Microbiology

Microbiology is the study of microorganisms (an organism which can be only seen by microscope), which are unicellular or cell-cluster microscopic organisms. Microbiology is a broad term which includes many branches like Bacteriology, Virology, Mycology, Parasitology and others.

A person who specializes in the area of Microbiology is called as Microbiologist. Although much progress has been made in this field, according to conservative estimates not more than 1% is known about the microbes in any given environment.

Thus, despite the fact that over three hundred years have passed since the discovery of microbes, the field of microbiology is not only in its infancy but also with a huge potential of growth. It is certainly one of the fastest growing fields in terms of career-growth.

One can’t over emphasize the importance of microbiology. Society benefits from Micro-organisms (M.Os) in many ways. They are necessary for the production of bread, cheese, beer, antibiotics, vaccines, vitamins, enzymes and many other important products. Indeed, modern biotechnology rests upon a microbiological foundation.

Microorganisms are indispensable components of our ecosystem. They make possible the cycles of carbon, oxygen, nitrogen and sulphur that takes place in terrestrial and aquatic systems. They are also source of nutrients at the base of all ecological food chains and webs.

Medical microbiologists identify the agent causing an infectious disease and try and devise methods to eliminate the agent or the virus. Frequently they are involved in tracking down new, unidentified pathogens such as the bacterium that cause plague, legionnaire’s disease and the virus responsible for AIDS (Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome), SARS(Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and Avian flu.

Public health microbiology is clearly related to medical microbiology. Public health micro-biologist tries to control the spread of communicable diseases. They often monitor community food establishments and water supplies in an attempt to keep them safe and free from infectious disease agents.

Many important areas of microbiology do not deal directly with human health and disease but certainly contribute to human welfare. Agricultural microbiology is concerned with the impact of M.Os on agriculture.

Agriculture microbiologists try to combat plant disease that attacks important food crops, work on methods to increase soil fertility and crop yields. Currently there is interest in using bacterial (Bacillus thuringenesis) and viral insect (Baculovirus, NPV- Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus) pathogens as substitutes for chemical pesticides/ insecticides.

The field of microbial ecology is closely related to agricultural microbiology. Microbial ecologists study the relationship between micro-organisms and their habitats. They are concerned with the contribution of microorganisms to the carbon, nitrogen and sulfur cycles in soil and in fresh water.

The study of pollution effects on micro-organisms also is important because of the impact these micro-organisms have on the environment. Microbial ecologists are employing micro-organisms in bioremediation to reduce pollution effects.

Scientists working in food and dairy microbiology try to prevent microbial spoilage of food and the transmission of food borne diseases such as botulism and salmonellosis. They also use micro-organisms to make foods such as cheese, yoghurts, Single Cell Protein (SCP), pickles, wine and beer. In the future micro-organisms may become a more important nutrient source for livestock and humans.

Microbiology Courses & Eligibility Criteria

Aspirants of Microbiology can start their educational career right from undergraduate level. After passing 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, Botany and Zoology with at least 50%, one can take admission in B.Sc Microbiology in a good institution. One having BSc in Biological Sciences can also apply for M.Sc. course in Microbiology/ Applied Microbiology. Again one can opt for any specialisation like Medical microbiology, Food Microbiology, Industrial Microbiology, Bioinformatics, Microbial-Technology, Clinical Research, Molecular biology, Biochemistry, Forensic Science, Hospital Management or even Hotel Administration.

The M.Sc program in Microbiology is offered by many universities in India. Selection is made on the basis of merit. However, few universities conduct written entrance examination for selecting candidates.

Microbiology Career Prospects

A large number of students go abroad to pursue Ph.D. and Post-Doctoral studies after getting scholarships through GRE or TOEFL. After completion of Ph.D. they are usually employed by foreign Universities or Research and Development (R&D) wings of major Pharmaceutical Companies

As India is now making a shift from process patent to product patent, large pharmaceutical companies are investing in R&D. As a result, there is an employment opportunity in the area of formulation research, analytical development and clinical research and in new drug discovery.

Microbiologists can also become faculty members in Universities, Colleges or teachers in Schools, etc. For college teaching, a master’s degree may be acceptable along with qualification of CSIR – NET, but a doctorate opens more avenues. Teaching and research at the university level and high level employment with good promotion prospects in non-academic research institutes, private industry and government agencies usually require a Ph.D.

