Careers in Biotechnology: Learn Where the Science of Life Can Take You

Discover what types of careers you could have with a degree in Biotechnology!

When you think of biotechnology jobs, you might picture a person in a lab coat, looking at samples in a test tube. But there’s a lot more to it than that. It also involves applying knowledge of biology to create products and systems that make people’s lives better. In fact, biotechnology careers span industries like agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and manufacturing, and offer opportunities to work with diverse employers, from startups to global companies.

Here’s a look at some of the more in-demand biotechnology careers, according to Indeed, and Northeastern U. And if they sound good, you can think about getting your biotechnology diploma through Centennial College’s Biotechnology or Advanced Biotechnology programs.

Biomedical engineer

This is a career that combines biotechnology and engineering, with the goal of improving healthcare. These pros design and test medical devices, like prosthetics, MRI, ultrasound, artificial organs, and diagnostic machines, all of which help screen, diagnose or treat medical issues and diseases.

Biochemist

Biotechnology advances in this specialized area play a crucial role in understanding things at the molecular level. As a Biochemist, you study the chemical properties of life, including cell development and disease. Your goal is to develop processes and products to improve human health.

Medical scientist

Biological/Clinical technician or medical laboratory scientist

While there are numerous titles in the biotechnology industry, these roles will see you doing the technical work of collecting, analyzing, and testing different biological samples, to come up with the data needed to develop new biotechnology.

Medical laboratory technologist

Similar to the previous, as a medical laboratory technologist, you work with physicians to test biological samples from patients, and give them a proper diagnosis.

Microbiologist

As a microbiologist, you study the immune system, along with viruses, bacteria, and infectious diseases, as you conduct research projects and biotechnology lab experiments, to produce products to help with diagnosing and treating such illnesses. As a Microbiologist, you can work in a hospital, laboratory, or college/university.

Bioprocess engineer

Once a discovery has been made, bioprocess engineers figure out how to apply those discoveries by creating new systems and technology out of biological products.

Process development scientist

This career also comes in once a biotechnology discovery has been made, and a product is developed. Process development scientists then oversee manufacturing, scaling things up to mass production.

Biomanufacturing specialists

Basically, this career is high-end quality assurance, which is very important when it comes to products that can improve our health and lives. Biomanufacturing specialists make sure products meet requirements of safety and quality, so it’s a career where you need to know about biotechnology, but also government and industry regulations.

Environmental technician

As an environmental technician, you might be gathering water or soil samples, or analyzing the air, whatever it takes to investigate the causes of pollution, and how they might affect people’s health.

Environmental engineer

Environmental technicians diagnose the problems, and environmental engineers come up with the solutions. This could include creating and improving methods of water purification, recycling, waste disposal, and anything else that can help fix environmental issues.

Pharmaceutical consultant

As a pharmaceutical consultant, you’re the expert that healthcare professionals like pharmacists turn to when it comes to pharmaceutical products. You take your biotechnology knowledge and apply it to assist them in developing and distributing drugs.

Crime scene technician

That’s right! You could help with criminal investigations, as well. As a crime scene technician, you apply biotechnology principles as you collect samples like hair, fingerprints, and blood, and analyze them.

Because the Biotechnology sector is so vast, there’s high demand for biotechnology jobs in Canada, and around the world, as well as room for you to grow your career. If you want a career with a positive contribution to the world, biotechnology often means you’re creating something real and important, by helping create innovations that positively affect our quality of life.

And you can start with us, by taking Biotechnology at Centennial College! Our standard Biotechnology program gives you hands-on experience in three years, preparing you to work as a laboratory technician. Meanwhile, our Advanced Biotechnology program gives you the principles you need for industrial microbiology and chemistry. No matter what specific field you end up in, it’s a career that’ll really help you make a difference in the lives of others.