Biotechnology Industry: Interns Share Insight

Ever consider the buzz around COVID vaccines? What inspired it and how it was made? Let's understand in depth the science of biotechnology and its applications, which have transformed ways humans find solutions to their new age problems. The biotech field has ushered in better practices and found solutions not only in the medical field but other industries such as agriculture, pharma, fuel, textiles and environment protection.

Looking at the advancement in technology one can gauge that the field has scope for employing manpower. Researchers who can understand the work and come up with innovations that serve our nation, world and humanity as a whole.

To bring forth the experience of young researchers, Careers360 spoke to two professionals who completed internships with biotech companies. Let’s find out what they had to say.

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Swarandeep Singh, PhD Scholar at AIIMS, New Delhi

I completed a four month long internship at the Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, on cloning and gene expression. Currently I am pursuing a PhD from AIIMS, NewDelhi.

So how did an internship benefit me? It gave me hands-on experience. It added to my skills in several areas that have helped me as a research professional, such as molecular biology techniques, problem-solving, and data analysis.

During my internship, I learned that it is important to first identify our interests and think about the specific areas of research that interest us the most. This will also help us narrow down our search for internships. Also, seeking out reputable research institutions and universities is equally helpful to conduct good research as the field of biotechnology is all about research and analytics.

Apart from this, I also learnt to leverage personal connections, such as those with professors, mentors, or professionals working in the field. They may have knowledge of potential research internship opportunities or be able to introduce you to researchers who can guide you further. Also, it is perfectly okay to contact researchers directly and express our interest in working with them.

An internship can be gruelling. My working environment was good, but working hours were hectic. My guide was a reserved person with an optimistic personality. Overall, my experience helped me equip myself with the critical skills required for research and experimentation in this field.

Other than the financial support, I had no problems. Nowadays, universities provide financial support to interns, and I started out with a stipend of INR 5,000 per month.

One piece of advice that I would like to give to young students today is to explore the funding options available for research internships. Many organisations offer scholarships or stipends to support students in research-based internships. You can check with your university, local government, or research foundations for funding sources.

Another important learning at this time was that the goal of a research internship is not only to gain hands-on experience but also to explore your passion and develop a deeper understanding of your chosen field. The key to good research and innovation is to be proactive in your search. Apply for multiple opportunities and be open to different research areas to maximise your chances of finding rewarding research opportunities.

If you enjoy doing science in the laboratory, then this job profile is perfect for you.

Pooja Gaur, Data Analyst at Lifescience Intellipedia, Noida

I completed a BTech. and MTech in Biotechnology from Amity University, Noida. I am currently working as a data analyst in Noida but a few years ago I completed an internship at Delhi University. This was compulsory during our last semester of the course as I was required to submit a research thesis. It was a six month internship.

It was an unpaid internship, but it didn’t matter much as I wanted to understand industry prospects and scope after I completed graduation. I chose to intern at Delhi University, North Campus. I have learned about some bioinformatic tools that are required in the laboratory to conduct biotechnological experiments. Additionally, I've learnt a variety of lab procedures and experiments that are typically not included in college.

My internship there was a positive experience as my mentors and teachers were also supportive while training me, and I got to learn different unique things about biotech tools and lab techniques from them.

Students should look for such experiences as it is a real-time, real-world experience of the biotechnology industry and how the process of experimentation happens. Also, it opens up the gateways to various other opportunities, and sometimes you can have realisations of what could be your potential interest. There are multiple options available in the area of biotechnology apart from being a researcher like I realised that I can become a data analyst.

If you are thinking of stepping into the field of biotechnology, then above stated experiences can help you to understand how different it feels to be a part of such an industry where fusion of two subjects can bring relevant changes or you might be the reason for next revolutionary innovations.

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