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Biotech Career �Outlook and �Educational �Pathways�

Authored: Jo Wu, Ph.D.

https://www.amgenbiotechexperience.net/losangeles/careers

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Biotechnology is the application of science and

technology to solve problems and make useful products

Biotech improves our quality of life

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Biotech has limitless opportunities!

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Biopharmaceuticals: Pharmaceutical manufacturers of a wide range of products as well as distributors.

Medical Devices & Equipment: Manufacturers of a large array of products for health care, including optical instruments, surgical apparatus and dental supplies.

Research & Manufacturing: Research and development conducted at colleges/universities or in private medical laboratories.

Scientific/Research Tools: Manufacturers of laboratory instruments, chemicals and other devices used for measuring, displaying and controlling research processes.

Food & Agriculture Biotech: Cellular grown meat and seafood as well as biorenewables used in agriculture and crop production

LIFE SCIENCE INDUSTRY

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2023 CA LIFE SCIENCE: 466,888 JOBS with $64.B INCOME

Source: Biocom California 2024 Life Science Economic Impact Report

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CALIFORNIA LIFE SCIENCE INDUSTRY IMPACT

Hired 466,888 in CA
Supported 1.2 M total jobs in CA
Generated $ 414.2 Billion in 2023

Hired 95,913 in LA area
Average Annual Salary in LA area ~$110,000�

Source: Biocom California 2024 Life Science Economic Impact Report

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Los Angeles Life Science Employment by Sector

Source: California Life Sciences 2024 Los Angeles Sector Snapshot

Orange County has

more medical device companies

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County-Level Employment in Life Science Sectors in Los Angeles Geographies, 2023

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95,913 Life Science jobs in Greater LA in 2023�223,971 total jobs �Generated $19.1 Billion Labor Income

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Top 10 Biotech Industry Non-Science Careers (Link)

Regulatory Affairs Specialist
Quality Assurance Specialist
Medical Affairs Manager
Medical Sales Representative
Clinical Research Associate
Technical Writer
Medical Science Liaison
Project Manager

Marketing
Business Development and Systems Analyst
Business Intelligence and Data Science
Intellectual Property
Finance

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There are non-science careers available in the biotech industry too!

there are jobs out there for students, and although we don’t know what the full impact of AI integration into the drug discovery process

will be, currently demand for skilled bioscience workforce remains high, but according to industry there is a skills gap, essentially students are graduating from biology based programs education programs without the skills they need to be successful in the bioscience workforce due to rapid advancements in the technology, new emergent fields, and the need for niche specific skillsets (GMP, tissue culture, etc.) and traditional academic programs can’t keep up industry or don’t go deep enough into these specific skill sets. Soft skills needs (project management, working across interdisciplinary teams).

Underserved student populations need jobs anyway!/ Underrepresented groups in STEM

Overlapping goals = raise awareness for biotech careers.

https://www.biospace.com/article/10-biotechnology-careers-that-don-t-involve-bench-work/

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Bench vs Bedside: �Biotech vs Traditional Medical Pathways

�BENCH

Large-scale Patient Care
High Demand Job
Novel & Improved Treatments & Tests
Solutions for a Planet in Peril
Enter workforce with certificates�

�BEDSIDE

Direct Patient Care
High Demand Job
Recommends treatments, �interprets test results
Requires professional school & licensures

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A lot of initial student interest in traditional medical pathways (pharmacy/nursing) because it’s what they know. Many students are simply unaware of the job options available to them through the biotechnology industry so this means more options for them. In reality, some students on the medical pathway may drop off for a variety of reasons, don’t make it through. loss of interest, associated cost, life challenges, and biotech may be may be a great plan B.

Bench –

High Demand, stable schedule

Large Scale Patient Care – Indirect

Novel & Improved Treatments/ Develop Accurate & Expedient Tests

Solutions for a Planet in Peril

Bedside – High Demand

Direct Patient Care – case by case basis

High Demand Job – unstable schedule

Requires professional school (med school) & Licensures

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Better Bedside Because of the Bench�

Biotech Enhances�Traditional Medical Pathways

Better understanding of Cellular & Molecular Processes
Better understanding of production of drugs and pharmaceuticals
Better understanding of test strengths and limitation
Better mentoring and explanations to patients

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Biotech

Education

Pathways

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UC vs CSU vs CC Cost Cost Comparison

	UC�	CSU�	CC�
Tuition per year	$13,104	$5,742	$2,750
Total Cost (4-yr)	$52,416	$22,968	<$11,000

Estimated Average Tuition Costs for California Residents, 2022–23

https://www.calstate.edu/attend/paying-for-college/csu-costs/tuition-and-fees/campus-mandatory-fees

https://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/tuition-financial-aid/tuition-cost-of-attendance/

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This table estimates the tuition cost of attending UC, CSU, or the CC systems for BS for four years as a new California resident undergraduate. This does not include any campus fees, mandatory fees, health fees, or cost-of-living expenses.

