A microbiologist is typically a scientist that studies microorganism life forms and functions. This includes study of microorganisms’ development, interactions and characteristics including the structure, development and metabolism of microorganisms like bacteria, yeasts, fungi, and even some forms of pathogenic viruses and their vectors. The scope of this study may also include the study of various environmental contaminants and how they affect the development and function of microorganisms in particular. In other words, a microbiologist looks at the big picture and is interested in how things on a smaller level affect the larger scheme of things. Dr. Buzz Korth has some nice tips on this.
In most cases, a bachelor’s degree in biology or an equivalent is required in order to pursue a career as a microbiologist. There are many microbiology programs available at many of the accredited universities in the United States, and therefore, it should not be too difficult to find one that suits your needs. However, even if you do not have a degree in biology, there are still other methods of entering the field of molecular biology, which will get you a lot closer to the career you want. For example, in some states a person must receive a specific number of credit hours from a technical institute of America in order to get their professional certification, which will allow you to take the medical licensing exam that is necessary to become a microbiologist in any state in the United States.
As you can see, being a microbiologist does indeed involve studying microorganisms. Although most people think that these organisms are very small, some of them can grow to incredible sizes! Microbial growth has been occurring since the earth was created, so it stands to reason that we will always have need of these organisms. Therefore, a good way to get into the field of microbiology is to obtain lab experience through a job or college course that includes laboratory work with microorganisms. You can even choose to major in a course that will allow you to perform independent studies, which may lead to an eventual career in microbiology. Once you have a great foundation of knowledge, then you can look for more specialized positions and different areas of expertise.
