There has been a significant buzz around the Applied Biological Sciences field because of their exciting and dynamic nature, and direct implications on the human life.
Biomedical Science might seem to be the most popular branch within the Applied Biology domain. But, the field of Food Science and Agriculture is also gaining huge popularity of late. The field is very broad and interdisciplinary.
In this post I am going to give you an overview on the Food Science and Technology – Science meets Food.
What is Food Science?
Food science is the branch of applied sciences that combines the fundamentals of biochemistry, physical sciences and chemical engineering to study the physical, chemical and biological nature of food items. In simple words, food science (or food technology) deals with the manufacturing, processing, treatment, preservation, and distribution of food.
The ultimate objective of food science is to understand the principles of food processing and to improve the food quality for the general public. Whatever food item (especially packaged ones) you come across in the supermarket (or retail store), has had some contributions from a food scientist, food technologist or food engineer.
Food Science, Food Technology & Food Engineering
Though Food Science Food Engineering and Food Technology are very overlapping, there are few subtle differences. I am not going to get into too many details on this. But, I would like to provide the following illustrations that I found on ResearchGate:
- Food Technology: Fire can be used to cook food.
- Food Science: Burning wood produces heat, water, and carbon dioxide. Heat denatures proteins in food.
- Food Engineering: Building a fireplace and chimney makes it easier to cook with fire without filling the room with smoke.
I hope we are clear enough now. From now on we will take all the three disciplines as one broad field – Food Science & Technology.
What is the Need of Food Science & Technology?
Food is essential for all forms of life; and humans need food for survival. Like shelter, clothes, education and healthcare, food is also a basic necessity for mankind.
Majority of the food items are biological in origin. The process of harvesting, processing, distribution, storage and preparation is quite complex. Understanding the process, and solving various problems during the whole process, requires broad-based knowledge and training.
Food scientists are responsible for making safe and nutritious food along with innovative packaging, and that also in abundance. Thus, Food Scientists allow us to make the best use of our food resources and minimize waste of resources.
There has been a tremendous evolution of food system worldwide, thanks to food science and technology. Processed food items are more convenient to consume, and more importantly can be more tasty and healthy as well.
For example, raw milk could be very harmful if you consume as it is. You need to boil it (to remove pathogens) and then consume. Besides, the shelf-life is also short. In contrast, the pasteurized milk (e.g. Mother Dairy) is safe and has got longer shelf-life. Besides, milk can be processed to produce cheese, yogurt, butter, cream etc. For curious folks here is an article on pasteurized milk versus raw milk.
Another idea behind processed food is to enhance the compliance of few vital elements. There are quite a few kids who do not want to consume milk (contains various vital nutrients important for growth) vegetable or fruits.
Hence the food science gave us health drinks (rather brands) like Horlicks, Boost, Bournvita, Complan etc. They might not contain same nutrient value as proper milk, fruits and vegetables. But, kids do tend to drink them as they taste better; besides those brands are being endorsed by the kids’ favorite stars (Cricketers or Bollywood actors).
Some of the best examples (products) of food science and technology that we come across in our daily life are:
- Frozen Food
- Canned Food
- Snacks & Fast Food (chips, fries, pizza, burger, pasta etc.)
- Microwave Meal
- Ready-To-Eat Meals
- Bottled and Packaged Milk (long-life, skimmed, semi-skimmed etc.)
- Baby Food
- Low Fat Butter
- Chocolate
- Yogurt
- Coffee (Instant and Filter; don’t know the difference yet? Read here)
- Cereals (including cereal bars)
- Packaged Juice (Fruit and Vegetable)
- Aerated Drinks (Cola), Energy Drinks (Gatorade, Red Bull), Beer, Wine and other alcoholic beverages
Growing Demand of Food Science & Technology Professionals
Relatively Food Science is still a very new discipline, and it is growing due to rapid urbanization and lifestyle changes worldwide. Being a branch of applied sciences, Food Science is very multi-disciplinary in nature, just like Biomedical Science, Pharmacy or Translational Science.
Food Science involves chemistry (organic, inorganic and physical), biochemistry, microbiology, nutrition, chemical and process engineering. The holy grail of food science lies within the understanding of the chemistry and biochemistry of food components like proteins, carbohydrate, fats, minerals, vitamins and water.
So, the field needs highly qualified and trained Food Scientists. Due to advancements in technology and our hectic daily life, there is an increasing demand for easy to prepare (e.g. Maggi, frozen pizza) and easy to consume food items (e.g. ready-to-eat meals). Apart from quality, factors like safety and nutrition value also need to be kept in mind. Therefore, there is a growing market demand for more advancements and sophistication in the field of food science and technology globally.
Required Education & Training for a Career in the Food Industry
Ideally you need to have Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (PCB) combination in your 10+2, and may be Mathematics as well. At Bachelors level, ideal courses are 3-year or 4-year degree courses in Food Science, Food Technology, Food Science and Technology, or Food Science and Agriculture.
Alternative courses are Biotechnology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Organic Chemistry, Chemical/Process Engineering, Nutrition, Pharmaceutical Sciences etc.
To have a career in R&D, QC and QA, you will require a higher degree (Masters or PhD). You can gain more advantage by pursuing a higher degree from abroad. If you are more inclined towards the sales and marketing (product/brand management) roles then an MBA will be very helpful.
In case you want to pursue a career as a Nutritionist or Dietician, a formal degree after Bachelors is not always necessary. You can do a Certificate or PG Diploma course in Nutrition or Dietetics.
