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Graduate student in microbiology lab

Our Graduate Program

We study microorganisms as basic biological models, as industrial and agricultural tools, and as major players in the environment and human health.

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Welcome to the Department of Microbiology

Microbiology:  Exploring the unseen world

Microbiology represents the intersection between biochemistry, biology, and geology.  Microbes cause the infectious diseases that are some of our biggest foes, yet are also our closest companions, with microbial cells outnumbering human cells in our bodies.  They are the engines that drive the biosphere and shape our climate.  Our department encompasses scientists studying a broad range of fields, including microbial physiology, molecular microbiology, genetics, genomics, symbiosis, pathogenesis, biotechnology, computational biology, and ecology.  Graduates of our program go on to jobs in a wide variety of fields, including health care, public health, science policy, food safety, pharmaceuticals, industrial microbiology, and scientific research at academic and government institutions.

Featured Content

Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation awards over $4.3M to top young scientists

DAMON RUNYON CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION

During the week of November 14-17, 2022, doctoral students from the Department of Microbiology provided microbiology demonstrations in Kim Whitehead’s fifth grade STEM enrichment class.

Support Microbiology at UGA

The Department of Microbiology appreciates your financial support. Your gift is important to us and helps support critical opportunities for students and faculty alike, including lectures, travel support, and any number of educational events that augment the classroom experience. Click to read more

Every dollar contributed to the department has a direct impact on our students and faculty.

Seminars and Events

Microbiology

We host seminars and events by current and guest faculty nearly every week of the semester.

View our upcoming events

REU Summer Program

Funded by the National Science Foundation and the University of Georgia, the undergraduate program (REU Site: Molecular and Synthetic Microbiology) will generally run from late May to late July. Selected participants will conduct independent research projects in cutting-edge laboratories, with strong mentorship from UGA research faculty and students. Additionally, participants may access the extensive and renowned recreational facilities on our campus. Undergraduates from institutions with limited research opportunities in fields related to Microbiology, minorities, and deaf/hard-of-hearing students are strongly encouraged to apply.

Click here to learn more about REU

Whiteman Lab