<p>D2 is really into biology, but is also very good at math. She's probably an overall A- student with A's in math and science and B's in social studies. I'm wondering if she should consider bioengineering. </p>
<p>I'm specifically not asking about biomedical engineering, or the design of medical devices. That's something else entirely. </p>
<p>I'm asking about biological engineering, biotechnology, or the application of engineering principles to solve problems in biology itself, like for food science or drug discovery or biofuels. </p>
<p>I noticed that a lot of this kind of research comes out of chemical engineering departments. </p>
<p>Do chemical engineering grads who lean in the bioengineering direction face the same kind of competition in developing a sustainable career path as PhD scientists, where there is a glut, or is there a lot more opportunity for someone with this kind of engineering background to work in the life sciences?</p>
<p>Are there opportunities for BS grads or does one need a graduate degree to do something meaningful?</p>
<p>How does one find a good undergraduate program with opportunities in biotech short of looking at the ChemE departments at each school and seeing if there are faculty in this area? </p>
<p>Biotech is a scam that will never pay off. The so called “revolution” predicted for 30 years hasn’t come and will never come. Take it from someone whose been there, done that. Instead, what you want to be looking at are things like quantitative finance and aerospace engineering, because this country is good at only 2 things: killing people, and making money off it.</p>
<p>Bioengineering tends to do worse than most other engineering majors, including chemical engineering. Yes, biotech jobs may increase, but the bio-anything job market is flooded with pre-meds who did not get into medical school, so don’t count on being able to get into the field (i.e. have alternate major/job/career plans).</p>
<p>I want to bump this thread and maybe have an more intelligent conversation than we’ve had.</p>
<p>I’m specifically looking at the potential of biochemical or biomolecular engineering coming out of a Chemical Engineering department for someone interested in biology or biochemistry but wanting to get into cool work. I’m specifically not asking about biomedical engineering, or the development of medical devices, but work done at a more molecular or cellular level. </p>
<p>Does anyone who is actually familiar with this area besides LastThreeYears (who is so negative that it’s hard to take him seriously), and ucbalumnus (who thinks anything bio related is full of failed premeds and thus has no future) have a serious opinion on this direction as a way to get involved with exciting areas of Biotech? </p>
<p>I can read surveys, they tell a story, not the story. I’m actually interested in actual experiences. Thanks in advance. </p>
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<p>No respect intended, but you’re a current undergraduate who just changed majors. Where have you been and what have you done that makes you think that biotech is a scam. </p>
<p>Thanks again to those with serious replies.</p>
<p>First off, biotechnology is sort of a blanket term. Biotech companies tend to be small, funded by venture capitalists, usually headed by a few PhD’s, and usually are in the process of developing some new technologies for applicable to industries like biopharma, biofuels, and medical devices/technology. If they make something viable, they get bought out by a big corporation like Merck, Roche, or Pfizer.</p>
<p>Biopharmaceuticals is what people tend to think of when they hear the word biotechnology. Biopharma is like the traditional pharmaceuticals industry but instead of small molecule drugs (statins, NSAIDs, psychotics, etc.) biopharma companies manufacture biologics (enzymes, antibodies, and now stem cells). These companies are usually dominated by biology and biochemistry majors, however, they do hire ChemE’s in areas like process development, process control, and equipment validation. </p>
<p>As far as research goes, this tends to be something that is dominated by bio/biochem majors, solely due to their numbers. A bioengineering/biochemical engineering major should still be competitive due to their background in the biological sciences, but after a couple of years of experience, your engineering major really does nothing to distinguish you from the others.</p>
<p>So, to answer your question: it can be difficult depending on what track your daughter takes. If she goes the research route, it can be difficult due to the glut of bio/biochem majors who go into the field. While process might not have the same abundance of innovation and discovery, a bioprocess engineer with experience can be very desirable.</p>
<p>Thanks ElevateMeLater for elevating the discussion now! (I couldn’t resist). </p>
<p>Just so I understand what your saying, in Biopharma (learned a new term) research, BS ChemE’s don’t really have any advantage over biochem majors. You’re saying that the place where ChemE’s have an advantage is in engineering the processes to manufacture biological products. </p>
<p>I’ve seen some ChemE professors do research like genetically engineering mutations in bacteria to increase the production of antibiotics. That’s what got me thinking that there might be opportunities for ChemE’s trained in biochemical engineering to contribute to seriously useful bio research from an engineering point of view. Is that not the case? Will that be the case in the future? </p>
<p>CRD, sorry if I’m confusing you. What you mentioned sounds like genetic engineering. Even though it has engineering in the title it’s not really something that what you and I think of as an engineer would do. Genetic engineering takes a strong background in molecular genetics, cell biology, and biochemistry, but chemical engineering principles (separations, reactor kinetics, etc.) aren’t really all that applicable. </p>
<p>Now I’m not saying there’s no room for an engineer to genetically modify cells or practice other biotechnologies. Your D can do any of the things you mentioned with course work in biology/biochemistry and an advanced degree a biology-related field. I would even say that a ChemE with a bio coursework is probably looked more favorably upon than you’re typical bio/biochem major, due to the rigor of engineering curriculums. It’s just that at that point, you’re more scientist than engineer.</p>
<p>Elevate, your not confusing me, this is exactly the discussion I was looking for. </p>
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<p>Exactly! But would a ChemE with bio course work who is more scientist than engineer get paid like typical biology/biochem major, or would the pay be closer to that of an engineer?</p>
<p>Is this a potentially decent career path for someone who loves science but doesn’t want to go through the PhD-postdoc meat grinder?</p>
<p>Are you asking if having the degree in chemical engineering with some biology course work may help looking for the desired biotechnology job, while retaining a backup option of the “usual” chemical engineering jobs if the biotechnology jobs are too hard to get or do not pay enough?</p>
<p>Let’s call the chemical engineering majors who’ve taken bio courses bio-chemical engineers. </p>
<p>ElevateMeLater asserted that these biochemical engineers are more attractive to biotech employers even to work in science than biochemistry majors because of the rigorous engineering curriculum they have taken. </p>
<p>Assuming that’s true, my question was whether these biochemical engineers who work in science are generally paid more than the biochemistry majors, and if so, is that a reasonable career path for someone who enjoys scientific discovery, but can handle the rigor of engineering, and who doesn’t want to go through a PhD and post docs and otherwise wait until their 30s to have a permanent job with good prospects?</p>
<p>I think I understand your question. From what I’ve seen there are distinctively either Research Assistant or Entry-level Engineer jobs for graduates with just a B.S degree (when you compare Science and Engineering, that is).</p>
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<p>Yes but Biochemical Engineering majors get employed as Engineers. Biochem majors don’t have engineering background so the best they can do is research assistant/lab technician that are repetitive, mundane, low-paying, and dead-end. The things is, Biochemical Engineering majors have enough science background so that can apply for those Research assistant jobs as well if they have a trouble getting an Engineering job! Engineering majors often work/volunteer for a professor in a research lab during academic semesters just like Science majors do so they have some research experience before they graduate, ON TOP OF Engineering summer internships. Remember, Science and Engineering are very similar when it comes to research. That is the beauty of an Engineering degree, it not only provides a high starting salary but it’s also very diverse.</p>
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<p>I don’t think this happens as long as the Engineering majors get a research assistant job. A **<strong><em>ty job is still a *</em></strong>*ty job. I’ve read some posts by Engineers who got B.S in Science-level jobs complain that they couldn’t find a high-paying job as they expected and are extremely dissatisfied.</p>