Boston University Medical Campus
CityLab Academy

Biotech Around Boston

Biotechnology just seems to keep growing in Massachusetts! It’s a fabulous place to receive an education in biotechnology, then land a well-paying job. Graduates of CityLab Academy are qualified to work in a wide variety of entry-level laboratory jobs and find jobs in different types of institutions including biotech companies, universities, hospitals and other institutions in the greater Boston area.

Types of Entry-Level Jobs

• Animal Care Technician
• Aseptic Fill Technician
• Buffer Prep Technician
• Documentation Associate/Assistant
• Lab Assistant
• Manufacturing Associate
• Material Handler
• Quality Control (QC) Technician
• Quality Assurance (QA) Documentation Coordinator/Associate
• Research Assistant

DESCRIPTION OF JOBS IN THE BIOTECH INDUSTRY
For a comprehensive description of biotech jobs, salaries and qualifications, click here.

SALARY
Starting annual salaries range from $25,000 - 33,000. Many employers provide tuition reimbursement when you decide to continue your education. Several CityLab Academy graduates have taken advantage of tuition remission to earn a bachelor’s degree. One great option is to continue at Boston University in the Biomed Program.

INSTITUTIONS THAT HIRE CITYLAB ACADEMY GRADUATES

INFORMATON ABOUT BIOTECHNOLOGY
The following websites have comprehensive information on biotech companies, job opportunities, the job search process, resume writing and much more.

Massachusetts Biotechnology Council (MBC). The MBC is a non-profit organization that promotes the biotechnology field in Massachusetts. Link to the Members List to find an alphabetized list of Boston area biotech companies. If you call the MBC at 617/577-8198 (be sure to identify yourself as a student), they will provide you with a list and description of all companies that are MBC members. The MBC website also lists educational opportunities in biotechnology as well as available internships and jobs.

There are good presentations on Industry and Career Downloads on the MassBioEd website.

Biospace. This website contains information about companies in regions of the country where there is a concentration of biotechnology. The creators of Biospace have named the Massachusetts region “Genetown” and has a section specifically dedicated to job seekers in “Genetown” . Check out the Biospace website to see what’s around.

Biotechnology Industry Organization. BIO is the international organization in Washington, DC that promotes biotechnology all over the world. This non-profit organization’s website features biotechnology news stories about global health, bioethics, stem cells, cloning and more.

Bio Online is a good website to learn how to present yourself and your skills when looking for a job. Bio Online’s Career Center provides many tips on the job search process including how to work a job fair and prepare for an interview, and other job-related information. The website also features industry analyses, biotech news stories, scientific conferences, and more.

The Biotechnology Institute. The Biotechnology Institute’s mission is to engage, excite, and educate the public, particularly young people, about the promise and challenges of biotechnology.

Biotech Staffing Agencies
Many companies hire new employees through placement agencies. Some of the positions offered through placement agencies are temporary. However, many are “temp-to-perm”; in which new employees are initially hired on a temporary basis, but are then offered permanent employment if the company is satisfied with the employee.

Most graduates are eager to find permanent jobs immediately. However, many biotech companies prefer to hire on a temp-to-perm basis. This trend is likely to continue and graduates need to be prepared to accept a temporary position as they start out on a new career.
CityLab Academy graduates have been placed in biotech jobs by Randstad, LabPros, Aerotek, and Kelly Scientific. The staff of these companies provides excellent and professional assistance to program graduates. They will even give you feedback on your resume.

The Boston University Medical Center (BUMC)
The hospital and research labs at BUMC have hired several CityLab Academy graduates. Employees receive free tuition at Boston University and several program graduates have completed their bachelor’s degree this way. For a list of the current BUMC entry level jobs, visit http://www.bumc.bu.edu/hr/.

ONLINE JOB SEARCH

Lists of biomedical laboratory jobs in the greater Boston area

http://www.massbio.org/careers/ (Massachusetts Biotechnology Council)
http://www.bumc.bu.edu/hr/ (BUMC)
http://bostonworks.boston.com/biotech/ (The Boston Globe)

Tips

1. Resume and cover letter writing
   • http://www.bu.edu/careers/resumes/index.html
   • http://www.taos.com/resumetips.html
2. Interviewing
   • http://www.bu.edu/careers/interviewing/index.html
   • http://www.bio.com
3. Job Search Strategy
   • http://www.bu.edu/careers/job-search/index.ht