Biotechnology Jobs Key Terms

Understanding different biotechnology job terminology

By Kim Finn

Roughly 1,000 companies with close to $50 billion in annual revenue make up the U.S. biotechnology industry. To work for a large company like Biogen, a smaller company or start your own business, examine all the career options available in this booming industry. The key to getting a feel for what's available is first understanding what biotechnology is and then discovering what all the different job titles actually mean. This guide scratches the surface by hitting on jobs like biostatistician, biochemical development engineer, medical writer and biotechnology assay analyst.

Biotechnology

When referring to biotechnology, you're generally talking about using living microorganisms or other biological substances to perform some specific industrial or manufacturing process. Applications include food, drink and medicine.
Try: For a great biotechnology primer that includes history, process, applications and implications, read the document from the Department of Food Science at North Carolina State University.

Biostatistician

Biostatisticians are researchers who study the frequency and distribution of diseases and other health problems via math and statistics. They apply statistical methods to scientific research in medicine, epidemiology and other health-related fields. In a life devoted to research and studies, biostatisticians help prepare research material for publication, formulate scientific questions to be answered, develop sampling techniques, coordinate procedures for data collection and conduct statistical analyses.
Try: Learn more about a biostatistician's career from the Stanford School of Medicine.

Biochemical development engineer

Biochemical development engineers play a critical role in the development of new products all the way from the laboratory to the manufacturing plant. They troubleshoot manufacturing equipment and systems issues; help with new manufacturing facilities, equipment design and startup; establish operating equipment specifications; and help improve manufacturing techniques. At a minimum, biochemical development engineers have earned a Bachelor of Science degree.
Try: View a more detailed job description for a biochemical development engineer and other jobs in a biotech manufacturing and production environment at Career Voyages.

Medical writer

Within the biotechnology area, medical writers face plentiful job opportunities. They write for regulators, health professionals, investors and the general public. They assist doctors with research articles and medical reviews, prepare documents used in requesting FDA new drug approval, develop educational and promotional materials and much more. Medical writers with an advanced degree can make close to $100,000 annually.
Try: Get your foot in the door by joining the American Medical Writers Association and gaining access to important networking, training and career opportunities.

Biotechnology assay analyst

Assay means to test or analyze. A biotechnology assay analyst examines and tests cell samples or tissue samples in an effort to identify the nature, proportion or purity of each sample. An assay analyst doesn't necessarily need a college degree to get an entry-level job, but he or she should possess solid math, analytical, scientific, computer, writing, research, investigative, organization and oral communication skills.
Try: Put assay analyst skills in perspective by checking out the laboratory exercise from the Biotechnology Project at the Madison Area Technical College.

Bioinformatician

Bioinformatics, one aspect of biotechnology, is the field of science that involves gathering, analyzing and interpreting massive amounts of biotech information. Bioinformaticians develop IT tools and apply existing tools to gain new insight into molecular biology.
Try: If the idea of submersing yourself in tons of scientific data sounds exciting, gain more insight into the world of bioinformatics and the Bioinformatics graduate program at the University of Michigan Medical School.