Get the most rigorous molecular biology training possible, and include biochemistry. There has to be a focus on biological pathways, and some integration with disease. There's plenty of work for software aficionados, but the new techniques and applications will also put greater demand on hardware development. Those instruments are built and maintained by technicians trained in molecular biology, analytical chemistry, biochemistry, and other fields. Those scientists work with engineers, optical physicists, and analytical chemists on surface immobilization of DNA samples, getting enzymes to function in minute volumes of microreactors, calibrating the optimal amount of electric current to keep polymerases active in small volumes, and converting fluorimetric or calorimetric measurements to other forms of detection.
Molecular technologists can also expect to get friendly with mechanical engineers.
Wires and chips aren't enough to design instruments that can fit biological research needs. The intense competition between rival technologies and the heightened interest in pharmacogenomics make the industry a challenging career choice. The industry places a premium on carefully planned, insightful experimentation, says Kauffman. Our best people are the ones who know how to set up the right experiment. People who don't do so well set up the wrong experiment or they make a mistake setting it up and spend a long time analyzing irrelevant data.