Microbiologists are life scientists who come with unique set of skills. This is a diverse domain, and there are many careers that you can take up, once you pursue the course of microbiology. Based on your level of education and experience, it is possible for you to bag many positions – be it Director of Research or Laboratory Assistant. If you are not sure about the kind of path that you can opt for after pursuing a BSc degree course in Microbiology, you can opt for any of the following:
Biotechnologist
As a Biotechnologist, you can find employment in the clinical, food, environment and agricultural industries. Your role would involve control of microorganisms’ genes. If you become a medical biotechnologist, you can produce medicines with the use of methods like cell culture. You have to clean up polluted environment with the help of microorganisms, if you take up the role of an environmental biotechnologist.
Food Technologist and Scientist
As a Food microbiologist, you are supposed to test beverages and foods and look for the presence of Listeria, Salmonella and other pathogens of a similar type. There could also be lactic acid bacteria and other spoilage microorganisms present in the eatables, and you have to get rid of these. When you take up such a job role, you have to help a company satisfy all the necessary food quality and product safety standards. It can be quite challenging to work as a microbiologist / scientist in the food industry, but rewarding and very satisfying as well – to know that you are doing a lot to keep public health safe.
Clinical Laboratory Scientist
When you take up work as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist, you can find employment in numerous areas – such as national and state health laboratories, veterinary labs, clinical labs and much more. You have to make an analysis of various types of physical specimens, such as tissues, urine, blood etc, to find out the exact reason why a patient is suffering from an infection as well as the kind of antibiotics that are useful for curing an infection. Medical Technologist is another name used to refer to Clinical Laboratory Scientists. This is because quite a few Microbiologists are educated in the field of clinical science.
Technical Support Specialist
You have to offer technical help to consumers, with the help of the products of a manufacturer. As a Technical Support Specialist, you will have to provide customers with assistance in picking microorganism strains. You have to give them directions on how to use products and assist them with hands-on distributor and customer trainings.
There is no dearth of career options after you complete your studies in the domain of Microbiology.
