Microbiologists working independently or as part of a team collect samples either indoors or outdoors, depending on where the subject (e.g., human, animal, plant, natural resource) is located. Microbiologists who collect samples outdoors will encounter varied weather and terrain. Analysis is generally carried out indoors in a sterile setting, usually a laboratory or an office. Because microbiologists often deal with disease-causing microorganisms, they must take precautions to prevent spillage or direct contact. Sometimes microbiologists have to wear protective clothing and gloves.
Microbiologists working in a hospital setting may work day or night shifts as well as weekends, since hospital laboratories generally operate around the clock to analyze germs infecting patients and to keep infections from spreading in the hospital. Independent consulting work leads to a great deal of freedom in choosing hours, projects, and clients.
- Addiction Therapists
- Advanced Manufacturing Engineers
- Advanced Manufacturing Technicians
- Advanced Practice Nurses
- Aerospace Medicine Physicians
- Agricultural Scientists
- Air Quality Engineers
- Allergists/Immunologists
- Anesthesiologist Assistants
- Anesthesiologists
- Animal Behaviorists
- Animal Breeders and Technicians
- Aquaculturists
- Aquarists
- Arborists
- Astrobiologists
- Behavioral Health Technicians
- Biochemical Engineers
- Biochemists
- Bioenergy/Biofuels Workers
- Biofuels Processing Technicians
- Biofuels Production Managers
- Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers
- Bioinformatics Specialists
- Biologists
- Biomass Plant Technicians
- Biomass Power Plant Managers
- Biomedical Engineers
- Biomedical Equipment Technicians
- Biophysicists
- Biosecurity Monitors
- Biotechnology Production Workers
- Biotechnology Research Assistants
- Botanists
- Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers
- Business Managers
- Cancer Exercise Specialists
- Cardiologists
- Cardiovascular Technologists
- Chemical Engineers
- Chemists
- Chief Sustainability Officers
- Child Life Specialists
- Chiropractors
- Civil Engineers
- Climate Scientists
- Clinical Applications Specialists
- Clinical Nurse Specialists
- Clinical Pharmacist Practitioners
- Community Health Nurses
- Community Health Workers
- Contact Tracers
- Corporate Climate Strategists
- Cosmetic Surgeons
- Creative Arts Therapists
- CRISPR Scientists
- Critical Care Nurses
- Cytogenetic Technologists
- Cytotechnologists
- Dental Assistants
- Dental Hygienists
- Dental Laboratory Technicians
- Dental Therapists
- Dentists
- Dermatologists
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
- Dialysis Technicians
- Dietetic Technicians
- Dietitians
- Directors of Telehealth
- Dispensing Opticians
- Drug Developers
- Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialists
- Ecologists
- Electroneurodiagnostic Technologists
- Electronics Engineering Technicians
- Emergency Medical Technicians
- Emergency Nurses
- Endocrinologists
- Endodontists
- Endoscopy Technicians
- Energy Conservation Technicians
- Energy Consultants
- Engineering Technicians
- Environmental Consultants
- Environmental Economists
- Environmental Education Program Directors
- Environmental Engineers
- Environmental Lawyers
- Environmental Lobbyists
- Environmental Planners
- Environmental Restoration Planners
- Environmental Scientists
- Environmental Technicians
- EPA Special Agents
- Epidemiologists
- Epigenetics Researchers
- Ergonomists
- Fish and Game Wardens
- Forensic Meteorologists
- Foresters
- Forestry Technicians
- Futurists
- Gastroenterologists
- General Practitioners
- Genetic Counselors
- Genetic Engineers
- Genetic Genealogists
- Genetic Scientists
- Geological Technicians
