Medical Microbiology
Microbiology is the study of microbes which can’t be observed by our naked eyes. Medical microbiology is a large subset of microbiology, concerned with the studies of prevention, diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases. Medical microbiology is both a branch of medicine and microbiology which deals with the study of microorganisms including bacteria, viruses and fungi which are capable of causing diseases in human beings and other animals. Microorganisms are friends and foes so medical microbiology conveys ideas about microbial pathogenesis and epidemiology. This course aims to provide a comprehensive theoretical knowledge of medical microbiology which includes the spread of microorganisms, disease causation, diagnosis and treatment of pathogens of major significance to public health and advanced practical training in this diverse field. Nowadays, the increasing incidence of microbial infections worldwide has boosted the scope of medical microbiologist.
A medical microbiologist analyses the characteristics of pathogens, their mode of transmission, mechanisms of infection and their growth .Using this information’s treatments are done. Successful completion of courses in medical microbiology can provide students quick employment as Medical Representative, Technical or Science Writer, Professor, Medical Lab Technician ,Microbiologists, Medical research technicians etc. Common employment avenues will be private hospitals and clinics, pharmaceutical companies, university-affiliated teaching hospitals, institutions related with health and medical research, veterinary hospitals, etc.
Courses
B.Sc. Medical Microbiology
Bachelor of Science in Medical Microbiology is an undergraduate Microbiology course. This course is of three-year duration, but it depends on the different institutes differently.
Duration: 3 Years
Graduation Type: Degree
Eligibility: Candidates should have passed 10+2 with physics, chemistry and Biology
BSc Medical Microbiology is offered as a professional course by some health universities and institutions, which takes 4 years to complete.
Syllabus of BSc Medical Microbiology:
Major subjects covered in the course, as prescribed by various universities and colleges, small variations may be observed for different universities.
Basic Physics, Biochemistry, Biophysics, General Microbiology, Clinical Pathology, Human Physiology, Human Anatomy, Immunohematology, Industrial Microbiology, Medical Laboratory Techniques with Biostatistics, Medical Parasitology and Entomology, Principles of Blood Transfusion, Systemic Bacteriology, Systemic Bacteriology
M.Sc. Medical Microbiology
Master of Science in Medical Microbiology is a postgraduate Microbiology course. This course is of two-year duration.
Duration: 2 Years
Graduation Type: Post Graduation
Syllabus of MSc Medical Microbiology:
Major subjects covered in the course, as prescribed by various Universities and Colleges, this may vary slightly for different universities.
Bacteriology & Psychology, Biochemistry, Bioinformatics and computer application
Biostatistics, Environmental Microbiology & Microbial Biodiversity, Immunology
Industrial Microbiology & Food Microbiology, Instrumentation & Its Biological Application
Medical Microbiology, Microbial Genetics, Microbial Physiology, Molecular Biology, Mycology, R-DNA Technology & Microbial Production of Recombinant Molecule, Virology, Project (Industrial & Training Project)
PhD in Medical Microbiology
Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Microbiology is a doctorate program. Candidates who would like to continue their studies in medical microbiology can further study M.Phil. or PhD. Course in medical microbiology. Many specializations are available like immunology, clinical pathology, PhD in medical microbiology is offered by many universities in India like Jamia Hamdard, AIIMS etc.
Duration: 3-6 years
Required Skills and Aptitude
The structure and growth of industry define the skill set essential for a Microbiologist to incorporate. While the field principally deals with the characteristics of microorganisms, its applications are vast. Therefore, a Microbiologist must conform to specific standards prescribed by the concerned industry.
Here are some skills you can magnify while pursuing your interests in the field of Microbiology:
General: Science, Critical thinking, Active learning, Monitoring, Judgement, Social perceptiveness, Quality control
Domain specific: Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Medicine, Genetics, English, IT
Ethical: Integrity, Objectivity, Accountability, Initiative, Analytical approach, Innovation, Self-control
Eligibility Criteria
BSc MicroBiology
Plus two (12th std) course with biology
MSc Microbiology
BSc Microbiology/BSc Biological Science / BSc MLT. In colleges, admission is based on merit and in Universities through entrance test
MD Microbiology
MBBS
PhD
Msc in Microbiology or in similar disciplines
Entrance Examination
Job Profiles
A person with MD Microbiology can work in a scientific Lab and in Pathology Lab. He can also work inIndustries like Pharmacy, dairy, Breweries , Distilleries .Microbiologist can work as teaching faculty and research guide even if the institute does not have a course named Microbiology but it may be a subject for other courses. For example Food Technology, Biotechnology, Bioinformatics , Bio Chemistry etc
Top Recruiters
- Food industries like Nesle
- Hospital Groups
- Medical coding Companies
Institutions
National Premier Institutes:
- The Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC)
- All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS)
- The Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD)
- Indian Institute of Science (IISC)
- Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU)
- National Institute of Virology (NIV)
- Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST)
Institutions offering BSc Microbiology:
Institutions offering MSc Microbiology:
Questions & Answers
- Q) What Types of Job Roles for Microbiologists?
- A) Microbiologists are required for diverse jobs. The following are some of the job profiles that Microbiologists can take up after obtaining the necessary skills.
- Research Assistant: These microbiologists engage in research activities associated with microorganisms, causes for the diseases, figuring out solutions or treatment for diseases etc. They assist higher-level researchers in varied activities in the field of science.
- Biomedical Scientists: Biomedical Scientists carry out a wide range of scientific and laboratory tests to support the diagnosis and treatment of diseases.
- Food Technologist: The major responsibility of the food technologist is to ensure safe and efficient development, manufacture and modification of food products and processes.
- Pharmacologist: Usually, pharmacologists specialise in a specific field of research such as pharmacokinetics, toxicology etc. Microbiologists can choose pharmacology as one of the subjects at the Ph.D. level.
- Clinical & Veterinary Microbiologists: Veterinary microbiologists are veterinarians who specialise in the study of microorganisms that cause infectious diseases to animals.
- Industrial Microbiologist: These microbiologists apply engineering and scientific principles to the processing of materials by microorganisms, plant and animal cells to create useful products or processes.
- Environmental Microbiologist: The major responsibility of the environmental microbiologist is to study the microorganisms that exist in artificial environments such as bioreactors.