Focos de atención
Títulos similares
Bacteriologist, Clinical Laboratory Scientist, Clinical Microbiologist, Microbiological Analyst, Quality Control Microbiologist (QC Microbiologist)
Descripción del trabajo
Clinical microbiologists analyze blood, tissue and other samples to find the disease-causing organisms present in people, animals and foods. These professionals may also help physicians diagnose and control the spread of infections.
Aspectos gratificantes de la carrera
- Buen sueldo
- Choice of multiple disciplines to specialize in, such as immunology and bacteriology
- Able to work in a variety of industries, including research, education or food
$66,850
La primicia
Un día en la vida
- Assisting physicians in diagnosing illnesses and selecting treatments
- Conducting research and experiments, the level of which depending on the professional’s education and certification background
- Using highly technical equipment and technology to study and take cultures from a variety of organisms, such as fungi, viruses and bacteria
- Being responsible for producing viral vaccines and other substances for medical analyses
- Testing food samples for potential poisoning agents
- Performing administrative duties, such as coordinating and supervising projects, presenting research findings and preparing technical reports
Diferentes tipos de organizaciones
- Laboratory - either in a hospital or a specialized lab that communicates / interacts with doctors offsite
- Office (for administrative duties)
- Industrial settings
- University or school when taking teaching route
Expectativas y sacrificios
- Participating in rotating night and weekend shifts
- Risking exposure to diseases, illnesses, noxious fumes, high-pressure laboratory systems and radiation
- Depending on your career goals, you may be in school for ten years (total years for undergraduate and doctoral studies)
- Graduate school costs and repayments may initially offset benefit of salary (tuition and fees could exceed $20,000 for each year in a graduate program)
Tendencias actuales del sector
-
Increasingly common for microbiologists to work on teams with technicians and scientists in other fields, because many scientific research projects involve multiple disciplines
¿Qué tipo de cosas disfrutaba la gente de esta carrera cuando era más joven...
- Conducting experiments with science kits
- Watching shows and movies and reading books related to science / laboratories
- Playing outside and exploring nature
Educación y formación necesarias
- Microbiologists usually complete a bachelor’s microbiology, biology, or natural resources
- Common courses include math, physics, organic chemistry, microbial genetics, pathogenic microbiology, cellular physiology, environmental microbiology, virology, biochemistry, statistics, and computer science, among others
- Per O*Net Online, 48% of workers in this field have a bachelor’s, 17% have a post-bacc certificate, and 13% have a master’s degree
- Lab experience is needed and can be gained both through college programs and internships
- To work in independent research, in a specialized subfield, or for a college, students may need a PhD
- Certifications may be needed to work in clinical microbiology, food safety, pharmaceuticals, and medical device areas
- The American Society for Clinical Pathology offers certification exams for Technologist in Microbiology (M) and Specialist in Microbiology (SM). The SM exam requires prior completion of Medical Lab Scientist certification
- One common cert program — the American College of Microbiology’s NCRM certification exam — was recently discontinued for new registrants
Principales instituciones educativas
Cosas que hacer durante el instituto/universidad
- Plan ahead for the rigors of college by studying foundational topics in high school, like biology, math, and chemistry
- Consider whether you want to go for a master’s degree or a post-bacc certificate such as the American Society for Clinical Pathology’s Technologist in Microbiology
- Gain lab experience through paid internships
- Decide which of the common branches of the field you’ll want to specialize in, such as bacteriology, immunology, mycology, nematology, parasitology, phycology, protozoology, or virology
- Think about which subfield/applied research field you might be interested in, such as clinical microbiology, medical, agricultural, food safety, or pharmaceuticals
- Those interested in research jobs should select from astromicrobiology, evolutionary microbiology, cellular microbiology, microbial ecology, microbial genetics, microbial physiology, and systems microbiology
- Únase a organizaciones profesionales para aprender, crecer y establecer contactos (consulte nuestra sección Recursos recomendados > Sitios web para ver una lista de opciones).
