Biological sciences is a multifarious and rapidly evolving subject. Because of this, biologists have the luxury of choosing from a diverse range of professional domains including (but not limited to) research, healthcare, pharmacology, education, and management.
WHAT BIOLOGISTS DO
The far-reaching scope of biological sciences as a field ensures that there is never a shortage of employment opportunities for biologists. However, those who are passionate about the subject often opt to go for research instead. Biologists can also enter the field of education, with job prospects cropping up in graduate colleges, secondary schools, science museums, zoos, and nature reserves. They can branch out into specialized fields and explore myriad areas of study such as biotechnology, bioinformatics, forensic science, nanotechnology, marine biology, and microbiology. Supposedly unrelated areas of study like economics and mathematics can also be explored, owing to their use in the study of species extinction and subfields like computational biology.
WHAT YOU STUDY AT BITS TO BECOME ONE
Although core biology courses begin only in the second year, freshman introductory courses like General Biology and General Chemistry serve as a good foundation. Second year discipline courses are comprised of Biological Chemistry, Cell Biology, Microbiology, Integrated Biology, Ecology and Environmental Science, Genetics, Biophysics, and Instrumental Methods of Analysis. Third year students study advanced courses, such as Recombinant DNA Technology, Plant and Animal Physiology, Developmental Biology, Immunology, and Bioinformatics.
In addition to these compulsory biology courses, certain discipline electives are also offered. Courses like Enzymology, Intro to Biomedical Engineering, Biomolecular Modelling, Bioethics, Applied Nutrition and Neutraceuticals, and Food biotechnology allow students to gain a better insight into the subject. Students are also encouraged to take up Study Oriented Projects, which combined with regular laboratory assignments lead to well-rounded academic growth.
WHAT YOU CAN DO AFTER GRADUATING
Biology graduates may utilize the subjects’ versatility, often opting into interdisciplinary work fields, taking full advantage of their engineering degree. Bioinformatics, nanotechnology and biostatistics are a few examples. Students are also known to opt for higher studies to further a career in academia. Although there are no companies that come to campus during placements specifically for biology students, one can find jobs in pharmaceutical companies such as Biocon, Kinapse, IMS Health, and Ranbaxy.