r/biotechnology

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for some honest advice from people working in biotech or academia.

I'm a 23-year-old biochemical engineer from Colombia who recently graduated. In a few weeks I'll be starting as an analyst at McKinsey in Bogotá. I know consulting is quite different from biotechnology, but I accepted the role because it offers strong professional development and, importantly for me, the opportunity to save enough money to fund a master's degree abroad in about two years.

My long-term goal has always been to work in biotechnology, genomics, molecular biology or a related R&D field. I'm particularly interested in areas such as genetic engineering, CRISPR, synthetic biology and industrial biotechnology.

My concern is that, by the time I apply, I won't have formal industry R&D experience. My work experience will mostly be in management consulting, although my undergraduate degree included laboratory courses and engineering fundamentals.

So my questions are:

How much would admissions committees care about the lack of direct R&D experience? I ask this because i was rejected for the master in genomics and genetics of the Barcelona Unuversity

Would a strong academic record, clear motivation, and two years at McKinsey compensate for that?

Which universities or countries would you recommend for someone with my background? I'm mainly considering Europe (Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, etc.) but I'm also open to the US if it's realistic.

Are there programs that particularly value engineering graduates transitioning into biotechnology research?

Finally, do you have some advice for me?

Thanks you all!!!

Hi everyone,
I’m a student from Assam who recently appeared for NEET UG this year. While exploring different career options, I’ve been seriously considering Biotechnology as an alternative. I had PCB in my 12th.
My current plan is to do a B.Sc. in Biotechnology in India, followed by an M.Sc., and then pursue a Ph.D. abroad. Before making such a big decision, I wanted to hear from people who are already in this field.
I have a few questions:
Is this a good career path in the long run?
If I complete my Ph.D. abroad, what are the chances of getting a job there instead of having to return to India?
Are the salaries and job opportunities abroad generally good after a Ph.D. in Biotechnology?
I’ve heard that biotechnology is a competitive field with limited jobs. How true is that?
If you had to start over today, would you still choose biotechnology?
I’m looking for honest advice from students, researchers, or professionals in the field. Any personal experiences or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!

Hola a todos,

Actualmente curso el segundo semestre de Física en la Universidad de Carabobo, Venezuela. Aunque me apasiona la física desde siempre, la he considerado mi base científica. Mi objetivo siempre ha sido aprender a "pensar como un físico" y usar sus principios para explicar el mundo, con la intención de explorar otras áreas a futuro.

Últimamente, me he dado cuenta de que mi verdadera pasión se encuentra en la intersección de la física y la biología. Me fascina la biología molecular, la biotecnología y, sobre todo, la biología sintética (como las aplicaciones de CRISPR). Estoy seguro de que quiero realizar estudios de posgrado en esta área.

Como aún me quedan algunos años para terminar mi licenciatura, quería preguntarles a la comunidad un par de cosas:

¿Qué actividades interesantes o divertidas puedo hacer ahora mismo mientras termino mi licenciatura? ¿Hay algún curso en línea (Coursera, edX, etc.), libro de texto o proyecto de código abierto que recomienden para un estudiante de física que busca dar el salto a la biología molecular?

Si eres físico y trabajas actualmente en biología/biotecnología, ¿cuál es tu experiencia? ¿Cómo fue la transición y cómo es tu día a día?

¿Qué consejos profesionales me darías en mi situación?- Dado que estudio en Venezuela, cualquier información sobre oportunidades internacionales, becas o subcampos específicos (como Biofísica o Biología Cuantitativa) sería de gran valor.

Estoy a su disposición y espero con interés sus consejos e información. ¡Gracias de antemano!

As a Biotechnology student I'm often confused about whether to pursue research or move directly into the industry after graduation
For those who have already taken either path:
What influenced your decision? Which offers better long-term career growth and opportunities?
I'd love to hear experiences from researchers, industry professionals, and fellow biotech students.

need some advice regarding bsc in biotech course whats the roadmap , anyone who has achieved something in this field it would be really great from hearing you and secondly i didnt gave cuet so anyone who can suggest me some colleges from where i should do my bsc in biotechnology well i am considering jecrc jaipur so nay thoughts on that are welcomed too.