Estimated average costs for California residents, 2022–23

This chart estimates the cost of attending UC for one year as a new California resident undergraduate. For a significant proportion of our students, these expenses are offset by grants and scholarships.

Keep in mind that your total cost will vary depending on your personal expenses and the campus you attend.

Living�on campus

Living�off campus

UC tuition

$13,104

Campus fees

$1,400

Books and supplies

$1,300

Health insurance allowance/fee

$2,700

Housing and meals

$17,800

$14,300

Personal/transportation

$2,200

$2,800

TOTAL

$38,504

$35,604

�* UC Tuition remains flat for up to six years under the Tuition Stability Plan. It includes systemwide tuition (the cost of classes for California resident students), and student services fees for areas such as student government, student public transportation, and building improvements. These fees are set regardless of the method of instruction and will not be refunded in the event instruction occurs remotely for any part of the academic year.

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CA Community College Biotech Bachelor Degrees

Bakersfield: Research Lab Technology
Moorpark: Biomanufacturing
LA Mission: Biomanufacturing
LA Pierce: Biomanufacturing
Mira Costa: Biomanufacturing
Mt San Antonio: Histotechnology
Pasadena City: Stem Cell and Gene Tech (pending)

Rio Hondo: Electronic Digital Instrument
San Bernardino: Water Resource Management
SD Mesa: Health Information Management
SD Miramar: Public Safety Management
Santa Monica: Interaction Design
Shasta: Health Information Management

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LOS ANGELES AREA COLLEGES �with BIOTECH PROGRAMS

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CA Community College Allied Health Bachelor Degrees

LA Valley: Respiratory Therapy
Modesto: Respiratory Care
Oxnard: Dental Hygiene
Santa Ana: Occupational Studies
Siskiyous: Paramedicine (soon)
Skyline: Respiratory Therapy
Taft: : Dental Hygiene Admin
Victor Valley: Respiratory Care
West LA: Dental Hygiene

Antelope Valley: Respiratory Care (soon)
Cerritos: Dental Hygiene
Crafton Hills: Respiratory Care
Cypress: Mortuary Science
Dental Hygiene (soon)
East LA: Respiratory Therapy (soon)
El Camino: Respiratory Care
Foothill: Dental Hygiene, Respiratory Care
Fresno: Dental Hygiene
Hartnell: Respiratory Care

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Los Angeles Biotechnology Cert & AS Programs (p1)

Citrus College

Biomanufacturing CA
Biotechnology AS

Compton College

Biotechnology Lab Asst CA
Biomanufacturing Technician CA

East LA College

Biotechnology CA

Glendale College

Biotechnology CA / AS
Biotech Research Lab Asst CA
Biotech Research Lab Tech CA

LA Mission College

Biotech Lab Asst CA
Biotech Research Lab Asst CA
Cell & Gene Therapy CA
Biotechnology AS
Biomanufacturing BS

LA Pierce College

Biotech Lab Asst CA
Biotech Research Lab Asst CA
Biotechnology AS

LA Trade Tech College

Biotech Biomanufacturing CA / AS

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Los Angeles Biotechnology Cert & AS Programs (p2)

Moorpark College

Biotech CA
Biotech Mfg Operator CA
Biomedical Device Mfg CA
Biotechnology AS
Biomanufacturing BS

Mt San Antonio College

Histotechnology CA

Pasadena City College

Biological Tech Lab Skills CA
Computational Biology CA
Laboratory Assistant CA
Stem Cell Culture CA
Stem Cell-Based Biomfg CA

Rio Hondo College

Biotechnology CA

Santa Monica College

pending

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Northern California Biotechnology Programs

American River College

Biotechnology CA /AS

Berkeley City College

Biotechnology CA /AS
Laboratory Assistant CA

City College of San Francisco

Biotechnology CA /AS
Laboratory Assistant CA
Stem Cell Technology CA
Biomanufacturing CA

