Bachelor of Microbiology (honours/honours with research)

Duration: 4 years

Me-Me: Multiple entry and exit options.

Eligibility for admission

For admission in this course candidate has to pass 10 + 2 or its equivalent examination in Science (Biology/Maths) conducted by any Board or University incorporated by law and recognized by this University with minimum 45% marks in aggregate in Physics, Chemistry & Biology. Students who has not biology as a subject in his 12th standard, they have to enrol the bridge course (6 month biology course in their first semester)and qualify the same.

 An overview of the programme

A Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Microbiology (honours/honours with research)is an undergraduate academic program .The “Honours” designation signifies that the program offers a more in-depth and rigorous curriculum compared to a standard bachelor’s degree.

Within the context of microbiology, an “Honours” program often involves additional coursework, research projects, and possibly internships or fieldwork. This designation indicates that students are expected to delve deeper into the subject matter, developing a more comprehensive understanding of microbiological principles, techniques, and applications

The “Honours with Research” variant of the program typically requires  is designed to skill the students  for under taking an independent research project under the supervision of a faculty member or mentor. This research component allows students to explore specific topics within microbiology in greater depth, develop critical thinking and analytical skills, and contribute to the advancement of scientific knowledge in the field.cise , a B.Sc. (Hons) in Microbiology, whether with or without research, is an advanced undergraduate program that provides specialized training in microbiology, preparing students for careers in research, healthcare, industry, or further academic study at the graduate level.

Future prospects/ Job availability/ Scope 

Microbiology offers diverse career opportunities and has a broad scope, with the field constantly evolving and expanding. Here are some future prospects, job availability, and the scope of microbiology.

1. Pharmaceutical Industry: Microbiologists are in demand in Pharmaceutical industries – in formulation, API and fermentation for research and development of new drugs, Managing Quality control and Quality assurance as a critical and vital part in all drug manufacturing process like tablets, capsules, ointments, Sterile products, active pharmaceutical ingredients. Few pharmaceutical industries: Pfizer, Glaxo-smith Klin, Novartis, Jhonson and Jhonson, Sun Pharmaceuticals, Merck and Co, Inc, AstraZneca, Baxter Pharmaceuticals, Mankind Pharma, 

2. Cosmetics Industry: Microbiologists play a critical role in ensuring the microbiological safety, quality, and compliance of cosmetic products, thereby safeguarding consumer health and confidence in the industry. Their expertise in microbiology, quality assurance, and regulatory affairs contributes to the success and integrity of cosmetic companies and brands. Few cosmetics industries: Avon Products Inc. L Oreal, Procter and Gamble, Emami , Revlon, Inc. VLCC, Unilever,  etc .

3. Beverage Industry: Microbiologist play several important roles in the alcohol industry, particularly in the production of alcoholic beverages such as beer, wine, and spirits in fermentation process, yeast management, quality control, contamination prevention, sensory analysis, research and innovation and regulatory compliance. Few alcohol industries: United Spirits Ltd., South Asian Breweries, Kingfisher, Pernord Richard SA, Carlsberg group, Bacardi Ltd. Etc.

4. Food Industry: Microbiologists are employed in the food and beverage industry to ensure food safety, quality control, and develop new products. They work in food testing laboratories, food processing plants, and regulatory agencies. ITC Ltd., Pepsico, Inc, The Coca – Cola Company, Kellogg company

5. Diagnostic kits Manufacturing industry: Microbiologist play several crucial roles in the manufacturing of diagnostic kits, which are essential tools for the detection and diagnosis of various infectious diseases, genetic disorders, and other medical condition in assay development, quality control and assurance, validation studies, technology transfer and scale up and stability testing’s.  Few names: Bacten – Dickenson and Company, Roche Diagnostics, Abbott Laboratories, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Bio -Rad Laboratories Inc etc.

6. Dairy Industry: Microbiologist play several key roles in the dairy industry, where their expertise in microbiology is essential for ensuring the safety, quality, and efficiency of dairy products in fermentation process, starter culture development, hygiene and sanitation practices, product development, quality control and regulatory compliance. Few names are: Nestle SA, Amul, Mother Dairy etc.

7. Hotel Industry: Microbiologist play a significant role in the hotel industry, primarily in ensuring the safety and hygiene of food, water, and environmental surfaces to prevent the spread of infections and maintain high standards of cleanliness by ensuring food safety and hygiene, HACCP implementation, water quality management, environment monitoring, Few names are: Taj group of Hotels, Hayatt Hotels, Marriot Hotels, Radisson Hotels, Hilton Hotels etc.

