Delaware EPSCoR Education

Aboard a research vessel in the Pacific Ocean, marine scientists Craig Cary from the University of Delaware and Julie Robidart from Scripps Institution of Oceanography examine a portion of a hydrothermal vent chimney collected at a depth of nearly 2 miles. The Pompeii worm, one of the planet's most heat-tolerant animals, inhabits these super-hot vents. It and other deep-sea "extremophiles" are of interest to industry because they may yield a variety of new products and applications, from new drugs to new enzymes that can detoxify heavy metals or speed up chemical reactions in cool temperatures.

If you are a teenager right now, you are definitely living at the right time to take advantage of the biotechnology boom. Consider these facts:

• Biotechnology is currently a $600 billion per year industry in the U.S. alone.

• Already, 1.1 million people are employed in approximately 17,000 biosciences companies in the U.S.

• Average salaries in biotechnology are $18,600 above the average of other industries.

• Forty states in the U.S. are currently building their capacity in the biosciences.

• The need for trained biological scientists and technicians is expected to grow by about 19 percent by 2012, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

There are many pathways to a career in biotechnology. Here are some sites to check out for more information:

About.com offers an extensive section on biotech and biomedical careers. Often these are links to articles from other sources such as Biotech: Careers on the Cutting Edge, which focuses on entry-level positions and the education required. Access Excellence at the National Health Museum also offers articles and links about biotech careers through their Career Center.