Entry Level Qualification 

Graduate

Career Fields 

Agriculture & Food Science

For Specially Abled 

Career Entrance Exam 

BHU PET, BHU RET, GATE, WBJEE, KEAM, TSEAM CET, AP EAPCET, ICAR PG, ICAR PHD, ICAR UG

About Career 

Agricultural biotechnologist is specialists who use scientific tools, research, technology, etc.to modify living organisms like plants and animals. While some of the agricultural biotechnologists only focus on crops, they are commonly known as crop biotechnologist. As a biotechnologist, you will use methods and techniques like genetic engineering, molecular markers, molecular diagnostics, vaccines, and tissue culture. Through these techniques, the desired traits of one crop are exported to entirely different species. Thus, the transgene crops have the desired flavour, colour, troth rate, harvesting period, resistance to diseases and pets, etc.

Through these methods, you will improve the nutritional quality of certain crops to meet the requirement of the increasing population of the world. Some plants are given genetic resistance to pests and insects through genetic modification. You will also increase the diseases resistance of different agricultural plants.

Key roles and responsibilities

As an agriculture Biotechnologist, depending on your field of specialization, you would have the following roles and responsibilities:

1. You have to identify genes that give a certain feature to certain crops.

2. You will work on different species to change or modify their genes so that they develop certain desired features.

3. You will breed different varieties of the same crop to produce more diseases resistant crops.

4. You will also produce new breeds of crops based on genetic engineering that will produce a protein that kills insects when they feed on these genetic engineering crops.

5. You will perform research on genes and plants in research laboratories.

6. You will set up laboratory equipment to conduct research and monitor results.

7. You will be responsible for collecting and studying different samples such as crops, tissues, cells, etc.

8. You will record finding and analyse the final results.

9. You will present your research results to the industry, government, other researchers, etc.

Career Entry Pathway 

Class 10 all subjects as per scheme of studies – Class 11-12 Physics, Chemistry and Biology along with any other subject as per scheme of studies– UG (B.Sc.) in Agriculture Biotechnology / Agriculture/ Horticulture/ Sericulture/ Biotechnology.

After Class 11-12 Physics, Chemistry and Biology along with any other subject as per scheme of studies, you can study science discipline with Physics, Chemistry & Biology in your higher secondary school and then study for an undergraduate science degree in Agriculture Biotechnology / Agriculture/ Horticulture/ Sericulture/ Biotechnology.

After Class 11-12 Physics, Chemistry and Biology along with any other subject as per scheme of studies, you can study science discipline with Physics, Chemistry & Biology in your higher secondary school and then study for an undergraduate science degree in Agriculture Biotechnology / Agriculture/ Horticulture/ Sericulture/ Biotechnology/ similar field (Honours or specialisation is an advantage) followed by a master’s degree in Science discipline in Agriculture Biotechnology.

Required Qualification & Competencies 

You can do a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture or Biotechnology or in a related subject and then do a Master degree in Agricultural Biotechnology / Plant Biotechnology.

​​​​​​​

Competencies:

Interests

1. Investigative: You should have interests for Investigative Occupations. Investigative occupations involve working with ideas and quite a lot of thinking, often abstract or conceptual thinking. These involve learning about facts and figures; involve use of data analysis, assessment of situations, decision making and problem-solving.

2. Realistic: You should have interests for Realistic Occupations. Realistic occupations involve more practical and hands-on activities than paperwork or office work. Realistic occupations often involve physical activities for getting things done using various tools and equipment. 

Abilities

1. Abstract Reasoning: The ability to understand ideas which are not expressed in words or numbers; the ability to understand concepts which are not clearly expressed verbally or otherwise.

2. Deductive Reasoning: The ability to apply general rules and common logic to specific problems to produce answers that are logical and make sense. For example, understanding the reasons behind an event or a situation using general rules and common logic.

3. Flexibility of Closure: The ability to identify or detect a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden among other distracting materials.

4. Inductive Reasoning: The ability to combine pieces of information from various sources, concepts, and theories to form general rules or conclusions. For example, analysing various events or situations to come out with a set of rules or conclusions.

5. Inter-Personal:  The ability to build and maintain good relationships with others at workplaces and elsewhere.

6. Naturalistic Intelligence: The ability to recognise different flora and fauna of the world; sensitivity towards nature and natural surrounding; sensitivity towards the needs of different flora and fauna.

7. Numerical Reasoning: The ability to add, subtract, multiply, divide, and perform other basic numerical calculations correctly.

8. Originality: The ability to come up with unusual or innovative ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.

9. Spatial Ability: The ability to visualize three-dimensional objects by looking at the objects in paper or visualise objects mentally in three dimensions.

10. Verbal Reasoning: The ability to think and reason with words; the ability to reason out ideas expressed in words.

11. Written Comprehension: The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Knowledge

1. Biological Sciences: Knowledge of plants and animals, their anatomical structure, cell structure, tissues, physiological functions, evolution, and all other related aspects.

2. Chemical Science: Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, toxicity, production techniques, and disposal methods.

3. Engineering and Technology: Knowledge of various applications of one or more branches of Engineering Science & Technology to manufacture and produce various goods or construct or erect various structures. This include knowledge about design, development, prototype testing, manufacturing, construction, installation, repair and maintenance.

4. Physical Science: Knowledge of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understand fluid, material, earth, ocean, atmosphere, and space dynamics, as well as mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures, properties and processes.

5. Technical and Engineering Design: Knowledge of various techniques, methods, specifications and tools for creating, developing and laying out designs of various machines, equipment, devices, manufacturing plants, structures, systems and processes. This includes developing blueprints, drawing and models.