8. Space Microbiology:Microbiologists play several important roles in space exploration and research, contributing to the understanding of microbial life in space environments, ensuring the safety of astronauts by spacecraft contamination control, crew health monitoring, microgravity research and planetary protection.

9. Culture media manufacturing Industry: play a crucial role in the culture media manufacturing industry, where they are responsible for developing, producing, and ensuring the quality of culture media used for cultivating and identifying microorganisms in laboratory settings by formulation development, media optimization, quality control, sterilization processes, media packaging and storage and research and innovation. Few names are Merck Millipore, Hi Media Laboratories,, Sigma Aldrich, BD Difco etc.

10. Petroleum Industry: Microbiologist play a crucial role in the petroleum industry, particularly in addressing microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) and microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR) by microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) prevention, biocide evaluation and management, microbial souring control, microbial enhanced oil recovery, microbial reservoir characterization, bioremediation of petroleum contamination. Expertise in microbiology is essential for optimizing oilfield operations, reducing operational risks, and advancing sustainable practices in the petroleum sector. ONGC Ltd, Reliance Industries Ltd. ESSAR Oil Ltd. (now Rosneft) etc.

11. Swimming pools: Microbiologist play a crucial role in ensuring the safety and hygiene of swimming pools by monitoring water quality, preventing the spread of waterborne illnesses, and implementing measures to control microbial contamination by water quality monitoring, pathogen detection and control, bioflim prevention and management, legionella management, disinfection and treatment technologies and public health education.

12. Meat processing Industry:play a critical role in the meat processing industry, ensuring the safety, quality, and compliance of meat products through microbiological testing, process control, and hygiene management. Few names are Tyson Food Inc, Maple Leaf food Inc. etc

13. Agriculture Industry: Microbiologists contribute to agricultural productivity by developing microbial fertilizers, biopesticides, and biocontrol agents. They also research plant-microbe interactions, soil microbiology, and sustainable agricultural practices. Few names: Bayer Crop Science, Corteva Agriscience, Wilmar International Ltd etc.

14. Healthcare Industry: Microbiology plays a crucial role in healthcare, including clinical microbiology (diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases), epidemiology (study of disease patterns), and pharmaceuticals (development of antimicrobial drugs and vaccines). Microbiologists can work in hospitals, clinical laboratories, pharmaceutical companies, and public health agencies.

15. Biotechnology Industry: Microbiologists are in demand in biotechnology industries for research and development of new drugs, biologics, and biotechnological products. This includes genetic engineering, fermentation technology, and industrial microbiology. Biocon Ltd, Wockhardt Biogen Inc. CRISPER Therapeutics AG etc.

16. Environment Care Industry: With growing concerns about environmental pollution and climate change, environmental microbiologists are needed to study microbial communities in various ecosystems, public water supply purification, bioremediation of pollutants, oil spills control and environmental monitoring. Few names: Waste Management Inc. SUEZ Groups, Tetratech Inc. Etc.

17. Bioinformatics and Computational Biology: With advancements in high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics tools, there is a growing demand for microbiologists with skills in data analysis, computational modelling, and systems biology to study microbial communities and their interactions.

18. Research and Academics: Microbiology research is fundamental for understanding microbial physiology, genetics, ecology, and evolution. Microbiologists work in academic institutions, research laboratories, and government agencies to advance scientific knowledge and address global challenges such as antimicrobial resistance and emerging infectious diseases.

19. Scope in Indian Government Services: In the Indian government, microbiology-related activities and initiatives are often overseen by various departments and agencies, depending on the specific focus areas and applications. Here are some key departments and organizations in the Indian government that may have involvement with microbiology: Department of Health and Family Welfare, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Forest and Climate Change and National Dairy Research Institute, Defence Research Organisation (DRDO) etc.
20. Microbiologist as Entrepreneurs: Microbiologist can become entrepreneurs in various fields, leveraging their expertise in microbiology to create innovative products, services, and solutions. Some fields in which microbiologists can become entrepreneurs are:

Agri-biotech start-ups: specializing in microbial solutions for agriculture, such as Composting, biofertilizers, biopesticides, and microbial inoculants for crop enhancement, soil health improvement, and sustainable agriculture practices., can also develop precision agriculture technologies, microbial soil testing services, and agritech platforms for farm management and decision-making.

