A bioengineering job description is a job description for a bioengineer which includes the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to carry out the basic duties of the job. Bioengineering job descriptions cover a wide variety of topics including research, teaching, and practicing. Different employers may require slightly different levels of expertise so be sure to tailor your job description to precisely match the requirements of the position you are writing for.
Some fundamental elements that should be included in any bioengineering job description are as follows.
Education And Professional Experience
Include the educational background of the applicant along with their professional experience (if any). A good rule of thumb is to include no more than three to four years of professional experience in the job description because it is very uncommon for recent graduates to have a great deal of hands-on experience. The reason for this is that graduate students normally work in research laboratories or hospitals during their entire graduate career where they carry out research studies and may even teach classes. Once they complete their graduate studies, they normally move directly into a position in industry where they can begin applying the knowledge and skills they acquired in school. In some cases, they may even be placed in a job which requires no previous experience at all.
If the applicant has a significant amount of professional experience, they should list the names of their employers and the subjects they were employed in. In some instances, a resume may not be necessary because the employer will be able to provide evidence of the applicant’s experience in the form of a testimonial or letter of recommendation. In other cases, a resume may be necessary because the employer does not have a record of the applicant’s experience.
Include the educational background of the applicant along with their professional experience (if any). A good rule of thumb is to include no more than three to four years of professional experience in the job description because it is very uncommon for recent graduates to have a great deal of hands-on experience. The reason for this is that graduate students normally work in research laboratories or hospitals during their entire graduate career where they carry out research studies and may even teach classes. Once they complete their graduate studies, they normally move directly into a position in industry where they can begin applying the knowledge and skills they acquired in school. In some cases, they may even be placed in a job which requires no previous experience at all.
If the applicant has a significant amount of professional experience, they should list the names of their employers and the subjects they were employed in. In some instances, a resume may not be necessary because the employer will be able to provide evidence of the applicant’s experience in the form of a testimonial or letter of recommendation. In other cases, a resume may be necessary because the employer does not have a record of the applicant’s experience.
Area Of Specialization
An area of specialization is an essential part of any job description because it allows the reader to understand what the individual is qualified to do. Therefore, it is important to choose an area of specialization that is directly related to the duties of the job you are writing for. An area of specialization should be defined in broad terms such as biological sciences or chemical engineering and should include both the basic and the applied aspects. Areas of specialization can vary significantly from one another and it is important to be familiar with the differences before you begin writing. Some of the basic areas of specialization for a biochemist/bioengineer are listed below.
- Analyzing & interpreting chemical data
- Developing & applying mathematical models to biology & chemistry
- Designing & establishing laboratory procedures
- Developing & applying instrumentation
- Collecting & analyzing data
- Interfacing with other disciplines
- Writing grants & applying for research funding
- Reviewing journal articles
- Presenting research results
- Fundraising
An area of specialization is an essential part of any job description because it allows the reader to understand what the individual is qualified to do. Therefore, it is important to choose an area of specialization that is directly related to the duties of the job you are writing for. An area of specialization should be defined in broad terms such as biological sciences or chemical engineering and should include both the basic and the applied aspects. Areas of specialization can vary significantly from one another and it is important to be familiar with the differences before you begin writing.
Some fundamental areas of specialization for a bioengineer/biochemist are listed below.
- Biological Sciences
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Nanotechnology
- Environmental Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Food Engineering
- Healthcare Engineering
- Operations Research
- Management Science
- Physics
- Mathematics
- Statistics
- Other
Healthcare and environmental science are among the most in-demand areas in bioengineering. If you are writing for a hospital or pharmaceutical company, you will likely need to include a section on biomedical devices in your job description. Even if you are not writing for such a company, being able to list a few relevant topics will make you stand out among the applicants.
Duties And Responsibilities
The duties and responsibilities of the job should be described in some detail as they affect the jobholder. The description should be comprehensive enough to ensure that the position is clearly understood by the readership but concise enough to be easily digested by the individual applying for the job. The following are some examples of the duties and responsibilities of a bioengineer/biochemist.
- Designing equipment and devices for use in molecular biology and biochemistry (e.g., tissue culture and DNA synthesizers)
- Carrying out research and developing new hypotheses
- Developing and maintaining laboratory procedures
- Analysing data and scientific literature
- Preparing reports and proposals
- Establishing and maintaining laboratory and administrative records
- Taking part in professional development activities and conferences
- Supervising and training graduate and postgraduate students
- Performing and teaching-learning
- Presenting research results
- Writing grants and applying for research funding
- Serving as a faculty member in a university or college
- Contributing to national and international professional bodies (e.g., Bio-Europe, Bio-America, and the International Bioengineering Organization)
- Participating in the training and continuing professional development of colleagues
- Scheduling and overseeing the work of others
The above list of responsibilities is, of course, not exhaustive and is provided only to give you an idea of what is typically involved in the average day-to-day life of a bioengineer. As you can see, a bioengineering job description can be quite lengthy and detailed. Take your time deciding how much information you need to include and make sure that everything is properly referenced. You will need a formal letter of introduction from the head of your department or organization to get the job description considered for review.