)
• http//www.dbs.ucdavis.edu/grad/index.html
• Designated Emphasis in Biotechnology (for PhD
  students)
• http//www.biotech.ucdavis.edu/

Note There are other state (UC, CSU, private)
and national universities offering similar
programs
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Thriving Biotech-Related Life Science Job Markets
Teaching
Sales Marketing
Research
Administration
Government Regulatory Affairs
Technical Writing
Patent Law
Health Care
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Average Life Science Salaries (2004)

• College/University Department Head (11/12 month
  appt.- tenured) 149,250
• Research Vice President/Director 145,000
• President/Managing Director (with financial
  interest in firm) 128,000
• Professor (11/12 month appointment -
  tenured) 121,000
• Laboratory Director 96,600
• Intermediate Researcher 50,335
• Secondary School Teacher 43,536
• College Instructor (9/10 month appt.) 43,000
• Intermediate Research Technician 33,943 (BS
  degree)

Nationwide, the median income of those in the
life sciences is 66,480.
Data from Compensation of Life Scientists in the
U.S. 2004 Note 2007 Salaries in California
are 5-15 higher
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Local Careers in Biotech Industry
The Greater Sacramento Region is poised to become
a mixed biotech/life science cluster.
100 Life Sciences companies exist along the I-80
Corridor
Over 100,000 Jobs! per EDD
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Life Science Companies in the Greater
Sacramento Valley

• Affymetrix
• AgraQuest
• Alza
• Antibodies, Inc.
• Arcadia Biociences
• BioRad
• Dade Microscan
• Davis Sequencing
• Genentech
• Glycometrix (seed stage)
• Hygieia Labs
• IDEXX Labs
• Jackson Labs
• Lipomics Technologies
• Mesolytics (seed stage)

• Miltenyi Biotech
• MMI Genomics
• Monsanto, Calgene campus
• Novozymes
• Novartis
• Pediatric Biosciences (seed stage)
• Pioneer Hibred
• Seminis Seeds
• Synthia LLC (seed stage)
• Thermogenesis
• Telomolecular
• Ventria Biosciences
• Volcano
• Vitalea (seed stage)

(not complete list)
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Online Resources for Biotech Careers

• Career Voyages
• A career information website hosted by the US
  Department of Education and the US Department of
  Labor.
• Biotech Work Portal
• A comprehensive website with links to information
  on biotech careers, educational programs, job
  postings, labor market data and much more!
• BiotechEmployment.com
• A survey and salary information database
  providing annual data on average salaries in the
  biotech industry.
• OneScience.com
• A popular job search website for the life science
  industry.
• California Employment Development Department
• Data on California biotech jobs and industry
  growth.

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The California Employment Development Department
(EDD) Records Data on Biotech Jobs in the State
http//www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov/cgi/career/?
PAGEID3SUBID136
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Soft Skills are Critical for Career Success

• Your academic qualifications might get you an
  interview, but to get and keep a job in
  biotechnology, you need these soft skills
• Before the interview-
• Resume (easy to read, accurate, concise,
  personal)
• Cover letter (perfect grammar/spelling, expresses
  your desire for the job, elaborates on your
  personal qualifications and life experiences that
  make you the best candidate)
• Phone and email etiquette
• During the interview-
• Firm handshake
• Good manners
• Appropriate attire
• Clear communicator

• On the job-
• Team player
• Clear communicator
• Critical thinker
• Ethical, reliable responsible
• Follows protocols/directions

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What Path Should You Follow?

• Predictions of Aggressive Job Growth in
• Health Sciences
• Biotechnology Bioinformatics
• Computer and Information Science
• All of these careers require a strong background
  in
• MATH, COMPUTER SKILLS BASIC SCIENCES!!