Master's Degree Program in Biotechnology

The Biotechnology Sequence provides M.S. students with broad training in the major areas of biotechnology via lecture and laboratory instruction in biochemistry, cell & molecular biology, genetics, immunology and microbiology. Students’ thesis research and classes focus on conducting basic/applied research in biotechnology utilizing modern molecular biology techniques (e.g., gene cloning and sequencing, monoclonal antibodies, RFLP, ELISA, RIA, and flow cytometry). Students receive a M.S. in Biology with a Sequence in Biotechnology.

For application materials contact:

Dr. R K Jayaswal
E-mail: drjay@ilstu.edu
Illinois State University
Department of Biological Sciences
Normal, IL 61790-4120
Phone: (309) 438-5128; or (309) 438-3664
FAX:(309) 438-3722

Why Biotechnology? Biotechnology is an exciting, cutting edge scientific discipline that first emerged in the late 1970's as a result of advances in microbiology, biochemistry, genetics, virology, immunology, and cell biology. This is a highly interdisciplinary area where a number of important subdisciplines in biology converge. The power of biotechnology is that it allows the tremendous genetic diversity of living organisms to be utilized in the interest of humans. The application of biotechnology has already helped maximize agricultural efficiency, animal productivity, the development of therapeutics, diagnostic reagents, and the management of hazardous wastes. For example, molecular techniques are already being widely used to detect and identify diseases and to establish guilt or innocence.

Financial investment from private sources currently drives much of the research and development in the field of biotechnology. This investment is based on the expectation of eventual financial gain as useful products enter the marketplace. In the past two decades, this investment has caused biotechnology to grow exponentially, as its application to areas such as pharmaceuticals, medicine, food industry, agriculture, and waste management has been recognized. Currently, there are more than 3,500 biotechnology companies in the world!