A Biomaterials Technician helps to develop new materials from faux leather to plastics, which could be used in places from fashion to healthcare
Biomaterials are substances that are engineered to interact with biological systems. They include metals, ceramics, glass and polymers and can be found in items such as heart valves, artificial joints, contact lenses and dental implants. New uses for biomaterials are continually being developed.
Biomaterials laboratories play an important part in these scientific advances. The labs study how different materials can be used and whether materials can be combined. You could be the technician who helps to find a new application which is a better treatment of an injury or a device that helps keep people alive.
Your technician role will give you skills that are transferrable to many kinds of laboratories, so you could decide to work in several different sectors or in specific areas of biomaterials.
Over time, you will have the experience to manage a team and could become a lab manager.
There’s no perfect career path or ideal way into your dream job. But if you're interested in education and training options that could be relevant to this role, you might want to consider:
But if you’re interested in education and training options that could be relevant to this role, you might want to consider:
Options available after GCSEs:
Schools and colleges each have their own career guidance plan and can provide detailed information, advice, and guidance on options and next steps.
There are extensive research possibilities in biomaterials, with combinations of materials being a main area of focus. Scientists want to understand whether composites – materials with a mix of properties from metals, ceramics, glass and polymers – can offer a range of benefits at the same time and solve more medical challenges.
This role can also be known by some other job titles including:
Analytical Support Chemist
Technical Support Scientist
Microbiology Support Scientist
Process Development Technologist
Laboratory Assistant
Senior Laboratory Technician
Assistant Scientist
Technical Specialist (Scientist)
Quality Control Laboratory Assistant,
Laboratory Co-ordinator
Technical Laboratory Assistant
Laboratory Analyst
Laboratory Research Assistant