Self employment is also a very good option for microbiologists to start their professional career. They can set up microbiological laboratories of their own and can help in diagnosing the disease and researchers to direct their own research. There are large, private research institutes that conduct Microbiological/epidemiological studies for Government agencies where there is a sudden outbreak of any epidemic disease. These studies focus on a wide variety of urban and metropolitan problems such as a sudden outbreak of any disease.

Microbiology Pay Package

Microbiologists who are employed in govt. /private organization get lucrative remuneration along with perk and other benefits as revised time to time. In India, the professionals who are working in pharma or biotech labs can get starting salary somewhere between Rs.10, 000 – Rs.15, 000 per month. With two or three years of experience the salary gets doubled.

Those who are working in govt. organizations or research labs also get handsome salary with other benefits. The salary ranges from Rs.10, 000- Rs.20, 000. The Junior Research fellows who work on various projects get monthly fellowship of Rs.12, 000.

The scope for microbiologists is more in developed countries like US, UK, Australia, France and Germany. In these countries one who is engaged in research work gets around $30,000 to $70,000 per year.

Microbiology Institutes/Universities

The following institutes/universities in India are offering bachelors or master level courses in Microbiology.

Name of University	Course	Eligibility
EASTERN REGION
Manipur University	B.Sc.	Pre- Univ.(2 years)
Canchipur Imphal 795003	M.Sc	B.Sc.
North Eastern Hill University, Loser Lachauniere Shillong 793001	M.Sc.	A Honours degree
Univ. of Calcutta, College Street, Calcutta 700073	M.Sc.	B.Sc. exam
Univ. of Kalyani, PO Kalyani, Distt. Nadia 741235	M.Sc.	B.Sc. (Hons) degree.
Rajendra Agricultural University, Samastipur 848125	M.Sc.	B.Sc.
Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology Bhubaneshwar 751003	B.Sc. (Pass/Hons)	Inter 10+2 with 40% - 50% in the chosen subject
NORTHERN REGION
Chitrakoot Gramodaya Vishwavidyalaya Distt. Satna 210204 MOP	B.Sc.	+2 Sc.
Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, 16D, RN Tagore Marg, Indore 452001 (MP)	M.Sc.	B.Sc. exams
Pt. Ravishankar Shukla UNiversity, Rajpur 492010 (MP)	M.Sc. Clinical Biochem.	B.Sc.
Rani Durgavati Vishwavidyalaya, Jabalpur 482001	M.Sc.	B.Sc.
Jiwaji Univeristy, Vidya Vihar, Gwalior 474011	M.Sc.	B.Sc. exams
Narendra Dev University of Agriculture, Faizabad 224229	B.Sc.	Inter
Rohilkhand Univ. Bareilly, U.P.	B.Sc.	Inter
Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202002	M.Sc.  B.Sc.	B.Sc. with 50%  XII
Banaras Hindu Univeristy, Varanasi 221005	M.Sc.	B.Sc. Hons with 45%
University of Lucknow, Lucknow 226007	M.Sc.	B.Sc.
University of Delhi Delhi 110007	B.Sc. Hons  M.Sc.	(Class XII)  B.Sc.
