Microbiologists

If you are interested in pursuing science oriented career and would like to study the relationship between organisms and disease or the effects of antibiotics on microorganisms, Microbiologist is the right career option for you. Microbiologists are actively involved in research and lab work. There is good growth potential in this career. Know more about Microbiologist as career option here.

Role of Microbiologist

Microbiologists typically do the following:
  • Take up research projects for various purposes  such as developing new drugs to  combat infectious diseases.
  • Supervise the work of biological technicians and other workers and evaluate the accuracy of their results.
  • Store cultures of bacteria and other microorganisms for future study.
  • Identify and classify micro organisms found in specimens collected from humans, water, food, and other sources.
  • Monitor the effect of micro organisms on plants, animals, and other micro organisms and on the environment.
  • Keep abreast by reading latest findings and attending conferences.
  • Document research findings in the form of technical reports, research papers, and recommendations.
  • Present research findings to scientists, non-scientist executives, engineers, other colleagues, and the public.

Academic Qualifications of Microbiologist

To study Microbiology at a higher level one needs to study Science in 10 plus 2.  M.Sc. courses and Ph.D can be taken up at the institutions and universities offering microbiology or related subjects. For post graduate courses the students who have passed B.Sc with Life Science/Microbiology are eligible. Some of the area of specialisations include:
  • Medical microbiology
  • Food Microbiology
  • Industrial Microbiology
  • Bioinformatics
  • Microbial-Technology
  • Clinical Research
  • Molecular biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Forensic Science

Skills Required to be Microbiologist

Knowledge Skills: Sound knowledge of subjects like, Biology, chemistry and mathematics.

Reading and Writing Skills: Understanding research journals, preparing technical reports requires reading skills and  effective communication in writing requires good writing skills.

Perseverance: Microbiological research involves substantial trial and error, and microbiologists must not become discouraged in their work.

Observation Skills: Microbiologists must constantly monitor their experiments. They need to keep a complete, accurate record of their work such as conditions, procedures, and results.

Sound Reasoning and Judgment: Critical-thinking skills are necessary for  Microbiologists as they draw conclusions from experimental results through sound reasoning and judgment.

Scope of Microbiologist in India

There is vast scope in the field of microbiology in India due to the advancement in the field of science and technology. A microbiologist can find employment in fields like medicine,  industry, clinical research, diary, water industry, agriculture, chemical technology, pharmacy, and nanotechnology. A undergraduate degree in microbiology gives you the opportunity to work at science laboratories and pathology labs.

Students who complete PhD can take up teaching at universities and PG colleges. They can also take up a post-doctoral research. A microbiologist can find employment in forensic science laboratories, healthcare organizations, environmental organizations, higher education institutions, publicly funded research organizations, pharmaceuticals and many other industries. They are usually employed as

  • Clinical and Veterinary Microbiologists
  • Research Assistant
  • Food, Industrial or Environmental Microbiologists
  • Quality Assurance Technologists
  • Medical Technologists
  • Clinical Research Associate
  • Biomedical Scientist
  • Pharmacologist

Connect me with the Top Colleges