Updated October 18, 2022
PhD Biotechnology or Doctor of Philosophy in Biotechnology is a Doctorate course that spans three to five years. The Program teaches the students bioengineering techniques to fabricate the genes for producing valuable goods and products for the benefit of Humankind. It deals with studying subjects like Research Methodology, Scientific Communication, Recent Trends in Biotechnology, etc.
Candidates who aspire to pursue the course must have completed Postgraduation in Biotechnology or other related disciplines from a recognized University with a minimum aggregate of 55% marks. However, relaxation of 5 % marks in the required percentage is also given to SC, ST and OBC candidates, depending on the institution’s norms, candidates have been selected for admission to the Program.
Institutions grant admission to the Ph.D. Biotechnology program based on the score of entrance exams like CSIR-UGC NET, UGC NET, GATE, etc. After the entrance exams result, the colleges also conduct group discussion and personal interview rounds for the final shortlisting of candidates. The average tuition fees for the Program range from INR 50K to 4 Lakhs, depending on the college.
PhD in Biotechnology Course Details
The major highlights of the Ph.D. in Biotechnology Course are tabulated below. So, check out below to get an overview of the program.
| Course Name | PhD in Biotechnology |
| Course Level | Doctorate |
| Full-form | Doctorate of Philosophy in Biotechnology |
| Course Duration | Three to Five years |
| Minimum Eligibility | Postgraduate degree in Biotechnology or Bioinformatics |
| Admission Process | Entranced-Based |
| Average Course Fee | INR 50K to 4 Lakh |
| Top Job Positions | Professor, Biotechnical Researcher, Medical Coder, Associate Research Scientists, Biochemist, Medical Scientist, Microbiologist, Biomanufacturing Specialist, Product manager, Medical Communication Specialist, etc. |
| Employment Sectors | Colleges & Universities, Medical Research Centers, Agriculture Sector, Pharmaceutical Industry, Research Centers, etc. |
| Top Recruiting Companies | Wipro, Reliance, Ocimumbio, Jubilant Biosys, Tata Consultancy Services, IBM Life Sciences, Accelrys, BioMed Informatics, etc. |
PhD Biotechnology Admission Process
Admission to the PhD Biotechnology is based on the marks scored in the entrance examination like UGC NET, CSIR UGC NET, etc. Candidates who are GATE/GPAT qualified will also be considered for admission to the course and are not required to appear for any entrance exam. Below are the different steps involved in the program’s admission process.
- Aspirants who fill the minimum eligibility criteria are required to register for any entrance examinations that are mandatory for admission to the program.
- Institutions strictly grant entry to the program based on the marks scored by candidates in the entrance test. So, the college authorities determine the cut-off for the entrance test.
- After the release of the entrance test result, some institutions also conduct personal interviews and shortlist the candidates for admission based on their performance in the interview.
- And finally, the shortlisted candidates must submit all the required documents and pay the admission charges for registering for the program.
Ph.D. Biotechnology Eligibility Criteria
Mentioned below are the minimum criteria of eligibility aspirants must fulfill for admission to the course. However, it may vary from institution to institution but below mention are the most acceptable ones.
- The aspirants must have obtained a post-graduate degree (like MSc Biotechnology, MPhil Biotechnology, etc.) in Biotechnology or Bioinformatics or any other relevant discipline from a recognized board or university.
- Their Minimum aggregate score should be 55% (50% for the reserved category) or 6.75 CGPA at the Post Graduation level to be eligible for this course.
- They should have also qualified in the entrance exam like CSIR- UGC – NET, DBI JRF, ICMR JRF, etc.
- They should have a working and research experience of a minimum of two years in the relevant field.
PhD in Biotechnology Entrance Exams
Universities mostly select students for admission to the program based on the marks scored by them in the entrance test. Listed below are some of the popular entrance tests for Ph.D. biotechnology.
- GATE
- GPAT
- JNUET
- UGC-NET for JRF
- CSIR-UGC NET for JRF
- NBHM Entrance Exam
Doctor of Philosophy in Biotechnology Syllabus
According to the course name, most of the subjects covered under Ph.D. in biotechnology are centered on scientific disciplines of Biology and engineering. Listed below are the common subjects and curriculum activities that the Ph.D. biotechnology syllabus incorporates.