All India Instt. of Med. Sciences, Ansari Nagar, Delhi 110029	M.Sc.	B.Sc. Hons
Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi - 62	M.Sc.	B.Sc.
Kurukshetra Univeristy, Kurukshetra 132119	B.Sc. Hons	10+2
Haryana Agricultural Univeristy, Hisar 125004	M.Sc.	Graduate level 53% agg.
National Dairy Research Instt. Karnal 132001	M.Sc.	Bachelor's degree
Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar 143005	B.Sc.  M.Sc.	10+2 exam with 40%  B.Sc. with 50%
Punjab Agricultural Univ. Ludhiana 141004	B.Sc.	Higher Secondary
Punjab Univ., Sector 14, Chandigarh 160014	B.Sc.  M.Sc.	10+2  B.Sc.
University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, Srinagar 190006	M.Sc.	B.Sc.
Himancal Pradesh Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Palampur 176062	M.Sc.	B.Sc.
WESTERN REGION
Sardar Patel University Vidhya Nagar Gujarat 388120	B.Sc.	12 yrs Higher Sec. with Science
Gujarat University, Navrang Pura, Ahmedabad 380009	M.Sc.	B.Sc.
University of Bombay, M.G.RoadFort, Mumbai 400032	B.Sc.  M.Sc.	Higher Sec.  B.Sc.
Marathwada University, Aurangabad 431004	B.Sc.  M.Sc.	Higher Sec. B.Sc. exam of their Univ or an equivalent.
Northern Maharashtra University, Jalgaon 425002	M.Sc.	B.Sc.
MS University of Baroda, Vadodara 3900002, Gujarat	M.Sc.	B.Sc.
Nagpur University, exam Near Maharaj Bagh, M.G.Marg, Nagpur 440001	M.Sc.	B.Sc.
Shivaji University, Vidhyanagar, Kolhapur 4160004	M.Sc.  B.Sc.	B.Sc.  Higher Secondary
Goa University, PO Santa Cruz Taleigao Plateau Goa 403002	M.Sc.	B.Sc. exam in which 100 marks of each years is taken
Dr. BR Ambedkar Marathwada Univ. Aurangabad 431004	B.Sc.  M.Sc.	Higher Sc.  B.Sc.
SOUTHERN REGION
Kakatiya University Vidyaranyaupuri Warangai 506009	B.Sc.	Intermediate
Andhra Univ., Vishakapatnam 530003	M.Sc.	B.Sc.
Osmania University, Administrative Bldg., Hyderabad 400007	M.Sc.	B.Sc. with 45%
Shri Krishnadevaraya University, Sri Venkateswarapuram, Anantapur 515003	M.Sc.	B.Sc.
Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati 517502 Chittoor Distt., A.P.	M.Sc.	B.Sc.
Avinashilingam Instt. for Home Sc. & Higher Education for Women,  Coimbatore 641043	B.Sc.  M.Sc.	HSC with major for Home Sc. and Higher subject Bio. - chem.  B.Sc. with concerned subjects.
Madurai Kamraj University, Palkalai, Madurai	M.Sc.	B.Sc. with 55%
Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam 686560	M.Sc.	B.Sc.
University of Madras, Centenary Bldgs., Chepauk, Chennai	B.Sc.  M.Sc.	12 yrs of Higher Sec.  Bachelor's deg. in relevant Sc. subject
Bharathidasan Palkalaiperun Tiruchirapalli	M.Sc.	B.Sc. in main subject
Bharathiar University, Maruthamalai Road, Coimbatore 641046	B.Sc.  M.Sc.	12 yrs.  B.Sc.
Univ. of Mysore Crawford Hall Karya Soudha, Mysore 570005	B.Sc.  M.Sc.	2 yrs Pre-Univ.  B.Sc.
Karnataka Univ., Pavate Nagar, Dharwad 580003	M.Sc.	B.Sc. with 50% admission test
University of Kerala, University PO Thiruvanthapuram, Kerala 695034	M.Sc.	B.Sc.
Annamalai Univ., PO Annamalainagar 608002	M.Sc.	B.Sc.

