Biotechnology describes the manipulation of a living system, at any level, for the purpose of creating a useful product or process.

Over the past twenty years, the emerging field of biotechnology has fundamentally changed the world we live in.  It has led to breakthrough medical discoveries, greater understanding of the building blocks of life, advances in evolutionary biology, environmental remediation, agriculture, industrial processes, biomaterials, and even artificial intelligence.  It has also spawned intense controversy.  Public policy debates, ethical and religious concerns, legal and financial scandals, and questions of research integrity have all been a part of the biotechnology revolution.

Today, the U.S. biotechnology industry is valued at $311 billion, and directly employs roughly 200,000 people.  Additionally, many more jobs have been created in research, government, law, finance, and other areas directly supporting the industry.  The need for people trained to work in biotechnology is increasing at rates above the national average1.  People working in biotechnology are paid higher than average wages, making the field an attractive educational option for students.  The opportunities for graduates with knowledge and skills in biotechnology are substantial.

Saint Vincent College shares a legacy with the biotechnology industry.  One of the early founders of Genentech, the first biotechnology company to bring a product to market, was Saint Vincent College alum and current school Advisory Council member, Herbert Boyer.

Center for Biotechnology Education and Outreach