Overview of the Department of Bacteriology
The UW-Madison is home to a large number of microbiologists located
in many different departments (the ASM directory has 350 listings
in the Madison area). The Department of Bacteriology serves as a
focus for microbiology throughout the campus. The Department of
Medical Microbiology and Immunology (Medical School) covers the
clinical microbiology and immunology perspective, while food safety
and food microbiology expertise is provided by the Departments of
Food Science and Food Microbiology and Toxicology (Food Research
Institute), both in CALS. Microbial ecology is an important emphasis
in the Department of Plant Pathology (CALS). Other departments contributing
to the microbiology community include Agronomy(CALS), Animal Health
and Biomedical Sciences (Vet School), Animal Sciences(CALS), ) Biochemistry
(CALS), Biomolecular Chemistry (Medical School), Cellular and Molecular
Biology (interdisciplinary), Genetics (CALS), Horticulture (CALS),
Oncology (Medical School), Pathobiological Sciences (Vet School),
Preventive Medicine (Medical School), School of Pharmacy, and Soil
Science (CALS).
The Department of Bacteriology provides a foundation in basic research
which supports the entire microbiological community. Research strengths
encompass microbial physiology and genetics, structure-function
relationships and cellular processes. In addition, Bacteriology
provides service courses in microbiology for majors throughout the
campus as well as a comprehensive core curriculum for Bacteriology
majors. Well-trained microbiologists are the lifeline for many industries,
agencies, health organizations and academic institutions. Bacteriology
graduates are in high demand in all of these areas, both within
the State of Wisconsin and nationally.
The research programs within the Department of Bacteriology enjoy
excellent support ($4.8 million external funds in 1999). The research
focuses on fundamental life process but has had significant industrial
application in bioremediation, insect pest management and molecular
diagnostics. The historical focus has been, and will continue to
be in procaryotic biology but the department is expanding its perspective
by bringing in immunology and lower eucaryotic biology.
Our faculty members are active in national scientific societies
(ASM, AAAS, ACS) serve as members of study sections of granting
agencies, are on editorial boards of scientific journals, and have
been recognized for their achievements through many awards and memberships
in prestigious societies such as the American Academy of Sciences,
the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Microbiology.
In sum, the Department of Bacteriology enjoys a distinguished research
reputation, serves a leadership role in microbiology at UW-Madison
and nationally and is highly respected for its teaching excellence.
The Department is working to maintain and expand its presence at
UW- Madison by bringing the large microbiology community even closer
together. To this end, there is now an interdepartmental Ph.D. program
in Microbiology (the result of the merger of the PhD. programs in
Bacteriology and MM&I), the proposed Microbial Sciences Building
will provide a "home" for microbiology and discussions about cooperative
initiatives at the undergraduate level are underway. Microbiology
at Madison has long been known as one of the best centers of excellence
in the world. We expect microbiology to become even stronger as
we enter the next century.
Research Overview
The Department of Bacteriology has a long history of research excellence
dating from early work by outstanding microbiologists such as E.B.
Fred, Ira Baldwin, Elizabeth McCoy. Subsequent to these pioneers
came Kenneth Raper, J.B. Wilson, Harlyn Halvorson, P.W. Wilson,
William C. Frazier, Tom Brock, Winston Brill, Greg Zeikus, Martha
Howe, Carol Gross, Randy Dimond, Jerald Ensign, Ronald Hinsdill
among others. Today we continue the tradition with a very dynamic
faculty at the forefront of research in their specialities. In its
rating of graduate programs in 2000, U.S. News and World Report
rated Microbiology at UW-Madison as third in the nation behind Harvard
and Stanford. Currently there are 13 faculty members with primary
appointments in the Department of Bacteriology. In addition there
are three USDA faculty whose university appointment is in Bacteriology
but whose primary appointment is in a USDA research facility such
as the Forest Products Laboratory or the Dairy Forage Research Center.
The research activities of the departmental faculty are very well
funded with the 99/00 level of funding in the $4.8 million/year
range.
The research mission of the department is to provide basic research
in the microbial and related sciences for the College of Agricultural
and Life Sciences. A primary focus of the Department has been procaryotic
biology but not to the exclusion of the study of lower eucaryotes.
It has long been departmental philosophy to encompass diverse research
areas and topics within procaryotic biology rather than to concentrate
our research efforts in a few specific areas. The breadth of research
in the department ranges from study of microbes in the environment
to examination of subcellular structures at the atomic level and
includes analysis of fundamental biological processes such as gene
transcription, DNA replication, regulation of gene expression, integration
of metabolic pathways, determination of protein and organelle structures,
molecular recognition signals, nitrogen fixation and metal containing
proteins, bacterial photosynthesis and cytochrome function, degradation
of toxic chemicals, host-symbiont interactions, production of microbial
insecticides, degradation of wood (lignin primarily) by molds, microbial
ecology of the rumen, and the production of organic solvents from
wood products. There is also diversity in the microorganisms studied.
The Department of Bacteriology is an excellent place to do research.
There is a very collegial and stimulating atmosphere with much sharing
of equipment and expertise. We have been successful in attracting
and recruiting excellent faculty and graduate students. The diversity
of research areas provides a broad research perspective that adds
excitement to the research atmosphere.
The Undergraduate Major in Bacteriology
The Field The Bacteriology major provides training in fundamental
and applied aspects of microbiology, relating to the study of bacteria,
archaea, viruses, fungi, and protozoa. The core courses focus on
the basic biology, biochemistry and genetics of microorganisms.
A variety of elective courses provides students with additional
training in specific areas of interest. Such areas include environmental
microbiology and the use of microorganisms for bioremediation of
pollutants in soils and water; microbial ecology; biotechnology
and the use of microorganisms to produce enzymes, hormones, antibodies
and other molecules; industrial microbiology and the use of microbes
in the manufacture of foods, fuels, drugs, antibiotics, vaccines
and other useful substances; microbial interactions with other organisms,
which includes infectious disease; and fundamental aspects of microbial
physiology, gene expression, enzymology, and metabolic regulation.
Career Opportunities Bacteriology is an excellent major for students
planning to enroll in graduate programs, medical school, veterinary
medicine and other professional degree programs. Graduates also
enjoy a wide variety of career opportunities in the biotechnological,
pharmaceutical, food safety, healthcare, foods and bioprocessing
industries, as well as in universities and government agencies.
Approximately 60 percent of graduates enter directly into the job
market, with the remainder pursuing advanced degrees.
Bacteriology majors possess the following attributes upon graduation:
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A broad background of knowledge of microbial diversity, physiology,
biochemistry and genetics, with appropriate knowledge of the
basic principles of biology, chemistry, mathematics and physics.
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An understanding of the nature of experimental design and
the use of controls.
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An ability to perform contemporary experimental procedures
in microbial sciences.
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The ability to think critically and analyze scientific data.
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The confidence and knowledge base to read, interpret and apply
the primary scientific literature.
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The ability to communicate the results of one's own experiments
through laboratory notebooks as well as by formal oral or written
presentations.
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The skills to interact productively with a multidisciplinary
research team, both in experimental performance and data analysis.
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