Microbiologist

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

Microbiologists undertake laboratory analysis and monitoring of microbial cultures, samples and new drugs using specialist computer software and a range of identification methods and clinical trials.

Responsibilities include:

• planning and carrying out trials
• tracking environmental micro-organism development
• growing microbe cultures
• developing new pharmaceutical products, vaccines, medicines and compounds such as antiseptics
• collecting samples from a variety of locations
• recording, analysing and interpreting data
• writing research papers, reports and reviews
• keeping up-to-date with scientific and research developments; ensuring that data is recorded accurately in accordance to guidelines
• observing high health and safety standards
• inspecting food and drink manufacturing processes to check for possible contamination
• managing laboratories.

Typical employers of microbiologists

• public and private sector organisations
• government agencies
• the Health Protection Agency
• research institutions
• hospitals
• public health and private laboratories
• pharmaceutical and biochemical companies
• universities
• food and drink manufacturers.

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

Qualifications and training required

Qualification into the profession is either via work-based vocational NVQ, HND, degree training or by gaining a relevant degree in a subject such as biology, applied biology, microbial science, microbiology, or biological or biomedical science.

For employment with the National Health Service (NHS), the Health Protection Agency and university medical schools it is also necessary to complete an accredited three year training programme (leading to an MSc in Microbiology).

Paid or voluntary research and lab work experience is helpful. Some pharmaceutical companies offer paid summer placements – many of which are listed by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI).

Key skills for microbiologists

• patience
• meticulousness
• creativity
• decisiveness
• independence
• excellent IT skills
• numerical skills
• analytical skills
• team working skills
• communication skills.