What Can I Do With a Major in... Microbiology

Microbiology is the branch of biology dealing with the smallest of living things: bacteria, fungi, algae, protozoa, and viruses. Microbiologists study the structure and function of human, animal and plant tissues, cells, pathogens and toxins. They often provide laboratory services for health departments, for community environmental health programs and for physicians needing information for diagnosis and treatment.

Microbiology is an excellent preparatory major for students interested in medical, dental and other health professional training. Graduates with a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in microbiology have opportunities for employment in government, hospitals, public health laboratories, research laboratories, and industrial laboratories (e.g. food, chemical, and pharmaceutical companies). Students who continue beyond a BS degree have career opportunities in the same areas with greater responsibilities and commensurately higher salaries, as well as in college and university teaching.

General Career Information
 
Sample Job Titles

Entry Level

  • Environmental Science Technician
  • Laboratory Research Analyst
  • Laboratory Technician

Education + Experience

  • Medical Research Assistant
  • Microbiologist
  • Physicians Assistant
  • Professor

Show All Job Titles

These job titles are not an exhaustive list, but rather, represent the types of positions most widely recruited for.

  • Biologist
  • Clinical Microbiologist
  • Clinical Trials Manager
  • Environmental Science Technician
  • Laboratory Research Analyst
  • Laboratory Technician
  • Medical Research Assistant
  • Microbiologist
  • Physicians Assistant
  • Professor
  • Research Technician
  • Science Education Teacher
 
Employment Areas
  • Academia
  • Government
  • Private Corporations
  • Non-Profit Organizations
  • Publicly Traded Corporations
 
Job and Internship Listings
Professional Organizations
 
Organizations That Have Hired UI Students and Alumni
  • The University of Iowa-Anesthesia
  • Iowa Health Physicians Central Laboratory
  • University of Washington
  • Kemin Industries
  • UIHC Burn Treatment Center
  • Vertex Pharmaceuticals

This is only a partial list - to view a complete list of organizations that recruit UI students and alumni, please visit: www.careers.uiowa.edu/students/uirecruit.html

 
Additional Resources
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Pomerantz Career Center Resources

UI Websites

UI Student Organizations

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