Biotechnology (Hons) Technological University of the Shannon

Overview

Biotechnology is the manipulation of living organisms, cells, genes or molecules to develop services and products that benefit mankind and have commercial value. 

Biotechnology is a dynamic and evolving area, which is making significant contributions to the ‘smart economy’ in areas such as healthcare, agri- business, the food industry and the environment. Biotechnologists have already and continue to discover new ways to diagnose, treat and prevent disease, repair and replace damaged organs, create biofuels and bioplastics, grow crops with better yields, drought and pest resistance, and remove toxic environmental contaminants. 

These advancements are based on relatively recent discoveries in the areas of genetic engineering, genome sequencing and molecular biology are projected to continue to grow in utility and value. It is estimated that approximately half of all medicines currently produced worldwide originate in biotechnology based systems, making them cheaper and more widely available. Ireland is a leading location for biopharmaceutical production with a mix of start-ups, high growth SMEs and large multinationals located here.

Career Opportunities

Typical employers for Biotechnology graduates include:

• Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical companies.

• Medical technology and medical device companies.

• Research institutions (Universities, Institutes of Technology, Contract research organisations, State-run research institutions).

• Agriculture and crop production companies.

• Industries working in areas such as biodegradable plastics, biofuels, environmental monitoring and clean-up.