Whether it’s transforming microbes into medicine or plants into powerhouses, biotechnology is changing the way we address critical global challenges like food security, healthcare, and environmental conservation.
See how the latest developments in biotech are spurring incredible innovation and creating exciting new career opportunities across a range of industries:
What is biotechnology?
Biotechnology describes the process of using living things to create, develop, and modify products – think biofuels, vaccines and genetically modified crops. By integrating advancements in genetics, molecular biology, and bioengineering, biotechnology has become a powerful tool that offers brand-new solutions in areas like agriculture, medicine, and the environment.
Careers in biotechnology and agriculture
With climate change impacting the conditions in which crops are grown, there’s an urgent, global need for new ways to create safe, sufficient, and sustainable quantities of food. Biotechnologists are at the forefront of tackling this challenge.
Emerging trends
Precision fermentation is a new approach to producing food and livestock feed sustainably. This high-tech method involves scientists ‘programming’ the DNA of microorganisms (like yeast or bacteria) to manufacture desired ingredients, like a protein found in milk or eggs.
Instead of paddocks growing crops, pastures, and livestock, the ‘factory’ will be stainless steel vats growing colonies of microbes at work.” – CSIRO
Gene editing is an exciting development in agricultural biotechnology. While further testing and research are needed, this scientific advance means researchers can make highly targeted changes to the genome of specific crops and animal organisms – improving resistance to diseases, enhancing nutritional value, and further boosting yields.
Get involved in securing the food future
If you see yourself working on cutting-edge agricultural solutions, today’s courses can help you learn the skills required.
With Curtin’s practical Bachelor of Agribusiness, you’ll delve into commercial agricultural and production systems and explore soil, crop, and livestock management technologies. You’ll also engage in self-directed experiments at Curtin’s dedicated field-trial and glasshouse facilities.
Our multidisciplinary Bachelor of Science (Agricultural Science) has a more scientific focus, blending the basics of biology, chemistry, and statistics with soil, crop, and animal science and molecular genetics.
If you’re naturally inquisitive and love creating new products, a career as a food scientist could be a good fit. Our Bachelor of Science (Food Science) involves studying biology, chemistry, nutrition, microbiology, and engineering and helps you gain the skills to transform raw ingredients into safe, nutritious, and tasty foods.
If you’re looking to advance or switch careers, consider our postgraduate options like our Master of Science (Food Science and Technology), or Master of Science (Agriculture and Food Security).*
*A bachelor’s degree in a scientific field is required.
Biotechnology and biodiversity
Biotechnology is also playing an essential role in preserving endangered species and ecosystems.
The global loss of biodiversity has been ranked as the third most severe threat humanity will face in the next 10 years in the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2022.
Thanks to biodiversity conservation technology, it’s become possible to monitor wildlife more closely by examining environmental DNA, or eDNA, and gain critical insights into wildlife and their habitats. The data revealed offers scientists important information about the health of our ecosystems, the effects of climate change, and the presence of endangered species or harmful pathogens. Through Targeted Genetic Intervention (TGI) scientists are exploring the possibility of genetically adapting specific traits of endangered species to protect them against harm and ensure their survival.
Ready to shape the future?
If you’re a high achiever who is passionate about genetics and biodiversity, our Bachelor of Advanced Science (Molecular Genetics) (Honours) offers you an exciting pathway to careers in plant and animal genetics, ecology, bioinformatics, biotechnology, and agricultural and food science.
Careers in biotech, biomed and bioinformatics
Biotechnology is transforming healthcare, with career opportunities emerging in genomics, gene editing, and regenerative medicine.1
The Australian Government has released a plan to support the creation of more than 80,000 jobs in health and biotechnology over the next ten years.2
The use of genomics in medicine is allowing doctors to use an individual’s genetic makeup, alongside environmental and lifestyle factors, to tailor decisions about medical care. Known as personalised medicine (or precision medicine), this method is a significant shift from previous ‘one size fits all’ approaches to treatments, medications and drug therapies.
Meanwhile, gene editing technologies, such as CRISPR-Cas9, are revolutionising the way scientists approach the treatment of genetic disorders. By precisely modifying or correcting faulty genes, researchers can address the root causes of diseases like sickle cell anaemia, cystic fibrosis, and certain forms of cancer.
Similarly, regenerative medicine is opening new possibilities in treating injuries and degenerative conditions. By harnessing the body’s ability to repair or replace damaged tissues, scientists are developing innovative therapies such as stem cell treatments, tissue engineering, and organ regeneration. These breakthroughs hold huge promise for restoring functionality in patients with spinal cord injuries, heart disease, or even organ failure, reducing the need for donor transplants.
