Biotechnology/General Science Technician Career

The fast growing field of biotechnology has been incorporated into the Medical Laboratory Technology Curriculum at Allegany College of Maryland.

The Biotechnology Option of the MLT program at Allegany College of Maryland is based on the transferable science skills of the traditional MLT option.  The curriculum blends the MLT courses with biotechnology and general science techniques. This option prepares graduates to work in a wide variety of laboratory settings.

A graduate of the Biotechnology option would need three additional courses in order to graduate in the traditional MLT curriculum and to work in a clinical laboratory. Many of our students choose to blend the traditional MLT with the Biotechnology Option to broaden their employment opportunities to both clinical and general science laboratories. Click here to see how to blend these 2 options of the MLT program.

Graduates of the Allegany College of Maryland's MLT program have always found employment in both traditional clinical laboratories as well as employment as general science technicians in a variety of settings due to the transferable science skills.

Terri Sweitzer
Environmental Laboratory Supervisor
Alliant Tech Systems
1998 MLT Graduate

• Biological technicians assist scientists who conduct medical research, pharmaceutical companies, investigate infectious organisms, analyze organic substances, examine criminal investigation evidence, or manufacture biological supplies.
• Environmental technicians perform laboratory as well as field tests to monitor environmental resources and determine the sources of contamination/pollution.

Some Examples of MLT graduates working in nontraditional (non-clinical) lab settings:

Microbiologist in a food industry lab

Environmental lab

QC technician in Paper Manufacturing Plant

Research lab technician

Right now Biotechnology is among the hottest sectors of the nation's "New Economy" because of its practical applications now as well as the far reaching potential discoveries made possible by the new methods.

The Baltimore-Washington area is among the leading national clusters of the biotechnology firms.  Industries are locating closer to Western Maryland in nearby  Hagerstown, Frederick, and Rockville. Many of these firms express the need for qualified personnel at the Associate Degree level to carry out biotechnology research or manufacturing.  Salaries are very competitive with starting ranges of $13-20 per hour.

More career information on science technicians is available from the Occupational Outlook Handbook published by the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics to learn more about a career as a Science Technician.

Salary 

According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, the median earnings of biological science technicians in 2004 were $15.97

Allegany College of Maryland's Biotechnology Options

Biotechnology A.A.S. Degree at Allegany College of Maryland

Biotechnology Certificate

Blended Biotechnology & Traditional MLT

For more information or to make an appointment, please contact:

Molly Saunders-Bloom, Program Director and Professor
301-784-5548
msaunders@allegany.edu

Stacey Rohrbaugh, Associate Professor
301-784-5547
srohrbaugh@allegany.edu