Hoja de ruta típica
Cómo conseguir tu primer trabajo
- Roughly 31% of Microbiologists work in R&D positions; 13% work in pharmaceutical/medicine manufacturing jobs; 11% work for government agencies; 11% work at colleges; and 6% work for state agencies
- BLS projects increased job opportunities in certain areas such as pharmaceutical and biotech, as well as food production/agriculture and roles at chemical plants
- Ensure you have the appropriate mix of academic credentials, laboratory experience, applicable certifications, and relevant work experience for the jobs you apply to
- Microbiology internships are a solid first step for many people entering the field
- Check out popular job portals such as Indeed, Simply Hired, Glassdoor, and Zippia for openings
- Use job portals to see which companies are most popular or are hiring the most
- For example, Indeed lists these employers are Top-rated companies for Microbiologists: Mako Medical Laboratories, Boeing, Bayer, Roche, and Teva Pharmaceuticals
- Zippia lists these employers as having the most current openings: Pfizer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Novartis, Advanced Testing Laboratory, Eurofins Scientific
- Mantente activo en las organizaciones profesionales. Asista a conferencias, establezca contactos y comunique a su red que está buscando un nuevo empleo.
- Review Microbiology resume templates to get ideas for wording and formats
- Study Microbiologist interview questions to prepare for job interviews!
Lo que realmente hace falta para triunfar
- Communication skills: should be able to effectively communicate their research processes and findings so that knowledge may be applied correctly
- Detail oriented: must be able to conduct scientific experiments and analyses with accuracy and precision
- Interpersonal skills: typically work on research teams and thus must work well with others toward a common goal; many also lead research teams and must be able to motivate and direct other team members
- Logical-thinking skills: must be able to draw conclusions from experimental results through sound reasoning and judgment
- Math skills: these professionals regularly use complex mathematical equations and formulas in their work, so they need a broad understanding of math, including calculus and statistics
- Observation skills: responsible for constantly monitoring their experiments; they need to keep a complete, accurate record of their work, noting conditions, procedures, and results
- Perseverance: their involves substantial trial and error, and microbiologists must not become discouraged in their work
- Problem-solving skills: these professionals use scientific experiments and analysis to find solutions to complex scientific problems
- Time-management skills: need to be able to meet deadlines when conducting research and laboratory tests; they must be able to manage time and prioritize tasks efficiently while maintaining their quality of work
Cómo encontrar un mentor
- Internship supervisors
- Guidance counselors
- Teachers or professors
- Alumni in same program (reach out through social media, such as LinkedIn, or ask guidance counselor / professor for suggestions and introductions)
Recursos recomendados
Páginas web
- American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology
- Asociación Americana para el Avance de la Ciencia
- American Dental Education Association
- Instituto Americano de Ciencias Biológicas
- Sociedad Americana de Biología Celular
- Sociedad Americana de Patología Clínica
- Sociedad Americana de Microbiología
- American Society for Virology
- Asociación Americana de Obras Hidráulicas
- AOAC International
- Federación de Sociedades Americanas de Biología Experimental
- International Union of Microbiological Societies
- Microbiological Garden
- Society for Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology
- The American Society for Cell Biology
- Tree of Life Web Project
Libros
Plan B
- Biological Technician: for those who want to work in the sciences, but don't want their opportunities limited by not having a graduate degree; they assist scientists in the lab, and a bachelor's degree in biology or a related field is typically the only educational requirement
- Epidemiologist: for those who are particularly interested in studying infectious diseases and finding ways to prevent and cure them and would like better career prospects; a master's degree in the field is the minimum requirement, although those who work in universities usually have Ph.D. degrees
Consejos
Microbiologists typically receive greater responsibility and independence in their work as they gain experience. This can be achieved through certification and higher education. Ph.D. microbiologists usually lead research teams and control the direction and content of projects.
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/microbiologists.htm#tab-4
Be persistent, responsible and cooperative when working toward your goals and don’t be afraid to fail and make mistakes for the greater good.
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