Start up for Producing Probiotics foods, functional foods, and fermented foods leveraging beneficial microorganisms for health and nutrition benefits.

Environmental biotech start-ups:  Microbiologist can establish environmental biotech startups offering microbial solutions for wastewater treatment, bioremediation of contaminated sites, and waste valorization. They can develop microbial-based technologies for pollutant degradation, bioenergy production, and sustainable waste management practices.

Microbiome Research and Personalized Medicine related Start –ups: Microbiologist can launch startups focused on microbiome research, analysis, and therapeutics for personalized medicine applications. They can offer microbiome testing services, microbiome-based diagnostics, and microbiome modulation therapies for improving human health and wellness.

Microbial Bioinformatics and Data Analysis Start ups. Microbiologist with expertise in bioinformatics and computational biology can start companies focused on microbial genomics, metagenomics, and bioinformatics analysis services. They can offer microbial genome sequencing, microbiome data analysis, and bioinformatics software solutions for research and clinical applications.

Overall the scope of microbiology is vast and interdisciplinary, offering numerous career opportunities in diverse sectors including healthcare, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, environmental science, food, dairy, cosmetics, alcohol, petroleum, beverages, waste water treatment, municipalities, space microbiology, pollution control, biowepons, biodegradation, hotel industry (swimming pools sanitization and food testing’s) and their threats to guard human and animal welfare. and research. As society faces new challenges and technological advancements continue, the demand for skilled microbiologists is expected to remain strong in the future.

Program Objectives of BSc. Microbiology (honours/honours with research)

1. The students will get exposure totheoretical and practical aspects of Microbiology.
2. The programme includes details of microorganisms which are important for the fields of agriculture, medicine andindustrial importance.
3. The students will learn the concepts of biomolecules, enzymes, immunology, cell biology,molecular biology, genetic engineering. They will apply these concepts to make the study of microbiology for sustainabledevelopment of human society.
4. The practical courses have been designed to equip the students with the laboratory skills inmicrobiology and allied subjects (biochemistry, biotechnology) .
5. The programme will provide students with the knowledge and skills that would enable them to undertake further studies in microbiology and related areas or in multidisciplinary areas.
6. The programme will help the students to develop arange of generic skills that are relevant in enhancing entrepreneurship skills.
7. The students will learn about the impact of microbes on the health of the planet and its inhabitants, as well as the significance of microbiology in the study of all life forms. 

A.Learning outcomes that are specific to Microbiology areas of learning: 

1. Exploring the microbial world and understanding the specific benefits and challenges of microbiology for the human life.
2. Acquired knowledge and understanding of concepts of microbiology as applicable inpharma, food, agriculture, beverages and nutraceutical industries.
3. Technical and skilled competence in performing standard microbiological laboratory techniques.
4. Knowledge and application of good laboratory and good manufacturing practices in microbial quality control.
5. Application of microbiological knowledge in various interdisciplinary fields, such as medicine,agriculture, environmental science, and biotechnology.
6. Equip studentswith skills for entrepreneurship, advanced studies or professional careers through comprehensive academic background, internships and research projects.
7. Enhance and demonstrate analytical skills and apply basic computational andstatistical techniques in the field of microbiology.
8. Provide remedial solutions for the conservation and sustainability of environment through microbiology.

B Generic learning outcomes:

Complex problem-solving:Microbiology students will be able to analyze and interpret resultsfrom a variety of microbiological methods, and apply these methods to analogous situations. Usemathematical and graphing skills and reasoning to solve problems in microbiology.Understand that microbiology is a complex field with real-world implications, and commit to mastering the material.

Critical Thinking-Microbiology students will be demonstrate the capacity  to cultivates independent thinking and is able to integrate knowledgefrom other disciplines  of chemistry , biochemistry, biotechnology  andbioinformatics. and fit that knowledge into the context of microbiology. Understand the basic concepts, fundamental principles, and thescientific theories related to various scientific phenomena and their relevancies inthe day-to-day life.