Name of University	Course	Eligibility
EASTERN REGION
Manipur University,  Univ Canchipur Imphal 795003	B.Sc.	Pre
Orissa Univeristy of Agriculture & Tech. Bhubaneshwar 751003	B.Sc. (P) (Hons)  M.Sc.	Inter or +2 Sc.  B.Sc.
NORTHERN REGION
Madhya Pradesh  Barkatullah Vishwavidyalaya, Hoshangabad Road, Bhopal 462026	M.Sc.	B.Sc
Rani Durgavati Vishwavidyalaya, Pachpedi, Jabalpur 482001	M.Sc.	B.Sc
Jiwaji Unviersity,Vidya Vihar, Gwalior 474011	M.Sc.	B.Sc
Pt. Ravi Shankar Shukla Univ., Raipur 492010	M.Sc.	B.Sc
Himanchal Pradesh  Himachal Pradesh Univ. Summer Hill 171005	M.Sc.	B.Sc
Uttar Pradesh  GB Pant Univ. of Agriculture and Tech., Pantnagar 263145	M.Sc.	B.Sc
Gurukula Kangri Vishwavidyalaya,  Gurukula Kangri Hardwar 249404	M.Sc.  B.Sc.	B.Sc  10+2
Chaudhary Charan Singh University,  Meerut 250005	B.Sc.  M.Sc.	10+2  B.Sc
Delhi  University of Delhi Delhi 110007	M.Sc.  B.Sc.	B.Sc  10+2
Haryana  Kurkshetra University, Kurukshetra 132119	M.Sc.	B.Sc
Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar 125004	M.Sc.	Graduate with 53%
Maharishi Dayanand Univ., Rohtak 124001	M.Sc.	B.Sc
Punjab  Guru Nanak Dev Univ., Amritsar	B.Sc.  M.Sc.	10+2 with 40%  B.Sc. with 50%
Punjab Agricultural University,  Ludhiana 141004	M.Sc.  B.Sc	OGPA of 2.70 at appropriate degree.
Punjab University, Sector - 14, Chandigarh	B.Sc.  M.Sc.	10+2  B.Sc
WESTERN REGION
Gujarat  Sardar Pateluniversity, P.B.No. 10, Vallab Vidhyanagar 388120	B.Sc.  M.Sc.	12 yrs of higher Sec. with Sc.  B.Sc.
Saurashtra University, University Campus, Kalvad Road, Rajkot 360005	B.Sc. (spl)	12 yrs Higher Sec.
South Gujarat university,P.B. 49, Udhna Magdalla Rd, Surat 395007	B.Sc.	Higher Sec with Science
Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara 390002	M.Sc.	B.Sc.
Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agril. & Technology,	M.Sc.	B.Sc. degree  .
Gujarat Universtiy, Navrangpura Ahmedabad 380009	B.Sc.  M.Sc.	10+2  B.Sc
Maharashtra  University of Mumbai M.G.Road Fort, Mumbai 400032	B.Sc.  M.Sc.	XII  B.Sc. degree
Marathwada Univ., Aurangabad 431004	B.Sc.  M.Sc.	12 yrs hr sec or Equivalent  B.Sc.of the univ./equivalent
University of Poona, Ganeshkhind, Pune 411007	B.Sc.  M.Sc.	12 yrs Hr. Sec. Science  B.Sc.
Shivaji University Vidya nagar, Kolhapur 416004	M.Sc.	B.Sc.
Nagpur University MG Marg Nagpur 440001	M.Sc.	B.Sc.
Swami Ramanand Teerth Marathwada University, Vishnupuri, Nanded 431603	M.Sc.  B.Sc.	B.Sc.  10+2
North maharashtra univ., Umavinagar, Jalgaon 425002	M.Sc.	B.Sc.
Dr. BR Ambedkar Marathwada Univ., Aurangabad 431004	M.Sc.  B.Sc.	B.Sc.  10+2
Goa  Goa University, PO Santa Cruz Taleigao Plateau Goa 403002	B.Sc.  M.Sc.	XII  B.Sc. with 7 units of 100 marks in each year.
SOUTHERN REGION
Andhra Pradesh  Osmaina University, Administrative Bldg. Hyderbad 500007	B.Sc.  M.Sc.	Inter with 40%  B.Sc.
Sri Krishnadevaraya University, Sriu Venkateswarapuram Anantapur 515003	M.Sc.	B.Sc.
Ari Padmavati Mahila Viswavidyalayam, Tirupati 517502 Chittoor Distt.	M.Sc.	B.Sc.
Kalkatiya University Warangal 506009	B.Sc.  M.Sc.	10+2  B.Sc.
Karnataka  Gulbarga University, Unanaganga Gulbarga 585106	B.Sc.  M.Sc.	12 yr pre univ. Hr. Sec  B.Sc.
University of Mysore, Crawford Hall Mysore 570005	B.Sc.  M.Sc.	10+2  B.Sc.
Karnataka university, Pavate Nagar, dharwad 580003	B.Sc.	10+2 with Sc. sub
Mangalore University, Mangalagangotri 574199	B.Sc.	10+2
Tamil Nadu  University of Madras Centenary Dldg., Chepauk, Chennai 600005	B.Sc.  M.Sc.	12 yr  Bachelor's degree
Manonmaniam Sundaram Univ., Abishekapatti, Tirunelveli 627018	M.Sc.	B.Sc.
Bhartidasan Univ., Tiruchirapalli 620024	M.Sc.	B.Sc.
Bharathiar University, coimbatore 641046	B.Sc.  M.Sc.	10+2  B.Sc.
Kerala  Mahatma Gandhi Univ., Kottayam, 686560	M.Sc.	B.Sc.