Top Academic & Research Institutes in India
Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI)
National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM)
Indian Institute of Crop Processing Technology (IICPT)
National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute (NABI)
Food and Drug Toxicology Research Centre (FDTRC)
National Institute of Nutrition (NIN)
Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (IITR)
Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI)
Department of Food Science and Technology, Pondicherry University
International Life Sciences Institute – India (ILSI)
National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI)
Department of Food Science and Nutrition, SNDT Women’s University
Amrita University (Research Projects)
Centre for Food Science & Technology, Sambalpur University
Agricultural & Food Engineering Department, IIT Kharagpur
Faculty of Food Safety and Quality
Central Institute of Post-Harvest Engineering & Technology (CIPHET)
Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI)
National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD)
Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI)
Indian Institute of Vegetable Research (IIVR)
Department of Zoology, University of Delhi
National Institute of Abiotic Stress Management (NIAM)
Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE)
CCS Haryana Agriculture University
B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology
School of Health Sciences, University of Calicut
Dept. of Food Process Engineering, SRM University
Top Universities in Abroad
Universities in USA
- Cornell University
- University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
- Texas A&M University
- UC Davis
- University of Florida
- University of Missouri
- Michigan State University
- Iowa State University
- Purdue University
- University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Oklahoma State University
- University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Pennsylvania State University
- Ohio State University
- Clemson University
- University of Minnesota
- Southern Illinois University Carbondale
- Mississippi State University
- North Carolina State University
- Illinois Institute of Technology
- Colorado State University
- Virginia Tech
- California State University long Beach
- California State University Los Angeles
- University of Arkansas
- New York University
- Tufts University
- Drexel University
- University of Connecticut
- Kansas State University
- University of Idaho
- Oregon State University
- Washington State University
- Texas Tech University
- University of Delaware
- University of Georgia
- University of Tennessee
- Rutgers, State University of New Jersey
- Utah State University
- Brigham Young University
- Bowling Green State University
- Florida State University
Universities in UK
- University of Leeds
- University of Reading
- University of Surrey
- Heriot Watt University
- University of Central Lancashire
- Glasgow Caledonian University
- University of Nottingham
- Teesside University
- University of Exeter
- University of Chester
- University of Greenwich
- London South Bank University
- Sheffield Hallam University
- Cardiff Metropolitan University
- London Metropolitan University
Other countries
- University College Dublin
- University College Cork
- Dublin Institute of Technology
- University of Copenhagen
- Denmark Technical University
- Aarhus University
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology
- Wageningen University
- KU Leuven
- Ghent University
- ETH Zurich
- Bern University of Applied Sciences
- Swiss German University
- Lund University
- University of Gothenburg
- University of Auckland
- Massey University
- Auckland University of Technology
- University of Otago
- University of Queensland
- Curtin University
- RMIT University
- Victoria University
- University of Melbourne
- University of New South Wales
- University of British Columbia
- Dalhousie University
- University of Guelph
- McGill University
- University of Manitoba
- Carleton University
- Saskatchewan University
- National University of Singapore
Why Pursue a Career in Food Science & Technology
The food industry is one of the largest in the world. People will never stop to eat (essential for survival). Hence, it will be in demand always, and recession-proof.
You can choose any role within the food industry – behind the desk or in the lab. You can choose any function – R&D, Manufacturing, Quality Control, Sales & Marketing, Teaching and Consulting within the Government, Industry or Academia.
Popular Sectors for Employment
- Food Manufacturing & Processing (Grains, fruits, vegetables, fish, meat etc.)
- FMCG
- Pharma-Biotech
- Agro-Biotech
- Dairy Firms
- Poultry Firms
- Bakeries & Confectionaries
- Breweries
- Retailers
- Healthcare
- Academia & Research Institutes
- Food Packaging
Popular Career Paths & Job Profiles in the Food Industry
- Research & Development (Food Scientist, Food Technologist, Food Chemist, Product Development Specialist)
- Quality Control & Assurance (Food Chemist, Food Inspector, Toxicologist)
- Food Processing (Food Processor, Process Development Specialist, Manufacturing Specialist, Food Production Manager)
- Sales, Marketing & Brand Management (various roles like other industries)
- Others (Dietician, Nutritionist, Animal Nutritionist, Diet & Fitness Counselor)
Salary Structures in the Food Industry in India
As a fresher, a Food Technologist (or Scientist) can earn INR 20 – 25K per month (average) in India.
Within 5 years, you can reach INR 500,000 – 640,000 per annum. With an experience of 10 years on your CV, you can expect annual package of INR 900,000 – 1,180,000.
The salary structure for professionals within the Manufacturing function could be 20% (approximately) less than those in the R&D or QC/QA function. If you enjoy lot of frequent traveling, then go for the roles of Food Inspector.
Academic roles will pay as per the University pay scales. Then there will be more extra incentives as well for Sales & Marketing professionals. For nutritionist and dieticians, median annual wage is INR 210,000 for fresher; and Nutrition Managers can earn INR 750,000 per annum (average). As a nutritionist or diet counselor, you can also do freelancing.
Read here about Nutritionist Jobs and Dietician Careers in India. If you end up in the Sales & Marketing (including Brand Management) role, the salary levels will be 20 – 25% higher than the R&D and QC/QA professionals.
Salary structures have been mentioned after referring to sites like PayScale & Glassdoor, and peers (working in top FMCG companies like Nestle, Heinz, Hindustan Unilever, and GSK Consumer Healthcare).
Product & Brand Management within the Food Industry: Most Challenging & Rewarding
The Food industry (and FMCG is broader sense) is huge in India. Each and every role/function is vital in this industry. R&D and QC/QA assure nutritious and safe food for us. But, Product Management and Brand Management (and Strategy) are arguably the most functions from the industry point of view.
