Also called: Bioprocess Scientist, Upstream/Downstream Scientist
Works out how to grow and purify a drug at large scale, moving from a flask to a 2,000-liter tank.
Runs small bioreactors full of cells, tweaking oxygen and feeding schedules to boost how much medicine they make. Then figures out how to filter the drug out cleanly.
Industry estimate.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Master's degree, about 6 years after high school. Bachelor's or master's in bioengineering, chemical engineering, or biology.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering, Biology.
Growing faster than average (about 7% over 10 years). Estimate; biologics manufacturing is expanding in the US.
Medium risk for 10 years. AI and digital twins tune bioreactor recipes faster; scale-up surprises and hands-on runs keep these scientists needed.
Classes: Chemistry, AP Biology, AP Calculus.
Official data: O*NET occupation 19-1029.
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