March 11, 2004
A: FROM MENTOR JOAN LUSK IN RI
Very similar skills could be applied to agricultural problems or to
medical problems - by the time you are working with an isolated a
gene it might have come from a plant, an animal or a human. If you
major in biology or biochemistry or genetics or biomedical
engineering (in the area generally, under a variety of names), you
might find yourself applying what you know to agricultural problems
or other problems. You might get started as a technician with a
bachelor's degree or less, or you might need a PhD to learn how to
design your own experiments. You might get interested in the
business potential of this science and start your own company, with
or without an MBA degree. One of my PhD biologist friends went into
biotech and is now a patent attorney, after getting her law degree at
night. The new field of bioinformatics brings a lot of computing
power to handle the amazing amount of information that modern biology
produces, so it's a way to use math and programming skills. There
are really a lot of possibilities, for people with different skills
and interests, all within the general area of biotechnology. It's an
exciting time right now - we can do so much more than was ever
dreamed of. Good luck in becoming part of the movement!
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A: FROM MENTOR REGINA SIZEMORE IN KY
Elizabeth:

The field of biotechnology is wide open for many employment opportunities.
As a senior in high school, I don't believe you should limit your choices to
one specific area of biotechnology. Granted that many biotech programs are
through the Ag schools of some colleges. But with a biotech degree, you
could enter any of the professional schools - medical, pharmacy, dentistry,
or veterinarian. You could do research or work within pharmaceutical
companies.

My advice would be to take as many courses in your first 2 years of college
in the area of math, science and biotechnology. As you take courses and meet
people within the area, you will have specific interests that develop. Start
looking at various internship opportunities during your freshman year for
consideration each summer (or possibly during a regular semester)

I believe your choices would be varied and many with a degree in
biotechnology. As lomg as you stay focused on your studies, and willing to
venture out for various opportunities, there is no limit to what options
will be available for you over the next 4 or 5 years.

The best of luck.
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A: FROM MENTOR LESLIE WAITE IN CA
Hi Elizabeth;
There is a lot you can do with a biotech degree, and now is a really
good time to get one! Here in the San Francisco Bay area, there are a
lot companies that do biomedical research in hopes of finding drugs
or other treatments for disease. Genentech is probably the most
famous, but there are several others. There are also companies that
make products for scientists to use in their research such as
microarrays (DNA Chips), antibodies, enzymes, etc. Then there are the
companies you mention working on agricultural products, as well as
large drug companies such as Eli Lilly or Merck. Finally, there are
many research labs at Universities across the country that do
biologically related research.

All of these places need people with biotech backgrounds. How much
education you need to be successful depends on what you want to do.If
you want to help other people with research projects that they have
designed, or maybe be involved in designing smaller research
projects, then a Bachelor's or Masters degree is necessary. While it
is easier to get a position with a masters degree, many people are
able to find positions with a bachelor's. If you want to design your
own large research projects, then you will need a Ph.D.

What many people do is get a Bachelor's or Masters degree, then get a
job and work for a while in the field. If you later decide you want
more education and training to get where you want to be, you can
always go back to school later for a Ph.D. this is what I did.

Good luck!