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Career Opportunities in Microbiology

Career Diversity

A major in microbiology prepares one for a career in almost any field in medicine and biology. Microbiologists work in every sector of the economy: Universities, Colleges, Schools, Hospitals, Government Agencies, Congress, Industry, the Peace Corps, NASA and the Military.

*NOTE:* Some of the options listed may require
training beyond the bachelor's degree.
Infectious disease	Patent law	Infection Control
Technical sales	Bioremediation	Quality control
Product development	Bioethics	Food technology
Medical illustration	Biotechnology	Molecular biology
Genetic engineering	Education	Vaccine development
Bioreclamation	Virology	Microbial genetics
Scientific research	Microbial ecology	Public health
Forensic Sciences	Epidemiology	Microbial physiology
Environmental health	Clinical Microbiology	Environmental law
Laboratory administration	Pollution Control	Agricultural microbiology
Veterinary microbiology	Technical writing	Drug development
Human genome project	Immunology	Bioweapons defense

Career and Job Resources

Office of Career Services at Miami University (formerly CPPO)
NewScientist Jobs from the publishers of BioMedNet, Cell, and New Scientist
Bio Careers
Science Careers from the journal Science
FASEB Career Resources
Life Sciences Career Exploration at Berkeley
Career Portal at the American Society for Microbiology
Job listings at CareerBuilder.com

Graduate School Opportunities

Students may choose to continue their education in microbiology, molecular biology, genetics, ecology and environmental biology, biochemistry, immunology, virology, mycology, or clinical microbiology.

Graduate Schools in Microbiology Sciences at Gradschools.com
The Graduate School Channel at Petersons.com
Gradview.com
USNews.com graduate school rankings

Forensic Science

The field of Forensic Science covers diverse disciplines, ranging from Criminalistics and Jurisprudence to Forensic Pathology and Forensic Odontology. A major in microbiology can help prepare you for a career in Forensic Science or for graduate study in Forensic Science. For example, the minimum requirement for Criminalistics is a bachelor's degree in chemistry, biology, physics, molecular biology, or a related science (i.e. Microbiology or Medical Lab Science), and in the future, a master's degree may be required. Other Forensic Science disciplines can require medical, dental or engineering degrees.

Many colleges and universities offer degrees and courses in Forensic Science. In deciding whether to get a bachelor's degree in chemistry, biology, microbiology or forensic science, or to pursue a post-graduate degree, consider your career preferences and study the courses offered. At least 24 semester hours of either chemistry or biology is required and math is a must. The title of the degree is often not as important as the courses taken (adapted from the American Academy of Forensic Sciences).