Careers in Microbiology
Even though the organisms we study are too small to see without a microscope, they have a big impact on our daily lives. Check out some of the reasons that choosing to major in Microbiology can help you get the most out of your Miami Experience.
A major in Microbiology offers career options
Career Opportunities
Students receiving degrees in either Microbiology or Medical Laboratory Science are well prepared for careers in almost any field in medicine and biology, and in every sector of the economy: universities, colleges, schools, hospitals, government agencies (CDC, EPA, NASA), congress, industry (biotechnology, food safety, and pharmaceutical), business (patent law), and communications (medical writers).
Medical School
These degrees also serve as an excellent stepping-stone to medical school (the requirements for a major in Microbiology are virtually the same as those which will qualify students to apply to Medical, Dental and Veterinary School). They also align very well with the Premedical Studies Co-major.
More about premedical and pre-healthcare programs…
Careers in Research
Whether you are interested in research in biomedical, commercial, or environmental fields; in industry, academia, or the government; a major in microbiology can provide the background and experience you need.
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. Here are some of the wide array of career paths available to microbiology majors.
Infectious disease
Technical sales
Product development
Medical illustration
Genetic engineering
Bioreclamation
Scientific research
Forensic Sciences
Environmental health
Laboratory administration
Veterinary microbiology
Human genome project
Patent law
Bioremediation
Bioethics
Biotechnology
Education
Virology
Microbial ecology
Epidemiology
Clinical Microbiology
Pollution Control
Technical writing
Immunology
Infection Control
Quality control
Food technology
Molecular biology
Vaccine development
Microbial genetics
Public health
Microbial physiology
Environmental law
Agricultural microbiology
Drug development
Bioweapons defense
NOTE: Some of the options listed may require training beyond the bachelor's degree.
Find out more
If you would like to visit a faculty advisor to discuss what the Department of Microbiology has to offer, email us at microbiology@MiamiOH.edu, and we'll schedule an appointment.
Building a Career with Microbiology
Steve Gilman (Miami Microbiology, '75), Ph.D., is executive vice president of research and development and chief scientific officer of Cubist Pharmaceuticals and here talks about how he used his science background to become a businessman.
Using the Scientific Method to Solve Business Problems
Michele Molden (Miami Microbiology, '77), president and CEO of Piedmont Heart Institute in Atlanta, GA, talks about how she went from an undergraduate degree in Microbiology to earning her MBA.
Transferable Skills Acquired from a Liberal Arts Degree
Michele Molden (Miami Microbiology, '77), president and CEO of Piedmont Heart Institute in Atlanta, GA, explains how the skills she acquired as an undergraduate in the liberal arts prepared her for a business career in the field of healthcare.