Skills

1. Active Learning: Focused and continuous learning from various sources of information, observation and otherwise for application in getting work done.

2. Coordination: Skills in working together with other people to get things done.

3. Critical Thinking: Skills in analysis of complex situations, using of logic and reasoning to understand the situations and take appropriate actions or make interpretations and inferences.

4. Judgment and Decision Making: Skills in considering pros and cons of various decision alternatives; considering costs and benefits; taking appropriate and suitable decisions.

5. Operations and Process Analysis: Skills in analysis of operations and processes such as industrial manufacturing, chemical processing, etc. so as to device better and more efficient operational processes and systems.

6. Problem Solving: Skills in analysis and understanding of problems, evaluating various options to solve the problems and using the best option to solve the problems.

7. Process and Operation Controlling: Skills in controlling processes and operations of various machines, equipment, devices and systems using different types electrical and electronic control instruments and systems.

8. Quality Control Analysis: Skills in conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

9. Reading Comprehension: Skills in understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

10. Scientific: Skills in using various scientific rules and methods to get things done or solve problems.

11. Technical: Skills in using various technologies and technical methods to get things done or solve problems.

12. Technical Design and Drawing: Skills in creating and developing designs and drawings for various structures, machines, equipment, and devices.

Personality

1. You are always or mostly organized in your day-to-day life and activities.

2. You are a soft-hearted person sometimes.

3. You trust others sometimes but not always.

4. You are helpful to others sometimes.

5. You prefer to experience new things and have new experiences sometimes.

6. You act independently sometimes but do not do so in some other times.

Career - Job Opportunities & Profiles 

1. Most of the universities and college will hire you as a professor at the position of Junior Professor or Assistant Professor.

2. If you are into research, then you will be hired at the position of research associate. PhD research fellows will be hired as a Junior Research Fellow.

3. Research laboratories and Research Institutes will hire you as a scientist/scientist officer with the lowest grade (Grade C).

4. If you want to be a scientist in the private sector, you will be hired as a research associate.

5. You may join as seed technologist in the seed industry.

6. If you are into management and sales side of biotechnology products, seeds, etc. you may join as marketing executive or sales executive.

You can find job opportunities at the following facilities:

1. Agricultural Research Organizations and institutes like the Indian Agricultural Research Institute.

2. Agriculture, Agriculture Biotechnology, and related colleges and universities.

3. Research centres and laboratories like National Institute of Plant Research Genome, National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute, etc.

4. Fertilizers companies.

5. National Seed companies.

Work Environment

As an agriculture biotechnologist, you will be mostly involved in research work. Most of your research will be in the field especially farms. You will have a regular 8-9 hours job that will require a peer to peer work. While working in the field is safe, you will need to wear proper accessories to prevent any damage while contacting pesticides. You will be working in a field that has immense pressure due to the type of work and potential results. Also, the chances of failure of work are higher, so you need to maintain your composure and avoid tiredness, lack of interest, etc.

Career Growth

1. Research laboratories will hire you as a scientist/scientist officer with the lowest grade and the grade changes from low to high. In India, grades are “Scientist “C” as the joining level and then D, E, F, G, H, etc. A senior-level scientist can also get into administrative positions like Principal Scientist, Assistant Director, Deputy Director, Director, etc.

2. The career growth in university and college states from Assistant Professor and then Associate Professor, Professor and Professor Emeritus. Professors can also get administrative positions such as Director/Dean/Vice Chancellor, etc.

3. If you are hired as a research associate (JRF and SRF), then you will go on to become a Doctoral Research Fellow, then Post-Doctoral Research Fellow and then Scientist in Progressive Grades. 

4. If you join a private organisation in the field of agriculture, fertilizers, seeds, etc. as a research scientist, then you will move to senior research scientist and principal scientist with work experience.

Salary Offered  

At the entry level, you can join as a research associate with a basic salary of Rs. 25,000 to 30,000. As a doctoral research fellow (junior research fellow) you would be earning around Rs. 35,000 to 38,000 per month. At the entry level, as a Scientist (grade C) you would be earning around Rs. 80,000 to 100,000 per month. As an assistant professor, you would be earning anything between Rs. 65,000 to 70,000 per month.

Monthly Earnings In Indian Rupee

Famous Personalities 

Not Available

Work Activities 

1. Analyzing and interpreting data and information: Analysis of data and information to find facts, trends, reasons behind situations, etc.; interpretation of data to aid in decision making.

2. Communicating with co-workers and others: Communicating with people in writing, verbally or otherwise inside your workplace and various other people who have professional relationships with your place of work including vendors, government officials, etc. or with people at large.

3. Decision making and problem solving: Analysis of data and information; evaluation of alternative decisions and results of decisions; taking the right decisions and solving problems.

4. Getting Information and learning: Observing, hearing, reading, using computers, or otherwise obtaining information and learning from it.

5. Inspecting equipment, systems, structures, and materials: Inspecting equipment, systems, structures, and materials to ascertain quality, performance, defects, causes of errors, etc.

6. Inspecting situations, events, and people: Inspecting situations, events and people to understand the reasons and causes for the situation or events to happen; inspecting people to understand reasons behind their behaviour and actions.

7. Organising, planning and prioritising tasks: Planning and organising tasks in order to achieve work goals; prioritising tasks to achieve goals and making the best use of the time available.

8. Updating and using relevant knowledge: Keeping updated with the latest knowledge relevant to your fields of work and use of the relevant knowledge in getting things done.

9. Using computers for work: Using computers for day-to-day office work; using computer software for various applications in day-to-day professional work; entering data and process information; for writing.

10. Working in a team: Working in a team of people; developing team; maintaining professional relationships among team members.