Find your path to success with an NDSU microbiology degree
From developing life-saving medicines to improving food safety and protecting the environment, microbiology is at the heart of many of today’s most important scientific breakthroughs. At NDSU, the microbiology degree program combines coursework with hands-on research opportunities, allowing you to work alongside expert faculty and gain experience in state-of-the-art laboratories.
Microbiology is the study of microorganisms, which live everywhere, including in the environment, the soil, the food we eat, as well as on our skin and inside our bodies.
“Microbiology is important because the world as we know it would not exist without it, and life would not function without all the little microbes that you don’t see or think about,” said Kaylee Weigel, an NDSU alum with both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in microbiology.
A degree in microbiology provides a plethora of skills that lead to several rewarding career opportunities in healthcare, agriculture, research and more.
Weigel wants to become a surgeon one day, while incorporating teaching and research into her practice. She is currently going to medical school and credits her microbiology degrees for paving her path to success.
“NDSU microbiology prepared me for medicine because it helped me think outside the box. There’s a lot going on in the human body with all the microbes inside of you and on your skin that you don’t really think about that have a huge impact on our health, such as how we get sick and how we respond to infections,” Kaylee said. “It’s not really something I would have thought about before starting medical school, but my NDSU degree helped me be better prepared and be a more cognizant med student.”
Weigel’s sisters, McKenzie and Chelsey, also found the Department of Plant Pathology, Microbiology and Biotechnology has helped to set them up for success, despite their different career goals.
For McKenzie Weigel, who graduated from NDSU in 2023, a microbiology degree set her on the path to veterinary school.
“My undergraduate microbiology degree from NDSU created a strong foundation in many of the items our veterinary curriculum covers,” McKenzie said. “The coursework I took during NDSU fulfilled all of my general requirements for an application to veterinary school, and the ease of accessibility of many of those courses allowed me to graduate a year early and continue on to veterinary school as a younger individual in my current cohort, which will then allow me to begin practicing veterinary medicine at a younger age.”
Like Kaylee, Chelsey Weigel also aspires to enter the medical field as she works toward a degree in medical laboratory sciences. Classes in microbiology have helped round out her education to prepare her for her future career.
During their time at NDSU, Kaylee and McKenzie Weigel had several experiential learning opportunities beyond the classroom. Kaylee led research centered on short-chain fatty acids and E. coli. She was able to present her research at conferences, and she even had it published.
“It gave me a lot of good hands-on experience in a laboratory setting that I think set me up well for my future career,” she said.
McKenzie was engaged in different laboratories throughout her undergraduate degree, which helped to engage her learning in a different way.
“NDSU did an excellent job at providing me, an undergraduate student with no research experience, opportunities to learn and grow within an area that was outside of my daily coursework,” McKenzie said.
In addition to their studies, both Kaylee and McKenzie Weigel were active on campus through Student Government. McKenzie served as an executive member of the Congress of Student Organizations, and Kaylee served as Student Body President during her last year at NDSU.
Faculty in the department are experts in their field, bringing real-world practice into their teaching. A small student-to-faculty ratio opens the doors to opportunities and provides meaningful mentorship.
“I was basically on a fist-name basis with every single faculty member, and that became really helpful in applying and preparing for medical school,” Kaylee said. “A lot of them wrote me letters of recommendation, helped support my research efforts, helped me in my leadership efforts and cheered me on along the way.”
Weigel and her sisters all recommend NDSU for the high-quality education and hands-on experience you will be provided, which will shape your horizon.
“I am forever grateful for the basis of science that my microbiology degree provided and attribute the success in many of my courses to the foundation I developed from my undergraduate degree at NDSU,” McKenzie said.
“NDSU was one of the greatest decisions of my life. It helped me become a critical thinker, a strong leader and one day, a great physician,” Kaylee said.
Learn more about Kaylee Weigel’s path to success on NDSU’s official YouTube channel.
Find your horizon by applying today or scheduling a visit to learn more.