Scope for Employment :
The scope for this field is immense as the demand for Biotechnologists is growing both at home and abroad. Large scale employment in research laboratories run by the government as well as the corporate sector,has made Bio-technology one of the fast growing sectors today. Employment record shows that Biotechnology will have great scope in future.
Biotechnology Industry in India :
Biotechnology in India began during the mid-1980s and is currently concentrated within the large domestic or multinational drug firms. There are about 1000 firms in India with biotechnology-related activities.The Indian Biotech industry employs more than 20,000 people and is estimated to grow to 30,000(research 50%, technical/services 35%, manage-ment 15%) in the next 5 years. A number of companies which have entered this field, some of them with foreign collaborations,have opened up tremendous job opportunities. The industry is not only using recombinant DNA technology but also applying biotechnology principles to various biotech-based areas viz. floriculture, tissue culture and industrial application of biotechnology like enzymes industry, fermentation & bio-chemicals etc. Several private industries viz. pharmaceuticals, breweries, sugarcane institutes and science foundations are working on various fields like new drug development, improved products and processes, new breeds, tissue culture, bio-pesticides and enzyme production etc.
Program Description :
Biotechnology education is vital to a broad range of molecular technologies, innovations such as biofuels for automobiles, vaccines, high nutrient foodstuffs, neutraceuticals and modern eco-friendly technologies.
The two-year M.Tech. Programme is designed in such a way that, a graduate of this programme can be absorbed very easily in the Biotechnology Core Industry or he/she can go for research. It is also kept in the mind while designing the course the wide spread and the expanding Bioprocess Industry.
More emphasis is given on the Bioprocess Engineering subjects like Advanced Bioprocess Engineering, Enzyme Technology, Advanced Process Principles, Advanced Down Stream Processing, Fermentation Technology & Process Control, Bioreactor Design & Plant Economics, Industrial Biotechnology & Metabolic Engineering. This will help the students to acquire the knowledge essential for Bioprocess Industries and hence get through the recruitment procedure of the same. In addition, courses related to Bioinformatic industry are also incorporated, so that a post graduate of this programme can be immediately absorbed by Bioinformatic industry.
The multibillion dollar biotechnology industry in a broad sense uses organisms, cells or molecules isolated to make products or processes having large applications benefiting the sectors of health, agriculture, animal resources, aquaculture, energy, forest, environments etc. Over the years with the great expansion of scientific knowledge, the basis of applying engineering particularly chemical engineering to develop technology has increased tremendously. This has lead to the development of the profession of Bioprocess Engineering, a part of Biotechnology.
Biotechnology involves the design and maintenance of cells (DNA) and the development of Bioprocesses for converting substrates or chemicals into valuable products like drugs, therapeutic proteins, etc. These restructured forms of cells include those to remove chemicals from waste materials.
At Vignan University, we provide a high-quality education experience that will prepare postgraduates to assume leadership positions within the bioprocess and associated industries. We foster and encourage the pursuit of new knowledge and innovative scholarship in the Biotechnology, Bioinfomatics and Bioprocess Engineering.
We provide support to students through scholarship, interactive teaching and counseling. An opportunity is also provided in the curriculum to a student to adapt the Bioprocess career by means of number of Bioprocess and related courses.
Professional Outcomes :
A postgraduate after passing out Vignan Univeristy should be able to perform molecular biology procedures for use in quality control, research, product development, or manufacturing in a biotechnology environment.
A biotechnologist can seek employment as process engineers and quality control managers with biotech or pharmaceutical industries :
Biotechnologists are also employed in chemical / agriculture and allied industries
Well-established biotechnology companies employ biotechnologists in environmental remediation and energy sector.
Biotech research institutes / laboratories provide job opportunities such as those of scientist / research officers etc.
Biotechnologists are employed in large number as scientists in R&D laboratories
Other alternative work areas are business executives/marketing mangers, quality control, food manufacturing, aquaculture, faculty positions etc.
Job opportunities extend to Universities, medical colleges and government labs.
The National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi; The Centre for DNA Fingerprint and Diagnostics, Hyderabad; Biochemical Engineering Research and Process Development Centre, Chandigarh; The Institute of Genomic and Integrative Biology, Delhi, are some of the internationally reputed institutions that appoint biotech scientists.
Work Experience,Internships & Research :
Students undertake a project for two semesters under the supervision of a senior faculty member. Students are encouraged to choose industrial oriented problems so that the project will fill a valuable role in giving students a taste of industrial research and helping them establish a network of contacts outside the University. The students get mastery on new techniques on state-of-the-art equipment and have a better sense of where the challenges lie within their learning area. We have already signed MoUs with some industries and are in process to sign with some others.
At Vignan's School of Biotechnology, Post Graduate research often results in the development of innovative ideas, leading to new technologies. Faculty members in the School have strong interactions with industry, including consulting, sponsored research, and/or advisory board activities. Opportunities continue to arise to use your technical and entrepreneurial abilities to create new solutions to societal problems. Research is supported by state-of-the-art research and computing laboratories. The students participate in college-wide and University-wide multidisciplinary research thrust areas.
The faculty guides the students to identify the emerging issues and needs of the community that would benefit from sustained study. Students are also encouraged to become members of the research projects undertaken by the faculty members. Students are advised to document their entire research process and leave a tangible product with their community organization when they complete their assignment.
Combined Degrees :
Students can combine this programme with any other post graduate degree to suit their professional interests. The two year M.Tech. Programme is designed in such a way that, a postgraduate of this programme can be absorbed very easily in the Biotechnology Core Industry or can go for higher studies such as Ph.D. programme.
