Clinical microbiologist

Clinical microbiologist job description: Typical employers | Qualifications and training | Key skills | Useful links | Find jobs and courses

Clinical microbiologists undertake laboratory analysis and monitoring of microbial cultures/samples using specialist computer software and a range of identification methods and clinical trials. Typical tasks include:

• identifying fungal, parasitic, viral and bacterial infections;
• testing the strength and virulence of microbes;
• using a variety of biochemical and molecular methods to determine infection causing organisms;
• collaborating and liaising with health care professionals and industrial/clinical colleagues;
• recording, analysing and interpreting data;
• writing research papers, reports and reviews;
• undertaking work aimed at helping to prevent the spread of infections within hospitals;
• carrying out research into specific diseases;
• managing laboratories;
• supervising biomedical scientists.

Typical employers of clinical microbiologists

• Pathology departments
• Diagnostic laboratories
• Medical schools
• Hospitals
• Health Protection Agency’s Centre for Infections
• National Blood Service
• Private laboratories.

Vacancies attract strong competition. Opportunities are advertised via the internet, by careers services or specialist recruitment agencies, in newspapers, in publications such as New Scientist, Science, Nature, and in journals published by professional institutions. Applications (particularly those to larger employers) should be made early in the academic year.

Qualifications and training required

A 2.1 degree in a relevant subject such as biochemistry, microbiology, biology, chemistry, immunology, physics, biomedical science, biotechnology, medical physics/electronics or genetics is required for entry. A postgraduate qualification, research work, hospital laboratory placements and paid or voluntary experience gained using similar scientific and analytical techniques can be beneficial.

Key skills for clinical microbiologists

• Patience, decisiveness and meticulousness.
• Able to work quickly and accurately
• A logical and inquisitive mind
• A systematic approach to tasks
• Excellent IT skills
• Experimental and Analytical skills
• The ability to work as part of a team