Microbiology research has a wide range of applications, including medicine, food safety, and biotechnology. Scientists typically work in modern laboratories at universities, private research facilities, pharmaceutical companies, R&D institutions, and biotechnology companies. A person interested in pursuing a career in microbiology research should typically obtain a master’s degree from an accredited university, gain experience as an assistant or intern while in school, and complete a fellowship after graduation.
A person’s preparation for a career in microbiology research usually begins while they are enrolled in a four-year college or university. A future microbiologist will typically take a number of biological science courses that include laboratory work. Students can learn about the history of microbiology research, current trends and applications, and various research techniques in organic chemistry, molecular biology, and physics classes. Many undergraduates choose to take advanced mathematics and statistics courses, which teach them the fundamentals of setting research objectives and analyzing numerical data.
In between school terms, an undergraduate student interested in pursuing a career in microbiology can gain valuable experience by working as an intern or research assistant at his or her university’s microbiology laboratory. Many schools allow students to conduct meaningful research while pursuing their bachelor’s degrees, providing hands-on learning opportunities and increasing their chances of acceptance into accredited microbiology programs. A student typically begins applying to schools and taking various entrance exams while in their final year of a bachelor’s degree program.
Some aspiring scientists enroll in two-year master’s degree programs, but the majority of aspiring microbiologists pursue PhDs in the field, which typically take three to five years to complete. Graduate and doctoral students typically receive intensive, in-depth classroom and laboratory training in specific microbiology topics. Individuals are typically required to plan and conduct independent research projects, as well as report their findings in the form of a lengthy thesis or dissertation. The majority of microbiology schools assist their graduates in obtaining fellowships at universities or private research institutions.
A microbiologist fellow spends up to two years learning how to submit grant proposals, design studies, set up experiments, analyze results, and write scientific papers as an assistant researcher to established professionals in the field. Under the supervision of experienced scientists, a promising new microbiologist may be allowed to design and carry out original projects. After a fellow has demonstrated his or her abilities, he or she can usually begin independent microbiology research.