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Biotechnology Careers |
BELINDA LUSCOMBEBachelor of Biotechnology Innovation (Honours) Business Development Officer "My attraction to QUT and the Bachelor of Biotechnology Innovation course was the perception that QUT gave graduates the edge in the real world because of the practical experience gained throughout the degree....I wanted a degree that would differentiate me from the rest of the population and would give me a chance to compete for jobs on something other than a high GPA". To be offered numerous job opportunities, Belinda recommends taking advantage of industry networking while studying, "Throughout the course we got so many opportunities to network with industry and I took every one of those opportunities... this is the reason why I was offered 8 job offers before I had completed the degree." Belinda works for the subsidiary company of a very slick Denmark biotechnology company based out of their Swedish office. Novozymes Biopharma is a certified company by the Swedish Medical Products Agency who produce biological material for medicinal purposes. Belinda's role encompasses marketing and sales activities including generating new project leads across the globe, creating new marketing material, and attending international conferences. 
CHRIS TOWNEBachelor of Applied Science - Honours (Life Science) PhD Student Chris undertook the Bachelor of Applied Science with Honours at QUT. During his studies he was awarded with a QUT University Medal and various Dean's Awards for Excellence. Chris is now undertaking his PhD studies at the Swiss Federal Institute for Technology in Lausanne in Switzerland. As a doctoral student he is actively performing research in a laboratory. He works on all levels of biology from DNA, protein, cells, and animals. Chris now works alongside leading researchers within a principal world-class research Institute. He is currently working on neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's and Huntington diseases. He is working on treating these fatal neurodegenerative disorders with the latest in gene therapy technologies. Chris finds working in science rewarding as he feels that he is contributing something to the world. 'The world will always revolve, people will always love, fight, and die no matter what. There will always be wars that will shape the world. However, it is Science that makes the world truly different from one decade to the next!' 
DOMINIC POONBachelor of Biotechnology Innovation (Honours) Product Manager - Marketing Research "...I wanted to do a Biotechnology related course and this one at QUT had an 'edge' to it, therefore it wasn't solely science based, it also had a bit of business. Overall I felt that the course was fantastic!". "The student bioenterprise scheme was also fantastic and definitely had real-world application. It encouraged me to 'get out of my comfort zone' and to be proactive. Through this I gained invaluable contacts in the industry which eventually let me gain employment". Dominic is a Product Manager - Marketing Research, at the Australian Institute for Commercialisation. The Australian Institute for Commercialisation is a not-for-profit company that assists companies, small business, research organisations, universities and even the backyard inventor to commercialise new technology. Dominic manages the market research service business unit that provides market information for technology clients. He is also involved in the Institute's business development and sales and marketing. Dominic finds his job very rewarding and exciting, and continues to learn every day. 
JENNIFER KRICKERPhD (Life Sciences) Research Associate 'The research and facilities were great - I feel I could take what I've learnt here at QUT with me anywhere.' Jenny is currently employed as a Research Associate with the Tissue Repair & Regeneration research program (TRR) within the Faculty of Science at QUT. Jenny's duties include important research into breast cancer, supervision of postgraduate students, attendance at industry seminars and conferences, giving presentations, and coordination of team meetings. Jenny has been to many conferences around Australia and in America. She has also worked in some respected labs in Australia and America, as well as visiting a lab in the United Kingdom. Jenny has been involved with the media on the ABC Science Show and Planet FM, through being a Fresh Innovators nominee. In the past Jenny was also involved with a state government initiative 'Smart Future' and gave talks to raise community awareness about science. 
MITCHELL LAWRENCEPhD PhD Research Student 'I chose QUT after being admitted into the Dean's Scholars Program which allowed me to complete my degree in two years instead of three.' After completing his Bachelor of Applied Science majoring in Biotechnology (Honours) at QUT, Mitchell is now a PhD student within the Prostate Cancer research program at QUT. Mitchell enjoyed his undergraduate studies at QUT and was happy that the emphasis of study was applying knowledge to practical situations rather than just theory. He says completing research programs as a Dean's Scholar and Honours student has prepared him well for his research as a PhD student. As a research student Mitchell works on a project that forms part of a large team working on prostate cancer research. Mitchell has recently been awarded a Fulbright Postgraduate Award which enables him to undertake research overseas. He will be conducting research at Harvard Medical School in Boston and the Children's Memorial Research Centre in Chicago. This study will go towards his QUT PhD. Mitchell believes that science is important for people to study as 'the purpose of science, whether it be for research or laboratory testing, is to serve the community and help provide better medical, environmental, and other opportunities in the future.' |
