Biotechnology

Build a Career on the Cutting Edge

The Biotechnology program provides a strong foundation in the principles of biology, chemistry and the biomolecular sciences. You will build a high degree of advanced technical laboratory skills and the ability to translate these into careers in the biotechnology industry, graduate or professional school.

General Information

Approximately half of biotechnology graduates enter directly into the workforce and half enter directly into graduate or professional school. For those graduates that enter directly into the workforce, job opportunities exist in companies with research and development programs such as those involved in pharmaceutical, medical, or agricultural research.

Within the state of Michigan, recent growth has occurred in companies that develop therapies for cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Graduates of the Biotechnology program at Ferris are especially marketable because of the extensive hands-on lab experience included in core laboratories that gives students real-world experience in a controlled laboratory setting.

Those graduates who decide to enter directly into graduate school have many areas of study available to them due to the strong foundation of courses included in the core biotechnology curriculum. Our graduates can enter graduate programs in molecular biology, molecular genetics, cell biology, microbiology, immunology, neurobiology, food science, or genetics, just to name a few.

A significant number of biotechnology students opt for a dual major with other programs here at Ferris State. Some of the most common programs paired with biotechnology are forensic biology, biochemistry, and environmental biology. The research focus of the biotechnology program compliments any of these programs and strengthens a graduate's skill set, especially if they wish to pursue a graduate degree or research-based career in these other areas.

The completion of an internship or independent research project before graduation is required so that students can gain additional experience in an independent laboratory setting. Some of the locations where our students have completed summer internship programs include: The Ohio State University, Michigan State University, The University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, The University of Georgia, Wayne State University, Neogen Inc., Eastern Virginia University, The United States Department of Agriculture, and the research unit of Henry Ford Hospital. Many of these internships have led to graduate school or employment opportunities following graduation.

Career Opportunities

The Ferris Biotechnology program is designed for those who want to enter the workforce in a biotechnology laboratory, or pursue study in a graduate or professional school. Biotechnology is responsible for many of the medical, agricultural and environmental advances that are part of modern society. With a career in biotechnology, you will be able to better understand these advances and apply this knowledge towards the improvement of our world.

Job opportunities exist in most industries that conduct research and development programs. Biotechnology graduates are especially marketable, since the hands-on experiments conducted at Ferris give students real-world experience in a controlled laboratory setting. In fact, over 90 percent of graduates have jobs in the industry or are enrolled in graduate or professional schools.

Summer Camps

Each summer, the biotechnology program and biology department sponsors a biotechnology camp for high school students interested in careers in the biomolecular sciences.

More Information

Lead Advisor: Dr. Brad Isler
Phone: (231) 591-2641
Email: [email protected]

Advisor: Jenice Winowiecki
Phone: (231) 591-2555
Email: [email protected]

Biotechnology: Ferris State University Course Catalog

Biotechnology in the state of Michigan and Beyond

Michbio (Statewide)

Biotechnology Industry Organization (International)