Q. About Biotechnology?
A. Biotechnology discipline combines biology, chemistry, mathematics and physics to provide the tools for modern biology and biomedical research.
Q. What are the branches of Biotechnology?
A. Industrial, Environmental, Plant, Medicinal and animal biotechnology.
Q. What is special about Biotechnology?
A. Biotechnology involves using biological organisms such as bacteria, fungi and plants to create products and new technologies in medicine, agriculture, energy, or the environment. Other popular biotechnology subfields include gene therapy and vaccine development.
Q. What are the benefits of studying biotechnology?
A. Completing undergraduate or graduate biotechnology degree will help enter medical school. In addition, studying Biotechnology will provide knowledge about medical treatments, conserving natural resources, manage biological waste benefiting environment, Nutritional Quality Improvement in crops, knowledge to improves human health, Medical advancement opportunities.
Q. What can you do with Biotechnology degree?
A. Students who completed Biotechnology undergraduate or graduate program get job in Research and development, Quality assurance/regulatory affairs, Manufacturing, Clinical research, Government (policymaking), Software engineering, Food, animal, and environmental science, Sales and technical support in start up and fortune 500 biotech companies.
Q. What are the job opportunities for Biotechnology?
A. Student who complete undergraduate or graduate biotechnology program will get several industrial jobs. Some of the jobs include Biomedical Engineer, Biochemist, Medical Scientist, Clinical Technician, Microbiologist, Process Development Scientist, Biomanufacturing Specialist, Business Development Manager, sales, marketing, research and development, production and distribution, manufacturing, quality control etc.
Q. How many tracks are there in UH undergraduate biotechnology program?
A. There are two tracks, Bioprocessing and Bioinformatics.
Q. What is Bioinformatics?
A. Bioinformatics is the application of computer technology to the management of biological information. An example of this would be the analysis and documentation of an organism’s genetic sequence. Individuals with an aptitude for computer-based work/study would do well with bioinformatics.
Q. What is Bioprocessing?
A. Bioprocessing uses living cells to manufacture a desired product. An example of this would be using genetically altered bacteria to produce a therapeutic drug. Those that prefer a more hands on experience in the laboratory space would like bioprocessing.
Q. What is Accelerated B.S./M.S. degree program?
A. Undergraduate students that are accepted into the accelerated program can take up to six (6) graduate credit hours that are applied to both the Biotechnology bachelor’s degree and the Engineering Technology master’s degree with a specialization in Biotechnology. Students should have 3.25 GPA to qualify and can apply to this program in their fourth year.
Q. How much hands-on experience does a typical undergraduate BTEC student get?
A. Undergraduate students BTEC students will complete two laboratory course where they will learn techniques how to culture bacteria, isolate plasmids, genetically engineer the plasmids and express new therapeutic proteins in E-coli. Students also complete a one semester capstone project by working in a research lab or on computers and carry out independent research under the supervision of graduate student and faculty.
Q. Can master student get assistantship?
A. Assistantship is available to master students who chose to do research thesis. Students who are assigned teaching assistantship will receive $800/month and student who receive research assistantship will receive $1,000/month.
Q. What are the opportunities about industrial internship?
A. Several startup companies in Houston area work with BTEC program and offer internship to students. Students can also approach companies and get paid internship in the summer to gain industrial experience.
Q. Are there any student organization related to UH Biotechnology program?
A. Society for Biological Engineers (SBE) organize several events during the calendar year. Some of them include, high profile talks from industries, entrepreneurs and Research scientists.
Q. What are the major research activities that is currently taking place in Biotechnology program?
A. Medicinal compounds from Mushroom to treat cancer, Vegan leather using fungal biomass, Algae processing to fuels and chemicals, Algal animal feed, Genome sequencing and annotation of fungus, Soil microbiome engineering to improve plant productivity and Genome sequencing of salt tolerant plants.