DC181 Biotechnology advice.

ding_dong

Whats your thoughts and opinions on this subject. Tis the one I signed up for etc.

What sort of work load, commitments etc and how science based do you think it is?

Am slightly nervous......

rugbug86

Hiya, I'm due to graduate from this course in November and I really enjoyed it.

The course hours are tough, not gonna lie. You're looking at 12 hours per week in the lab plus 12 hours lectures plus tutorials. That's in first year!! Now its changed a little since I did it but not much, still your basic physics, chemistry, biology, maths and computers.

Second year is maths, engineerring, biology and a little chemistry, with a project/paper to write. A tough year but enjoyable!

Third year is busy! Everything crammed into a short time because of INTRA (work placement) but again, a great year. Only engineering and biology to study.

Fourth year is great - really good fun. You pretty much choose between eng/bio. I chose engineering.

So yeah, big commitments and big workload but worthwhile and enjoyable.

Any other q's just ask. I'll throw together more info later!

ding_dong

rugbug86 wrote: »

Hiya, I'm due to graduate from this course in November and I really enjoyed it.

The course hours are tough, not gonna lie. You're looking at 12 hours per week in the lab plus 12 hours lectures plus tutorials. That's in first year!! Now its changed a little since I did it but not much, still your basic physics, chemistry, biology, maths and computers.

Second year is maths, engineerring, biology and a little chemistry, with a project/paper to write. A tough year but enjoyable!

Third year is busy! Everything crammed into a short time because of INTRA (work placement) but again, a great year. Only engineering and biology to study.

Fourth year is great - really good fun. You pretty much choose between eng/bio. I chose engineering.

So yeah, big commitments and big workload but worthwhile and enjoyable.

Any other q's just ask. I'll throw together more info later!

Damn :eek: sounds challenging.

Could I enquire as to the level needed in maths/physics as im not TO hot on those subjects at all.

Also on what subjects do you think the course leans most heavily on? From your detailed answer it looks like a bunch of subjects. Is it still Biology fundamentally?


Also do the lecturers expect you to be able to do biology/maths/physics etc when you first walk in the door?

Thanks alot dude, im a nervous wreak This has all being sprung on me oh so suddenly.

rugbug86

The maths is calculus, but it is taught from day 1 assuming a c3 level in ordinary maths from the leaving cert. It can be tricky in second year, but if you put the work in it is do-able. There's a maths learning centre that will help with any maths problems, which is a great resource. Make use of it if you need.

Physics isn't that difficult. It's in or around the same level as Leaving Cert physics, and again, it is taught assuming no prior knowledge of physics. Put the work in and it will be no bother. Same applies to chemistry and biology.

It is a bunch of subjects, yeah, but they're all a part of the bigger picture - the picture that doesn't become too clear until 3rd year! The emphasis is definately on biology - biochemistry, genetics, microbiology, immunology and cell culture, and how all of these parameters can be controlled to produce a product. Thats where the engineering comes in. It is taught from first principles in second year and each year builds on previous knowledge.

Don't be nervous - it's a great course. The lecturers are fantastic, as are the facilities. I really enjoyed the course.

When it comes to it, do a little work every week. I'm not saying go home every day and do hours of study, but make sure you keep up with work. There's no "homework" as such, but lecturers may give you tutorial questions and the like - they're given for a reason. If you find yourself falling behind, talk to lecturers/tutor/classmates, don't be afraid to ask for help.

And join a few clubs/socs. DCU has lots to offer - make sure you take them up on it. You won't regret it and I can honestly say that the next 4 years of your life will be the most unforgettable.

ding_dong

Thank you very much for your detailed reply. I must admit that I really am rather terrible at maths and indeed have literally forgotten everything ive learnt o_O (worst yet, there isnt even oodles of exaggeration).

I can multiply, divide, subtract and add but thats it


Methinks I should get some books out....


In regards clubs etc, are they something that you apply for on the day or can you get the lowdown on them now?

ding_dong

Okay, I have been panicking steadily on my maths.

I over estimated my abilities in said subject.


I appear to have forgotten EVERYTHING in regards maths. Seriously

I can add, subtract, divide and multiply along with a few basic other things and thats it.

Should I be getting help?

rugbug86

Did you do ordinary or honours for the LC?

I know people who went to DCU with a B in HL maths in the LC and failed maths, and I know people who went with a C3 in OL and got 1.1 in first year maths. Wait and see when you get there - IF you then have problems, yeah, go to the maths learning centre.

dcugirl18

I did Biotech 1st year last year and came in with a b1 in ordinary maths! If u have the same lecturer as me last year you should definately make use of the maths learning centre! Although i did ordinary level and therefore its no surprise that my maths wasnt great other people in my course who had done honours felt the same and there were alot of repeats. Im not putting you off but do keep on top of the maths and chemistry.

ding_dong

dcugirl18 wrote: »

I did Biotech 1st year last year and came in with a b1 in ordinary maths! If u have the same lecturer as me last year you should definately make use of the maths learning centre! Although i did ordinary level and therefore its no surprise that my maths wasnt great other people in my course who had done honours felt the same and there were alot of repeats. Im not putting you off but do keep on top of the maths and chemistry.

