Careers in Biotech

1
Careers in Biotech
2
What is biotech?

• The application of biological science to create
  new products and services.

3
Traditional biotechnologies

• Selective breeding of crops and livestock
• One of the earliest human activities
• Botanical hybrids
• Crossbreeding two varieties or species of
  plants
• Beer, bread and cheese
• Better dining with yeastand mold

4
New biotechnologies

• Genetic Engineering
• Selective breeding
• Recombinant DNA technology
• Cell Culture Technology
• Growing cells in the lab
• Using cells as production systems
• Cell Fusion technology
• Fusing cells using chemicals or electric shock to
  create hybrids

• Enzyme technology
• Use of enzymes to bio-convert, synthesize or
  degrade materials
• Fermentation technology
• The ability to grow cells in very large
  quantities
• Immobilization technology
• Attaches cells, enzymes and DNA to solid,
  inorganic surfaces

5
Did you know?

• That you use biotech products every day?
• That biotech is one of the fastest growing
  industries in the world?
• That the biotech industry is involved in
  environmental issues?

6
Canada A history of innovation

• Insulin
• Banting and Best isolate insulin in 1921
• Win 1923 Nobel prize for medicine
• Connaught Labs first to commercialize insulin

• Wonderwheats
• Charles Edward Saunders develops Marquis wheat in
  1904
• Marquis wheat ripens one month earlier than other
  varieties
• Triticale was the first bio-engineered crop
  species

7
Recent Canadian achievements

• AIDS treatment
• Canadian biotechnologists are world leaders in
  developing effective treatment
• Transgenic livestock
• Bio-factories, producing the raw materials for
  finished biotech products in their milk
• Michael Smith
• Awarded the 1993 Nobel Prize for Chemistry

Photo by Sean O'Neill
8
Why Canada?

• Educated Workforce
• The worlds best-educated workforce.
• 14 have degrees
• Established research-intensive industries
• Pharmaceuticals
• Petrochemicals
• Agriculture
• High-tech

• Government support
• Identified as a priority
• Extensive funding and tax credits for research
• Regulatory Framework
• Canadian regulations are less restrictive than
  Europes.
• Legislation has created a positive regulatory
  climate

9
The future of biotech in Canada

• High growth
• Number of firms doubled from 94 to 97
• 353 million to 1.1 billion from 94 to 97
• Stock market superstars
• Employment growth
• Help wanted
• The industry is facing a skills shortage
• Demand for trained personnel in
  production-related positions

10
The next frontiers

• Human genome project
• Mapping every human gene
• Gene therapy
• Curing genetic diseases
• Cloning
• Exact genetic replicas

• Pharmaceuticals
• Powerful new drugs and therapies specifically
  tailored to the patient
• Agriculture and food production
• Disease-resistant crops and bio-pesticides

11
Biotech career options

• In the Lab
• Research Scientist
• Research technician
• Laboratory Assistant
• In production
• Quality Assurance Technician

• In the office
• Sales Representative
• Patent Agent
• Related occupations
• Bioinformatics programmer
• Biostatistician

12
How well does it pay?

• In the Lab
• Research Scientist 60,000
• Research technician 30,000 to 40,000
• Laboratory Assistant 25,000 to 30,000
• In production
• Q/A Technician 35,000 to 45,000

• In the office
• Sales Representative 40,000
• Patent Agent 50,000 to 60,000
• Related occupations
• Bioinformatics programmer 50,000
• Biostatistician 50,000 to 60,000

13
What do I need to know?
Everyone needs a post secondary certificate,
diploma or degree and a background and interest
in science

• Research scientist
• B.Sc., M.Sc. and Ph.D.
• Research technician
• M.Sc. or B.Sc. in related field
• Laboratory assistant
• Technician Diploma
• Q/A technician
• B.Sc. or better in related field

• Sales Representative
• B.Sc. or better in related field
• Patent Agent
• M.Sc. or better in related field
• Bioinformatics programmer
• B.Sc. in computer programming
• Biostatistician
• M.Sc. or better in Statistics

14
Keep your options open!
Study the science essentials in
high-school Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology,
Physics

• Cultivate your interest
• Read books and magazines about science
• Join clubs and organizations
• Visit universities and research facilities

• Get on-the job training
• Any job experience is good experience
• A summer job on a farm or volunteer work with an
  environmental group is even better

15
To find out more

• Biotech Career Kit
• Careers in Biotech Web http//www.biotecareers.com
  
• Biotechnology Human Resource Council
  http//www.bhrc.ca/
• Other sources
• Human Resources Development Canada http//youth.h
  rdc-drhc.gc.ca/
• Schoolnet/Industry Canada http//www.strategis.ic.
  gc.ca/learnbiotech
• Youth Resource Network http//www.youth.gc.ca
• Connaught Student Biotechnology Exhibition
  http//www.ConnaughtBioExpo.com
• BIOTECanada http//www.biotech.ca