After graduating from UCSD with a bachelor's degree in biochemistry, he began his biotech career in San Diego in the mid '80s, working in research and development.

EDUARDO CONTRERAS / Union-Tribune Greg Budahazi's work as manager of purification development at Vical involves improving manufacturing techniques to find cheaper, faster and easier ways to bring drugs to market.

Budahazi worked for some smaller companies, such as Quidel, working with dip-stick testing technologies, and at Agouron (now part of Pfizer), where he helped develop the HIV treatment Viracept. He also worked in research and development at Vical for nine years.

But after a decade in the industry, Budahazi decided he wanted go in a different direction. After working with other companies, he returned to his former employer Vical three years ago in a different capacity as manager of purification development.

“I really liked process development,” he said. “It was like research, but had an end to it.”

Budahazi works with manufacturing techniques to find cheaper, easier and more time efficient ways to bring drugs to market. He develops methods to purify processes, scale up production and validate the process.

Greg Budahazi Position: Manager of purification development Company: Vical Age: 50 Career highlights: Previous positions with Agouron Pharmaceuticals (now part of Pfizer) and Quidel Education: bachelor's degree in biochemistry, University of California San Diego

“Fourteen years ago, we were excited to be making a few milligrams of product. We now manufacture 10-15 grams per production run and are capable of manufacturing larger quantities,” he said. “Having developed many of Vical's manufacturing process steps is very rewarding.”

He likes that his job “enables me to see a tangible improvement and to save the company money,” Budahazi said. “It's very satisfying to be able to say that I helped the company.”

He sees great opportunities in biotech for science graduates with a bachelor's degree. “The opportunities are broader now, so not having a Ph.D. is not limiting,” he said.

But he cautions that in smaller companies with fewer employees “career development can be challenging.”

“You have to keep yourself motivated and interested.” he said. “You have to make it happen for yourself.”