About Microbiology

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Welcome to the Department of Microbiology

Head of Department

Professor Stephen Turner

PA to Head of Department

Mrs Sherrie Young

The Department of Microbiology contains more than 150 personnel, and is part of the School of Biomedical Science within the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Science at Monash University. The department's research labs are housed mostly in STRIP 2 (19 Innovation Walk) in the Biomedical precinct on the Clayton Campus but it also has genomic service facilities at 35 Rainforest Walk and the teaching facilities have been retained on the ground floor in the former Microbiology Building at 12 Innovation Walk.

The department teaches undergraduate students at a variety of levels in a broad range of courses, but most of our students are undertaking degrees in Biomedical Science, Science or Medicine. A vigorous postgraduate program is supported, with more than 50 PhD students currently enrolled.

Research comprises 14 groups, all of which have national competitive research funding, mainly from the National Health and Medical Research Council and/or the Australian Research Council.

In the broadest sense, the research activities aim to understand how various microbes interact with their human or animal hosts at the molecular level, how that interaction can result in disease, and how this can be prevented. The department is well equipped for broad genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic investigations. These are applied to projects designed to increase our understanding of microbial pathogenesis, the development of antibiotic resistance, the immune response to infection, and in vaccine development.

Micromon, the professional technology services unit, offers a range of DNA, RNA and Microbial technology services to the broader research community. Micromon has also established nationwide recognition for its molecular biology techniques training course. The Leptospira Diagnostic Serology lab provides a diagnostic and specialist consulting service for human leptospirosis.