Creativity:Microbiology students will beto create  experiments to investigate microbial processes, interactions, and functions. such as creative approch  for discovering new antibiotics to combat drug-resistant pathogens. Ability to place scientific statements and themes in contexts and also evaluate them interms of generic conventions

Communication Skills:Communicate and collaborate with other disciplines by effectively communicatingthe fundamental concepts of microbiology in written and oral formatwhich will help in expressing ideas and viewsclearly and effectively.Ability to listen  and follow scientific viewpoints and engage with them.Ability to participate constructively in class room discussions.

Analytical reasoning/thinking:Analyze and interpret results from a variety of microbiological methods and quantitative reasoning by using mathematical calculations and graphing skills tosolve problems in microbiology.

Research-related skills: Able to analyze, designstandards, resolve and troubleshoot problems in implementation or standardizationof Life sciences protocols coping up to suit in a position in academia or industry orInstitutions and to pursue a career in research.

Enhancement of ability to read, assimilate and discuss scholarly articles and researchpapers showcasing microbiology as well as interdisciplinary areas of life sciences.

Systematically collect, record, and analyze data, identify sources of error,interpret the results, and reach logical conclusions.

Coordinating/collaborating with others:Communicate and collaborate with other disciplines by effectively communicatingthe fundamental concepts of microbiology in written and oral format.

Leadership readiness/qualities:Taking on responsibilities such as organizing events, leading discussions, or managing projects can help develop leadership skills.

Engaging in internships or research project in microbiology-related fields can offer practical experiences where students can take on leadership rolessuch as initiative, problem-solving, and teamwork.

Digital literacy and skills:Incorporate advanced digital skills in designing, developing,managing and deploying in media and technical field.

Value inculcation:Microbiologists must uphold the highest standards of integrity in their research, including honesty, transparency, and adherence to ethical guidelines. This includes accurately reporting data, acknowledging sources, and avoiding conflicts of interest.

Microbiologists should consider the ethical implications of their research, including the potential impact on human health, the environment, and society as a whole. Ethical considerations may include issues such as the use of genetically modified organisms, animal testing, and informed consent in clinical research.

Autonomy, responsibility and accountability:Knowledge ,skills and implementation of safety rules in microbiology will enable the student /learner to work safely in both independent and organizational set up. 

Environmental awareness and action:develops a basic understanding of the microbiological principlesthat  have environmental implicationssuch as bioremediation of polluted sites, microbial ecology in extreme environments, and climate change mitigation strategies involving microbial communities.and gains an awareness of regulatory requirementsand their compliance in  microbiological research.

Community engagement and service:Understand the relationship between science and society by recognizing anddiscussing logical, scientific and ethical issues in microbiology.Creative educational resources, outreach programs, and multimedia tools help engage and inspire interest in microbiology.

Structure of the programme

Major(Core)

• Introduction to Microbiology
• Systematic Bacteriology
• Virology
• Food and Dairy Microbiology
• Medical Microbiology
• Industrial Microbiology
• Soil and Agricultural Microbiology
• Bioinformatics
• IPR
• Environmental Microbiology
• Microbial Physiology and Metabolism
• RDT
• Microbial Biotechnolgy
• MicrobialGenetics ,Genomics and Proteomics
• Bioprocess Technology
• Enzymology

Minor Stream

• Disinfection and Sterlization Techniques
• Water analyasis techniques
• Waste and Biomedical waste management
• Epidemiology and public health
• Biological Techniques
• Microbes in sustainable agriculture and development
• Research Methodology
• Research Writing Ethics
• Microbial Ecology
• Environmental pollution and Bioremediation

Multidisciplinary

• Fascinating world of microbes
• General Microbiology
• Food Microbiology
• Industrial Microbiology
• Microbial Diversity

Ability Enhancement Courses (AEC)

• English Language/French Language /German Language
• Professional Communication Skills
• Value Education
• Personality Development and Soft Skills
• The Constitution, Human Rights, and the Law

Skill Enhancement Courses (SEC)

• Skills in Entrepreneurship ,sales and distribution
• Fermented foods & dairy products
• Microbial Products for Agriculture Application (Biofertilizers, biopesticides)
• Quality Control and Regulatory Affairs in Food
• Bioethics & Biosafety
• Management of Microbial diseases
• Microbiological hazards and food safety
• Epidemiology and public health

Value Added Courses

• Health and Wellness
• Yoga Education
• Sports and Fitness
• Understanding and connecting withenvironment
• Understanding India/Digital and Technological Solutions
• Physical Education
• Life Skills and personality development
• Moral values in modern Education
• Human and Professional Ethics