The primary goals of the Master of Science degree in Bacteriology are to develop students’ understanding of the scientific process and to provide advanced training in bacteriology. Students tailor a curriculum of advanced coursework and/or research, following either a coursework track or a research track. Students acquire a general overview of bacteriology and may focus on a specialized subject area such as bacterial physiology, molecular microbiology, food microbiology, environmental microbiology, biotechnology or medical microbiology.
Bacteriology MS Student Experience







News and Events
Lake Loop: Bacteria in Lake Mendota Repeat A Cycle of Evolution Year After Year
Like Bill Murray in the movie Groundhog Day, bacteria species in a Wisconsin lake are in a kind of endless loop that they can’t seem to shake. Except in this case, it’s more like Groundhog …
Project to explore enzyme behind early evolution of life on Earth
Betül Kaçar, a trainer in the Bacteriology MS Program, explores the enzyme behind early evolution of life on Earth
Student Highlights

Elias Kemna
Eli is currently a student in the research track. He works in Dr. Betül Kaçar's lab where he is exploring the evolutionary space of nitrogen fixation by cloning ancient nitrogenase variants into modern day nitrogen fixing bacteria. In his free time, Eli enjoys running and training for half marathons and 5Ks.

Jinoh Jang
Jin is a second year Bacteriology Master's student on the Research Track from Busan, South Korea. In Dr. Silvia Cavagnero's lab, he studies protein aggregate in bacteria by structurally modifying the ribosomal exit tunnel in Escherichia coli to understand kinetics of nascent chain release from the ribosome. He is particularly interested in studying bacterial genetics and protein aggregate because of their wide implications in medicine and in biopharmaceuticals. Outside the lab, he enjoys playing the clarinet with his friends and listening to music at Overture Center.

Anna Ardito
Anna is a second year research track Bacteriology Master’s student. She works in the Pellett Lab where she studies Clostridium botulinum and botulinum neurotoxins. When not in the lab, you can find her rowing on Lake Mendota as a part of the women's rowing team. She also enjoys hiking, traveling, and finding new coffee shops and restaurants in the Madison area.

Andrew Wilcox
Andrew is a research track student in the Huynh lab where he studies c-di-AMP signaling in the human gut microbiota with an emphasis on Bacteroides species. C-di-AMP is a cyclic nucleotide chemical messenger that plays a role in many bacterial homeostasis pathways including virulence, membrane fortification and osmotic regulation. Aside from his research, Andrew's hobbies include running, drawing, reading nonfiction books and playing the cello.

Julia Kettner
Julia is a first year Bacteriology Master's student. She is on the research track and works in the Coon lab to investigate the influence of organic and non-organic mastitis treatment practices on the tendency for muscid flies to carry pathogenic bacteria on dairy farms and the distribution of antimicrobial resistance in flies. When not in the lab, she likes to explore different coffee shops and play with her family dogs.

Lauryn Swanson
Lauryn is in the Research Track in Sabine Pellett's lab and will be focusing on analyzing purified Botulinum neurotoxins for potency and duration of action in mice and neuronal cells. She participates in the Microbiology Club and loves to play with her dog, Oki and go hiking with friends.
Diversity
University of Wisconsin – Madison
Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW–Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.
The University of Wisconsin–Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background — people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.