Microbiology research has important applications in medicine, food safety, and biotechnology. To pursue a career in this field, individuals must earn an advanced degree, gain experience through internships, and complete a fellowship. Undergraduates can gain valuable experience by working in university microbiology labs and enrolling in advanced courses. Most microbiologists pursue PhDs and spend up to two years as research assistants before conducting independent research.
Microbiology research has many different important applications, from medicine to food safety to biotechnology. Scientists generally work in modern laboratories found at universities, private research facilities, pharmaceutical companies, research and development institutions, and biotechnology companies. An individual who wants to begin research in microbiology usually must earn an advanced degree from an accredited university, gain experience in assistant or intern positions while at school, and complete a fellowship upon graduation.
A person usually begins preparing for a career in microbiology research while attending a four-year college or university. A would-be microbiologist usually takes several biological science courses that integrate laboratory studies into the curriculum. Classes in organic chemistry, molecular biology, and physics allow students to learn about the history of microbiology research, current trends and applications, and different research techniques. Many undergraduates choose to also enroll in advanced mathematics and statistics courses, which introduce them to the fundamentals of establishing research guidelines and analyzing numerical results.
An undergraduate student planning to pursue a career in microbiology can gain valuable experience working as an intern or research assistant in their university’s microbiology laboratory between school terms. Many schools offer students the chance to engage in meaningful research when completing their bachelor’s degrees, providing hands-on learning experiences and improving their chances of being admitted to accredited microbiology schools. While in the final year of the bachelor’s program, a student usually starts applying to schools and takes several entrance exams that test their competence.
Some future scientists enroll in two-year master’s programs, although most hopeful microbiologists pursue PhDs in the field, which take an average of three to five years to achieve. Undergraduate and doctoral students generally receive intensive and detailed classroom and laboratory instruction in specific microbiology subjects. Individuals are usually required to design and conduct independent research projects and report their findings in the form of a lengthy thesis or dissertation. Most microbiology schools help their graduates find places at universities or private research institutions.
A microbiologist colleague spends up to two years working as a research assistant to established professionals in the field, learning how to submit grant proposals, design studies, set up experiments, analyze results and write scientific papers. A new microbiologist who shows promise may be allowed to design and run original projects under the supervision of experienced scientists. Once a subject has demonstrated his or her abilities, he or she can usually begin to conduct independent research in microbiology.
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