"Biotech is an evolving discipline"

Dr VK Vinayak, president, biopharmaceutical (R&D), Panacea Biotec, New Delhi

Biotechnology is the buzzword today. Several surveys conducted by governmental and non-governmental agencies have indicated a boom in the biopharma/biotech sector. This has led to the mushrooming of several ill-equipped, poor teaching schools across the country, churning out half-baked biotechnologists. Such surveys and projections have also stimulated the government to initiate programs like BTech/BE/MBA (Biotech). Biotechnology as a discipline has also been introduced at the undergraduate level. All of these are in addition to the MSc, PhD biotech programs that have been supported by the DBT, UGC and private universities.

The quality of biotech personnel has definitely taken a backseat. Most often, biotech companies have to screen at least 100-200 resumes of candidates with masters/BTech qualification in order to pick up one or two persons who could fulfil the requirement of the industry.

Courses like BTech, BE (Biotechnology) or MBA have been introduced for specific purposes. It was expected that candidates with BTech/BE (Biotech) having hardcore molecular biology teaching along with hard core bioprocesses exposures would be more suitable for manufacturing units of the biopharma/biotech industries. Such trained candidates could design proper microbial strains, conduct metabolic engineering and optimize downstream processes resulting in high yield of the products. Candidates with MBA qualification would make good marketing personnel for biopharma/biotechnology industry.

Career openings

• There are a large number of research centers supported the DBT, DST, CSIR and ICMR that are conducting R&D in various disciplines of biotechnology. In addition, many major biotech/biopharma industrial houses have set up world-class R&D facilities. Candidates with MSc/PhD qualifications can look out for openings as research fellows/research associates in these research centers.

• Since several new biotech schools are being set up and many universities have also set up departments of biotechnology/biosciences that impart various undergraduate and postgraduate biotech courses, these provide good opportunities for candidates with MSc/PhD qualifications for teaching biotechnology at these centers. In addition, teaching options are available in colleges imparting BSc (Biotech) and also in higher secondary schools where biotechnology is taught as a vocational discipline.

• The industry does have a shortage of skilled personnel who could understand Quality Assurance (QA)/Quality Control (QC), requirements of biotech/biopharma products. Candidates with MSc/BTech/BE (Biotech) qualifications with some expertise in QA/QC could aspire to be QA/QC
  specialist.

• Many of the health-related and agri-related products are being marketed in the county. Candidates with MSc (Biotech) plus MBA (Biotech) qualifications would be preferred by the industry for marketing such products.

• India is a hub for biomanufacturing, where the largest number of USFDA approved manufacturing units exist outside the US. Many multinational companies are looking towards India as a biotech manufacturing base. Therefore, candidates with BE/BTech (Biotech), MSc (Biotechnology) with PhD qualifications or exposures in downstream processing would have options for positions like product specialists/manufacturing specialists.

• Since January 2005, patent regime in the country has changed to product regime. Several patent/PCT applications are likely to be filed. The several forward looking biopharma companies would have openings for biotechnologists who could understand finer points of biotech to be evaluated or file patents. Biotechnologists with MSc/BTech qualifications having a postgraduate diploma in IPR can look for positions of patent expert or patent specialist.

• India is also witnessing multi-location clinical trials on a large-scale. Many multinational companies are keen to conduct clinical trials in India because of the available genetic pool and large number of clinical subjects. Many CROs have set up their units to organize clinical trials and manage clinical trial sites. Biotechnologists have career openings as research fellows/associates to help in data management, trial management and organizing laboratory services.

• The option as scientists in various funding agencies like the DST, DBT, CSIR, ICMR and ICAR is also available.

• Finally, biotechnologists have the option of becoming an entrepreneur and set up unit in the biotech incubator(s), which are located in most of the biotechnology parks.

Although several career options have been indicated above, the biotech discipline is an evolving subject. Thus there is a constant need to improve or acquire technical/professional skills.