Microbiologist

The title “Microbiologist” is a really broad one, and it encompasses a wide range of jobs, from curing diseases to brewing beer. This is because the field of microbiology covers a lot of areas. Generally, it is concerned with the study of microorganisms (those are things like bacteria, fungus, and parasites) and the way they interact with their environment.

As a Microbiologist, you might spend your day collecting samples of parasites from a local water source, fungi growing in dirt, or an airborne illness. After you have your sample, you figure out how to isolate the particular microorganism you’re studying, and successfully create a small colony. When you can do this, you have the ability to learn everything about this microorganism. This includes information like how often they reproduce, what environment they grow best in, and how they can be controlled.

But this is just one of the many areas that you can handle as a Microbiologist. Although the subjects vary widely, depending on what area you work in, there are a few constants about the job. One of those is the work environment. You split your time between the outdoors (where you gather samples) and the lab (where you analyze these samples).

Another of the constants is the need to report your work. Once you’ve completed your research or experiments, you publish your findings. The facts you learn are used to better understand and fight diseases, pollution, and harmful microorganisms. They’re also used to understand genetics, and even to brew beer and create yogurt.