Biotechnology contract research services serve an essential purpose in the biotechnology industry. These are the companies that provide innovation and testing for private firms and government organizations. Biotech contract research is a highly specialized industry, with many employees holding masters degrees or higher. For those who want to work in contract biotechnology research, extensive training in biotechnology is required.

You must acquire many years of education before you are qualified to work in biotech contract labs. The first step is a solid education in biotechnology and lab research. This and other biotechnology contract research education and training services can be found through:

1. Biotechnology training through university degree programs.

2. Internships with a biotechnology contract research company.

3. Additional educational training provided by professional organizations.

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Get a degree in biotechnology to work for biotechnology contract research firms

To start a career in the field of biotechnology, you might opt to complete a bachelor's degree program. A biotech degree covers biology basics, laboratory training and topics in biotechnology. Many with bachelor's degrees decide to continue their education by enrolling in a graduate program, which teaches advanced topics and provides experience developing new biotechnologies.

I recommend: Kent State University provides a bachelor's degree program in biotechnology with a focus on research and internship experience. Georgetown University offers a master's program in biotechnology that provides training in medical, agricultural or environmental biotech issues.

Explore internships with biotechnology contracting companies

Many people who study biotechnology have to complete at least one internship while in school. Additional internships are also available through contracting companies and private labs for both students and biotech graduates. This can provide real world experience and additional training in industry lab or field settings.

I recommend: Genentech provides a 10 to 12 week internship for students and graduates of biotechnology program. The company focuses on research and development for medical therapies. USAID, which provides biotechnology research on agricultural needs in foreign countries, also has internship positions.

Join professional organizations for employees of biotech contract research companies

There are many industry organizations for the biotechnology industry. Many of these groups offer members continuing education and training opportunities. Other benefits of membership include conferences and events, networking opportunities and access to the latest biotech research news.

I recommend: The Biotechnology Industry Organization offers many educational conferences and events throughout the year for those who work in public and private biotech labs. BayBio offers members many events throughout the year, plus working and peer management groups for sharing information.

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• •  Although contract research in biotechnology can take place in a lab setting, those that train for environmental or agricultural biotechnology must also attain research skills for the field.

Contract research in biotechnology is engaged in the pursuit of new products, knowledge and services that are an improvement over those of the past or present. This research is a methodical, but also creative, original and investigative process that helps companies grow and progress in their industry.

Biotechnology contract research firms use science and math techniques in a systematic manner to find better ways of doing business, better devices, products and manufactured goods. Most companies only spend about 5% of their revenue on research and development. Some industries like pharmaceuticals, software and semiconductors usually spend a lot more—biotechnology may fit into this category. Consider the following when thinking about your biotech contract research:

1. Find biotechnology contracting companies for basic research.

2. Use applied research biotech contracting companies for new products and services.

3. Look at specialties in biotechnology contract service.

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Use basic biotechnology contract research services to move society forward

Basics research is the kind of research often pursued by government, education and larger businesses. This research will help many people in many ways over the long term.

I recommend: Colorado State University does basic research. Proteomics, metabolomics, genomics, bioinformatics are some of their specialties. ReaDev provides basic research and assay development services. They provide services in molecular biology, protein biochemistry and cell biology. They say that their approach to research is process driven and leads to reproducible and robust results.

Find applied biotechnology research services to improve products and services for consumers

Applied research is the kind of research that companies do to improve the bottom line. By doing so, companies grow and progress as they discover and implement improved products.

I recommend: Zeus provides shunts, catheters, grafts and stents among other things to biotech community. Lifespan Biosciences offers immunohistochemistry specializing in tissue protein analysis. For proteins studied, IHC labeling and optimal antigen retrieval are identified. Custom protein profiling studies performed are charged by fee-for-service. Fill out a custom-design study request online for a quote. HemoGenix offers contract services for in vitro for general and hemotoxicity testing.

Look at specialties in biotechnology contract research service

Research and development is a process that involves investigation and creative discovery. In the biotechnology industry, there are a number of specialties and emphases to consider such as food and environment microbiology among others.

I recommend: MiL out of in St. Louis, Missouri is a full service microbiology lab and performs analysis in environmental and food microbiology. Cell Trends offers a broad range of contract lab services including virology-based techniques and tissue work.

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Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Governmental, educational and big business institutions will have funds for basic research. Smaller companies generally do applied research, but the budget is more limited. A small biotechnology contract research company will want to talk to a business consultant about how much to spend on R&D to stay competitive. Biotechnology is one of those companies that usually require more funds for R&D than the average 5% most companies spend.

Biotechnology contract research is the way medical and environmental companies help to improve the current status of their industry. Biotechnology contract researchers are hired to develop new ways of treating humans in medicine or helping to reduce environmental problems in specific areas of the world's environment. There are many specialties in biotechnology, and each of these specialties has an important job when it comes to advancing these industries with new technology.

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Bioinformatics

Bioinformatics is an areas of biotechnology where molecular biology and technology meet. Bioinformatics specifically refers to the creation of databases, algorithms and other statistical processes to solve problems through biology data.

I recommend: Get more information on bioinformatics at The University of Texas.

Applied research

Applied research is a process of researching often used in biotechnology. Applied research refers to solving practical problems in the world, as opposed to basic research, which seeks to answer a question of whether the outcome is beneficial.

I recommend: The Lawrence Berkley National Lab clarifies the differences between basic and applied research and includes the history and trends of these two methods.

Immunohistochemistry (IHC)

Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is a specialty in biotechnology that uses the process of identifying and isolating proteins in tissue cells to study the relationship between antibodies and antigens. This process is widely used to detect cancer and other serious illnesses.

I recommend: IHC World offers a knowledge center on the basics of IHC as well as links for proper protocol in the process.

Microbiology

Microbiology is the study of microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses. Microbiology is one of the many specialties in biotechnology that works to improve medicines and diagnostic equipment for the medical industry. Microbiology is also useful for environmental biotechnology.

I recommend: Get an overview of microbiology at UW-Madison.

Bioethics

Bioethics is the study of ethical issues in reference the advancements made in the biotechnology community. Bioethics helps to raise questions and help bring forth ethical issues with every new discovery and invention.

I recommend: The American Journal of Bioethics offers an online ethics journal that includes many articles dealing with bioethics issues.

Intellectual property

While intellectual property is often associated with writers and musicians, intellectual property also has its place in biotechnology. Intellectual property in the biotech industry refers to anything that can be patented, including products like medicine and treatment devices.

I recommend: The Biotechnology Industry Organization offers an overview of the issue of intellectual property in biotechnology.