Employer: |
Dow Agro Sciences
Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.A., Dow AgroSciences is a global company that provides pest management, agricultural and biotechnology products. The company employs more than 3,500 people and has sales of more than $2 billion. Dow uses biotechnology techniques to make plants resistant to insect pests or diseases or to adjust specific qualities of the harvested plant, fruit, fiber or grain. Dow is working to produce crops that grow better or that have better nutritional value. Dow Agrosciencešs Mission forPlant Genetics & Biotechnology is to "utilize plant genetics to improve the quality of life by increasing the quality and quantity of products produced from plants a renewable resource."
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Job Description and Responsibilities:
"I am responsible for cloning, characterizing, sequencing and expressing genes in different bacterial hosts. I work in the biotechnology unit in the field of molecular biology. In addition to bench work, I am also a project leader responsible for coordinating the research efforts of scientists from different disciplines."
Personal Background:
"After graduating college with a degree in biology, I gained employment in the biotech field. I worked in the production department for a gene-therapy biotech company. This position was repetitive and not challenging to me. I enrolled in the City College Biotech Instrumentation course to learn new techniques and gain better employment, which I did. The primary reason I got involved in the field of biology to begin with is because of an excellent instructor at Grossmont Community College. Professor Henry pushed me to become a biologist since he noticed in me an inquisitive nature - a positive attribute in the sciences."
Commonly Used Skills and Techniques:
"Molecular Biology skills are the primary skills I use. These include: basic microbiological culturing techniques, DNA library construction, DNA isolation and purification, restriction enzyme digestion of DNA, DNA ligation, DNA sequencing, agarose gel electrophoresis, PCR analysis, DNA extraction from agarose gels, hybridization (Southern blots, colony hybridizations, etc.), handling of radioactivity and other hazardous materials, making microbiological medias, and making common laboratory solutions."
Most Rewarding Job Attributes:
"The most rewarding aspect of my job is that I am doing research. I actively design and implement experiments that I perform."
Most Challenging Job Attributes:
"The most challenging aspect of my job is being a project leader. It is sometimes difficult to lead a group of people. I have to stay organized and focused to keep the project moving toward its deadline."
Daily Experiences:
"My daily experiences involve being a project leader (described above) and doing bench science (described above)."
Quote:
"I enjoy participating in the Bio 206 Biotechnology Instrumentation course at San Diego City College as an instructor now. After taking the course myself, I became instantly committed to the program. I gained a great career (not just a job) from going through the "biotech bootcamp" experience. I want to continue to give back to the program which I gained from in any way I can. I have been teaching for 3 years now, and plan on continuing to do so for as long as I can."
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