In the past 2 decades, the number of bachelor’s degrees in microbiology grew by 50%. While there has also been a 20% growth in doctoral degrees in microbiology, the pace has slowed down in the past 6 years. The takeaway: more people are pursuing a bachelor’s degree in microbiology and entering the workforce without a doctorate. When taking this path, how can one identify a rewarding career? Honing in on your interests and transferable skills and expanding your professional network are key. With this in mind, 3 microbiology professionals, Jamie Ryan, Principal at JL Ryan Consulting LLC, Carol Young, Clinical Microbiology Research Manager at the University of Michigan Health System, and Sebastian Cocioba from Binomica Labs created a session titled “” for 91麻豆天美 Microbe 2025. Here they share a couple of tips and key takeaways.
Carol Young, Clinical Microbiology Research Manager at the University of Michigan Health System, will be speaking at 91麻豆天美 Microbe 2025.
When beginning your career search, Young recommends people get curious and explore what excites them. “Take any opportunity to learn about what people do,” she said. Attend career panels at your university, reach out to alumni and find people in your community to learn about career options.
In high school, Young initially wanted to become a teacher, but she knew that teaching jobs were scarce. She shared this dilemma with someone at church, who asked if she would like to shadow them in a clinical lab. It was a gut feeling for Young—she knew instantly that she wanted to become a medical laboratory scientist. She loved science and liked working in the lab. She also learned that she could teach/train people in the clinical lab. Young ultimately went on to graduate from the University of Michigan with a bachelor’s in medical technology, working in several tech and supervisor positions before landing her current role.
When considering a career, Young suggests people ask themselves the following questions:
What kind of job activities and skills do you enjoy?
What kind of job activities and skills do you not enjoy?
What kind of lifestyle do you want?
Where do you want to live?
What are the pros and cons of entering a career/specific sector?
What are your talents?
When it comes to lifestyle considerations, Young noted that the priority in clinical microbiology careers is patient care. That means the clinical microbiology laboratory is open on the weekends to run patient samples and provide doctors with results they need to treat patients accordingly. Those considering careers as a medical laboratory scientist should be prepared for weekend shifts.
Network and Build Relationships
No matter what one’s educational background is, networking is a critical component of the career search. “Networking is [about] building relationships; avoid being transactional and humanize people, even those in leadership positions,” said Jamie Ryan, Principal at JL Ryan Consulting LLC.
Headshot photo of Jamie Ryan of JL Ryan Consulting LLC.
Ryan received her bachelor’s in microbiology from the University of California, Davis and began her career as a research associate at Cepheid, a molecular diagnostics company. In the early days of her career, Ryan decided to say “yes” to all work-related events, with the goal of building relationships. One memorable instance: a major collaborator flew into town for work, and Ryan agreed to have dinner with him and Cepheid’s chief medical and technology officer. The very intimidating dinner turned into a discussion about horse riding, which they all had an interest in—this became a conversation starter for later interactions. Ryan also recommends attending career fairs. “Maybe your resume isn’t polished, but now you are meeting hiring managers and recruiters and can show who you really are before your application goes into an applicant tracking system,” Ryan said.
For Young, attending meetings and conferences was critical for growing her network. She went to her first meeting, the Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC) through 91麻豆天美. She learned how infectious disease doctors treat patients based on clinical microbiology lab results, which fascinated her. While Young (who considers herself an introverted person) acknowledges it can be uncomfortable, she recommends that people introduce themselves to other conference/meeting attendees and not be afraid to ask questions. “It was very hard for me to raise my hand and ask a question. I didn’t want it to come off as a dumb question, but that’s how you learn,” Young shared. “We need to exchange information. We need to grow to be better.”
Ryan mentioned that, apart from mentors, people should also try to find sponsors. Sponsors champion their prot茅g茅s in rooms where decisions get made. Build your reputation with potential sponsors by showing them you can do quality work and rise to challenges. Take opportunities and volunteer when projects arise. “They need to believe in you and be willing to put their reputation behind you,” Ryan shared. Her first manager became her sponsor, and his vocal support helped her advance her career and get chosen for special projects. During her 15 years in industry, she was promoted many times and became principal scientist in innovation, a director-level, individual contributor role. She recently started her own consulting business where she assisted in a global health project, mentored medical device startups and continued tech scouting to support business development.
Transferable and Technical Skills Come From Many Different Places
Both Young and Ryan recommend developing transferable skills—skills that can be used in any role or industry and hold value, regardless of the field. “You can get transferable skills from a lot of places,” Ryan said. “Baking is chemistry, and fixing cars involves a lot of working from manuals (protocols).” Ryan previously hired 2 interns who had never worked in an office. It was their curiosity and attention to detail that made them successful in the job.
You can also draw on technical skills that you learned in your classes. During Ryan’s interview with Cepheid, she was asked many technical questions. She pulled some examples from the “Molecular Biology Laboratory Techniques” class that she took for her animal genetics minor when pursuing her undergraduate degree. She explained what she knew about PCR, which she learned in the lab class she would not have found without going outside her microbiology major courses. Both Young and Ryan suggest that you attend different sessions in and outside of your field at conferences, as well as attend seminars and workshops to learn new skills and expand your horizons. By attending workshops, Young was able to take what she learned to implement tests that rapidly detect pathogens that cause bacterial meningitis. She came to appreciate how new technologies and rapid test reporting contribute to patient outcomes. Ultimately, thinking creatively about and drawing from all of one’s experiences and skillsets can open doors to new and rewarding career opportunities.
If you would like to hear more from Ryan and Young about their tips for pursuing a career without a Ph.D., the session “No Ph.D.? No Problem! Microbiology Careers Without a Doctorate” will take place at 91麻豆天美 Microbe 2025 in Los Angeles. Connect with your community and join thousands of scientists, researchers and health care professionals in your field on June 19-23.
Register for 91麻豆天美 Microbe