:eek:

Im screwed then

My maths is truly appalling, so if you struggled at oridinary level.....

I dont remember ANY formulas etc

rugbug86

You don't need many formula for calculus! Seriously, relax, it'll be fine.

dcugirl18

no u will be fine just if u dont understand stuff get help dont leave it till right before exams to get it which is what most people in my class that failed did. Once its explained right its pretty simple, you'll be grand

ding_dong

dcugirl18 wrote: »

no u will be fine just if u dont understand stuff get help dont leave it till right before exams to get it which is what most people in my class that failed did. Once its explained right its pretty simple, you'll be grand

Thanks for the reassurances people it means alot. I used to be top in maths (4 odd yrs ago lol)but then it was gone and suddenly I was struggling.

3laine

I'm in 4th year Biotech. Was good at Maths in school, but when I started in DCU I failed Maths in 1st year and ended up having to repeat the whole year. I did Ordinary Maths in school, got an "A" in it, so I didn't really think Maths would be a problem. In the 1st few weeks of college, however I couldn't really understand what the lecturer was saying, so I used to skip her lectures a lot. I didn't realise I had a problem with Maths till it was too late to do anything about it.

My advice would be to go to all your lectures, and if your still unsure chat to a classmate who's good at Maths or go to the Maths Learning Centre. They will arrange for you to have a tutor if you really need one. Try not to get too stressed about Maths, because you're not the only one who will find subjects difficult. If you do fail an exam, it is NOT a failure but a deferred success!

Mul07

Can anyone give a clue to what job possibilities are on after you finish this course? a quick reply would be much appreciated, many thanks

rugbug86

17 people graduated from my class this year and this is what we're (mainly) doing:

- PhD's: 3 (2 in DCU, 1 in TCD)
- Further Study: 1 (Graduate medicine in UL)
- Jobs*: 10
- Travelling: 3

*Lab technicians, process technicians, QA, QC in places like Icon, Wyeth and the likes.

Have a look here for previous graduates:
http://www.dcu.ie/students/careers/fdr/fdr.php3?fdr_year=2007&programme=BT

rugbug86

17 people graduated from my class this year and this is what we're (mainly) doing:

- PhD's: 3 (2 in DCU, 1 in TCD)
- Further Study: 1 (Graduate medicine in UL)
- Jobs*: 10
- Travelling: 3

*Lab technicians, process technicians, QA, QC in places like Icon, Wyeth and the likes.

Have a look here for previous graduates:
http://www.dcu.ie/students/careers/fdr/fdr.php3?fdr_year=2007&programme=BT

sunnyjim

There are quite a few biotech grads working in some of the labs in Diageo, I don't know if they are DCU grads or not though!

I think that one of them works in some part of the brewing process. Others work in the micro lab.

Actually, now that I think of it, there was a girl who was in doing a project - I'm fairly sure she was doing biotech. She was working on brewing and for her going away present they brewed and bottled whatever she came up with on her project. I was dead jealous!

Mul07

Tanks for the Info

rugbug86

Aye sure in 4th year we brew beer in DCU and can bottle and drink it. Was great!

sunnyjim

rugbug86 wrote: »

Aye sure in 4th year we brew beer in DCU and can bottle and drink it. Was great!

Nice one! Is that part of a project? I remember the DCU open day 2002 (****, I'm old) and they mentioned it when we were in the biotech lab. But at the time I was trying not to puke - that lab stank. Is it still the same?

Just googled the biotech course content... Where's the pilot plant like? Someone should definitely be using that during the summer, prime time to get some home-brews going!

*edit: Did you just bottle with tubing, or you got an auto bottler?!

rugbug86

It's a bioprocess that we study in the lab. We do the theory behind it in lectures then make the beer. And yes, it does smell, but not too bad. Maybe I just got used to it...!!

The pilot plant is... You know the stairs in the X block down to sport science? Well just before them there's double doors. You know the 1st year biology labs? Well between the double doors, and the 1st year labs, opposite the stairs, there's a room full of lovely things such as fermentation tanks, bioreactors, cross flow heat exchangers and other biotech equipment on a pilot scale level. It's a great facility! I'm in industry now (kinda!) where we've a production stage pilot plant that's used by many large biopharma/biotech companies and (apart from the size!) DCU is every bit as good. Except that in DCU the vessells have a working volume of 10 L, and in work it's 1500 + L.

And yeah, we used tubes to bottle it. Great experiment.

