Being a microbiologist is like being private detective whose clientele lives in every country - microbiologists travel to all corners of the earth—and beyond—to study microbes. Some microbiologists discover strange, new forms of life that no one even knew existed. Some find new ways to use microbes to work for our benefit, making medicines or getting rid of pollution. Some spy on disease-causing microbes to discover their weaknesses so they can eventually be destroyed

Microbiologists work in almost every industry—from food, agriculture and pollution control to biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and health. They also work in government agencies and labs, water treatment facilities, and hospitals. And they work in education as teachers and researchers.

Because there are so many different species of microbes existing and they do such very different things, no one microbiologist can study everything! That's why people who become microbiologists usually focus on a particular microbe or research area to explore the effects of microbes in many countries, and to help them solve microbial problems. Here are a few examples:

• Some microbiologists focus on bacteria and how they help or hurt us. These scientists are called bacteriologists.
• Some specialize in viruses and how they infect cells. These scientists are called virologists.
• Some study fungi in particular and are called mycologists.
• Some microbiologists research epidemics of disease to learn what caused them and if we're facing a deadly new microbe. They are called epidemiologists.
• Some study how the body defends itself against harmful microbial cells. They are called immunologists.