Agricultural Careers Biological Engineer By: Dr. Frank Flanders and Asha Wise Georgia Agricultural Education Curriculum Office Georgia Department of Education May 2006
Job Duties & Responsibilities Develop the processing methods needed to produce products from bioresearch Write and submit grant proposals Develop new products Design and conduct research Write reports and present research data Design the development of microbiological processes Design and produce biochemicals, enzymes, and pharmaceuticals and to treat municipal, industrial, and agricultural wastes
Qualities and Skills Enjoy working with computers and machines Have an understanding of scientific and technical material Be capable of using advanced mathematical and statistical formulas and concepts Be good at working with a complex body of knowledge thinking abstractly Have intellectual creativity and the ability to plan, organize and conduct research efficiently
Salary Range from $40,000 to $70,000 According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers: - Those with a bachelor’s degree average starting salary is $46,000 - Those with a master’s degree average starting salary is $50,000
Projected Growth Increasing concerns about food safety and the need to process waste materials biologically are creating a growing demand Employment is increasing and will continue to increase over the next few years With education, specialized training, and experience promotion in the field is likely
Education The minimum education requirement for a biological engineer entry level position is a four-year degree. An aspiring biological engineer should take courses in mathematics, physics, chemistry, communications, computer science, economics, and a variety of engineering sciences such as: environmental engineering, water movement, instrumentation, controls, and genetics.
Career Resources The American Society of Agricultural Engineers 2950 Niles Rd St. Joseph, MI Junior Engineering Technical Society 1420 King St Alexandria, VA Discover engineering Society for Biological Engineering 3 Park Ave New York, N.Y American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering 1901 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W. Suite 401, Washington, D.C