Pursue a cutting-edge career
If you’re fascinated by the transformations occurring in the field of medicine and want to develop the skills to work in this rapidly growing space, Curtin offers two biomedical science degrees.
Our four-year Bachelor of Advanced Biomedical Sciences (Honours) is ideal if you dream of making significant medical advances or if you’re considering studying medicine down the track.
Our three-year Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences allows you to focus your study on high-growth areas such as human biomedicine, molecular genetics, or pharmacology. You can tailor your degree with specialisations in microbiology, immunology and cell biology, pathology, genetics and genomics, and pharmacology, and optional units in reproductive technologies, bioinformatics, forensics and psychology.
Find out more about career opportunities in biomedicine.
The rise of nanotechnology
Alongside biotechnology, nanotechnology is emerging as a transformative field of science. Offering innovative solutions to global challenges such as food security, medicine, and environmental sustainability, nanotechnology is creating new career opportunities across different industries.
What is nanotechnology?
Nanotechnology is the science of manipulating materials on an incredibly tiny scale – typically less than 100 nanometres (nm) in size. For perspective, a human hair is approximately 80,000 – 100,000 nanometres wide.
At this nanoscale, materials can exhibit unique chemical, physical, and biological properties. This allows scientists to design and engineer new materials with enhanced strength and reactivity, or the ability to interact with biological systems differently.3
Careers in nanotechnology
As nanotechnology advances, professionals in fields like agriculture, materials science, chemistry, and engineering are increasingly in demand to help develop and refine nano-based technologies.
Nanotechnology in food security
In agriculture, scientists and researchers are exploring ways to apply nanomaterials to improve crop yields, sustainability, and food security.4
Nano-enabled pesticides, for example, can deliver active ingredients precisely where needed, minimising waste and harm to non-target organisms. This precision enhances pest control and helps maintain soil and water quality.
In livestock farming, nano-vaccines, are improving immunity in animals while reducing the need for antibiotics, helping combat the growing issue of antimicrobial resistance.
Further down the food chain, nano-based packaging materials are extending the shelf life of food by actively preventing spoilage and contamination. These innovative packaging solutions incorporate antimicrobial agents, moisture regulators, and oxygen barriers, keeping food fresher for longer and significantly reducing food waste.
Additionally, nanotechnology is addressing malnutrition, an issue affecting millions of people around the globe, by enhancing the nutritional value of crops. Plants can more readily absorb nanoscale nutrients, leading to fortified foods with higher levels of essential vitamins and minerals.
Nanoengineering and the environment
Alongside nanotechnology, nanoengineering is helping shape a more sustainable future. For instance, nanomaterials are being used to create better energy storage systems, such as batteries with higher capacities and longer lifespans, which are essential for the widespread adoption of renewable energy. Meanwhile, nano-engineered solar panels, with their ability to capture more light and convert it into energy, are helping to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and lower carbon emissions.
Beyond energy, nanoengineering is also transforming how we manage waste and restore ecosystems. In water treatment processes, specially designed nanomaterials can remove pollutants more effectively than traditional methods. For example, nanoparticles can filter out heavy metals and toxins from contaminated water, providing cleaner water to communities.
Nanotechnology is also being applied to clean up oil spills, treat industrial waste, and even restore damaged soil, making a significant impact on the health of ecosystems.
Deliver big impact with nano solutions
If you see yourself making a difference in the field of nanotechnology, Curtin’s practical and lab-based Bachelor of Science (Chemistry) can help you develop the skills you need. If you’re interested in the living world, you can specialise in medicinal and biological chemistry, exploring applications in biosensors and drug design and monitoring the effects that new substances have on living organisms.
Or, if you’re passionate about the environment, you can specialise in the chemistry of sustainable development, exploring how chemistry is helping develop sustainable solutions in areas such as water, energy, industry and the environment.
Looking forward
The innovations mentioned above are all part of a growing trend towards building a more sustainable future.
At Curtin, we’re committed to equipping our graduates with the knowledge, connections, and hands-on experience to thrive in this dynamic landscape. Our focus is on preparing you for not just today’s careers… but the jobs of tomorrow.
To learn more about how we’re preparing future-ready graduates, explore all our courses.
1 Health x Digital Transformation Report 2024-2025
3 https://online-engineering.case.edu/blog/emerging-trends-in-mechanical-engineering
