Careers in Microbiology

As Louis Pasteur once quoted “It will be the microbes who will have the last word”, Microbiology has a very vast, long and rich history initially centered to the causes of infectious diseases now. It is the study of microscopic organisms and their relationship with the environment. No doubt, microorganisms are present everywhere, and the fact that they influence the environment in a multitude of ways making this research domain fascinating and enthralling. The subject comprise of many sub-disciplines like virology, mycology, parasitology, bacteriology etc. 

What is the scope of Microbiology? 

A microbiologist identifies and examines the behavior of certain microbes in given conditions and the impact they can have.There is vast scope in the field of microbiology due to the advancement in the field of science and technology and due to the involvement of microbiology in many fields like medicine, pharmacy, diary, industry, clinical research, water industry, agriculture, chemical technology and nanotechnology. The study of microbiology contributes greatly to the understanding of life through enhancements and interventions of microorganisms. There is an increase in demand for microbiologists in India and abroad. A microbiologist can innovate new diagnostic kits, discover new drugs, teach research etc. 

Courses offered in Microbiology: 

Undergraduate courses (B.Sc. degree) 

• Bachelor of Science in Microbiology 

• Bachelor of Science in Applied Microbiology 

• Bachelor of Science in Industrial Microbiology 

• Bachelor of Science in Clinical Microbiology

 Eligibility Criteria 

• The student must have passed 10+2 with a minimum of 55% marks in the respective qualifying examination from a recognized educational board. 

• The students must have studied Physics, Chemistry and Biology/Zoology/Botany as the mandatory subjects in 10+2 or any other equivalent qualifying examination. The Admission process for some institutions is subject to entrance tests. 

Post graduate courses (M.Sc. degree) Popular Courses after B.Sc. Microbiology: 

• M.Sc. Microbiology 

• M.Sc. in Applied Microbiology 

• M.Sc. Medical Microbiology 

• M.Sc. Microbial Genetics and Bioinformatics 

• M.Sc. in Industrial Microbiology 

• M.Sc. in Food Microbiology 

• M.Sc. in Clinical research 

• M.Sc. in Forensic Science 

 Eligibility Criteria 

• The applicant must be a graduate, i.e., possess a Bachelors of Science (B.Sc.) degree with a minimum of 50% marks in the respective qualifying examination administered by the concerned University. 

• The Admission process for some institutions is subject to entrance tests. 

Career Prospects in Microbiology  

• Those who complete a Ph.D. and/or Post-Doctoral studies after getting scholarships through GRE or TOEFL may find microbiology jobs at foreign universities or Research and Development (R&D) wings of major pharmaceutical companies. 

 • Research opportunities in urban disease control, formulation research, clinical research, analytical development, genetics, bioinformatics and new drug development are exploding as major companies are investing in R&D as well. 

 • One can always teach, though it’s advantageous to have a doctorate for such a path.

 • Self-employed microbiologists can set up their own laboratories and industries. 

 

Job Profiles: 

• Research Assistant 

• Food, Industrial or Environmental Microbiologists 

• Quality Assurance Technologists 

• Sales or Technical Representative 

• Clinical and Veterinary Microbiologists 

• Medical Technologists 

• Biomedical Scientist 

• Clinical Research Associate 

• Pharmacologist 

• Food Technologist 

• Scientific Laboratory Technician 

• Physician Associate 

• Research Scientist (life sciences) 

 Employment Areas: 

• Pharmaceutical Industries 

• Universities 

• Laboratories 

• Private Hospitals 

• Research Organizations 

• Environmental Agencies 

• Food Industry 

• Beverage Industry 

• Chemical Industries 

• Agriculture Department 

Most of the esteemed colleges and universities in India offer undergraduate and postgraduate courses to the students who wish to pursue their careers as Microbiologists. 

Top colleges offering this course in India

 

• Fergusson College, Pune 

• Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 

• Madras Christian College ,Chennai 

• Gargi College, Delhi 

• The Oxford College of Science, Bangalore 

• Ethiraj college for women , Chennai 

• St. Xavier's College, Mumbai 

• Maharani Lakshmi Ammanni College for Women, Bangalore 

• Career College, Bhopal 

International Universities offering this course 

• Harvard University 

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology 

• University of Oxford • University of Washington 

• University of California, San Diego 

• University of Pennsylvania 

• Washington University 

 • Stanford University 

Keeping in view of the current situation prevailing, it can be estimated that the demand of Microbiologists is going to increase in public health, environmental monitoring, medical and laboratory settings. The job market for microbiologists is expected to increase by 7 percent in the decade between 2012 and 2022. With the degree in microbiology, you can get opportunities in various fields like healthcare organizations, forensic science laboratories, environmental organizations, higher education institutions, food and drink, publicly funded research organizations, pharmaceuticals and many other industries. Thus, its necessary for the skill markets to produce more trained microbiologist in these changing times.

Compiled by:

Dr. Aagosh Verma 

Assistant Professor

Department of Microbiology

Career College, Bhopal,M.P