Welcome to Microbiology at TCD
Microbiology is the branch of the life sciences which deals with the biology of prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms - bacteria, fungi (moulds), protozoa and viruses. In terms of basic molecular and cell biology, microbiology has many elements in common with biochemistry and genetics. Aspects of these subjects form important parts of undergraduate and postgraduate teaching in Microbiology. The Department has a strong commitment to basic research, with the core research themes being in molecular biology of pathogenic microbes, preventive medicine, and microbial systems biology.
The Department of Microbiology has an establishment of eight full-time academic staff and has teaching and research links with the Department of Clinical Microbiology, School of Medicine at St. James's Hospital http://www.medicine.tcd.ie/clinical_microbiology/. The Department occupies the Moyne Institute of Preventive Medicine, a building presented to the College in 1953 by Grania Guinness (now the dowager Marchioness of Normanby) in memory of her father, the first Baron Moyne. Lady Normanby has taken a keen interest in the development of the Department, funding the construction of major extensions to the research space in the building most recently in 1994.
What will you study in the Microbiology Department:
Topics include:
- Microbial and Molecular Genetics
- Bacterial Physiology
- Biomembranes and Cell Surfaces
- Virology
- Molecular Biotechnology
- Microbial Genome Structure & Gene Regulation
- Microbial Pathogenicity
- Applied & Environmental Microbiology
- Molecular Protozoology
- Molecular Biology of Yeast
- Medical & Clinical Microbiology
- Antimicrobial Agents & Antibiotics
Microbiology is closely related to genetics and biochemistry. Students take complementary courses from these disciplines. Laboratory training covers the safe handling of pathogenic microorganisms, separation of their components and products, research technologies, genetic analysis and biotechnological techniques.
In the Senior Sophister(4th) year, all students take three core courses that cover molecular and cell biology, microbial pathogenicity, and applied and environmental microbiology. Optional courses offer study of selected topics at the cutting edge of knowledge and cover such diverse areas as:
- Gene Regulation and Expression
- Bacterial Cell Surfaces
- Gene Expression in Eukaryotes
- Molecular Pathogenesis of Bacteria Infections
- Legislation, Standards System and Issues in Current Microbiological Practice
- Pathogenesis of Protozoal Diseases
- Clinical Microbiology
- Emerging Pathogens
Each student conducts an original research project under the supervision of a department-based or cognate research group.
Career Opportunities
Graduates in Microbiology find employment in pharmaceutical and medical research laboratories, as quality control officers in the preparation of drugs, in food processing and packaging, Science publications, Science journalism, and in public utilities. Such employment may involve working with the newer biotechnologies and using microorganisms for the commercial production of drugs, enzymes, antibiotics, vaccines and agricultural products. Many graduates go on to study for a higher research degree.