Department of Microbiology

The mission of the Department of Microbiology is to provide:

1. Fundamental research training for undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral students who will become future leaders in science, medicine, and industry;
2. A learning environment that excites and informs undergraduate majors and non-majors about microbiology and the many ways that it is relevant to everyday life; and
3. A service for Oregon’s citizens, government agencies, and industries that require expert advice about microorganisms and the roles they play in our health, economy, and sustainability of our natural resources, and
4. Research that advances the frontiers of knowledge in the field of microbiology.

We aim to provide a learning environment that excites and informs undergraduate majors and non-majors about microbiology and the many ways that it is relevant to everyday life. Through our two undergraduate majors, Microbiology and BioHealth Sciences, the Department is committed to providing a transformative education through the following elements:

1. Provide compelling and relevant undergraduate courses that teach science literacy for all OSU students and provide the fundamental knowledge for our majors to succeed in their careers.
2. Provide training through innovative, non-conventional coursework that stresses inquiry-based learning.
3. Encourage and provide opportunities for students to participate in research.
4. Prepare our majors for future careers or further educational opportunities by providing a capstone experience.
5. Equalize opportunities for under-represented minorities and for students with diverse life experiences.
6. Improve the timely progression to graduation for majors of all backgrounds.
7. Offer teaching facilities that provide a learning experience appropriate for a top tier research university.

We aim to expertly train a diverse group of students so that they will have the necessary tools to succeed and become leaders in industry, research institutes, government agencies, and academia through the following elements:

1. Provide a compelling and relevant Microbiology curriculum that will train students at a high standard of scientific literacy and impart appropriate skill sets.
2. Provide exposure to a diverse scientific community where there are increased and equalized opportunities for under-represented minorities and for students with diverse life experiences.
3. Provide personalized mentoring that provides the necessary support for students to develop progress to timely completion of their Masters and PhD degrees.
4. Provide facilities and resources commensurate with a top tier research university that will allow students to gain valuable skills and compelling learning experiences.
5. Develop alternative avenues for graduate education to provide opportunities for a diverse student population.

The Department of Microbiology strives to obtain national and international recognition of its faculty by encouraging them to build strong, externally funded research programs. The Department must continue to support opportunities for developments that will bring benefit to the research activities of the department. To maintain and expand our vigorous participation in research, the Department strives to:

1. Provide state-of-the-art research laboratory facilities and equipment.
2. Recruit new faculty to rebuild the number of tenure-line research-oriented faculty, hiring the most talented applicants who also have the potential to collaborate with colleagues inside and outside the Department at OSU and contribute to OSU's Strategic Plan in the following areas:
   • Marine Studies
   • BioHealth Sciences
   • Data Science
   • Environmental Health
   • Integrated Systems Biology
   • Synthetic Biology
   • Natural Resource Stewardship
3. Mentor new faculty to help ensure rapid establishment of a well-funded research program and innovative participation in teaching.
4. Leverage our strengths in environmental and pathogenic research to build collaborative relationships with other units at OSU.
5. Disseminate and promote research results to the public,