Microbiology is the study of micro-organisms such as bacteria, virus and algae. A microbiologist is one who studies and controls the growth, development and behavior of micro-organisms and utilizes them for the benefit of living beings.

Wide ranges of career opportunities are available for a student of microbiology. A student of microbiology can choose career according to their area of specialization. A plenty of job opportunities are available for Microbiologist in academic institutions, legal firm, government institutions, industries, schools, colleges, hospitals, publishing house etc.

Careers in Microbiology  

Following are some of the most sought after career options available for a student of microbiology. A student of microbiology after completion of the course can be a bacteriologist, virologist, parasitologists, mycologist, biochemists, and biotechnologists. He/she can also be cell biologists, mycologist, science writer, teacher, geneticist, immunologists and environmental scientists.

They can be laboratory technician, research assistant (biochemistry and genetics) and researcher.

Job opportunities for Microbiologist outside Laboratory

Microbiologist can also work outside the laboratory in local government, civil services, industry and commerce. Other areas where they can find job opportunities are in information science and libraries. They can also become technical or science writer and write for scientific publishers, editing journal and books.

Law and accountancy firm are the other places where microbiologist can get appointment. Technologist transfer specialist, business development managers and patent lawyer are some of the post available for microbiologist in biotechnology business.

Microbiologist in Hospitals:

Microbiologists work in the hospitals as a biomedical scientist. They identify the microbes that cause diseases in patients in the hospital laboratory and recommend them appropriate treatment.

They also work in health protection agency (HPA). Here they involve in the task of monitoring pathogens from the patients and the environment. In this way they track if there is any risk of epidemic accordingly immunization of vulnerable people can be done.