Postgraduate Courses in Microbiology
Microbiology is defined as the study of micro-organisms but this broad brush doesn’t do justice to the diversity of organisms and opportunities that the subject can offer. The challenges in microbiology are many and not a week goes by without mention of organisms such as MRSA, bird flu, HIV and E.coli. Not everybody works on these ‘bad’ guys and, outside of the medical field, many opportunities exist in industries such as food manufacture, brewing and the water industry. Studying for a postgraduate course qualifications in microbiology will permit the student to undertake a long term independent research project, enhancing the skill set required by all advanced practitioners in the field. The project may be undertaken in collaboration with other institutions or companies, either wholly or partly at that collaborator, whether based locally, nationally or internationally. If you are interested in applying for a postgraduate course in microbiology then read on to find out more.
Programmes of study:
The key full time programmes (all may be studied part-time) of study in Microbiology are:
PhD Microbiology
Undertaken over a maximum of four years (including time for writing and submitting the thesis), this programme requires a minimum of a 2(i) in a relevant degree. This programme of study is supervised by one or two principal supervisors (depending on whether research is to be undertaken in more than one laboratory) and will consist of an extended (3 year) laboratory study, culminating in the submission of a thesis.
MSc Microbiology
Undertaken over 1 year (including time for writing and submitting the thesis), this programme requires a minimum of a 2(ii) in a relevant subject. This programme of study is supervised by one or two principal supervisors (depending on whether research is to be undertaken in more than one laboratory) and will consist of an extended (11 months) laboratory study, culminating in the submission of a thesis.
MRes Biotechnology
Undertaken over 1 year (including time for writing and submitting the thesis), this programme requires a minimum of a 2(i) in a relevant subject. This programme of study is supervised by one or two principal supervisors (depending on whether research is to be undertaken in more than one laboratory) and consists of a taught programme (3 months in Autumn Term) followed by an extended (9 months) laboratory study, culminating in the submission of a thesis. The taught programme allows those who haven’t studied molecular biology and biotechnology to gain some theoretical and practical background before embarking on a research project in the area. For fuller details on the course see http://www.kent.ac.uk/bio/study/Postgraduate/Master/mres.htm
Research areas:
Here at Kent we have several postgraduate opportunities that are focussed on Microbiology. Each of these requires a good degree which has a major bioscience component within it. Microbiology contributes to all of the research groups here at Kent, namely:
- Biomedical Sciences:
http://www.kent.ac.uk/bio/research/Groups/biomedical.htm - Cell & Developmental Biology: http://www.kent.ac.uk/bio/research/Groups/Cell%20Biology/Default.htm
- Protein Science: http://www.kent.ac.uk/bio/research/Groups/Protein%20Science/Default.htm
A key theme within the Biomedical Science grouping is Infectious Diseases –infection remains a leading cause of illness and mortality worldwide, and developing new preventative, diagnostic and treatment regimes for fungal, bacterial and viral diseases is a key challenge. Thus understanding how, on both molecular and cellular levels, bacterial and fungal pathogens cause disease is an urgent biomedical issue.
Members of the Infectious Diseases Group are focused on understanding how and why changes in the expression of virulence and resistance factors in fungal and bacterial pathogens occur, with a current focus on morphogenesis in Candia albicans and phase variation in adhesin expression in Escherichia coli, as well as molecular analysis of populations of human pathogenic fungi. The different research teams within the group use a combination of biochemical, molecular genetic and genomic techniques to address these questions. The group has strong links with the regional PHLS at the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford. Interested in finding out more or collaborating with members of the Infectious Disease Group or working with us at the University of Kent? Please contact the Group-coordinator
Studying postgraduate course in microbiology will deepen your knowledge, imporve your skills and enhance your employment prospects. Whether you want a career in research or industry, a postgraduate course in miscrobiology will put you ahead.