Remember how Cadbury revived its image by roping in Big B as Brand Ambassador after the incidents of worms in Dairy Milk. Last year Nestle flexed muscles (R&D, QC, QA, Operations and Brand Management) to revive the Maggi Brand. Read here about the Nestlé’s Half Billion Dollar Maggi Debacle in India and How Nestle Revived Maggi Brand.
These functions require a lot of strategy as the competition is fierce. Here is a comprehensive case-study of the Patanjali – INR 2,500 Crore FMCG business.
So, if you are a foodie, like challenges, good with creativity and making strategies, and want to be wealthy – go for these two roles. Know more about Job of a Product Manager and How Akshay Vasan Got into a Brand Management Career in India.
Scope of Food Industry in India
The Indian Food Industry is currently valued at USD $39.71 billion, and the value is likely to reach USD $65.4 billion by 2018 (Govt. of India and IBEF).
According to DIPP, the Indian Food Processing sector has received around USD $6.7 billion as FDI between April 2000 and December 2015. The investments are poised to reach the value of USD $33 million in the next 10 years.
Besides the investment factor, the opportunity factor is also there – as per the data from the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, 42% of the Indian Food Processing Industry is still unorganized (D&B) – so opportunities are also there for prospective entrepreneurs. Overall, signs are very promising for the future within the food industry. Here is an infographic from IBEF to give you another overview.
Still not convinced? Here are few key points as quoted on the IBEF and MakeInIndia website:
- India ranked 6th in the World in exports of agricultural products in 2013
- India has got 2nd largest arable land in the world, and possesses 20 agri-climatic regions with all 15 possible major climates, and 46 of 60 possible soil types in the world
- The contribution of the food processing sector to the GDP in 2012-13 was INR 845.22 Billion
- Food Processing Industry is one of the major employment intensive sectors in India, contributing 13.04% of employment generated in all Registered Factory sector in 2012-13
- Food is the biggest expense for an urban and rural Indian household constituting share of 38.5% and 48.6% of the total consumption expenditure of households in 2011-12 respectively
- Rising income levels, affluence and a growing middle-class, along with a population size of 1.22 billion of which 604 million were under the age of 24 in 2011, is likely to increase India’s overall food consumption
- One-third of the population will be living in urban areas by 2020 and there will be increasing desire for branded, packaged and ready-to-eat food items
- Food Processing has been recognized as a priority sector, and Government had announced setting up of special fund of INR 2,000 Crore (2014-15) in NABARD to designated food parks and the individual processing units in the designated food parks at concessional rates
- Services of pre-conditioning, pre-cooling, ripening, waxing, retail packing, labeling of fruits and vegetables have been exempted from Service Tax
- Lot of exemptions and rebates are available on Transportation Costs, Income Tax, Profit Tax, Service Tax, Custom Duty and Central Excise Duty for the Food Processing sector
- Various investment opportunities are available, including Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in addition to infrastructure such as cold storage, abattoirs and food parks
- 100% FDI is permitted in the automatic route for most food products, and RBI has classified loan to food & agro-based processing units for Priority Sector Lending (PSL) subject to aggregate sanctioned limit of INR 100 Crore per borrower
- Many foreign players from all around the globe are showing huge interest to invest in the Indian Food Processing sector; notable ones are Kraft (USA), Mars (USA), Nestle (Switzerland), McCain (Canada), Danone (France), Ferrero (Italy), Kelloggs (USA), Pepsi (USA), Coca Cola (USA), Hindustan Unilever (Anglo-Dutch), Heinz (USA), Hershey (USA)
- Last but not the least – there is enough room, and in fact, demand for Food Tech Startups. There have been many players in the Food Tech domain. But, all of them have been working on the verticals like Discovery, E-Commerce (Ordering/Booking) and Delivery (logistics). I haven’t come across a major player who is actually working on “Food”. There is enough room for innovation and value creation in this segment. Read more on Food-Tech Startups in India by Meha Agarwal on Inc42.
My Verdict
If you are a foodie and passionate about science, then you can definitely think about having a career in Food Science and Technology. The Food and Beverage industry in India is one of the among the top ones. According to my analysis, Food Science & Agriculture is also among the top trending subjects for study abroad; and I believe you have got the reasons after reading this post.
In the next post I will write about the Agriculture (Agricultural Science & Technology). Till then keep eating, be healthy and enjoy science.
NOTE: We are NOT accepting new queries on this article. Instead, please post here – Career advice for Biotechnology careers
Image source: centennialcollege.ca
Hii!
I’ve done B.sc. zoology from DU and right now I’ve got nit rourkela for m.sc. life science through IIT jam. I want to work abroad after completing my m.sc. with considerate salary.where can I apply? Is there any entrance exam for that? I don’t wanna do PhD , as for now.
Plz help
Hi Swati,
To be honest, getting a job in abroad after doing MSc in India will be hard, especially in the life sciences domain (though not impossible). Normally you can get a job as a Postdoc in abroad; but for that you need to have a PhD.
However, if you have an excellent profile (publications in reputed international journals, good number of patents), you can give it a try. For that you need to work in the industry for few years in India. You need to connect with right people (ResearchGate, LinkedIn, Twitter, beBee), build a personal/professional brand (Careerizma will be a good platform for that, and may be starting your own blog).
You need to realize that even if you are qualified for a job in abroad, you will not have the work permit. It is very hard to get a work permit for another country while being in India.
As I said earlier, it is tough, but not impossible at all. If you produce excellent results for good number of years while working in a MNC, your employer might send you to a foreign country for a certain period of time. But, you need to be the best among the best for that.
