Various Web sites post jobs and publish information about careers in biotechnology. Find three Web sites that provide biotechnology career information. (Examples of such Web sites are Access Excellence, Biospace, Biofi nd, Science Jobs, and Bio-Link.) Prepare a table that lists and describes the three Web sites you have selected. For each, fi nd an actual job title or career description and describe the educational qualifi cations each one requires.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Instead of having the students answer this question individually, you could have them
do a mock job fair where several pairs of students each represent a company such as
Genentech, or Agilent or Stem Cell based on what they fi nd at these Web sites. The rest
of the students could be potential employees who have decided on their credentials
ahead of time, and see if they can match their credentials with the jobs available at the
fair. The object is to be the student who fi nds the most jobs that match their credentials.
Overqualifying is NOT a match, i.e., a Ph.D. for a Bachelors of Science in Biology job +
5 years of experience is not a match.
Biospace: General Information about the industry and available jobs including job fairs.
Here is one example of a job posting:
Job: Quality Control Manager. This position will establish and manage internal quality
control (QC) programs and coordinate external QC testing activities to support the GMP
manufacturing process. Other responsibilities include the following:
• Coordinate the physical, chemical, biochemical, molecular biological, and/or
microbiological testing of: raw materials, in-process and fi nal product samples,
including stability samples, bulk intermediate and conjugated fi nal antibody products,
environmental sampling • Manage the daily activities of the QC department
• Develop, qualify, and validate new test methods to support the
product development programs
• Manage the routine environmental and personnel monitoring
programs
• Author SOPs, methods development and validation protocols, reports
and other documentation as needed
• Manage the transfer of R&D assays into the QC environment
• Develop and manage the QC department budget
• Supervise the QC staff and provide training to comply with regulatory
and internal requirements
• Work on multidisciplinary project teams to ensure that product
development timelines and objectives are met for the company,
StemCells, Inc.
Here is another example of a job posting:
Requirements for the Job:
• BA/BS degree in Science or equivalent with at least five years of
relevant QC experience in GMP/Clinical Manufacturing in the
biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry. Individual must have
in-depth knowledge of immunoassays, FACS analysis, protein
analytical and characterization methodologies, mammalian cell-line
characterization, molecular biology techniques, compendial test
methods, all relevant laboratory instrumentation, and cGMPs, GLPs,
and ICH
• Proven record analyzing data, proactively problem solving, and
developing recommendations for implementation strategies along
with strong organizational and time management skills
• Demonstrated strong work ethic and proven ability to successfully
manage a QC Group while working in a multi-disciplinary project team
environment
• Must have excellent oral and written communication skills and strong
interpersonal skills to work with project team members from diff erent
departments
For technician positions, a Ph.D. or a Bachelors of Science in Biology
or related field may not be needed, as two-year students with specific
training in skills and regulations are valued for than four-year students
who do not have that experience. Given a choice between an individual
who is good at benchwork and the same person who also understands
project management and the regulations that govern the industry,
companies will hire the latter.