- Geologists
- Geophysicists
- Geriatric Nurses
- Geriatric Psychiatrists
- Geriatric Social Workers
- Geriatricians
- Green Builders
- Green Hotel/Resort Ecomanagers
- Green Products Manufacturers
- Green Transportation Careers
- Grief Therapists
- Groundwater Professionals
- Hazardous Waste Management Specialists
- Hazardous Waste Management Technicians
- Health Advocates
- Health Educators
- Health Informaticists
- Hematologists
- Histologic Technicians
- Holistic Physicians
- Home Health Care Aides
- Home Health Care and Hospice Nurses
- Horticultural Inspectors
- Horticultural Technicians
- Hospice Workers
- Hospitalists
- Hydropower and Marine Energy Industry Workers
- Indoor Environmental Health Specialists
- Industrial Ecologists
- Industrial-Organizational Psychologists
- Informatics Nurse Specialists
- Kinesiologists
- Laboratory Technicians and Technologists
- Laboratory Testing Technicians
- Land Acquisition Professionals
- Land Trust or Preserve Managers
- Landscape Architects
- Licensed Practical Nurses
- Marine Biologists
- Materials Engineers
- Mechanical Engineers
- Medical Assistants
- Medical Laboratory Technicians
- Medical Scientists
- Medical Screeners
- Medical Scribes
- Medical Technologists
- Methane/Landfill Gas Collection System Operators
- Methane/Landfill Gas Generation System Technicians
- Microfabrication Engineers
- Microfabrication Technicians
- Molecular and Cellular Biologists
- Music Therapists
- Nanomaterials Scientists
- Nanosystems Engineers
- Nanotechnicians
- Nanotechnologists
- National Park Service Employees
- Naturalists
- Neonatal Nurses
- Neurologists
- Neuropsychologists and Clinical Neuropsychologists
- Neuroscientists
- Nuclear Medicine Physicians
- Nuclear Medicine Technologists
- Nurse Anesthetists
- Nurse Assistants
- Nurse Managers
- Nurse Practitioners
- Nurse-Midwives
- Nutritionists
- Obstetricians/Gynecologists
- Occupational Health Nurses
- Occupational Therapists
- Occupational Therapy Assistants and Aides
- Oceanographers
- Oncological Nurses
- Oncologists
- Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians
- Ophthalmic Medical Technologists
- Ophthalmologists
- Optometrists
- Oriental Medicine Practitioners
- Orientation and Mobility Specialists
- Orthodontists
- Orthoptists
- Orthotic and Prosthetic Technicians
- Orthotists and Prosthetists
- Osteopathic Physicians
- Park Rangers
- Pathologists
- Pediatricians
- Pedorthists
- Perfusionists
- Periodontists
- Pharmacists
- Pharmacologists
- Pharmacy Technicians
- Phlebotomy Technicians
- Physiatrists
- Physical Therapists
- Physical Therapy Assistants
- Physician Assistants
- Physicians
- Podiatrists
- Preventive Medicine Physicians
- Prosthodontists
- Psychiatric Nurses
- Psychiatric Technicians
- Psychiatrists
- Psychologists
- Radiologic Technologists
- Radiologists
- Range Managers
- Recreational Therapists
- Recycling and Reclamation Workers
- Recycling Coordinators
- Refuse Collectors
- Registered Nurses
- Remote Health Care Engineers
- Renewable Energy Careers
- Renewable Energy Engineers
- Respiratory Technicians
- Respiratory Therapists
- Rewilders
- Robotics Engineers
- Robotics Technicians
- School Nurses
- Semiconductor Technicians
- Senior Care Pharmacists
- Social Workers
- Soil Conservationists and Technicians
- Soil Scientists
- Special Procedures Technologists
- Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists
- Speech-Language Pathology Assistants
- Sports Physicians
- Sports Psychologists
- Surgeons
- Surgical Technologists
- Toxicologists
- Transplant Coordinators
- Urologists
- Veterinarians
- Wastewater Treatment Plant Operators and Technicians
- Water/Wastewater Engineers
- Zoo and Aquarium Curators and Directors
- Zoologists