Alternatively, you can also try for immigration – try for PR on Points-Based System in countries like Australia or Canada. But, that could be an expensive and time-consuming process. Another country that you might try is Germany. If you learn German language (B2/C1 Level) and apply for a Job Search Visa, you will get 18 months time to find a job in Germany. Once you get a job, you can stay there as per as your employment contract. But again, you will need to go through cut-throat competition. The reason – you will have to compete with local and international candidates (including Indians); and most of those candidates might have done their MSc or PhD in Germany. It’s not exactly discrimination. But, employers prefer candidates who have got some exposure in that system.
Hope I have been clear enough.
Hello sir I am Deepali. I’m so happy to come across this site and reach you. Actually I’m going to give my hsc 12th exams (science) in march 2017 next year and I’m very confused with my future ahead. Basically I don’t want to do MBBS. And I didn’t have any ideas about the Bsc courses and it’s scope in india, but after going through your several blogs I found that Bsc in biotech is good. On some other site I also found that BSc in food technology has a better scope in india. I’d like to know which of the two is interesting and has good earning thereby. Also it would be better if I could pursue either my bsc or Msc abroad. Please do let me know where will I land after my Bsc and Msc and what benefits are there if I do MBA after my Msc (Is MBA done afterwards or along with Msc? I really don’t have idea about this)
My basic idea is to have a well settled life but with the help of science. ♡
It’d be a great help for me if you guide me properly ^-^
Thanks in advance n_n
Hi Deepali,
Since you are in Class 12, I would suggest not think about MSc/MBA right now.
Whether to go for Biotech or Food Technology? If you enjoy Biology and Chemistry, both are excellent options. If you enjoy Mathematics or Physics as well, you can choose Food Technology. Biotechnology also involves basics of Physics and basic fundamentals of Engineering, but not that much.
However, right now you don’t know what you will enjoy (or what will be the scenario) after you finish your Bachelors. If you do Bachelors (BSc or BTech) in Biotechnology, you can pursue Biotech (or Biomedical Science) and Food Technology at Masters level. But, with a Bachelor degree in Food Technology, you might not switch to Biotechnology or Biomedical Science.
For now, do enjoy your Class 12 subjects; and do a little bit of more reading (do read blogs other than mine as well). In case of further queries, please feel free to ask 🙂
Best Wishes,
Tanmoy
Thank you sir ^^
I have completed my graguation with chemistry as major subject , my query is that how could i start my carrier in pharmaceutical industry and also i dont like marketing .
Hi Rajan,
My suggestion would be to do a Masters in Organic or Analytical Chemistry. That will help you to get R&D roles within the industry. There is a lot of demand for core Chemistry graduates within the pharmaceutical industry.
Feel free to comment again if you need further information.
DEAR SIR,
IS THERE ANY SCOPE DOING MSC IN BIOANALYTICAL SCIENCE
REGARDS
UDAY SHETTY
Hi Uday,
Bioanalytical Science is a very specialized field; and yes, there are prospects. With an MSc degree, you can get into the Toxicology functions within the Pharmaceutical, Food Science and Healthcare industries.
Hi,
I have just completed M.Pharma in Q.A. .
I am confused about which job could try in P’ceutical industry that i have no experience in practical field. Most job vacancies demanding the experience. Then what can i do.
And if i want to do PhD which exam should i qualify.
When iam in last year of Graduation i attended the GPAT but not Qualify, what i do?
Hi Afroz,
I would advise to keep digging in. It is true that big companies will ask for industrial experience. But, you can try small/medium scale companies to start with. You can also consider doing a distance course on Pharma Regulatory Affairs in the meantime. That would give you some more edge. Besides, you can also tackle the “Gap on CV” issue later.
Good Luck !
Dear sir,
I have completed my M pharm in pharmaceutical chemistry and I have done my research project of m pharm in analytical chemistry at R & D of Emcure pharmaceuticals pune. Now I am moving forward in my career…and i would like to know what opportunity will be best for me? My special interest is in pharmaceutical Research ( Analytical R & D, Drug discovery, Pharmaceutical Industry, Clinical trials). Can you suggest how can i find the best oppurtinity for bright career?
Hi Shailaja,
You have got a very nice profile.
At this stage, I would recommend you to gather some work experience in the industry (preferably within the R&D division). Try to gain at least 2 years of research experience. If possible, try to get one/two publications (fist-author is not mandatory).
You can then think of going for a PhD (ideally abroad). That would give you a tremendous boost.
Let me know if you have got further queries.
tanmay sir, i am a pharmacy aspirant, completed 10+2 education and got bombay college of pharmacy for b.pharma course, what are the chances of getting placements abroad after b.pharm courses, what is the eligibility criteria for it, and what are the best placement companies abroad ?
Hi Swapnil,
Bombay College of Pharmacy is an excellent institute for Pharmacy; congratulations !
Getting placements in abroad (after doing Pharmacy in India) would be tough. The first factor is of course the work permit issue. Secondly, each and every country has got their won rules and regulations (while studying in India, you will be covering the rules and regulations of India only).
The best shot for getting a job in abroad would be to do a Masters in abroad. Alternatively, there could be another possibility if you work for an MNC for good number of years.
Hi,Sir
I want to do frozen food processing technology training(ready to eat like samosa,spring roll,cutlet,french fries,stuffed parotha etc).Kindly tell from where can I do this training.
Hi Amit,
The food science and technology field is still quite new in India. So, there are not too many institutes for vocational training. As per my knowledge, you can try the following institutes:
http://nafari.org/training.php?page=Training/Courses
http://mitcontraining.com/?course=fruits-vegetable-processing-course-in-pune
http://www.cftri.com/STC/index.php
Hope this helps !
