The Committee on Microbiology

The Committee on Microbiology is an educational program for graduate students towards the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Microbiology, as well as a research and teaching enterprise in the Pritzker School of Medicine and the College of The University of Chicago.  The College of the University of Chicago offers an undergraduate concentration in the study of microbiology.

Microbiology is a field of science that examines microbial life forms, their physiological properties and structures as well as their ability to cause human, animal or plant diseases. Microbes exist as bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoa or parasites - all of which are studied by microbiologists.  The identification of microbial life forms in the 19th century and their rigorous study in the 20th century led to a revolution in medicine and science.  The field of microbiology is responsible for doubling human life expectancy in the past fifty years and for dramatically reducing human morbidity caused by infectious diseases.  These advances were made possible through achievements in anti-microbial therapy, vaccine development and the enforcement of antiseptic and hygienic principles.  Microbiology has led to the prevention of plant disease, increasing crop yields and food supplies for people around the globe.  Further, microbiology has revealed the principles of heredity and molecular biology through the study of bacteria and bacteriophages.  These achievements are well-recognized and the Committee on Microbiology provides undergraduate, graduate and medical students with teaching, diagnostic procedures and research training in microbiology.

Past achievements of microbiology are not permanent successes!  We have witnessed the development of bacterial strains that are multiply resistant to all known anti-microbials, creating emergency situations in American hospitals.  We have learned that new pathogens emerge continuously and need to be identified, studied and treated with anti-microbials that we are challenged to identify.  We have observed the threat of biological warfare, employing the most dangerous microbial pathogens as tools of terror or war.  Each of these topics require a sustained effort in research excellence to maintain the acquired standards of therapy and disease prevention and the reduced levels of human morbidity and mortality.  Future research in microbiology will need to identify new anti-bacterial therapies by exploiting knowledge of genes that are required for pathogenesis but not for replication outside the host. Microbiology research will need to identify anti-viral therapies and vaccination strategies that combat some of the most dangerous and abundant disease of human societies.  Infectious diseases are the leading cause of death in the third world and their therapy requires strategies that are distinct from those of more advanced societies.  Parasites are a leading cause of disease and death in subtropical and tropical countries, however research efforts everywhere must contribute to combating human diseases such as malaria, sleeping sickness, river blindness and worm infestations.  Microbiology has provided the scientific tools for advances in molecular biology and in the genetic analysis of human disease.  Microbiology will need to provide the research and therapeutic tools required to cure human inheritable diseases by supplying techniques for genetic exchange.

Modern microbiology is a flourishing science at The University of Chicago; we attract excellent students and post-graduate scientists from around the world and these young scientists push further the frontiers of microbiological sciences.  Although microbiological science is an accomplished discipline at The University of Chicago, the Committee on Microbiology is a brand new enterprise and it will expand further in the next five years with the recruitment of several new faculty and the completion of new research space.  Using this website, please inform yourself about our research accomplishments and opportunities as well as our educational programs.  The Committee on Microbiology is an energized cutting-edge research enterprise and a fun place to do science.  I invite you to become a part of the Committee on Microbiology!