According to people in this career, the main tasks are...
| Task | Importance |
|---|---|
| Isolate and maintain cultures of bacteria or other microorganisms in prescribed or developed media, controlling moisture, aeration, temperature, and nutrition. | 95% |
| Study growth, structure, development, and general characteristics of bacteria and other microorganisms to understand their relationship to human, plant, and animal health. | 90% |
| Examine physiological, morphological, and cultural characteristics, using microscope, to identify and classify microorganisms in human, water, and food specimens. | 88% |
| Provide laboratory services for health departments, community environmental health programs, and physicians needing information for diagnosis and treatment. | 84% |
| Investigate the relationship between organisms and disease, including the control of epidemics and the effects of antibiotics on microorganisms. | 83% |
| Prepare technical reports and recommendations, based upon research outcomes. | 82% |
| Supervise biological technologists and technicians and other scientists. | 81% |
| Monitor and perform tests on water, food, and the environment to detect harmful microorganisms or to obtain information about sources of pollution, contamination, or infection. | 81% |
| Use a variety of specialized equipment, such as electron microscopes, gas and high-pressure liquid chromatographs, electrophoresis units, thermocyclers, fluorescence-activated cell sorters, and phosphorimagers. | 76% |
| Study the structure and function of human, animal, and plant tissues, cells, pathogens, and toxins. | 72% |
| Research use of bacteria and microorganisms to develop vitamins, antibiotics, amino acids, grain alcohol, sugars, and polymers. | 71% |
| Develop new products and procedures for sterilization, food and pharmaceutical supply preservation, or microbial contamination detection. | 70% |
| Observe action of microorganisms upon living tissues of plants, higher animals, and other microorganisms, and on dead organic matter. | 68% |
| Conduct chemical analyses of substances such as acids, alcohols, and enzymes. | 56% |