Hey Tanmoy,
I completed my Msc in biotechnology from St.Xavier’s college kolkata in 2016. I have an overall cgpa of 7.9. I am yet to take the gre and the toefl test which i hope to appear for next month.I want to do my phd from abroad but i am so confused as to which universities i should apply to? I wish to work in the field of epigenetics. I do not have any publications but i have a work experience of around 10 months(i don’t even know if that counts). people keep saying that you should apply to the universities you think are achievable but with this profile i have no idea as to where i should apply? as this entire process of sending applications also costs a lot of money i do not want to make an uninformed and stupid decision. Can you please help me with my problem?
Hi Ananya,
At this stage, I would suggest you to concentrate on the following steps:
– Prepare well for your GRE and TOEFL (do give some mock tests too); try to score 305+ in GRE (154+ in Quant)
– Whatever research topics you’re interested in, choose 3 – 6 such areas; identify the potential universities according to your research interests. That could be easily done on PubMed
– Once you are done with your GRE, you can start working on university shortlisting
Do get in touch once you’re done with your GRE……… Good Luck !
sir, presently i am prusing btech in stream food technology, i want to know that is there any scope…aur jobs in this field after the completion of my graduation…and also suggest me what can i do in furture in this specific course
Shanky, I would advise you to go through the above post again. Read the sections on Career Paths and Employment Sectors.
If you are confused between job or higher studies after B.Tech., it depends on your career goals (marketing, QC or R&D), personal circumstances (if you need to start working immediately after studies, or you can afford to spend more time and money on studies) and profile (academic and industry exposure). If you are getting a placement from your College in your interested field, then it would be nice to work for at least 1 – 2 years.
There is no point of working in QC or R&D (even if you are getting a handsome package), if your interests lies in sales and marketing. If you want to grow fast (in terms of salary curve), QA/QC and R&D might disappoint you. If you like being challenged, good with technicalities, and can wait 3 – 4 years before hitting INR 40 – 50K per month (average figure) – then do go for R&D or QC roles.
If the science part really excites you, and you want to earn much more while working in the R&D domain, a Master degree (or may be PhD later) from abroad will be helpful.
Hope this helps 🙂
Hi sir,
i am a pharmacy aspirant and is about to chose pharmacy as a career i wanted to know if going for law after completing bpharm good ? does it help in getting job in companies?
also what is the scope for research in pharmacy in next 4-5 years?
Hi Jheel,
You are considering a very unique career path; that’s really nice. A law degree after B.Pharm will certainly help you in your long-term career, especially if you focus on Intellectual Property and Patenting.
In the pharmaceutical industry, getting regulatory approvals is a big thing, and a pain point for majority of pharma companies. Please refer to my previous article – https://www.careerizma.com/blog/careers-in-translational-medicine/
Your background in Pharmacy and Law can take you a long way. In fact, if you work hard, big companies will fight to hire you.
Regarding scopes in pharmaceutical research, I have already covered them in my previous articles:
https://www.careerizma.com/blog/pharmacy-careers-jobs/
https://www.mbacrystalball.com/blog/2014/11/23/biomedical-science-jobs-careers/
All the best !
Thank you!
i also wanted to ask if going for ayurvedic or homeopathic medicine a better choice than this in india?
In case you’re interested in Ayurvedic or Homeopathic Medicine, you can definitely think about it.
There’s scope for everything as long as you’re passionate about the field.
Ok… thank you!
Hello Tanmoy sir ,
I would like to take your advice . Which of these grads are highly paid in USA :- Biotechnology or Pharmd . Which one of them has an easier way to migrate to USA ? What is the process for Pharmd student to migrate to USA ? Please reply .
Hi Nishanth,
Short Answer –
BOTH. It depends on your interests and skill set.
Answer You Might Like –
Pharm.D. will be beneficial in terms of high salary at starting level (and even first 5 – 6 years). But, then you might not get that much hike every year. However, chances of getting a Green Card might be easier and quicker. With MS/PhD in Biotechnology, starting salary could be less (in comparison). But, if you keep patience throughout, and do some ground-breaking research – you might not need to work after 35 or 40 (you can live on royalty from patents). Getting a PR might be a slow process, but chances are definitely there. USA is a land of opportunities, and they do keep talented and motivated people.
Answer I Would Prefer –
Don’t follow something just to get settled in abroad. Whether you become a kick-ass research scientists (with research ideas and/or patents), or an Expert Community Pharmacist (with superb counselling skills), you will get recognition and opportunities to stay (and settle) in a foreign country.
Try to identify your interest and motivation first. You can then obviously work out on the road map for getting a highly paid jobs in USA. If you need, I will be happy to help you.
Respected Tanmay Ray Sir,
I got admission in Ruia College (Matunga) for 5 years Integrated course (MSC) in Bioanalytical science,Is this course have any demand in India and abroad and what will be the average expected salary after completion this course
Can I pursue further degree in this above said course abroad,my parents wish me to do B-pharm/M-pharm,i am totally confused.
Please guide me which course should I go for,Kindly guide me
Regards,
Shruti
Hi Shruti,
Bioanalytical Science is a nice field; and there are prospects. With an MSc degree, you can get into the Toxicology functions within the Pharmaceutical, Food Science and Healthcare industries. If you enjoy biochemistry, organic chemistry and inorganic chemistry, you can definitely choose Bioanalytical Science. Later you can obviously go to abroad for higher studies and research.
