Bioengineering is the application of biology and engineering and has expanded into one of the most sought-after academic disciplines. The technological advancements that have been made in the recent years have only paved way for a major breakthrough in this ever-growing field. At a seminar conducted by the MIT School of Bioengineering Sciences & Research, Pune, panellists discussed Bioengineering as an emerging industry, the applications, Bioengineering in India, the opportunities available and the future of bioengineering.

Bioengineering encompasses three main specializations – Bioinformatics, biotechnology and biomedicine. In each of these specializations, bioengineering has applications in devices such as food sensors, that detect food spoilage and food-borne diseases, or in smart medical devices such as Insulin pumps and smart stethoscopes.

The healthcare industry has grown tremendously, and bioengineering is now recognized as a sector by the government. This has opened doors to opportunities in bio services, biopharmaceuticals, bioinformatics, contract research, clinical trials, healthcare infrastructure, medical tourism and much more. Additionally, careers can be explored in the following –

Academia

Bioengineering is an emerging field, which also means that universities are in need of educators. Depending on your qualifications, you can take up teaching, as a permanent or visiting faculty. Graduates can also find jobs as a research assistant, and given that there’s still a lot to be explored in bioengineering, researchers are the need of the hour.

Science Administrators

Science Administrators can find work as program managers, grant managers, or coordinators. As a project manager, your job will entail technical management for complex projects, planning, budgeting, assessing stakeholders, specifying responsibilities, controlling performance of the project work, etc. As the name suggests, Grant managers are responsible for the assessment and administration of grants to various organizations. Additionally, he/she also has to perform research, writing, and maintain reports. A science coordinator creates, organizes, and implements science program you create for students. They choose the type of textbooks that students read, other additional educational material, and how the curriculum unfolds.

Science Communication

A science journalist is required to report, write, and edit on topics related to science. This includes new discoveries, on-going research,  or simplifying science in a way that is understandable to someone from a non-science background. Science communication also includes science exhibitions, policy, or media production.

Legal advisor

Legal advisors are hired to keep clients/organizations from any sort of trouble, or legal consequences. A science advisor largely works with attorneys in matters concerning to patents – knowledge and awareness of current patent issues, expiring patents, USPTO prosecution procedures, important court decisions, searching resources and searching techniques.

There certainly is a bright future for bioengineering. There’s tons of research to be done, and many new discoveries to be made. However, students opting for this field need to be proactive from a very early stage. Get involved with as many research projects as you can, or look for internships at a biomedical company. In this way, you’ll have an advanced understanding of how the industry works, beyond the walls of a classroom. As far as jobs go, there really is no cause for concern. Given that new discoveries are being made almost everyday, the opportunities are limitless.

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