Department of Microbiology and Immunology

The Department of Microbiology and Immunology, part of the University of Melbourne’s Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences (MDHS), has a rich history dating back to 1891 when bacteriology was first taught within the Department of Pathology. In response to growing public health needs and waste water management in the City of Melbourne, from 1929 the University of Melbourne formed the Department of Bacteriology. In 1965 the Department shifted and expanded with a campus located at Austin Health, and was renamed the School of Microbiology. In 1997 the Department of Microbiology and Immunology was formed to teach and conduct research in the areas of bacteriology, virology, immunology and biotechnology, and remains one of the largest microbiological and immunological teaching and research centres in Australia.

It is internationally recognised for its discovery research in immunology, bacteriology and virology. The Department delivers world-class education in microbiology, immunology and pathology across a range of undergraduate, Honours, Masters, and PhD programs, preparing students for impactful careers in biomedical science and beyond.

The Department is also home to Australia’s longest serving public health laboratory, the Microbiological Diagnostic Unit Public Health Laboratory (MDU PHL),

which provides expert microbiological testing, surveillance, and genomic analysis to identify, investigate, and control infectious diseases and public health threats.

With over 40 active research groups, the Department has a vibrant and collaborative research culture supported by state-of-the-art facilities, including high containment laboratories, advanced flow cytometry, multi-photon microscopy, and access to state of the art OMICS technologies to drive discovery and transform how we diagnose, prevent and treat diseases.

The dynamic research culture creates a stimulating environment in which to challenge and inspire students.  Led by dedicated, educators who are deeply passionate about both student learning and scientific discovery,our students are exposed to cutting-edge research in the classroom, and learn about the latest developments in biomedical sciences.