Contra Costa College

Biotechnology R & D CA
Biotechnology CA / AS

Laney College

Biomanufacturing CA / AS

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Northern California Biotechnology Programs

Solano College

Biotechnology CA /AS
Laboratory Assistant CA
Stem Cell Technology CA
Biomanufacturing BS

Skyline College

Biomanufacturing CA

Las Positas College

Computational Biology AS

Merritt College

Histology CA
Microscopy CA

Ohlone College

Biotechnology CA / AS
Biostatistics CA
Biomanufacturing CA

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Orange County Biotechnology Programs

Irvine Valley College

Biotechnology Lab Assistant CA
Biotechnology Biomanufacturing Tech CP

Santiago Canyon College

Biotechnology Lab Assistant CA
Biotechnology Biomanufacturing Tech CA
Biotechnology Lab Technician: Food Safety CA
General Biotechnology Technician CA
Biotechnology AS

Fullerton College

Biotechnology Lab Assistant CA
Biotechnology Biomanufacturing Tech CA
Biotechnology Lab Technician CA
Biological Technician AS

Santa Ana College

Biotechnology Lab Assistant CA
Biotechnology Biomanufacturing Tech CA
Biotechnology Lab Technician CA
QC/QA Microbiology Technician CA
Biotechnology AS

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San Diego Biotechnology Programs

Mira Costa College
Biomanufacturing CA / AS / BA
Bioprocess Lab Technology CA
Biotechnology R & D CA
Laboratory Skills CA

SD Miramar College

Biotechnology CA / AS

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Dual Enrollment: �College faculty teach �college biotech courses �at the high school �after the bell schedule

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Special Admit Enrollment

of

High School

Students

in College��

Afternoon and Evening classes		Free courses on college campuses (HS)

Summer classes		Online options

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ABE PARTNER �PROGRAMS & �OPPORTUNITIES

Saturday Production Workshop, Oct 2015, Fullerton College

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SUMMER CAMPS and �BRIDGES TO BIOTECH/BIOSCIENCES

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ABE DISTRIBUTION CENTERS HOST INTERNSHIPS

ABE-LA Fullerton College

Biotech Skills Workshops
Supply Chain Project�

ABE-LA Pasadena Center

Saturday Work Days

ABE-LA Pierce College

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LAB REAGENT SUPPLY CHAIN PROJECTS

Ongoing reagent production and equipment validation

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SUPPLY CHAIN PROJECT PRACTICES LAB SKILLS

Troubleshooting & Quality Control

Aseptic technique

Basics: cleaning & solution prep

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LA High School Science Internships

UC Los Angeles: Steve Tisch BrainSPORT Program Summer High School Internship
USC Young Researchers Program (6 weeks)
Huntington Teen Volunteers
Aquarium of the Pacific VolunTEEN Program (8 weeks)
USC Bovard Scholars (year mentor)
The Intern Project (8 weeks)
Pomona College Academy for Youth Success (3 year mentor)
CA Science Center Community Teen Interns
NASA OSTEM High School Internship Programs

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LA Health-Related High School Internship Links

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SCIENCE EVENTS in REGION

See ABE-LA Workshop web page

See Link at top for Non-ABE Science Events

Student Opportunities

Teacher Opportunities

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Resources for Teachers

Biotechnology: Science for the New Millennium by Ellyn Daugherty, �Apply for free textbook at BiotechEd.com �
HOSA Biotechnology BioRad Resources

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BA Biotechnology

EHS Officer, �Cal Poly Pomona

BS Biology, UC Irvine

PhD Microbiology, UCR

BA Biology UCLA

OD Optometry

BS Biology, UCLA

PhD Immunology, UCLA

BA Biology,

MS Computational

Science, U Az

BS Material Science, UC Irvine

PhD Bioengineering, CalTech

BS Biology, UC Davis

DVM Veterinary Medicine,�Western University

BA Biochemistry,

UC Riverside

BS Biology, UC Irvine

Antech Diagnostics

BS Bioengineer,

CSU Long Beach

SUCCESS STORIES FROM 2015 WORKSHOPS

Horticulture Tech

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ADVICE TO STUDENTS ABOUT BIOTECH CAREERS

Never Stop Learning
Stay Flexible
Build Your Network
Good Work Ethic
Get experience!

Take classes: computer programming, statistics, Excel

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