Microbiology
Study viruses, bacteria, archaea, protists, and fungi to fight infectious disease, advance biotechnology, and improve environmental quality.
Academic Highlights: The curriculum offers undergraduate and graduate students focused training in microbiology in a small classroom environment with personalized academic advising. More than 90 percent of applied molecular biotechnology MS alumni are placed in biotech companies, research institutions, and PhD programs.
Research Areas: Topics include pathogenic microbiology, environmental microbiology, and microbial biotechnology.
Degrees: BS, PhD, five-year BS/MS, one-year MS in applied molecular biotechnology, two-year MS
People:
- Tenure-track faculty: 9
- Lecturers: 5
- Research faculty: 4
- Postdoctoral research associates: 4
- Undergraduate major students: 200
- Graduate students: 37
Research Awards: $2.9M
Explore our programs
In the news
'Western Mass News' Asks Erika Hamilton, Microbiology, to Reflect on COVID
Dr. Hamilton notes that we now know of certain subsets who are more susceptible to severe COVID infection.
CNS and Texas A&M Find That Bacteria-killing Polymers Avoid Resistance to Antibiotics
The team evaluated their polymers against antibiotic-resistant E. coli bacteria and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
CNS and UMass Researchers Named In 2023 ‘Top Scientists’ Rankings By Research.com
Research.com chose UMass faculty scholars out of 166,880 profiles.
Contact
James Holden
Professor
James Holden is a department head and professor in the Department of Microbiology.
