With rapid advancements in technology, including CRISPR, personalized medicine, and synthetic biology, the sector is creating exciting opportunities for professionals eager to contribute to groundbreaking work. The biotechnology industry is at boom with scientific innovation, transforming healthcare, agriculture and environmental management. India is becoming one of the global leaders in biotechnology. With an economy of $300 billion to hit by the year 2030, surpassing $130 in 2024, as told by a forecast by Invest India. PhD in Biotechnology is one of the most exciting and rewarding paths that an individual can be inclined to. Biotechnology is a branch of science that combines biological and technological processes to solve problems in fields such as healthcare, agriculture and the environment. Biotechnology deals with real problems like feeding a growing population and fighting a real disease.
This article serves as a guide to PhD in Biotechnology while also including eligibility criteria, admission process, desirable universities, research trends with scope and guidance. If you are looking forward to pursuing a PhD in Biotechnology, this one is for you.
Table Of Content
What is a PhD in Biotechnology?
PhD in Biotechnology is a doctoral course with the highest academic excellence. This course consists of various subjects including Biological Chemistry, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Analytical Techniques and Bioinformatics. This program helps in conducting research related to producing a new organic product with the help of the existing one with the help of bioprocessing.
In addition to that, a PhD in Biotechnology trains an individual in biological techniques including cross breeding, embryology, and their applications in the real world. PhD in Biotechnology is suitable for individuals who want to work in combining different disciplines together to develop new technologies for the welfare of the human race.
Research Trends
Biotechnology is a broad field that combines biology, chemistry, genetics and computer science together to develop new technologies and a wide range of applications. Below are some of the current research trends that you can include in your PhD in Biotechnology:
1. Marine Biotechnology: Also known as Blue Biotechnology, it deals with the exploration and exploitation of marine resources to create new products and processes. Research includes new materials, drugs, and bioactive compounds from marine life.
2. Cancer and Cell Biology: Research studies using vitro and vivo animal models as well as clinical samples are being used for the understanding of diseases like Cancer, Developmental Disorders, Skin Pigmentary Disorders, etc.
3. Plant Biotechnology: Research is being carried out in this area to enhance plant attributes like combating (a)biotic stress, improving biomass processing for biofuel production. Parallelly, bio-safe formulations and gene-editing delivery approaches are also being carried out to increase the plant stress tolerance for an improved crop variety.
4. Infectious Disease Biology: Researchers in this area focus on finding antivirals against bacterial, viral and fungal pathogens. The research specifically focuses on dengue, chikungunya and Japanese Encephalitis (JEV). Research is being carried out to identify drug targets to overcome multidrug resistance.
PhD in Biotechnology: Admission
PhD Admission Process is a long one but helps to enter the world of creative experimentation which could help in transforming the lives of biotic as well as abiotic components. The eligibility criteria for PhD in Biotechnology are postgraduation from a recognized university in biotechnology or bioinformatics with an aggregate of 55% or more. The duration for a PhD in Biotechnology is 3-6 years.
UGC NET, DBI JRF, ICMR JRF are some of the most important entrance exams to be enrolled as a researcher in the PhD in Biotechnology program. Relevant work experience of at least two years can help in further refining of your application form.
After the initial selection based on your entrance marks and academic performance, many of the universities take interviews of the selected candidates to further refine their list. The interview mainly consists of questions related to the subject knowledge and research aptitude. Many of the universities also require an individual to carry out their Research Proposal along with their final interview.
PhD in Biotechnology: Admission Process
For an individual with no guidance about the admission process can miss something that could be chiefly important. However, we are here to provide you with the admission process for a PhD in Biotechnology to prepare you in advance.
Step 1: Research: Before selecting any of the universities, you should make sure of your own choice. An individual should know about the eligibility criteria, the professors in-charge, research supervisor and any other important information.
Step 2: Application Form: Once an individual has completed their research and selected the potential universities, the next step is filling in the application form. Make sure to fill it in before the deadline is closer.
Step 3: Entrance Exam: An individual must appear for an entrance exam ranging from UGC NET, DBI JRF, or ICMR JRF. Obtaining a passing mark in one of these entrance marks guarantees 50% of your admission.
Step 4: Group Discussion and Personal Interview: Some of the universities also require an individual to further appear in the group discussion and personal interview to grab the seat. One should not miss this as it would cancel out the admissions. The questions in a GD or a personal interview are easy and focus on the subject knowledge and research aptitude.
Step 5: Enrollment: With the completion of all the exams, you will receive an email which will confirm your admission. For further enrollment, an individual is requested to visit the university for the verification of original documents and fee payment.
Career in PhD in Biotechnology
Careers in Biotechnology range from biochemist to business development manager. Higher Education in biotechnology like master’s and PhD programs help an individual in equipping themselves with a better knowledge about the course and its various subfields. Below are some of the PhD Biotechnology scope for an individual pursuing PhD in Biotechnology:
| Job Profile | Description | Salary |
| Biochemist | A biochemist is a scientist who studies the chemical substances and processes inside a living organism. The focus is on exploring the molecular basis of life, thereby focusing on how molecules like protein, nucleic acid, interact and function within the cell and biological system. | INR 3 LPA – INR 6 LPA |
| Business Development Manager | Business Development Manager helps in providing a detailed market analysis and helps with the competitive intelligence to help the biotechnological companies to formulate and execute investment strategies. | INR 2 LPA – INR 18 LPA |
| Process Development Scientist | Process Development Scientist helps in optimizing manufacturing processes to ensure efficiency, quality and cost-effectiveness | INR 7 LPA – INR 20 LPA |
| Microbiologist | A microbiologist is a scientist who studies microorganisms including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and algae. | INR 8 LPA – INR 22 LPA |
PhD in Biotechnology: Guidance and Tips
Below are some of the guidance and tips for individuals who are looking forward to pursuing a PhD in Biotechnology. These tips can help you in focusing on the better aspects of your program:
1. Pick the Right Research Topic: Many of the times when the researchers in the PhD course are granted the time to choose a research topic, they come up with something that is either already done by someone or something that has no sources to read from. Pick a research topic that you are passionate about exploring. It could be something about the emerging research theories that are currently underway.
2. Time Management: Another important thing to work on is time management. While many researchers believe that starting their research a year before the final submission is going to land them at a safe place. But they cannot handle the pressure at the end moment. It is important to make a schedule and work according to it for a timely submission.
3. Mastering Lab and Technical Skills: A researcher should be able to learn and master advanced techniques like CRISPR, sequencing, bioinformatics tools to be able to use them in the future.
4. Correct Utilization of Research Supervisor: An individual is appointed with a research supervisor to help them out and for a timely updating of their thesis. Make sure to take the help of the research supervisor in your thesis or research proposal.
Conclusion
PhD in Biotechnology combines a lot of disciplines including biology, chemistry, molecular biology, informatics together to make a product and solve problems in the fields relating to agriculture, industry and healthcare. Biotechnology also offers specializations for a researcher to excel at one particular field.
If you are interested in resolving the problems of the real world with the help of biotechnology, this program is for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
