Introduction
The field of biotechnology has the potential to not just improve some of the most pressing health, economic, and environmental problems facing the humanity, but decisively resolve them. From the food grown at our farms to the medicine we buy and the ways we clean up the environment, biotechnology affects many facets of our daily lives. Major developments in this field occur every day, with many introduced by academic and professional communities before the greater public is even aware of industry advancements. The Department of Life Sciences at UMT aims to prepare graduates to join in these exciting discoveries. The faculty offers students solid and full depth knowledge of applied biotechnology that prepares them for exciting and rewarding careers in next-generation science and technology. The program facilitates the students to be a part of the biotech future by providing instruction and training in many of the biotech disciplines through courses, seminars, advanced electives, and case studies. Course topics range from industrial application of enzymes and bio-polymer synthesis to modern drug design and the role of biotechnology in health care. The availability of various and varied electives enables students to specialize in selected biotechnology areas. The program also includes a guided study to develop analytical skills.
Aim of the Program
Biotechnology has revolutionized the pharmaceutical industry through the creation of recombinant protein products including bovine and human growth hormones, insulin, interferon’s, and erthythro proteins. In agriculture, biotechnology has produced herbicides and insect-resistant plants and will have a major impact on society by producing high-yielding nutritious crops that can grow in high salinity, drought, and in extreme cold. In the field of medicine, genetically engineered animals, as well as human gene therapies, have immense potential.
This MS program in biotechnology science trains students in the techniques used in biotechnology which is a high technology area of expanding importance. It prepares students successfully to
- Master the concepts of biotechnology, molecular biology, genomics and proteomics.
- Get skills necessary to collect, interpret, and critically analyze chemical data from laboratory experiments and the scientific literature.
- Have the efficiency in oral and written presentation of scientific concepts.
- Gain knowledge from industry perspective in the biotechnology field.
- Be research and process development specialists.
- Meet the demands of doctoral programs.
- Gain core competencies in statistics and research methods
Career Prospects
Biotechnology is a young, vibrant and diverse discipline, whose principle is to use microorganisms for the manufacturing of biological therapeutics, foods, chemicals, and other products benefitting people. It includes agro biotechnology, diagnostics and bioremediation. The graduate degree in biotechnology enables the students to pursue a number of biotechnology professions. In addition to becoming research and process development specialists, the graduates can adopt careers as consultants, regulatory affairs associates and analysts. The biotechnology industry has experienced impressive growth in recent years, and with it, an increased demand for well-qualified biotech professionals. A graduate degree in biotechnology will enable students to work in various biotechnology industries with the advancement in their careers. There are a number of employment opportunities with companies who discover and develop products in the pharmaceutical, medical device, agricultural, healthcare, biofuels and industrial fields. They may go for the business of biotechnology, patent law, and licensing, join a start-up company if they consider a career transition from the lab. Students can fulfill the academic requirements for pursuing higher education in this field.
Admission Criteria:
Students with any of following degrees are eligible for admission in MS Biotechnology.
- BS/MSc in any of following subject (or equivalent subject):
- Biochemistry
- Biotechnology
- Molecular Biology
- MMG (Microbiology and Molecular genetics)
- Botany/Zoology
- Genetic engineering
- Nutrition
- Agricultural sciences
- MBBS
- BDS (Dental Surgery)
- DPharm (Doctor in Pharmacy)
- DVM/Veterinary Sciences
- MLT (Laboratory Technology)
To qualify for a MS degree the student must have at least 30 credits of graduate work. There are three options to achieve this target.
- 4 core courses (12 credits), 4 elective courses (12 credits) from Biotechnology that are listed and MS thesis (6 credits) earning for research.
- 4 core courses (12 credits) and 6 elective courses (18 credits) from Biotechnology that are listed.
- 4 core courses (12 credits), 4 elective courses (12 credits) from Biotechnology that are listed and 2 elective courses (6 credits) from other departments in UMT.