Why Get the Masters of Science Degree in Biotechnology Management?

With more than 300 biotech companies in Southern California, graduates with an understanding of science and technology from a business perspective greatly enhance their career prospects in this competitive market.

The UC Irvine Master of Science in Biotechnology Management program offers courses from three highly reputed schools at UC Irvine: The Paul Merage School of Business, the School of Biological Sciences, and The Henry Samueli School of Engineering.

  • Take graduate-level management courses with MBA students taught by a globally renowned business faculty
  • Specialize within the field of biotechnology and interact with MS and PhD students
  • Perform independent research in the laboratories of world class scientists
  • Work closely with a dedicated Career Services professional who guides in the process of landing an internship and permanent position
  • Participate in a multitude of extracurricular activities and competitions.

Former MSBTM student Priya Nayak (far left) and her team took the overall First Prize in UCI’s 2016 Technology & Entrepreneurship Competition. Teams were composed on one student each from the Paul Merage School of Business, the UCI School of Law, and Biological Sciences.

Hear From Our Previous Students!

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Zoe Chen,
Class of 2021

“The BTM program supported my career goals with solid life science and business knowledge, even in the most challenging times.”  

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Scott Mansripattanakul,
Class of 2021

“This program gave me the opportunity to explore and build skillsets outside my STEM background while retaining the sciences through the help of practical classes, supportive faculty members, and excellent peers.”

Hindol Nag,
Class of 2021

“I have really enjoyed being a part of this program. It helped me learn the technical skills as well as equipped me with the necessary business skills required to succeed in the industry. The best thing I like about the program is the wide range of core business courses offered and taking classes with the MBAs, which no other program in the country offers.”

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Lilian Trang,
Class of 2021

“This dual-focused program has enabled me to meet other like-minded colleagues interested in the intersection between the worlds of Business and Life Sciences. During these two years, I have been humbled to learn from incredible professors, renowned scientists, and mentors. I am forever grateful for the opportunity to attend UCI and develop the skills necessary to become a leader in this innovative and disruptive industry.”  

Faisal Chaabani,
Class of 2017

“The MSBTM program was critical to my transition from an academic lab to product management at Illumina, an industry leader in genomics solutions…….. The scale of the projects undertaken throughout the program were nothing short of incredibly exciting. For example, one of my most memorable experiences was developing and pitching a healthcare market size valuation to senior management at St. Joseph Health that would later be presented to the company’s board of directors and influence corporate strategy.”

Jaidev Jayakumar,
Class of 2017

“….UCI’s MSBTM program is positioned the best to impart an enriching learning experience of both the Business principles behind today’s global firms and the Sciences behind such successful businesses. The mentoring from the business gurus and globally renowned scientists has not only brought the best out of my biotechnology mind, but has also enabled my successful transition from being an aspiring biotechnologist to landing on a full-time position as Healthcare Life Sciences Consultant with Deloitte Advisory LLP.”

Wayne Mauro,
Class of 2017

“The MSBTM degree at UCI identifies and answers the unmet interdisciplinary needs of the changing job market. This specialized curriculum exemplifies excellence in both business management and biotechnology, providing flexibility for graduates to develop a personalized career path. As a career switcher and former biology major, this program provided me the business experience I would have not received elsewhere to excel in a new career as assistant product manager at Irvine Scientific.”

Garima Naswa,
Class of 2017

“The MSBTM program is a great marriage between the business and technical aspects of biotechnology. From working on consulting projects with several life science clients to conducting my own bioinformatics research in the laboratory, the program gave me an opportunity to not just learn more about life science industry but also apply the same in business plan competitions. The breadth of knowledge and practical skills that I have gained through this program will definitely help me as a Business Technology Analyst at Deloitte.

Paloma Shah,
Class of 2017

“I came into this program thinking I would learn a little about the business of Biotechnology and then go back to working in a research lab. However, the program turned out to be an eye-opener for me. Not only did it introduce me to the intricacies of marketing, but also set me up to find my passion in Product Management.”  (Analytik Jena, Associate Product Manager).

Rachana Deshpande,
MSBTM Class of 2016

“The MSBTM program empowers students to be future leaders in global firms. It enabled me to look at science with a business perspective. The program provides a platform to enhance crucial management skills that prepared me for a challenging and rewarding role at Deloitte Consulting.” 

Priya Nayak,
MSBTM Class of 2016

“The MSBTM program is a good fit for anybody who wants to explore the non-scientific aspects of Biotechnology. The classes in management, organization and marketing have helped me thoroughly understand the business perspectives of the biotech sector while still providing me with a strong base in research. The courses along with the excellent career building opportunities that the school provides have lead me to discover my passion, my strengths, and equipped me with new skills for a successful career.” (Hycor Biomedical, Research Associate”.

Bailey Schmidt,
Class of 2015

“UCI’s Master of Science Program in Biotechnology Management utilizes an innovative approach to train students in both the complexities of advanced research methods and the fundamentals of business management.  These skills directly provided a foundation that ideally positioned me for an exciting and challenging career in Product Management at Bio-Rad’s quality systems division.”

Hershal Solanki,
MSBTM Class of 2016

“From learning about biotechnology techniques to working in cross functional managerial teams to solve challenges for real companies, the MSBTM program has allowed me to fulfill my passion for both science and business. By completing the MSBTM program at UC Irvine, I have learned and grown in a variety of disciplines, pushing me further towards achieving my career goals“ (Petnostics, Marketing Associatez0).