Biotech careers tap into growing field

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Seattle has become a hotbed for biotechnology companies, and even though the economic downturn has caused the industry to be conservative in hiring, there still are entry-level biotechnician jobs for people with two-year and four-year college degrees.

The state has about 170 biotech companies, with many focused on research and development of therapeutic drugs. They use biotechnicians to assist scientists in the laboratory and production facilities.

Job openings The Washington Biotechnology and Biomedical Association (WBBA), a nonprofit group of biotechnology and biomedical companies, research firms and related organizations in the state, lists job openings on its Web site at www.wabio.com. Click on Job Search to see current openings at all levels, including research associates and quality-control technicians.

Susan Bell, 46, recently started a career as a research assistant for Seattle-based Targeted Genetics after working in the wholesale paper-distribution business for eight years, then taking time off to raise children.

Bell helps with lab procedures, writes final reports on experiments and analyzes data on the computer for her scientist-boss.

She says learning new information every day and working in an environment that encourages curiosity are wonderful benefits of her lab position.

"There's nothing day-to-day about the job," Bell says.

Bell has a double major, a bachelor's degree in biology and business from 1979, but she wanted to upgrade her science skills before venturing into a new career. She completed the two-year program for a biotechnology-lab-specialist certificate at Shoreline Community College, worked a three-month internship at Targeted Genetics until August, then was hired in September.

Not all entry-level biotech jobs require an internship, but human-resource directors stress internships help open doors.

"An internship won't help with pay but will help you get into an organization," says Geoffrey Roach, senior director of human resources at Targeted Genetics, which has 170 employees.

Associate-degree programs Shoreline Community College Biotechnology Specialist Program: The college offers an associate degree in applied arts and sciences, a two-year program for those without a science background. The first-year curriculum provides a foundation in math and basic sciences. The second-year focuses on applied biotechnology and includes courses in molecular biology, chemistry technology, recombinant DNA, immunology and tissue culture. The college also offers a one-year certificate of proficiency for students with prior scientific training or experience. Internships are required for both degree and certificate candidates. Seattle Central Community College Biotechnology Training Program: This six-quarter program offers an associate degree in applied science that prepares students for entry-level employment as biotechnicians. Classroom and laboratory courses and an industry internship are required. Classes include cell biology, microbiology, genetics, immunology, chemistry, computer-science applications, technical writing, applied mathematics and hands-on training in biotechnology laboratory techniques and media and solution preparation.

While most companies seek job candidates with four-year degrees, two-year degrees are becoming more acceptable. Shoreline Community College and Seattle Central Community College offer associate-degree programs.

A lab assistant with an associate degree or a certificate, plus two years' experience, can earn an average $13-$15 an hour in the Seattle-area market.

An entry-level research assistant with a four-year science degree averages $15 an hour. Research assistants typically have a background studying theory and may work in research, development, quality control or manufacturing.

"Our grads typically start at $25,000 to $30,000," says Caralee Cheney, program coordinator of the Biotechnology Specialist program at Shoreline Community College.

"There's no real difference in pay initially" between entry-level workers with two-year or four-year degrees, Cheney says, although people with the two-year associate degrees can expect to progress to salaries in the mid-$30,000s, while salaries of bachelor-degree holders can climb higher.

Even temporary agencies are placing entry-level workers.

Temps can earn $10-$14 an hour if they have a four-year degree, even with little or no industry experience, according to Leslie Warning, account executive at Bellevue-based Lab Temps, a division of Puget Sound Staffing.

Smaller, research-focused biotech companies tend to have fewer entry-level positions than larger companies.

"The biotech industry is currently spotty," says Roach. "Some companies are hiring to meet their ramp-up needs, but most are taking a rather conservative approach. "

That didn't hamper Melissa Richman.

The 23-year-old University of Washington graduate interviewed for just three jobs before landing a position as a research associate at Dendreon, a Seattle company with 150 employees.

Richman helps develop new ways to monitor immune-system response to cancer-fighting therapy.

"I love it," she says. "I really get to do new things every day. I come in and ask questions and find ways to answer those questions. It can be frustrating because there's so much we don't know. That's the fun thing. I know I'm doing something for cancer research."

Richman has a zoology degree and had a 2½-year internship at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center while going to the UW. She is fascinated with genetics and may one day pursue a doctorate, but for now she's content.

"I don't feel that I need to do that now," says Richman. "There's a lot of room for growth in the company without a Ph.D. The more experience I have, the more freedom I may be given to run my own projects."

Renata Birkenbuel is a Bellevue free-lance writer.