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Microbiology Ph.D. is a graduate level academic degree program that specializes in the study of microorganisms in the areas of bacteriology, virology, mycology, and protozoology. The program envisages preparation of students in specific areas of microbiology and to be able to learn independently to be able to conduct research on their own. While completing the Ph.D. in microbiology course, it takes 4-6 years. The first two years are devoted to formal teaching with the basic subjects like microbiology, immunology, microbial genetics, biochemistry.
The few recognized national level entrance exam for admission to Ph. D microbiology programs are CSIR NET Life Sciences, GATE, ICMR JRF, DBT BET JRF etc Apart from having a valid score in any of the above mentioned entrance test, the students need to have a master’s degree in microbiology or related disciplines such as biotechnology, bioinformatics, life sciences, etc. This is another criterion that gives candidates some exposure to the relevant research through their projects/publications to get shortlisted in the admission process for Ph.D.
| Course Highlight | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Form | Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Microbiology |
| Duration | 3-5 years |
| Course Level | Doctorate |
| Eligibility | Master's degree in Microbiology or related field, Minimum 55% aggregate, Some colleges may require NET/GATE qualification |
| Top Colleges | Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore; Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi; University of Delhi, Delhi; Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai; National Centre for Cell Science (NCCS), Pune |
| Entrance Exam | CSIR-UGC NET, DBT JRF, ICMR JRF, GATE, Institutional entrance exams |
1. The applicant should have completed a master’s degree in Microbiology, Biotechnology, Life Sciences or any other related field with minimum of 55% marks or equivalent CGPA.
2. Passing national or state level test like CSIR UGC NET, GATE or any equivalent examination with appropriate score.
3. Minimum educational qualification for the students who do not possess master degree is a Bachelor degree in Microbiology or any related field with minimum 60% marks or its equivalent grade.
4. Sufficient past experience and knowledge in areas like microbiology, biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, immunology, and laboratory work.
5. Completion of a research by means of projects/dissertations during post graduation is desired.
6. The candidates are then selected based on their performance on the entrance test, their academic record, research ability and a personal interview conducted by a committee.
1. CSIR-UGC NET: The national eligibility test for the award of research fellowships and lecturership in the first part of the service.
2. ICMR JRF: Previous Medical examination: It is conducted for admission to various fellowships awarded by Indian Council of Medical Research.
3. GATE (Life Sciences): Paper I: Life Science and Allied Fields For admission to M.Tech & Direct Ph. D. Programme in Life Science and corresponding fields.
4. JNUEE: Comprise of tests administered by Jawaharlal Nehru University to admit students to their Ph.D. courses and programs including microbiology.
5. JAM: The test is also known as the Joint Admission Test for admission to M.Sc., M.Sc.-Ph.etc. programs at IISc, IITs and other top institutes such as MSc, MTech, MS, PhD, BSc, BTech, Dual degree, Integrated etc.
| Subject | Important Topics |
|---|---|
| Advanced Microbial Physiology | - Microbial growth and metabolism - Enzyme function and regulation - Transport mechanisms in microbes - Stress responses and adaptation |
| Microbial Genetics & Genomics | - Gene structure, function, and regulation - Bacterial and viral genetics - Microbial genomics and bioinformatics - Mutagenesis and genetic manipulation techniques |
| Immunology | - Host-microbe interactions - Innate and adaptive immunity - Vaccine development - Immunological techniques |
| Microbial Ecology | - Microbial communities and their interactions - Environmental microbiology - Biodegradation and bioremediation - Microbiome research |
| Medical Microbiology | - Pathogenesis of bacterial, viral, and parasitic diseases - Diagnostic microbiology - Antimicrobial resistance - Emerging infectious diseases |
| Industrial Microbiology | - Fermentation technology - Microbial production of enzymes, antibiotics, and other products - Biodegradation and bioremediation applications - Industrial enzyme technology |
| Research Methodology | - Scientific research design and methods - Data analysis and interpretation - Scientific writing and communication - Research ethics |
| Elective Courses (may vary) | - Virology - Mycology - Microbial Pathogenesis - Food Microbiology - Aquatic Microbiology |
1. Find the universities and research groups that are of interest and then inquire about the admission procedures.
2. Submit the scores of their entrance examination like GRE, TOEFL/IELTS and ensure that they meet the standard passing scores.
3. Gather documents which are needed for admission such as research statement, curricula vitae, letters of recommendation, etc.
4. Complete applications should reach university before due date and organise application fees.
5. If called for an interview seek to demonstrate the research potential when presenting before the selection committee.
6. To be offered an admission, write for the admission offer letter, apply for a sponsor ship and complete the registration process into the doctoral studies program.
| College Name | Location | Approximate Fees (Annual) |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore | Bangalore | - |
| National Institute of Immunology (NII) | New Delhi | - |
| Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) | New Delhi | ₹ 20,000 - ₹ 30,000 |
| University of Delhi | Delhi | ₹ 10,000 - ₹ 20,000 |
| Banaras Hindu University (BHU) | Varanasi | ₹ 12,000 - ₹ 18,000 |
| Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi | Delhi | - |
| Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay | Mumbai | - |
| Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras | Chennai | - |
| Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur | Kanpur | - |
| University of Calcutta | Kolkata | ₹ 8,000 - ₹ 15,000 |
| College Name | Location | Approximate Fees (Annual) |
|---|---|---|
| The Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University (TNMGRMU) | Chennai | ₹ 1,00,000 - ₹ 1,50,000 |
| Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) | Vellore | ₹ 1,20,000 - ₹ 1,80,000 |
| Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) | Manipal | ₹ 1,50,000 - ₹ 2,00,000 |
| Symbiosis International (Deemed University) | Pune | ₹ 1,30,000 - ₹ 1,80,000 |
| Amity University | Various Locations | ₹ 80,000 - ₹ 1,20,000 |
| SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRM IST) | Chennai | ₹ 1,00,000 - ₹ 1,50,000 |
| Shiv Nadar University | Gautam Budh Nagar | ₹ 1,40,000 - ₹ 1,80,000 |
| KIIT Deemed University | Bhubaneswar | ₹ 80,000 - ₹ 1,00,000 |
| Jain (Deemed-to-be University) | Bengaluru | ₹ 1,20,000 - ₹ 1,60,000 |
| PES University | Bengaluru | ₹ 1,50,000 - ₹ 2,00,00,000 |
| Specialization | Job Titles | Average Annual Salary (India) |
|---|---|---|
| Microbial Biotechnology | - Research Scientist (Biotechnology) - Product Development Scientist (Microbes) - Fermentation Specialist | ₹ 8.0 - ₹ 12.0 LPA |
| Medical Microbiology | - Clinical Microbiologist - Research Scientist (Infectious Diseases) - Public Health Microbiologist | ₹ 7.0 - ₹ 10.0 LPA |
| Immunology | - Immunologist (Research) - Vaccine Development Scientist - Immunodiagnostics Specialist | ₹ 8.0 - ₹ 14.0 LPA |
| Microbial Ecology & Environmental Microbiology | - Environmental Microbiologist - Bioremediation Specialist - Water Quality Microbiologist | ₹ 6.0 - ₹ 9.0 LPA |
| Industrial Microbiology | - Industrial Microbiologist - Enzyme Production Specialist - Food Microbiology Consultant | ₹ 7.5 - ₹ 11.0 LPA |
