Biomedicine, Bioengineering, and Biotechnology
Biosciences is an expanding area in Arizona. The term "Biosciences" includes a broad range of interdisciplinary areas. Among them, Biomedicine focuses on understanding the causes of disease or of a genetic condition that impairs the body's normal functioning; Bioengineering attempts to provide design solutions to situations that affect the body's normal functioning or the environment where we live, whereas Biotechnology includes all of the areas of Biology that involve manipulation of an organism's genetic code by technical means, either for diagnosis, treatment, or simply for unraveling vital processes.
High profile research institutions (The Biodesign Institute at ASU, TGen) have been recently established in the Valley, adding to the pre-existing offer of hospital- and university-based research centers scattered throughout the Phoenix metropolitan area. In order to prepare students for careers in Biosciences, Arizona State University has developed the Molecular Biosciences and Biotechnology (MBB) Program. The first two years of the major, consist of courses that can be taken at community colleges and be transferred later into the program.
The Biology Department invites you to consider a career in Biosciences and to examine our transferable course offerings (BIO 181, BIO 247) as well as our Internship Program.
Good employment opportunities exist, depending on specialization and experience. Having intern or volunteer experience helps to get into the field of Biosciences. Particularly in Arizona, job opportunities are increasing in biotechnology, bioengineering, and research within both private and public sectors.
Salaries vary depending on specialization and experience. Salaries for those with a B. S. begin at $28,000 to $34,000 for positions within government agencies and industry. For those with advanced degrees and specialty training, salaries might rise to $40,000 and up to $78,000 and over.