HERE IS MY CASE:
Though I was sure to choose Applied Biology field after Class 12, I was not sure if I should choose B.Tech in Biotechnology or B.Pharm. I spoke to different people – our Family Physician (he gave me broad overview about both field), our Eye Specialist (he said Pharmacy is better; if you want to go to research field, MS/PhD is mandatory), my Chemistry tutor (he was doing his PhD in Biochemistry… I got a hell of information from him. I also borrowed two books on Biochemistry and Microbiology and read superficially for a month….. he told me to choose Biotechnology if I am very certain to pursue research….. at the same time if I want to keep my options open in India B.Pharm is certainly better). I compared the syllabus and curriculum of both streams, and I found B.Pharmacy a better choice for myself. I checked the Colleges and Faculty members. Trust me, I was even not 100% decided till the last minute. I was like 60% for B.Pharm and 40% for Biotech. Later, my Father (who is not at all from Pharma or Bio background) told me –
medicines will always be valuable in the society and job market. Research is good…. biotechnology is a very new field in India (that was back in 2004)…. B.Pharm will cover everything in a nutshell (after hearing the modules from me).
I listened to many people, and trusted my instincts too. Thus, I zeroed in on B.Pharm. I chose the College that was specialized for Pharmacy only; they offer only B.Pharm and M.Pharm, and no other courses. That also helped me to decide (even my Chemistry tutor backed that).
I hope I have cleared your confusions about how to choose the right track. Feel free to write again in case of further clarifications 🙂
Hello
Sir, Right now i am doing my bsc in biotechnology in Pillai Institute and want to study further but i am bit confused ….May be msc in biotech would be a good option. Also i have heard that, there are so less chances of getting a good job in India in biotech field even if you have completed your post graduation.
I also want to do a PhD. Please guide whether studying abroad will be a good option ??? And i’ve also heard that govt provides a scholarship to the students securing 85% and above ( to study abroad ) .
Hope you get my doubts
Do reply 🙂
Hi Pradnya,
If you are really keen about pursuing a research career, and also open to study abroad options – do GO for it.
I assume you are having 85% (and above) in Bachelors. You can definitely get into good institutes in abroad with generous scholarship (say up to 75% of tuition fees). In case of financial need, you can get full tuition fee scholarship in countries like Netherlands, Sweden. Swedish Govt. also offers living stipend in some cases. You can also consider Germany, USA, UK, Australia, Ireland.
Feel free to contact me in case of further queries !!!
hey sir tanmoy roy
i am in 4 year b pharma i want to do job in pmt department . how can i go in pmt department , is master degree important for entering in pmt.
Hi Yash,
You should gain some field experience (as Sales Executive or Medical Representative). With 3 – 7 years of experience, you can switch to the PMT division. A Masters degree is not essential, but it can fast-track the process of switching from Sales to PMT.
Ideally you do need MBA, or at least a PGDM. You can also get into PMT with M.Pharm (Pharmacology) degree. But, very few companies take such profiles. A correspondence course along with M.Pharm can also help.
Hello sir,
I am pursuing b.tech biotechnology .i am interested in masters abroad in food/food technology
how is the demand and scope of employable abroad i want to know which country has good education and job scope . please guide me.are any prerequisites required for it .
thank you.
Hi Kasthuri,
Food Science & Technology is an emerging field; and it will grow bigger in coming days due to various factors (described in the post as well).
In terms of choosing the right destination for Food Science, you can consider US, UK, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Canada. All of them are good options. Choosing the right country/university depends on lot of factors – your academic profile, budget, test scores (if you are not keen to appear for GRE, then US and Singapore should be out, and may be Canada as well), career goals (short-term and long-term) etc. If you could kindly provide further details – appx. budget, career goal (research, marketing or testing), I can be more helpful 🙂
hello sir tanmoy ray,
i have query ..i am a Bsc biotech student now in third year ..i am confused about the job opportunities in India after Bsc in biotech please enlighten…and also would like to know about colleges in Mumbai as well as in India for Msc in food and technology ..also the job opportunities after msc in food and tech ….
and after Bsc can i get a good earning job???? and m i qualified for pharma companies after Bsc….
i wish to earn few years after graduation then do PostGraduation …help me know about the job opportunities and places where i can apply for job after graduation
Hi Poonam,
Getting a job after BSc in Biotechnology is not impossible, but it will be competitive (and the starting salary could be as low as 8K per month). However, if you have got good soft skills, sharp business acumen, and familiar with AT LEAST TWO of the following categories (hands on experience through research project or internship), you can get a decent one in the industry (say INR 15-22K per month)
– Standard Molecular Biology Techniques including Gene Cloning, Expression and Analysis
– Microbial Fermentation / Downstream Processing
– Bioinformatics
– Analytical Techniques
Regarding job opportunities in Pharma & Food Technology – I have discussed them in this post, and in my earlier posts. Being from Biotechnology background, you are suitable for both industries.
List of institutes for MSc in India – please refer to the list on this post and earlier one (Pharmacy / Biotech Colleges in India). You should also refer to sites like Careers360, Collegeduniya, MingleBox etc.
Hope this helps !
My daughter has done MSc in Human Genomics from Panjab University, Chandigarh. After that she worked as JRF in PGI Chandigarh for 2 years. During this tenure, she was sent to Queen Mary University London for 1 year under Indo UK exchange programme. She got an offer from King’s College London and University of Nottingham for PhD. She failed to get funding. She doesn’t have ICMR / UGC Net fellowship at the moment. What would you advice? Should she do PhD in UK on self funded basis or join Panjab University for PhD at a meagre 12000/- stipend. Of course this stipend is immaterial but my daughter wants to clear ICMR first and do on her own. She doesn’t want to visit abroad as she says spending so much money is not of any use and she will have to start afresh once she will be back in India. She wants to remain into research but feels she will have to clear UGC Net for lecturership. Please advice pros and cons of doing PhD abroad on self funding basis as most of her peers have told her that it’s useless.
