How to Choose a Biotechnology Concentration

If you’re considering a career in biotechnology, you likely know that you’ll need to earn a related degree, such as a Master of Science in Biotechnology, to land the most competitive and high-paying jobs in the field. Even entry-level biotechnology positions increasingly require a master’s degree for consideration.

In comparing graduate biotech degrees, there is a lot to consider. What does the curriculum entail? Are courses taught by academics or by professionals who have actually spent time working in the field? Does the program offer practical and immersive learning opportunities like co-ops, internships, or independent research? Another important consideration is whether the program offers a concentration in the industry or field you want to pursue after completing your degree.

An interdisciplinary degree from a top university will not only incorporate all of these elements into its program, but it will also give you the skills needed to stand out among other job applicants.

“Industry is looking for more interdisciplinarily trained students that can contribute meaningfully to different areas of a company with their broad knowledge base—not just trained in one specific area,” says Jocelyn Haversat, associate professor and director of biotechnology at Northeastern University’s College of Science. “That’s great for students because it makes them more valuable to a company. They can contribute at different levels to different teams, projects, and areas—and they can be moved within a company as it changes its focus.”

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In addition to building a solid interdisciplinary foundation, specializing your degree in the area that fits your goals can showcase your passion and leadership potential. In most cases, choosing a concentration is elective rather than required; however, declaring a specialization can be a highly effective means of differentiating yourself from other applicants seeking similar positions after graduation. Pursuing a degree concentration demonstrates to employers that you’re proficient in biotechnology’s core tenets and, even more importantly, that you deeply understand how those tenets apply across industries and roles. Potential employers often value concentrations because they reduce the training employees require during onboarding and allow them to bring deep expertise to their team.

Northeastern’s MS in biotechnology program offers four industry-aligned concentrations. Students can specialize in agricultural biotechnology, biodefense, biopharmaceutical technologies and analytics, or biotechnology operations. Students can also opt not to choose a concentration and instead select a broader, interdisciplinary elective option. Below is a look at the choices and advice you can use to ensure you choose the right concentration for your goals.

Biotechnology concentrations at Northeastern University

Prospective students will find that most biotechnology concentrations are focused on the biopharmaceutical and drug development spaces. However, many universities, like Northeastern, are increasingly expanding their offerings to be more inclusive of the breadth of work available in the field of biotech, including biodefense, agriculture, and more. 

1. Agricultural biotechnology concentration

If your interests are in biotechnology’s agricultural applications, this concentration allows you to go beyond the production of biological drugs and focus on the key agritech principles and methods used today—addressing plant, animal, food, and ecological biotechnology.

2. Biodefense concentration

This concentration brings you a deep understanding of the microbiology and epidemiology of biological agents that are potential threats, allowing you to identify and propose countermeasures, as well as develop expertise in response and recovery strategies and policies. The biodefense concentration prepares you for the front lines of homeland biodefense and bioterrorism response.

3. Biopharmaceutical technologies and analytics

The biopharmaceutical technologies and analytics track builds your expertise in structures, variants, and activities of biological molecules, and it teaches you how to convert purified proteins to biopharmaceutical drug products compatible with clinical use. You’ll study the diversity of molecular forms derived from biological products, techniques to analyze and characterize these forms, and the impact of structural changes on the safety and efficacy of biopharmaceuticals. The track covers product formulation design, development and implementation of drug product manufacturing processes, and relevant process technology, such as aseptic operations and freeze-drying needed for drug product manufacturing.

4. Biotechnology operations concentration

If the operations side of the field aligns with your goals, this operationally inclusive track brings you broad insight into the inner workings of biotech companies while preparing you to enter or flex to various biotech functions. You’ll learn the principles of quality, regulatory science, process science, and manufacturing while integrating business and management skills with the science of biotechnology. The concentration includes the science behind compliance and the principles and practices of state-of-the-art biopharmaceutical manufacturing and quality operations, enabling you to move across positions in discovery, clinical operations, manufacturing, quality, regulatory affairs, and consulting for operations and operational strategy or remediations.

Choosing the right biotech concentration for your goals

Unsure which biotechnology concentration is right for you? Here’s some straightforward advice from our program leaders—pick a concentration based on the part of the industry that most interests you. You’ll gain the technical and people skills needed for success and continued growth. While the program’s concentrations are designed to let you customize your degree, they are equally focused on making you a top candidate employers know can evolve with the field.

“Across the board, our industry employers have told us that problem-solving and critical thinking are the skills that they most look for in their students,” Haversat says, “These are skills that are less trainable, so we build them throughout our curriculum. Before, companies were drilling down and saying, we’re going to do this part of the production process and then send it somewhere else. What we see now is companies wanting to do all aspects from bench to bedside, from target discovery to manufacturing and marketing.”

Go broad with the program’s interdisciplinary option.

While completing a concentration offers many benefits, Northeastern’s program also provides another path. Master of Science in Biotechnology students can select an interdisciplinary option instead of a concentration. Students choosing this route can build a broad knowledge and skill set through 17 elective credits spanning multiple Northeastern colleges.

“Students don’t have to feel like they’ve selected a concentration without intention,” Haversat says. “Our interdisciplinary path gives students the whole pool of electives. We know that the industry wants students with subject expertise in various areas so they can contribute meaningfully in different ways across a company, especially a startup. Students choose this interdisciplinary option and explore what areas of biotech they’re interested in.”

The program encourages students to keep an open mind while considering concentrations. Many students take classes to see what interests them before picking a concentration and find that the exploration changes their original perceptions of the field. Haversat notes, “A lot of our first-semester coursework is an orientation to the industry. We give students a broad blueprint for the industry, and when they have that foundational knowledge, they can ask themselves, “Where do I see myself fitting in the industry?”

Northeastern offers the MS in biotechnology program in Boston, Portland (Maine), Oakland, Toronto, and online. Each location offers different advantages and opportunities for each concentration and for gaining experience during your studies.

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Editor’s note: This post was originally published in June 2021. It has since been updated for relevance and accuracy.