A microscopist is a scientist who uses a microscope to study the structures and composition of a variety of materials. In general, she will prepare her specimens, examine them under a microscope, record or photograph the microscopic images, and make notes about her observations. A simple light microscope can be used an amateur microscopist to examine larger specimens, such as onion peels or hair follicles. More complex instruments, such as contrast light microscopes, scanning electron and tunneling electron microscopes, may be used as the microscopist’s work progresses. Advanced microscopists can use tunneling electron microscopes to study individual atoms and molecules.
Microscopy is used in nearly every scientific field. Many microscopists, for example, work in cytology or anatomy. Under a microscope, they may look for cancerous cells, blood-borne pathogens, bacteria, or viruses. Some microscopists specialize in certain materials, such as cancerous cells. If the cells are present, the results are communicated to the doctor and patient, and the microscopist’s work is completed. Other microscopists might study how cancerous cells spread, how viruses mutate, and how certain bacteria are killed.
Microscopists do not all study materials related to the human body. Some people are interested in plant and animal life. They might, for example, look at water samples to see what kind of bacteria or toxins are present.
However, a microscopist is not required to study living organisms. Geoscientists, for example, study geological materials at the nanometer scale using transmission electron microscopes. As a result, they will gain a better understanding of the chemical composition, oxidation, and weathering of different geological formations.
There are a plethora of career options for microscopists, depending on their field of study. Medicine, biology, and geology are all fields where professionals can find work. In the fields of forensic science, electronics, and food science, there are also opportunities. Microscopists are typically employed universities, hospitals, and medical schools. Museums, government agencies, independent laboratories, and large corporations are all places where they can work.
It is best if a student who wants to be a microscopist takes four years of science courses in high school. A four-year degree in biology, chemistry, geology, or physics is recommended, especially for those interested in working in a more complex, research-based environment. There are many two-year microscopy courses that teach the fundamentals. People interested in a career as a microscopic technician should consider the two-year programs.