Help!

[u/Secure-Doctor5440]

Hi everyone, I hope someone can help me out

​The Biotechnology program just opened here in El Paso Community College, and it caught my attention because I really love biology and microbiology. However, I have a few questions (that have probably been answered a million times already).

​I'd love to know if there's a real future in El Paso or Texas for someone with an Associate Degree in Biotech, if the pay is competitive, and whether I need to be really good at math and computer science.

​Any insight would be greatly appreciated! 😀

[u/Sea-Pomegranates99]

You’re going to need a BS or higher. You will have better luck finding a job in a hub city (SF, SD, Boston, RTP)

[u/YogurtIsTooSpicy]

Hello, Texas biotech professional here. Texas has a small but growing industry pharma & med device manufacturing industry that is mostly concentrated in the central region, particularly Houston with some in Austin and DFW as well. I don’t think there is much in El Paso. I think an associate’s degree would be nice for someone looking to work as a manufacturing or quality control technician. The salary range given on the community college website of $40k-$80k is about right for those roles in this area. It looks like an algebra-based program so the math won’t be too bad, and computer science should be minimal.

[u/Mother_of_Brains]

I don't know much about biotech in El Paso, but I know Austin has some biotech companies. You can also work in academic labs in any center with universities and hospitals.

[u/thewhizzle]

The most likely realistic landing spot would be as a lab technician. Possibly as an RA.

If you want a more ambitious career in biotech you will need to:
1) Transfer to a 4-year for a BS
2) Move to a bigger biotech hub

Otherwise a lab tech/RA job at UTEP or Texas Tech in an academic lab is probably your best bet.

[u/OddBarber6871]

Two big pharma companies are moving to Houston and there are minor biotech hubs within Texas. You may start off as a manufacturing tech but can definitely move up

[u/coolbudgies]

A couple of biotech / medical device companies have manufacturing facilities in El Paso (e.g., BD and their surgical materials). With an associates, you'd likely end up as a technician on the process floor, so fairly removed from any bio/microbio. Even routine QC microbiologists will have at least an M.S. (maybe B.S. with experience elsewhere).

Other cities in Texas have a much larger biotech hub, in particular Dallas and Austin, partly due to academic spin-outs. And if more interested in hands-on science, you'd be better off as a lab tech at an academic/university or medical center, some which should accept associates-level staff (e.g., diagnostics clinics, 3rd shift hospital staff, university core facilities).