Biomedicine - Microbiology University of Melbourne

Overview

Overview

Life on Earth began with, and has always depended on, the activities of micro-organisms. Most of these activities are helpful to the planet and to us, but occasionally micro-organisms can do bad things, like cause infections, with potentially disastrous outcomes. Our immune system fights infections, and usually wins, but it’s an arms race and we must constantly adapt to battle new infections.

You’ll leave this Biomedicine - Microbiology program at University of Melbourne with a detailed understanding of microbiology – the study of microorganisms – and how it applies to a range of areas in the biomedical sciences.

You’ll cover how infectious microorganisms are studied, the diseases they cause and their possible prevention or treatment. The Microbiology  major also covers the human immune system, how it responds to protect us during infection, and how vaccination works.

Careers

Studies in microbiology could lead to a career in 

• infectious disease
• diagnostics
• molecular biology
• biotechnology
• vaccinology
• antimicrobial chemotherapeutics
• biosafety and regulation.

With further study, you could find yourself in a research career investigating infectious microbial agents, their genes and their mechanisms of disease.

Employers in this field include:

• Medical research institutes such as WEHI, the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and the Peter Doherty Institute
• Hospitals such as the Royal Melbourne Hospital and the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
• Government departments of health, innovation, agriculture and environment
• Biotech and pharmaceutical companies such as CSL and GSK
• Universities and public research institutions.