Specialise in Microbiology for your Bachelor of Science at Massey
Microbiology is an essential science that helps us understand the microbes in the environment, including microbes that dwell in the soil, air and water, in our food and inside people, animals and plants. Microbiology can impact on many different areas, such as:
- agriculture, where rumen microbes are both essential to dairy and good industries, but also responsible for much of New Zealand’s carbon emission;
- bioprotection, where efforts to preserve native birds (kiwi) and plants (kauri trees) depend on expert control of microbial pathogens
- microbes have applications as model systems to answer questions beyond the immediate range of microbiology, such as the causes of cancer or birth defects;
- green and bio-based technologies, where microbes help preserve our environment by producing bio-based materials for use in diagnostics and vaccines or by harnessing solar energy for fuel production.
Multi-disciplinary
In the Massey Bachelor of Science (Microbiology) you will learn about microbiology hand-in-hand with other science areas such as veterinary, animal, and environmental science. This allows you to explore microbiological disciplines, including environment/ecology, medical, veterinary and food microbiology, and biotechnology.
Some of the topics taught in microbiology courses include:
- bioinformatics and genomics
- biotechnology
- DNA technology
- environmental microbiology
- immunology
- medical microbiology
- developing diagnostic tests for infectious diseases (including SARS-CoV2)
- microbial diversity
- applied and industrial microbiology
- food microbiology.
Heaps of laboratory experience
Exposure and time in labs is a large component of our course and on par with what is usually only seen in employment. For example, you’ll get to do a lab-based simulated research project, such as identification of microbes in environment or food, or producing useful proteins in bacterial culture. As a graduate, you’ll have lab confidence and the unique ability to show potential employers that you are skilled in lab-based experiments.
Real-world experience
You will complete research projects as part of a summer studentship with the Massey University researchers. You’ll gain a real-world insight into the area and connections with potential future employers.
World-leading facilities
Facilities available to you include our Microscopy and Imaging Centre, Genomics and DNA sequencing facility, protein analysis suite (Mass Spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, NMR), bioreactors and fermentation facilities.