Microbiology is the study of microscopic living organisms: bacteria, viruses, fungi, algae and protozoa. These organisms have a major impact on all aspects of life. Diseases caused by microbes are well-known and can involve viruses (e.g. influenza and HIV), bacteria (e.g. meningococcus, Staphylococcus, E. coli) and protozoa (e.g. malaria). Our understanding of these organisms is directly linked to the control and prevention of infectious diseases. Immunology plays a key role in understanding how humans and animals respond to the challenge of these disease-causing organisms.

In recent years, research in microbiology has been revolutionized by new and exciting technologies such as proteomics, genomics, bioinformatics and genetic engineering. Thus, Microbiology is a discipline of enormous importance in basic and applied science.

More information about what can be studied in the Microbiology Major.

In this major, you will learn about the following areas of study:

• the basis of immune recognition and vaccine design
• infectious diseases and methods of control
• microbial biotechnology, and
• parasitology.

Training in microbiology can lead to exciting career opportunities in medical and public health microbiology and in environmental microbiology. The use of microbes to produce commercially important products has a long history but with a greater knowledge of the physiology and genetics of microorganisms, this area is expanding rapidly to create new career options in microbial biotechnology.

Microbiology offers some of the most exciting and challenging careers in the fields of science and medicine. These include research microbiologists work in laboratories in universities, biotechnology companies and agricultural, medical and veterinary institutes. They investigate the molecular and physiological mechanisms employed by microorganisms associated with infectious diseases, environmental processes and biotechnology. Microbiologists also contribute to the development of new approaches to treat and prevent infectious diseases, and use the latest genetic-engineering and molecular-biological techniques.