Hello Mr. Dinesh,
I would suggest her to continue research work as Project Assistant or JRF. Don’t get out of research for the time being. Focus on getting couple of publications (PubMed indexed).
Getting fully funded PhD in the UK is actually quite tough now. King’s College London or Nottingham are not doing too good with funding for Non-EU students. There is no point in doing a self-funded PhD. In UK, she should try Oxford, Imperial, Cambridge first, and then Warwick, Bath, St. Andrew’s, Glasgow, UCL in order to get fully funded PhD.
She should also try out Ireland and other European countries like Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands, Sweden for fully-funded PhD. Please refer to this article: https://www.mbacrystalball.com/blog/2015/07/10/phd-in-biomedical-sciences-admission-tips/
Regarding PhD in India, getting ICMR or other fellowship is indeed quite time consuming. I would prefer not to comment anything on this matter as I am not the right person to comment on this. In case you need further assistance for PhD admission in abroad with full scholarship and stipend, please feel free to get in touch.
Hi Tanmoy’s
I have done master in pharmacology from Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi. I would like to know the best job for me in order to gain maximum earnings and settled career. So kindly guide me I should go for PMT/PV/DRA/LECUTURER/PHARMACIST IN MIDDLE EAST/CANADA?
Looking forward for a quick guidance
Best regards
PMT will be the best for you. But, ideally you will need an MBA (or 4 – 5 years of field experience) to excel in that domain.
Hi Sir,
I am pursuing my B.Pharm from Panjab University.
Regarding my further education, is masters in forensic Pharmacy a good option? Is it better than M.Pharm or MBA?
I’m really confused.
Please guide me.
Hi Riya,
I will refrain from judging which is better – Forensic Pharmacy, M.Pharm or MBA. It depends on your interests. All the three options have got good prospects. Regarding M.Pharm vs MBA – I would advise you to read my previous articles on this site.
I am not too sure about Masters in Forensic Pharmacy. But, Forensic Science is indeed a good option, provided you are interested.
Dear Tanmoy
It was really nice and informative to read your articles. Thank you for all the information.
I have passed my integrated masters course in Biotechnology from St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata with a CGPA of 7.86.
I am currently in NCBS , Bangalore as a JRF-Junior Research Fellow. I started as a JRF from 29th of June ’16. I have always harbored a dream of pursuing my PhD abroad. However, I do not possess any publication to my name and nor do I have such good recommendations (from the ‘stalwarts’ in science) nor is my CGPA that great.
What should I do. Furthermore my P.I here at NCBS wants me to join him as a graduate student. I am in a dilemma. What do you think would be the right course of action on my part as about now.
Looking forward to your help on the matter.
Thank you.
Hi Avis,
If you are having a good rapport with your PI, and liking the project (and ideas), you can definitely think about starting PhD at NCBS. NCBS is a noce place to be. As far as I know, the funding (for research) is also quite generous. However, I am not too sure about the monthly stipend.
If you are not too keen about doing PhD from NCBS – gain at least two years of research experience. Try to get 2 – 3 publications. You should also spend some time networking with PIs (in your field of interest) on ResearchGate and LinkedIn.
Your GPA is not that bad at all. Being a St. Xavier’s alumnus will also help you.
Dear Tanmoy,
I completed my BSC(chemistry).I got 73% overall.
I am confused what I will do next which gives me a bright future.I was a medical aspirant also.I got 75% in 12th (PCB).
Please suggest me a path.
Dear Shahrukh,
You can consider two career paths at this stage:
1. Go for MSc in Biochemistry (followed by PhD in Biochemistry or Medical Biochemistry) and pursue a career in Translational Medicine.
2. Go for Fast-Track MD (4-year program) in abroad (preferably in Caribbean or Philippines). Do make sure that the College or Medical School is MCI recognized, and has got good pass rate in USMLE.
Dear tanmoy,
I am an Msc student from St.xaviers college, Kolkata with a cgpa of 8.6. I have worked for one. year at a developmental biology lab in TIFR Mumbai and have generated significant data. These however have not been published yet. Due to a falling out with my previous PI, it is. impossible for me to continue work there or expect publication. It was my original intention to apply abroad on the basis of work done there. But now due to this negative situation I am forced to reconsider my options. I am currently enrolled at Ncbs as a graduate student. However I am confused on whether I should continue here and forget or should I leave the PhD programme after a few years and apply. Please advise.
Dear Rick,
First of all, do forget the past. There is nothing you can do now about your relationship with your PI at TIFR.
If you are actually enjoying the PhD project at NCBS, please continue with the position. You can later go to abroad for Postdoc. There is no point in quitting the PhD at NCBS after few years and go for PhD in abroad. In fact, it might be tough for you to get a PhD after few years at NCBS. For getting a good PhD position in abroad, you will require strong recommendations. If you leave your PhD mid-way at NCBS, you might face problems to get strong recommendations.
However, if you are not enjoying your project at NCBS, please quit ASAP. You should try the Personal Approach (Open Application) approach for getting a PhD position in abroad. You can mention in your pitch mail that you had certain issues with your previous PI and not enjoying the current PhD project. That will give you better chances to get a good PhD position in abroad (at least in Europe).
Hi sir,
I’m currently in my B.pharmacy 4th year with 83%. I want to continue my Masters in abroad, mostly interested in Research field but I’m confused to choose which course and to choose between USA and Australia. I want to study in a country where I have most career opportunity.
