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Careers
Exploring Careers in Microbiology If you're like many microbiology students, you may be taking this course because it's required for nursing, dental hygiene, or another health career program. While taking the course, you may well have discovered that you enjoy problem-solving and working in the lab, and that you are fascinated by science. A person who works in the microbial sciences, a microbiologist, can specialize in general, environmental, food, agricultural, or industrial work, just to name a few areas. Microbiologists study a wide variety of microscopic organisms in order to learn how they reproduce, grow, and interact with their environment. This page will introduce you to some career opportunities in the fast-growing field of microbiology. You may come across some occupations that you did not know existed or professions that you never even considered before today.
In general, careers in microbiology can be grouped into three categories:
Basic research to establish factual information upon which more applied research can be based.
Applied research to discover cures and treatments or develop products.
Health professions which make use of both basic and applied research to help people and animals
Careers in Basic Research
The purpose of basic research is to advance fundamental knowledge and understanding of science and scientific processes. Basic research may often lead to the development of new scientific theories and practical applications.
Mycologists, sometimes called "the first microbiologists," study the relationship of fungi to the environment and can be found in clinical laboratories, breweries, cheese-making facilities, or out in the fields and forests.
Virologists are often prominent in today's news because of their work with viral-related diseases such as Avian Flu and SARS. They work with microorganisms so small that if people were the size of viruses, the world's population would fit on the head of a pencil eraser!
Marine microbiologists study viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and algae that live in the planet’s oceans. Some scientists may simply study microbial diversity and strive to characterize marine microorganisms. Other research groups are gathering information that may lead to new biotechnological and pharmacological developments such as antibiotics or anti-cancer drugs.
Biotechnologists/industrial microbiologists, including microbial geneticists and molecular biologists, work on the frontlines or research, with a wide range of opportunities in research and development programs, product design and testing, and the development of new diagnostic products or procedures.
Microbial ecologists study how microorganisms exist and interact with each other in their natural environment. Their work is important and insatiable due to the fact that less than 1% of all the microbial species on Earth are known. There are numerous opportunities in microbial ecology covering a wide range of topics, including, but not limited to, bioremediation, evolution, and biodiversity.
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Careers in Applied Research
The objective of applied research is to solve problems in such areas as human health, agriculture, energy, etc. Those working in this field may pursue the development of medically important cures, treatments, and other products. Medical technology has been described as "the frontier of scientific medicine," a world of exacting precision and exciting discoveries. Clinical laboratory testing is key to the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of disease. Requiring knowledge, skill, and speed, the medical technologist is asked to perform a variety of tests on various body fluids and cells looking for parasites, bacteria, and other microorganisms.
Medical technologists can work in clinical or research environments, for public or private health agencies, or for pharmaceutical companies. Within the broad field of medical technology are numerous professions, with varying requirements for education and expertise. Medical technologists can also choose from a number of subspecialties. Cytotechnologists specialize in the study of cells, while the histologic technician concentrates on body tissues. Specialists in blood banking technology are trained in advanced blood techniques, such as sophisticated blood typing, collection, and transfusions. Immunology technicians investigate diseases that affect the immune system and develop treatments and vaccines.
Two other related job descriptions, which are often stepping stones to becoming a medical technologist (but which are satisfying careers themselves), are the clinical laboratory technologist and the clinical laboratory technician.
At the beginning level, the clinical laboratory technician performs routine laboratory procedures, such as collecting blood specimens, sample preparation, and staining slides for microorganisms. Technicians are usually supervised by medical technologists or laboratory managers. The clinical laboratory technologist performs more complex procedures but does not undertake the supervisory and educational responsibilities of medical technologists. With less rigorous education and on-the-job experience requirements, these positions can be found in all laboratories.
Parasites are viruses, bacteria, protistis, worms, insects and any other microorganisms that use other living organisms in order to survive. Parasitologists work in human medicine, public health, veterinary medicine, and research labs studying the complex and sometimes harmful interaction that parasites have with their hosts.
Agricultural scientists are responsible for identifying ways to improve and monitor both the quality and yield of agricultural products. Scientists may strive to make improvements in the production of livestock, the growth of crops for human consumption, the growth and preparation of crops for animal feed, and the quality of the soil and/or pasture used to sustain these products.
Food safety technologists investigate the chemical, physical, and biological nature of food. This knowledge is applied to processing, preserving, packaging, distributing, and storing an adequate, nutritious, wholesome, and economical food supply.
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Careers as Health Professionals
Health professionals make use of both basic and applied research to help people and animals. The knowledge and skills required in this field are diverse and extremely important.
Respiratory therapists and respiratory therapy technicians treat patients with heart-lung problems by administering oxygen, various types of gases or aerosol drugs. They may also do diagnostic testing related to respiratory function.
Nursing is another career that can be pursued on several levels, in hospitals, clinics, or doctors' offices. Responsibilities of the registered nurse (RN) often include diagnostic, patient-training, and supervisory duties, requiring completion of a BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) or ADN (Associate Degree in Nursing) program. Licensed vocational nurses (LVN) and licensed practical nurses (LPN) complete one-year diploma programs and perform less technical nursing functions, such as general care for the sick or injured, under supervision of RNs.
Did you know that in this era of preventive dentistry, the dental hygienist serves an increasingly important function? These individuals add patient assessment and evaluation, as well as instruction in self-care, to dental hygiene treatment procedures.
The profession of physician's assistant (PA) is one of the fastest growing occupations in the medical community. Physician's assistants work under a physician's supervision and are formally trained to perform examinations, give treatments, counsel patients, and interpret laboratory tests.
People today are traveling now more than ever and the world has evolved into a global community of culture, commerce, and, sometimes, disease. Infectious disease scientists (IDS) research the interaction between humans and microbes and strive to characterize, track, and eventually prevent infections. ID scientists also research new treatments and/or cures for various infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, West Nile Virus, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and influenza, just to name a few.
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More Career Options
Microbiologists with special interests will find rewarding careers by specializing in agricultural, industrial, aquatic, or even space microbiology.
For those whose interests lie outside the laboratory, a science education can be put to good use in such professions as medical illustrator, medical photographer, and medical or science writer, who combine their love of science with other specialized skills to assist research scientists, physicians, and medical educators.
If you are business-minded, like to travel, and enjoy interacting with people, a background in microbiology can also lead to a job as a sales representative for medical or pharmaceutical companies.
For more information, you may want to consult the "Health Career Guidebook" published by the U.S. Department of Labor and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, available at most public libraries.
