Microbiology (healthcare scientist)
Microbiology is the study of organisms (bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic) that cause infections.
As a healthcare scientist working in microbiology, a large part of your work will be the identification and classification of these organisms.
Working life
In addition to identifying important organisms, you’ll provide support and advice on the most effective drug to use for treatment. Examples of clinically important organisms include:
- MRSA
- Clostridium difficile
- norovirus infections
You’ll therefore play a key role in preventing, diagnosing and controlling infections, both for individual patients and, more generally, within a hospital or community.
In your work, you’ll:
- work in diagnostic laboratories and pathology departments in hospitals
- use a range of specialist culture and non-culture technologies and platforms, including molecular techniques, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing
- prepare cultures of micro-organisms
- use a variety of tests and procedures to identify and classify organisms to help analyse and support the response to infection
- help to develop and improve tests to diagnose infectious disease, through ongoing improvement and innovation
Public Health England is also a major employer of healthcare science staff specialising in microbiology and epidemiology. The work focuses on disease diagnosis, treatment and surveillance.
Want to learn more?
- Find out more about the entry requirements, skills and interests required to enter a career in microbiology
- Find out more about the training you’ll receive for a career in microbiology