Microbiology

Overview

The Microbiology program at the University of Wisconsin Madison prepares graduates for research and teaching positions in universities and colleges, for industry or government, and for clinical microbiology.

Research emphasis includes, but is not limited to, prokaryotic (bacteria and archaea), viral and lower eukaryotic systems (fungi, oomycetes, and parasites); antibiotics and antibiotic resistance, bioflim formation; bioinformatics and computational biology; biotechnology and industrial microbiology, including biofuels; cell–cell signaling; cell motility and chemotaxis; DNA, including nucleic acid synthesis, DNA replication and recombination; food microbiology; fungal development, pathogensis, and metablolism; gene expression and its regulation; immunology; microbial physiology and metabolism; macrophage activation and other cell immune systems; mechanisms of microbial persistence; mechanisms of pathogenesis; microbial cell division; microbial ecology; microbial microbiota and metagenomics; nitrogen fixation; quorum sensing; RNA, including molecular structure–function relationships of transfer RNA, small RNAs, RNA polymerase, and other components of transcription and translation; secondary metabolism; structural microbiology; symbioses, including host–microbe symbioses, plant–microbial interactions, animal–microbial interactions, microbe–microbe interactions; and virology, including host–virus interactions.

Dissertation research emphasizes creative and innovative problem-solving using basic knowledge acquired through scientific interactions and collaborations in addition to a thorough understanding of the scientific literature.

Learning Outcomes

• Gain a broad understanding of the microbiology principles that underlie all biological processes.
• Articulate, discuss and define limits to the theory and knowledge in microbiology.
• Think critically to address research challenges using a broad range of the theories, research methods, and approaches to scientific inquiry.
• Communicates complex ideas in a clear and understandable matter.
• Collaborate with investigators within the program, university, and beyond to advance the science of microbiology.
• Foster professional and ethical conduct in the sciences.
• Ethical design of experimental protocols.
• Reproducibility of experimental results.
• Professional behavior in industrial, government and academic settings.
• Develop communication skills that enable the articulation of research to fellow scientists and non-scientists.
• Develop teaching and mentoring skills in both lecture and laboratory settings.
• Explore career development opportunities in industry, government, academia and private industry to realize professional goals.