Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM)

Biotechnologist

Applies biological and chemical principles to develop new products and technologies in medicine, agriculture, and industry.

Science (PCB/PCM)

Career role details and responsibilities

Applies biological and chemical principles to develop new products and technologies in medicine, agriculture, and industry. Biotechnologist sits within the Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) career cluster and focuses on applying domain knowledge to practical problems. Students exploring this role should understand the work context, skill expectations, education pathways, and long-term growth opportunities before shortlisting it.

Role details

Applies biological and chemical principles to develop new products and technologies in medicine, agriculture, and industry. Biotechnologist sits within the Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) career cluster and focuses on applying domain knowledge to practical problems. Students exploring this role should understand the work context, skill expectations, education pathways, and long-term growth opportunities before shortlisting it.

Responsibilities

Conduct research, design experiments, analyze biological samples, develop genetic engineering techniques, ensure quality control. Typical responsibilities include understanding user or business needs, applying relevant tools and methods, and coordinating with stakeholders. The role also requires continuous learning, quality improvement, and adapting to changes in technology, industry practices, and market demand.

Next Gen career options

Synthetic Biologist, CRISPR Gene Editing Specialist, Bio-nanotechnologist, Personalized Medicine Developer, Agri-biotech Innovator.

Pointer: Next Gen career options related to this role

Synthetic Biologist, CRISPR Gene Editing Specialist, Bio-nanotechnologist, Personalized Medicine Developer, Agri-biotech Innovator.

Educational institutes

Top 5 educational institutes in India

Name of Institute Location Website
Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee Roorkee, Uttarakhand https://www.iitr.ac.in/
University of Hyderabad Hyderabad, Telangana https://www.uohyd.ac.in/
Amity University Noida, Uttar Pradesh https://www.amity.edu/
Symbiosis International University Pune, Maharashtra https://www.symbiosis.ac.in/
Jadavpur University Kolkata, West Bengal https://www.jaduniv.edu.in/

Top 5 educational institutes globally

Name of Institute Location Website
University of Cambridge Cambridge, UK https://www.cam.ac.uk/
ETH Zurich Zurich, Switzerland https://www.ethz.ch/en.html
University of Oxford Oxford, UK https://www.ox.ac.uk/
University of California, Berkeley Berkeley, USA https://www.berkeley.edu/
National University of Singapore Singapore, Singapore https://www.nus.edu.sg/
Refer our tool Unifinder to explore university matching your requirements https://counselnavi.com/uni-finder
Career role Name
Biotechnologist
Career Cluster
Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM)
Industry alignment
Pharmaceuticals, Healthcare, Agriculture, Food & Beverage, Environmental Science, Research Institutions.
Work environment
Primarily indoor laboratory settings. May involve fieldwork for sample collection. Standard working hours, with potential for extended hours during critical research phases.
Opportunity Type
Good growth potential, moderate work stress, good salary growth, high creativity opportunity, good stability.
Key skills needed
Molecular Biology (Advanced), Genetics (Advanced), Biochemistry (Advanced), Cell Biology (Advanced), Laboratory Techniques (PCR, ELISA) (Advanced), Research Methodology (Intermediate).
Interest type alignment
Investigative (scientific inquiry, research), Artistic (experimental design, innovation). Aptitudes for biological sciences, laboratory skills, and problem-solving.
Career growth Path
Research Assistant (0-3 yrs) -> Research Associate (3-7 yrs) -> Scientist (7-12 yrs) -> Senior Scientist/Project Lead (12+ yrs).
Suggested education Pathways 10th standard onwards
  • Grade 10: Science (PCB/PCM)
  • Grade 12: Biology, Chemistry, Physics/Mathematics
  • Undergraduate: BSc/MSc in Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Genetics, Microbiology
Education Stream recommendations
Science (PCB/PCM)
Demand in India
Growing. Increasing focus on biopharmaceuticals, agri-biotech, and biosimilars.
Demand globally
High. Global demand driven by advancements in healthcare, sustainable agriculture, and industrial biotechnology.
Career & Job Prospects
Opportunities in R&D departments of pharmaceutical companies, agricultural firms, food industries, environmental agencies, and research institutes. Related roles include Genetic Engineer, Medical Lab Technologist, Bioinformatician.