Craguls

Hey guys I've been reading around and like the op I'm also interested in this degree.
But I'm also interested in genetics and cell biology I know there's alot of overlap but does Biotechnology have a restricted amount of places? (I'm planning to put down genetics first and switch based on my preference at the end of common entry)

sunnyjim

In that case, should you not put down Common entry science first, instead of genetics?

Craguls

I would but my problem mainly is I don't want to make things harder for myself if I really want to do genetics and cell biology.
I've heard that the degree is more R&D based and therefore a job'll be harder to come by here in Ireland. Whereas biotechnology seems to cater to both fairly well.
Long story short I want to do something with genetics so I could do cancer research but have the more stable prospect of a career in industry behind me ie Biotechnology

rugbug86

I did biotech in DCU and am doing a phd in cancer research. As is one of the girls in my class. And one of the lads.

You can choose many of the same modules that genetics have in biotech, obviously not them all, but most of them. There's more bioinformatics in genetics, but there's still some in biotech. If you want to do genetics, put it down as number 1, you can always change your mind.

Vyse

sunnyjim wrote: »

Nice one! Is that part of a project? I remember the DCU open day 2002 (****, I'm old) and they mentioned it when we were in the biotech lab. But at the time I was trying not to puke - that lab stank. Is it still the same?

*edit: Did you just bottle with tubing, or you got an auto bottler?!

I remember the DCU open day in 93!!! The pilot plant we visited was the old one in the Hampsted building (gone now) where we brewed our own at the start of fourth year (end of 98) just prior to the new pilot lab opening. The stuff was vile. They didn't let you take it so we headed in after hours and bottled it ourselves. One of the girls was brave enough to drink it and got fairly sick.

Anyway I graduated in 99 and have worked solid since as a Validation Engineer. Boring as f**k but good money. I good proportion of the class went on to further study (could have been around 25-30%). The rest that I would be still in contact with are scattered throughout the pharma industry.

If you have any problems with maths then you will probably struggle in second year when the engineering kicks in. Two of my good friends failed the year and had to repeat. Both ended up doing PhDs, one of them in engineering.

3laine

in 4th year biotech. wanted to do genetics and cell biology but didn't get the points, so i did common entry in 1st year.

didn't get my place in genetics, but it was the best thing that could have happened.

after 4 years, i've had enough of microbiology, biochemistry and genetics to decide that its not for me. really enjoy the engineering part of the course. its hard enough with all the maths, but i have seen a lot of the practical stuff in the pilot plant. the highlights for me were the heat exchanger project (2nd year) and making beer (4th year).

we also did a media studies project in 3rd year as part of the Commercial Biotech module. this helped me decide that i want to do a master's degree in Science Communications and i'm hoping to become a science journalist. so its possible to have a career that's not 'conventional' for a biotech graduate.

dj-carlos

I'm a 4th year too and really enjoy the course. It's challenging enough but once you go to all your lectures, make sure you understand the concepts as you do them and have a look at the recommended books you should be fine. Best of luck, hope you enjoy it!

moses (2)

I graduated from BT in 1991 so I am an old timer

I got a D in hons Maths in the old LC... I found maths tough at first but that was becuase I was not studying and working at it ..

The maths lecturer we had in year 1 was not to good but I got some great advice from the undergrads in the years ahead of me -

1 -get a copy of engineering maths by Ken A Stroud -- it is a briilant book -- it literally starts of saying -- YOU ARE THICK - now 1 + 1 is 2 -- turn over the page and answer the followng Q -- what is 1 +1? and that is how it builds from there -- it makes maths easy

2 -study 10 pages at a time -- don't move on till you know and understand it. ( same applies for all subjects)

3 - university is not the LC -- if you have problems talk to the lecturer -- you won't be the first to do it and you won't be the last -- don't be emabarrassed and the lecturer will a) respect you for it b) know you need help and will give you assistance --c get to know who you are (that is an advantage)

4 -get to kow the people in 2nd , 3rd and 4th year -- get their advice as they have done it already -- when you get to work in industry that is what you have to do ...

5 - be committed to study -- after lectures finish for the day go for a coffe/ dinner/ lunch for 30 minutes -- then go to the library and study study, study -- Monday to Thurday: 6.45 p.m to 10 pm- -- I always took Friday, Sat and Sun off until the last 2 - 3 months .. Thursday after 10 i went to the bar and got bevvied and nursed my hangover on Friday in LABS -- I had a great social life in and out of college and it is worth it for the women :-)

In years 1 and 2 the amount of lectures are intense but it is easy to keep on top of them if you try to study at least 2 hours per main subject per week those being Maths, Chemistry, Physics, Biology --what is 8 hours per week?

Unless you love biochcmisrty and want to get a noble prize in it I would say do not try to memorise all the pathways just make sure you know what they are and their importance --

Be clever about what you are going to study -- get past papers and look at the questions asked -- ask your lecturer the type of answer expected and use the web to help you understand things