Careers in biotechnology

Biotechnology is intrinsically a global industry; besides the challenges of the economic turmoil of recent years, it has been in a rapid growth phase over the past decade. It is an industry of the future.

The jobs that the biotechnology industry is creating are highly-skilled and highly-paid and span a vast array of areas, from patent law to manufacturing. There are jobs in laboratories, clinical trial applications, policy and business development roles for people with bio-sciences training, just to name a few. The junction of business and bio-science is increasingly area of need. As the industry grows, people with both an understanding of the bio-sciences and business are in high demand.

Australia is already the leading location for biotechnology companies in the Asia-Pacific with over 1,000 biotechnology companies and (400 therapeutics and diagnostics and 600 – 1,000 medical technology companies). There are over 100 ASX-listed life sciences companies, which have a combined market capitalisation of more than $30 billion.

Man has used the biological processes of microorganisms for more than 6,000 years to make useful food products, such as bread, cheese, wine and beer, and to preserve dairy products. Today biotechnology encompasses human therapeutics, industrial applications, the agriculture sector, food technology, medical devices and diagnostics, and cleantech.

Juan Enriquez, writing for McKinsey’s What Matters (Feb 2009), said biotechnology and its discoveries have provided us with the global dawn of the ‘organic age’, where “Biology is likely to become the greatest single driver of the global economy.”

Enriquez says now that we have unlocked the genome of living things, “The life code is a lever and perhaps the most powerful instrument human beings have ever used. It will make the Industrial Revolution seem simple, even quaint. It will become the world’s dominant language, and all of us will have to be literate to thrive.”

AusBiotech Student Membership provides you with: 

 AusBiotech-GSK Student Excellence Awards - rewarding Australia’s brightest and upcoming bio-leaders

 AusBiotech Student Volunteer Program - opportunity to apply and volunteer behind the scenes and meet  key industry leaders

 Substantially reduced rates to attend AusBiotech’s regular networking events

 Industry news via Australian Life Scientist news bulletin (twice a week) and Australasian Biotechnology e-journal (March, July, October)

 Access to AusBiotech social network groups (currently on LinkedIn and Twitter).

 Attendance at free events - member briefing events and Christmas networking event

 Where committees are functioning, special student events (note this refers to QLD and SA).

 Ability to access student membership rate until first job in the biotechnology field (only available to people who have been student members while studying a biotechnology-related discipline).

Boost your biocareer now by joining AusBiotech… Click here 
 

Industry support is vital to bio-science and bio-engineering students
AusBiotech would like to thank GSK  for its ongoing commitment to the annual AusBiotech-GSK Student Excellence Awards.

Furthermore, AusBiotech warmly acknowledges the financial support of many other key industry and university supporters in sustaining activities on the state level. We thank these institutions both here and at the relevant event for their on-going commitment to bio-career development.

Several innovative partnership packages are available. Supporting students via AusBiotech fosters the growth and development of the Australian life science industry.