What is Molecular Biology and Biotechnology?
Molecular Biology is the branch of biology that deals with the macromolecules essential to life. Biotechnology involves the manipulation of living organisms to create useful products. (Sources: Oxford and Merriam-Webster Dictionaries)
What makes Biotechnology at UTSC unique?
Students in this program increase their knowledge of the biological processes that occur at the cellular and molecular levels while gaining rich laboratory experience.
Skills of Biology Grads
- Collect, analyze, interpret and make projections from data
- Utilize statistical tests in data analysis
- Conduct, design and troubleshoot experiments
- Observe and make measurements on organisms
- Write literature reviews and scientific reports
- Chart the development of complex organisms
Biotechnology Skills:
- Understand how genetic, genomic and microbial techniques are combined to produce products and treatments in industrial, medical and agricultural settings.
Molecular Biology Skills:
- Prepare and dispense precisely formulated solutions, even at microliter quantities
- Use electrophoresis, blotting, chromatography and centrifugation equipment
- Nucleic acid hybridization in a range of formats
- Purify, modify and analyse DNA, RNA, proteins
- Use microscopy with in situ hybridization, immunocytochemistry and fluorescent protein technologies to analyse gene and protein expression and function
Entry-Level Jobs for Bachelor Grads
Common employment destinations include:
- Clinical Research Assistant in Hospitals
- Laboratory Technician in Industrial and Government Agencies
- Sales in Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies
- Assistant Biologist in Food Inspection Agencies
- Teaching Assistant or Tutor in Private Schools
- Quality Control in Biopharmaceutical Industry
- Laboratory Assistant in Genetic Testing Services
- Marketing Associate for Medical Devices
Biotechnology Grads from UTSC have gone on to:
- Roche (Regulatory Affairs Associate)
- Quality Cheese (Quality Assurance Manager)
- Pall Life Sciences (Director)
UTSC Biology graduates are working in Research, Education, Healthcare and Business..
Graduate & Professional Studies
Popular further education opportunities include:
- Biology - Master of Science
- Public Health or Health Science - Master
- Epidemiology or Biostatistics - Master
- Biotechnology - Master or Diploma
- Genetic Counselling - Master
- Medical or Dentistry School - MD or DDS
- Nursing - Bachelor
- Medical Laboratory Science – Diploma
- Molecular and Cytogenetics Diagnostics
- Molecular Forensics
- Clinical Research - Post-Graduate Certificate
Examples of Fields that ‘Fit’ the Skills of Biology Grads
- Fundraising (Diseases, Disorders)
- Government Services (Federal, Provincial, Regional, Municipal)
- Healthcare and Laboratory Science
- Education
- Sales and Marketing
- Data Analysis (wide range of industries)
- Production and Manufacturing
- Insurance / Underwriting Services
Your 4-Year Career Exploration Action Plan
1. Do Your Research
The databases below provide you with details about job prospects, nature of work, educational requirements, working conditions, pay and related career paths:
- Career Cruising: Log into cln.utoronto.ca, click on Resources, and click on Career Cruising to be logged in automatically
- O*Net: online.onetcenter.org (U.S. site)
Attend our workshop Discover Your Skills and Career Options, meet with a Career Counsellor, and use our resources to get to know your skills, values, personality and interests.
Use the advice on our tip sheets for gathering information:
- Information Interviews
- Working On-Campus
- Internships
- Volunteering
2. Explore Career Options & Get Experience
Gain exposure to your options in the world of work and make connections while you’re a student via campus events and programs listed on cln.utoronto.ca and ccr.utoronto.ca:
- Extern Job Shadowing
- In the Field
- Explore It! (course-based)
- Partners in Leadership (4th year students)
- iLead, uLead, weLead (Department of Student Life)
- Employer Information Sessions
- Career & Volunteer Fairs
- Departmental Student Association Events
Apply for Work Study jobs in CLN in Fall and Spring! You might also find work via the SCSU.
Find networking opportunities, internship programs and entry-level jobs via websites like TalentEgg and Charity Village.
As an upper year student (14+ credits), attend UTSC’s Get Hired conference and participate in Jobs for Grads.
As a graduate, explore internships and other trainee programs like Career Edge.
3. Build Your Network
Explore professional associations and get involved! Volunteer for their events and get to know people in your industry of interest. These are your future mentors, supervisors and colleagues!
- Biology Student Association at UTSC
- The Canadian Society of Microbiologists
- BioTalent Canada
- Biotechnology Industry Association
- BIOTECanada
- Association of Clinical Research Professionals
- The Student Doctor Network
- Canadian Society of Biochemistry, Molecular and Cellular Biology
- The Society for Biomolecular Sciences
- About Bioscience
- Canadian Council of Technicians and Technologists (CCTT)
Please note: This information is a starting point for your further research into career options in this field of study. For more information on this program and course requirements, please visit the Department of Biological Sciences website.