I would be grateful for any suggestions.
Thank you.
Hi Meghana,
For a research career, you can choose Masters in Pharmacology or Molecular Medicine (if you are more interested in Biology). In case you are more fascinated about Chemistry, go for Masters in Drug/Medicinal Chemistry. If you enjoy both, or not too sure, you can go for Masters in Biomedical Sciences.
For Masters in Biomedical Sciences where you can keep your options open, you can keep Australia as your first preference. If you are choosing a specialization, and also confident of scoring at least 295/300 in GRE, go for USA.
One final advice – if you want to get into industrial R&D, scopes in Australia are lesser than in the USA. There are not too many companies in Australia (apart from few based in New South Wales, especially Sydney) with active R&D operations. But, the research scopes in the academia in Australia is comparatively better.
Feel free to ask if you have further queries.
Hi Sir,
Thank you for your suggestions. I was thinking about Masters of Pharmaceutical sciences at UTAS Australia as their course structure is more appealing, but not too sure about it, I don’t know if this course would help me in making my career. Which is better for Research career, Masters in Pharmaceutical sciences in Australia or Masters in Molecular medicine/Pharmacology in USA. My GRE score is 302/340. i’m interested in biology.
Thank you
Hi Meghana,
Sorry I missed out on this query.
The Master in Pharmaceutical Sciences program at UTAS is more focused on Chemistry (Analytical & Medicinal). If you are more inclined towards Research in Drug Chemistry, you can consider it.
Since you are more inclined towards Biology (Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Physiology), Molecular Medicine or Pharmacology would be better option for you. 302 is a very good score for candidates looking at to do MS in Pharmacology or Molecular Medicine in USA.
I hope I have been clear enough this time.
Dear Tanmoy,
I read your post on Biomedical Science Jobs and Careers and was redirected here to post a comment.
I have completed my Bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering with 78% and Master’s in Biomedical Engineering with 85%. I was very keen on pursuing MBBS but it didn’t work out for many reasons, which explains why I opted Biomedical engineering for my Master’s. I am very passionate about the Biomedical domain (mostly the clinical aspects of it) and also medical imaging. Couldn’t find a job in the field though. I am planning to take up a PhD in the US. As I have mentioned, my degree comprises mostly of the engineering and instrumentation aspects but my interests lie in the clinical and research aspects of Biomedical field. Is it possible to take up a PhD in a more clinical oriented research considering my degree? If yes, what are my options and challenges? Also, how difficult is it to get into PhD in US after MTech in non IITs in India?
Looking forward for your response.
Thank you.
Hi Anamika,
At PhD level, it might be little tough to get into clinical aspects. However, the Biomedical field is very overlapping and hence the scopes of getting into the clinical aspects is always there (both at doctoral and post-doctoral levels).
Another option could be doing a Masters degree in Biomedical Sciences (preferably from Europe), and then go for PhD in US.
Please feel free to ask if you have got more queries.
Thank you very much for your kind response. Doing another Master’s is not possible at this point of time. Due to personal reasons my only option for any further studies would be . May be I should go about finding researches currently in the biomedical domain in various Universities which lean towards clinical and biological sciences and contact the concerned professors? Could you please advice on this?
Also, I would like to repeat my question, how difficult is it to get into PhD in US after MTech in non IITs in India? I do not know any examples of someone who has done this. Any inputs on this would be very helpful.
Thank you.
Hi Anamika,
You can certainly try out the Forced/Open Application approach.
It is not at all too difficult to get a PhD in abroad after M.Tech. in non-IITs in India.
Hi MR .Tanmoy
It was really nice and informative to read your articles. Thank you for all the information.
I Am a student currently doing my fourth year in BSC.biomedical science . I have elected bioinformatics as my department in final year and have few months till my final semester finishes . I am an american citizen and interested in doing my masters in usa . i would like to know the different exams and procedures i will have to face once i finish my bsc . And also can you mention the different options i have for my masters .
Thank You 🙂
Hi Ryan,
Since you’re an American citizen, I think you can get GRE waivers for US schools (I might be wrong). I would suggest you to check with the admission committees and graduate schools of particular universities.
With a four year BS, you can get into MS or MS-PHD in USA. With Bioinformatics major, you can go into Sequencing Studies, Theoretical Biology, Genome Studies, Computational Biology etc. Some of the hot research areas (just for references) – whole genome haplotypes from next generation sequencing, Multifractal Analysis of specific genomes etc.
Hope this helps !
hi Tanmoy I have completed bsc biochemistry in kerala university with a 90% mark and msc biochemistry in kerala university with 80% mark. Sir so i would like to apply phd in abroad with scholarship..so please suggest some ways for that…
Hi Hima,
Please refer to my previous article: https://www.mbacrystalball.com/blog/2015/07/10/phd-in-biomedical-sciences-admission-tips/
hello tanmoy. I am in B.pharm 4th year UG . i have maintained total of 72% till this year. hv undergone industrial training n hv no research projects. i would like to study abroad fr masters n phd. would you suggest some good university in US n australia? i would like to know. what if i go aftr my masters for ph.d? which is better?
Hi Priya,
With 72% in B.Pharm, you can try Queensland, UNSW, Sydney, Monash. Melbourne, ANU, UWA in Australia. For US, there are plenty of options. I am unable to suggest names without GRE score. If you could tell me your anticipated score, that will also be helpful. Please also let me know what concentration are you looking for – Biotechnology, Pharmacology, Pharmaceutics, Medicinal Chemistry or Public Health?
A Masters from abroad usually help to get a PhD. If you refer to my previous article on MBA Crystal Ball, you will get my point.
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