Particulars of PhD in Biotechnology Syllabus
| Papers | Subjects/Topics/Activities |
| Paper I | Genomics |
| Biosciences | |
| Bioinformatics | |
| Molecular Biology | |
| Protein Biotechnology | |
| Cellular Biotechnology | |
| Bioprocessing Technique | |
| Environmental Microbiology | |
| Bioinformatics and Biostatistics | |
| Statistics and Probability Theory | |
| Electrophoresis and DNA Sequencing | |
| Paper II | Viva – Voce |
| A Research Review Report | |
| Critical Review on the Research Conducted |
Top Ph.D. in Biotechnology Colleges
Numerous reputed colleges across India offer PhD Biotechnology courses. Listed below are the top colleges that provide courses for a Doctor of Philosophy in Biotechnology.
- DAV College, Chandigarh
- Stella Maris College, Chennai
- St. Xavier’s College, Ahmedabad
- Jaipur National University, Jaipur
- Mount Carmel College, Bangalore
- Women’s Christian College, Chennai
- Bishop Heber College, Tiruchirappalli
- Kishinchand Chellaram College, Mumbai
- Ramaniranjan jhunjhunwala College, Mumbai
- Maharani Lakshmi Ammanni College for Women, Bangalore
Future Scope of PhD Biotechnology
Ph.D. Biotechnology promises vast scope for graduates, which grows every day. Biotechnology is a multidisciplinary domain that has emerged as a most demanding industry in recent years. Post pursuing Ph.D. in Biotechnology, students may look for an academic profession in private or government schools and colleges. They have the option to become a part of the government and private research labs and can also aspire to be other Biotechnology professionals like Biomedical Engineer, Biochemist, Medical Scientist, Microbiologist, Process Development scientists, Biomanufacturing Specialist, Product Strategist, etc.
The scopes after Ph.D. Biotechnology are increasing every day as new areas of employment are emerging in the Biotechnology field, like improvement of clinical testing and diagnostic tools, production of novel varieties of crop plants and animals, and production of pharmaceutical products for the cure or control of many human diseases.
Option for further study is also available for the Ph.D. Biotechnology graduates. If the candidates aspire to further study after completing the program, they can go for a DSc degree in relevant disciplines. But, for the eligibility for DSc, the candidates will have to do further research even after completing their Ph.D.
PhD Biotechnology Jobs and Career Options
After completing PhD in Biotechnology, the candidates can aspire to numerous Biotechnology professions in different workforces. They can explore various lucrative career opportunities in Colleges & Universities, Medical Research Centers, Agriculture Sector, Pharmaceutical Industry, Research Centers, etc. Listed below are some top job profiles available after Ph.D. in Biotechnology.
- Biochemist
- Microbiologist
- Medical Scientist
- Product Strategist
- Clinical Technician
- Biomedical Engineer
- Biomanufacturing Specialist
- Business Development Manager
- Process Development Scientists
PhD in Biotechnology Salary in India
Several lucrative career options in Biotechnology are available to the graduates. The salary for a PhD Biotechnology graduates in India vary depending on job profiles, experience, skillset, etc. However, the average starting salary offered to PhD Biotechnology candidates ranges from INR 3 to 15 lakh per annum, depending on job profiles and organizations of work. Below are a few jobs after PhD in Biotechnology with their salary structure.
- Biochemist:- INR 5 Lakh Per Annum
- Microbiologist:- INR 3 Lakh Per Annum
- Biological/ Clinical Technician:- INR 5 Lakh Per Annum
- Process Development Scientists:- INR 4 Lakh Per Annum
- Business Development Manager:- INR 7 Lakh Per Annum
FAQs on Doctor of Philosophy in Biotechnology
Ans:- The salary of the Ph.D. Biotechnology graduates may vary depending on factors like job profile, experience, skillset, organization of work, etc. However, their average initial salary ranges from 3 to 15 lakh per annum, depending on their expertise.
Ans:- Yes, pursuing a Ph.D. in Biotechnology is an excellent career option. The job outlook for Biotechnology professionals is very positive. The average wages of biotechnology professionals were around INR 8 to 9 lakh per year. As a result, many individuals are pursuing advanced degrees in biotechnology to acquire the training and experience needed to land a role in this lucrative field.
Ans:- Ph.D. Biotechnology or Doctor of Philosophy in Biotechnology is a Doctorate course that usually takes 3-5 years to complete. The shortest duration to be awarded the degree is three years, and five years is the most prolonged one.
Ans:- Some top profiles that the candidates can aspire to after Ph.D. Biotechnology are Biomedical engineers, Biochemists, Medical scientists, microbiologists, Process Development scientists, Biomanufacturing Specialists, Product Strategists and so on.
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