Our 2-day Microbiology - Intensive course offers laboratory-based tuition delivered by real scientists with the aim of providing university science participants, graduates and postgraduates with an opportunity to gain hands on experience using real laboratory equipment. This course helps participants gain experience in a range of techniques essential for any microbiological research.

This course is specially designed and delivered by active researchers to provide a holistic approach to contemporary microbiology. This two-day course provides participants an opportunity to learn in a nurturing industry standard laboratory where they gain hands-on experience whilst learning the techniques required for microbiology research. Participants are be able to use their new skills to culture and isolate bacteria in liquid or solid media, investigate antibiotic sensitivity of different bacterial species and identify species of bacteria using Gram staining and brightfield microscopy.

The Intensive Microbiology (2 Days) course runs from 9:30am – 4pm for 2 consecutive days with a 1-hour break for lunch. We teach at a very low participant to tutor ratio meaning that participants are supervised and encouraged throughout their course.

The course content is ideal for undergraduate and postgraduate participants who wish to gain a solid foundation in laboratory skills and gain a better understanding of certain laboratory procedures, including Health and Safety, Aseptic Technique, Bacterial Culturing, Gram Staining and much more. It is also ideal for adult learners who are looking to retrain in science or as a taster of what laboratory work is like.

We ask participants to design their own experiments and allow participants to make (safe) mistakes to learn from them. This helps participants to develop independent research skills and gain confidence in their own ability in the laboratory.

Day 1

• Introduction to Microbiology and aseptic techniques.
• How to prepare and set up a laboratory space for microbiological research.
• Prepare nutrient broths and agar plates to cultivate different bacterial species.
• Design and carry out antibiotic sensitivity tests on different bacteria species using a host of different real world pharmaceutical antibiotics.
• Set up an overnight incubation of Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis cultures to preform Gram staining on day two.

Day 2

• Observe bacterial growth from the overnight incubation, noting and analysing differential plate coverage and growth patterns.
• Measure areas of inhibition from antibiotic sensitivity tests and document and discuss bacterial-antibiotic interactions.
• Learn about the evolution and development of antibacterial resistance in modern microbiology.
• Perform Gram staining tests on the cultivated bacteria visualising the results and stained slides under a microscope.
• Use the data generated by antibiotic sensitivity tests and Gram staining to determine which antibiotics should be used to eliminate Gram-positive or Gram-negative bacteria.

Participants attending this course are expected to have some level of previous laboratory experience, therefore, you may be asked to complete a questionnaire prior to the commencement of your course to ensure you are able to meet the required competencies.

If you do not yet possess the necessary laboratory skills, you must attend our 1 day ‘Introduction to Laboratory Skills’ course before commencing this course.

This course provides both graduate and postgraduate scientists with a core set of microbiology skills to progress on into research posts & jobs which will involve the use of these skills on a day-to-day basis.

Attendees benefit from having hands-on laboratory experience in a nurturing. friendly environment akin to an industry laboratory at BioGrad Education, as well as from interacting closely with our senior scientists and fellow participants throughout the course period. Attendees gain valuable insights into the range of careers and laboratory research opportunities available. On completion of the course, your new skills and laboratory techniques will be endorsed by our lecturers on LinkedIn and a reference can be provided upon request.

This course provides post-graduate scientists with transferable skills and techniques needed to progress on into jobs or research projects. This course is also suitable for anyone who wants to refresh their knowledge and skills before starting a new role or research project.

Attendees not only gain transferable laboratory skills but also valuable insights into the research opportunities and applications of these techniques.

All our courses provide attendees with valuable insights into a range of careers and laboratory research opportunities available. We have links with many companies that recruit interns and graduates based on our recommendations. On completion of the course, your new skills and laboratory techniques will be endorsed by our lecturers on LinkedIn and a factual reference can be provided upon request.