I'm an early-career biotech graduate with NGS experience at a major core facility. I'm on OPT, STEM OPT-eligible, and have close to three years of work authorization remaining..so technically I don't technically need sponsorship anytime soon. I've been diligently applying and networking, but I keep hitting a wall that feels completely outside my control: sponsorship.

Some companies explicitly list "no sponsorship" on the JD- filtered out before anyone sees my resume. But even when I do get traction from a near-perfect match, I get screened out the moment the topic comes up. Most recently, I had a screening at a large pharma company for a role my resume directly matched but didn't move forward past the first question about work authorization. The recruiter was kind enough to explain that it wasn't my current status, it was future sponsorship.. the company doesn't sponsor at the title level I'm targeting even if its a possiblity that 2 years down the line I am at a different level.But she encouraged to keep applying regardless when asked about future applications. A very similar role w exact JD has opened up now. I've been genuinely strategic about this: tailoring every application, networking actively, doing everything right on my end. But this keeps feeling like a dead end I can't think my way out of.

My working theory: companies avoid sponsoring at entry levels because of H-1B wage floor requirements, making those roles economically unattractive to sponsor even when the candidate is strong. Is that actually what's happening on the hiring side? Also curious ..are companies becoming more broadly cautious around OPT/STEM OPT candidates right now given immigration policy uncertainty, even when the candidate has years of authorization remaining?

Would love to hear from anyone who's navigated this, especially from the recruiter or hiring manager side. Genuinely running out of angles here.

Hello everyone, I'm currently a 2nd year Msc biotechnology student from India. As the title suggests, I need a website to download closed access papers. After scihub was banned, I got my papers through other sites, none of which seem to work anymore. Which led me to practically begging my friend who studies in the US to download them for me.

Does anyone know a site where I could download these papers? Please help a fellow aspiring biotechnologist out

Hello everyone,
I’m a PCB (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) student from India, and I recently appeared for NEET UG (the national medical entrance exam for MBBS and other medical courses in India). Unfortunately, things didn’t go as I had hoped, so I’m now exploring alternative career options.
One field that has really caught my interest is Biotechnology, but before making a decision, I’d love to hear from people who are studying or working in this field.
How are the career opportunities in Biotechnology, both in India and internationally? Is it a good field in terms of job availability, salary, and long-term career growth? Are there enough opportunities in industry, research, or other sectors?
I’d especially like to know:
How is the job market in India and abroad?
Is a bachelor’s degree enough, or is a master’s/PhD usually necessary?
What kinds of jobs do Biotechnology graduates typically get?
What is the salary progression like?
If you had to start over, would you still choose Biotechnology?
I’m looking for honest opinions and real experiences—the pros, the cons, and the things students usually don’t learn until they’re already in the field.
Thank you so much for your help!

I was thinking to take admission in bioengineering btech . Can you please tell me is it worth it ? Placements , research ? What are the major opportunities for research ?

Hello everyone,
I’m a student from India with a PCB (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) background, and I’m currently exploring career options after high school.
A few people suggested that instead of choosing Biotechnology or Bioinformatics, I should look into newer interdisciplinary courses like Computer Science & Biomedical Engineering (AI), Medical AI, AI in Healthcare, Biomedical AI, and Health Informatics. Some universities (like Sharda University) are offering these programs to PCB students through bridge courses.
I’m a bit confused because these courses are quite new, and it’s hard to find honest reviews.
I’d really appreciate advice from people who are studying or working in these fields.
Are these degrees actually worth pursuing, or are they mostly marketing?
How are the job opportunities in India and abroad?
Do employers value these degrees, or is it better to choose a traditional degree like Computer Science, Biotechnology, or Bioinformatics?
Are the placements and salaries good?
If you were starting today with a biology background, would you choose one of these programs? Why or why not?
Are there any universities you’d recommend for PCB students interested in this field?
I’m looking for honest opinions and real experiences. Thank you!

Qualifications:- 2nd year cllg student from antu jhantu cllg doing plain bsc( biology+ chemistry major)

Was a neet partial dropper, but I messed up so I don't think I will get anything, I have lost my sleeps,.

Help me in my scientific career....

I have been selected for Bsc biotech honours with research can anyone tell me how the course is or any other advice which would be helpful for me???