Bioprocess Engineer |
Career OverviewA bioprocess engineer is a specialized chemical engineer that works to develop and improve on the systems that are used in biotechnology. The combination of engineering and development can be used in food bioprocessing or pharmaceutical or other production areas.
Bioprocess engineers also work to develop new ways to make fuels and energy sources out of biological products including plants and other naturally occurring substances.
A bioprocess engineer works both in the field as well as in the lab. Many bioprocess engineers enjoy the freedom of designing and implementing new processes in refineries and production plants around the world whereas others prefer to work in the more controlled and highly complex laboratory settings.
Pharmaceutical companies employ most of the bioprocess engineers. There are also a significant number employed in private sector research and development companies for agricultural and food science products. Often bioprocess engineers are responsible for troubleshooting and monitoring of equipment all through the production process.
The bioprocess engineer works closely as a member of the research team and may be involved in collecting, analyzing and presenting data as well as supervisory roles within the team.
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Career RequirementsThere are two basic divisions in the requirements for a bioprocess engineer. A Bachelor or Masters level education with significant years of training, usually 3 to 5 is often enough for team positions and some independent work within a lab.
Doctorate level bioprocess engineers with 3-5 years work experience often are team leaders assuming supervisory roles within the research facility or production plant.
Bioprocess engineers have a 4-year minimum training in either biochemistry, biochemical engineering, life sciences and engineering or a combination of the above fields of study. In addition a good mechanical background and an understanding of experimental design is required. Bioprocess engineers may also be required to know basic mechanical and electrical techniques to troubleshoot equipment.
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Job OutlookAs with all areas of biotechnology there is a steady and slightly increasing demand for trained and experienced bioprocess engineers in both the pharmaceutical and food sciences industries.
With the increase is demand for purity and efficiency in production the services of bioprocess engineers in developing new and more effective processing methods have increased. It is estimated that the number of jobs required in this industry will continue to rise at a rate slightly above the average for non-biotechnology jobs.
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Career TrackAs mentioned earlier those bioprocess engineers with a PhD will qualify for management or supervisory roles within the various agencies once they have some experience working on research teams. There are also options for Masters and even Bachelors level bioprocess engineer to obtain supervisory roles with specialized training or extensive work experience.
Many biotechnology jobs offer job seekers the opportunity to work on contract projects and find an area of bioprocess engineering that is of interest. This also allows for options to move to different areas of the country or even work internationally for short or long periods of time.
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CompensationThe wages and salaries between the various levels of training applicable to a bioprocess engineer range from $28,000 for an inexperienced Bachelor level engineer to a yearly salary of over $75,000 for a PhD level bioprocess engineer in a supervisory position.
Some of the pharmaceutical companies have 24-hour production so those bioprocess engineers on evening and weekend shifts will have a slightly higher yearly income.
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