Getting "in" the Feild . - (Aug/09/2011 )

Hi,
i am an M.Sc student (biotech).I aspire to become a molecular biologist n so want to know what n how should i get into this feild learning n also earning at the same time . i have had only small working experience in microbiology from a govt institute. i am from India.pls help.

Molecular biology is a huge field that encompasses everything from DNA to RNA to Protein work. Which areas specifically interest you?

Once you have identified the area(s) then, start reading about them - textbooks, research papers etc. are good places to start. YOu should also make the most of your time in the lab and learn as many techniques as you can, as well as learn the scientific method and how to be a good scientist (like writing up your lab books properly, analyzing your data with no preconceived ideas etc.)

bob1 on Wed Aug 10 01:59:52 2011 said:

OK, molecular genetics... so which groups of organisms? Bacteria? archaea? fungi? plants? animals?...

If you have a university degree in biology, that will be a big help. If not, you should take some courses that will supply you with the information that you will need to get started. You could do a Masters degree (if you already have a bachelors), but you will need to have decent grades to be accepted to most MSc programmes. IF you want to work in industry, the better qualified you are, the more likely you will get a job where you can think, rather than just doing as you are told.

I would recommend looking at some text books, such as Lewin's "Genes" series (I think they are up to the 10th edition now). As for techniques, this website has lots of pages of techniques that you can look at. Openwetware.org is another that might be useful for you.

bob1 on Fri Aug 12 01:52:56 2011 said:

1) I can't say, it will depend on the company/institute.
2) It depends on the company/institute as to the wages and working conditions.

Guddu,

There are lots of jobs on offer for MSc candidates in the industry. While you are studying, you must learn the basics really well. The projects, which you will undertake as part of your final sem/ year must be done well. As much as possible, choose a project which suits your future plans. So, if you are interested in human mol genetics, take up a project in detection of genetic diseases/ project to identify a SNP in a particular disease etc. This will even help you when you approach a company for a job. You will then be in a position to say, you work on disease ABC, my project was about disease ABC and thus, I am more compatible than any other candidate being interviewed.

For your second question, it all depends on the company and people you are working with. Probably, that you must learn out of experience and not a forum. So do not worry about that at the moment. You could get a job, and then decide if you want to retire from there or leave after an year or two.

hi,
i was really expecting some positive reply... . but the fact is that i'm doing my project in soil microbiology and it has no relation to what i want to study. however i did applied in some good molecular biology institutes for the same but was not selected due to the time period i was given was way too small...(just 6 weeks)... does that mean that now i'm not eligible to get in an molecular bio. institute or company???? or i must do some project or some work in this area before applying for jobs. pls guide.

thanks in advance..

Having a MSc is an indication to people that you can do research, and that you are probably competent in the lab. This will not necessarily get you a job doing exactly what you want to do, but it should be at least a stepping stone.

For instance I have a masters in plant population genetics, but have worked in human physiology and cancer research labs and am now working in a virology lab.

There is no defined path to land up a job or work in your area of interest. What I have made is just a suggestion and probably even if you follow it to the word, might not work out instantly (as we all wish). So its just a guideline. What is really important is how well can you convince your employer that you have skill set (or if you don't) at least the inclination and huge amount of interest in working on the subject/ in the area. So don't get disheartened that you did not get a particular project.

Also, molecular biology is more or less a skill to get somewhere else. So dont go looking for institutes which say 'Inst. of Mol Bio/ Centre for Mol Bio'. There are many other industries where molecular biology is applied to get good returns. You must be open to all. What an employer really looks for the flexibility a candidate has. You can't say that my project was in soil microbiology so I will do just that and I dont know anything about cancer genetics. If you don't then you must learn and if you have not had the opportunity to learn, be ready to learn every day at your job. That is the attitude for a true student of science.