Description
Assist microbiologists by setting up, operating, and maintaining microbiology laboratory instruments; performing aseptic culture work; preparing media and reagents; collecting and processing samples; and monitoring experiments. Record and analyze data and perform routine tests for microbial enumeration, identification, sterility, and quality in clinical, environmental, food, or pharmaceutical applications.
- • Maintain detailed laboratory notebooks and electronic records.
- • Follow biosafety, aseptic technique, and quality standards.
- • Collect, receive, and log clinical, environmental, food, water, or product samples.
- • Prepare and sterilize media, buffers, and reagents via autoclave or filtration.
- • Set up, calibrate, operate, clean, and troubleshoot microbiology equipment.
- • Culture microorganisms; streak, plate, and subculture to isolate pure colonies.
- • Enumerate microbes using plate counts, MPN, or membrane filtration.
- • Perform Gram stains, microscopy, and biochemical or rapid ID assays.
- • Conduct antimicrobial susceptibility testing and record results.
- • Execute sterility, bioburden, and endotoxin tests for products or materials.
- • Perform environmental monitoring of air, surfaces, and water.
- • Monitor culture growth, maintain incubation logs, and document deviations.
- • Operate LIMS and other laboratory software to enter and verify data.
- • Assist scientists with experiment setup, validations, and method development.
- • Manage inventory and place orders for media, plates, reagents, and supplies.
- • Analyze data, calculate results (e.g., CFU, MIC, log reductions), and write reports.
- • Maintain microbial culture collections and cryogenic stocks.
- • Decontaminate work areas and manage biohazard waste.
Related specializations
Interview options
Interview options
Interviewee gender
Interviewee accent
Interview time
Related Pathways
Healthcare & Human Services
View
Source
Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
Learn more
Sources & Standards:
This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
