bio

1. Careers in a Typical Bioscience Company

2. Often takes many companies to
bring a product to market
Research and development startups
Contract research and testing
companies
Clinical research organization (CROs)
Specialized vendors

3. Certificate programs and short courses (less
than a two-year degree program)
Two-year degree programs: Associate of
Science (A.S.), Associate of Applied Science
(A.A.S.)
 Four-year degree programs: Bachelor of
Science (B.S.), Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
Graduate degrees: Ph.D., Master of Science
(M.S.), Professional Science master’s degree
 Professional degrees: Doctor of Medicine
(M.D.), Juris Doctor (J.D.)

4. Critical in guiding the research,
development and manufacturing work
central to biotechnology and other industries
by developing and leading the innovative
thinking around new products
Educational Requirements and Preferences
 Require M.S. or Ph.D. in a specialized disciplines
such as chemistry (especially organic and
medicinal chemistry), cell biology, molecular
biology, toxicology, genetics, immunology and
biochemistry.

5. Discovery Research Scientist
Works with a team to identify new
drug targets
Creates animal models to test new
drugs and investigating the causes of
and treatments for diseases
Chemistry (especially organic and
medicinal chemistry), cell biology,
molecular biology, genetics,
immunology and biochemistry

6. Process Development
Scientist
Designs and executes experiments
associated with the development,
improvement and scale-up of
production processes
 Interfaces with engineering groups
and laboratory groups

7. Quality Control
Manager
Manages personnel
Manages activities needed
to analyze raw materials in-process
samples and
finished formulations
according to standard
operating procedures
(SOPs)

8. Toxicologist
Designs experiments and research
studies focused on evaluating the
harmful effects of a potential product
on human health or the environment

9. Other job titles include…
Chemist
Microbiologist
Biochemist
Natural science manager
Research and development
scientist
Research associate
Environmental scientist

10. Career Pathways
Management
responsibilities
Overall business
planning
Overseeing
projects and other
personnel

11. Work under the discretion of a scientist or
engineer
Essentially the scientist’s hands
Work in the laboratory
Performing research experiments according
to good laboratory practices
Collecting and analyzing data
Educational Requirements and Preferences
 Two or four year degree

12. Research Assistant/Associate
Perform lab experiments and test
according to good laboratory
practices under the direction of a
research associate

13. Process Development
Associate
Seeks out new and more efficient ways
to use and produce existing products

14. Process
Quality
Inspector
Performs a wide
variety of
inspections,
checks, tests, and
sampling
procedures
related to the
manufacturing
process

15. Quality Control Associate
Analyzes raw materials, in-process
samples and finished formulations
according to SOPs

16. Career Pathways
Great stepping stone
Senior roles in quality control
and quality assurance roles

17. Critical to building, optimizing,
maintaining and operating state-of-the-art
biomanufacturing facilities and use
computer software to visualize the
complete manufacturing process
Educational Requirements and Preferences
 B. S. in engineering and some require M.S. or
Ph.D. in a specialized engineering disciplines
such as biochemical, biomedical, chemical,
electrical, environmental, food science,
industrial, materials science and mechanical.

18. Process Engineer
(Manufacturing)
Develop and operate the current
manufacturing process and works with
technicians to ensure the product is
properly manufactured

19. Quality Control Engineer
Develops, revises and maintains
standards for converting raw materials
into products and devises SOPs for
testing procedures

20. Maintenance Engineer
Manages the design, planning,
construction and maintenance of
facilities, and oversees repairs to
refrigeration, air conditioning, steam
boilers, etc.

21. Process Control
Engineer
Designs and installs
instruments to
monitor and control
certain manufacturing
processes and helps
improve
manufacturing
techniques

22. Environmental Engineer
Develops techniques to recover
reusable materials from waste created
during manufacturing and designs
water storage and treatment facilities

23. Career Pathways
Management responsibilities
Overseeing projects and
personnel
Corporate scientific
professional, such as quality
assurance or validation

24. Responsible for operating the equipment
and processes necessary to manufacture
batches of product
Educational Requirements and Preferences
 Completed a certificate course, two-year
degree, and four-year degree

25. Process Technician
Responsible for a variety of tasks
involved in the monitoring and control of
producing the product

26. Manufacturing Prep
Process Technician
Responsible for washing,
drying, and sterilizing
glassware

27. Formulation/Fill Technician
Responsible for preparing the finished
product form the purified active
pharmaceutical or biopharmaceutical
ingredients

28. Packaging Technician
Uses packaging systems to label,
inspect and package the finished
product

29. Career Pathways
Stepping stone
Laboratory technician role,
such as quality control
Corporate scientific
professional roles, such as
quality assurance

30. Vital to the ongoing operation of a
manufacturing facility and are responsible
for repairing equipment and electrical
circuits, calibrating instruments and
installing and validating new equipment
Educational Requirements and Preferences
 Completed a certificate course or two-year
degree

31. Instrumentation/Calibration
Technician
Responsible for calibrating, testing,
troubleshooting, repairing and
maintaining a variety of circuits,
components, analytical equipment and
instrumentation

32. Manufacturing Support
Technician
Maintains manufacturing equipment and
solves production problems caused by
machinery

33. Environmental Technician
Performs routine environmental
testing and carries out waste
treatment operations

34. Career Pathways
Management responsibilities

35. Critical to keeping the bioscience business
moving
Educational Requirements and Preferences
 Four-year degree in science with additional
education in business, law, medicine/health care
or communication

36. Quality Assurance
Associate/Manager
 Ensures the quality of all manufacturing and
laboratory operations by verifying compliance
with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)
 Writing and updating SOPs
 Reviewing data for abnormalities
 Resolving problems that occurred during
manufacturing or research.

37. Quality Assurance Auditor
Performs audits of production and
quality control to ensure compliance
with in-house procedures, standards
and regulatory requirements.

38. Validation
Specialist/Scientist/Engineer
Verify that equipment, processes and
procedures are working as they are
intended by designing and executing
experimental protocols.

39. Clinical Research Associate
(CRA)
Assists in the monitoring and
management of clinical trials
Requires knowledge of drug
development, clinical research (studies in
humans), federal regulations and Good
Clinical Practice (GCP).

40. Regulatory Affairs Specialist
Coordinates and prepares a variety of
documents to submit to the FDA

41. Customer Support Specialist
(four-year degree)
Serves as a contact for customers with
technical product questions
Ensures delivery of product that meets
customers’ requirements
Customer support experiences
desired

42. Other job titles include…
Project manager
Sales representative
Marketing specialist
Patent attorney
Corporate trainer
Lawyer
Technical writer

43. Career Pathways
Management responsibilities