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What I'm interested in Botany pharmaceutical microbiology, what kinds of careers would you recommend?

What I'm interested in Botany pharmaceutical microbiology, what kinds of careers would you recommend?

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margaret’s Answer

Hi John,

My answer is based on my background and experience, and so it relatively narrow.

I worked for a pharmaceutical company in research. With your interests getting a degree in microbiology, and/or botony, or chemical engineering you could either do research (in any of those areas) or work on process (probably not as good a fit) for a pharmaceutical company. There are other possibilities, but from the information that you gave, I think that research might be a good fit. You sound very curious and thoughtful, and research might satisfy that drive. I believe that the companies listed below all have programs that pertain to plant science, pharmaceuticals and microbiology. You could get a PhD and largely work on theoretical aspects, or get a BS and do lots of lab work (but with the right boss weigh in on the theoretical aspects of your projects).





I googled pharmaceutical companies that study plants and this is what I got:


Enveda Biosciences, a biotech company that uses plant chemistry to discover potential medicines, is located in Boulder, Colorado. Viswa Colluru, the founder and CEO of Enveda Biosciences, started the company in 2019. Enveda uses AI and information about how plants have been used to treat disease and pain across cultures to discover potential medicines.

Baiya Phytopharm is an Asia based biotech company established by a global leader in plant-based molecular farming and an experienced health economist.

Pfizer has committed to bringing a plant cell-produced biologic drug to market. In 2010, Pfizer acquired the rights to taligurase alfa, a drug being developed to treat Gaucher's disease, from Protalix Biotherapeutics in Israel.
Pfizer is a multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company that manufactures products in the United States and India. Their Kalamazoo, Michigan site is their largest manufacturing facility and produces biologics, medical devices, liquids, semi-solids, and sterile injectables. Pfizer also has three manufacturing plants in India and works with 18 other partner sites in the country.



Amgen is a biotechnology company that specializes in using living cells to create biologic medicines. Their plant science research focuses on plant chloroplasts and transport processes, particularly ion transport proteins.

Here are some other things to know about Amgen's science and manufacturing:

Biomanufacturing
Amgen scientists have developed a new biomanufacturing model that's more flexible, productive, and less expensive to build and operate.

Holly Springs, NC facility
Amgen broke ground on a $550 million manufacturing facility in Holly Springs, NC in March 2022. The facility is expected to be operational by 2025.

Singapore facility
Amgen's Singapore facility uses reconfigurable technology to allow for smaller bioreactors and single-use bioreactors.
deCODE genetics

An Amgen subsidiary, deCODE genetics studies how human diversity impacts disease, which can help improve drug discovery and development.

Amgen Scholars Program
The UC Berkeley Amgen Scholars Program offers research opportunities, stipends, housing, and more. The LMU, Amgen Scholars program focuses on plant chloroplasts and transport processes.



Merck studies plant science and other areas of science and technology:

Research centers
Merck has research centers around the world that focus on a variety of areas, including biotech development, manufacturing, and life science:

Merck Biotech Development Center: Located in Corsier-sur-Vevey, Switzerland, this center focuses on biotech development and manufacturing for clinical studies.

Advanced Research Center: Located in Darmstadt, Germany, this center focuses on research for manufacturing antibodies, mRNA applications, and other biotechnological products.

Cambridge Exploratory Science Center: Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, this center focuses on early-stage discovery research and collaborations with local academic and biotech groups.

Sustainable science
Merck is committed to developing sustainable, low-cost manufacturing processes that reduce waste and environmental impact.
Biotechnology training

Merck has partnered with North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University (NC A&T) to establish a biotech training center that will offer academic programming, training, and discovery opportunities.

Merck is a science and technology company that operates in the life science, healthcare, and electronics sectors.

I hope that this is helpful. I know that it is very limited and hopefully others will be able to attach your interests to other careers.

Kind regards,

Margaret McHenney
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abbas’s Answer

Botany because it's
covers various aspects of plant life, including their structure, properties, biochemical processes, and ecological relationships. Here are some key areas within botany:

### Key Areas of Botany

1. **Plant Anatomy**: Studies the structure of plants, including tissues and cells.
2. **Plant Physiology**: Focuses on the functions and processes of plants, such as photosynthesis and respiration.
3. **Plant Taxonomy**: The classification and naming of plants.
4. **Plant Ecology**: Examines the relationships between plants and their environments.
5. **Plant Genetics**: Investigates heredity and variation in plants.
6. **Ethnobotany**: Explores how people use plants for various purposes, including medicine and food.

### Importance of Botany

- **Biodiversity**: Understanding plant diversity is crucial for conservation efforts.
- **Agriculture**: Enhancements in crop varieties and sustainable practices stem from botanical research.
- **Medicine**: Many pharmaceuticals are derived from plant compounds.
- **Ecology**: Plants play a vital role in ecosystems, influencing climate and habitat.

If you have a specific question or topic related to botany that you would like to explore further, feel free to ask!
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Mark’s Answer

The study of plants and their pharmaceutical application is called pharmacognosy. While this is a bit of less emphasized area of study, it does exist. Back in the day it was a required class for a Pharmacy degree. There are a number of universities with PhD programs in this area https://www.pharmacognosy.us/pharmacognosy-links/pharmacognosy-graduate-programs/. Perhaps start here to understand which universities have undergraduate and graduate programs. All the best, Mark
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