This major provides students with a detailed understanding of Microbiology and Immunology. It combines the study of infectious microbial agents, including opportunities to study bacteria, viruses and parasites, with the study of the host's immune responses, which are most often beneficial but sometimes detrimental to the host. It describes how these disciplines are studied and their application to a range of areas in the biomedical sciences. The major opens up careers in infectious disease, diagnostics, molecular biology, biotechnology, vaccinology, antimicrobial chemotherapeutics, biosafety and regulation, as well as post-graduate research into infectious agents, their genes and mechanisms of disease together with the various beneficial and harmful aspects of the immune system. It provides a basis for further study into medicine and other paramedical disciplines.

Students intending to undertake this major should be aware that it requires successful completion of a practical-based subject in which products and reagents derived from animals are used.

A major in Infection and Immunity could lead you to a career in infectious disease, diagnostics, molecular biology, biotechnology, vaccinology, antimicrobial chemotherapeutics, biosafety or regulation.

With further study, you could find yourself in a research career investigating infectious agents, their genes, underlying mechanisms of infectious disease.

Employers in this field include:

• Medical research institutes such as WEHI, the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and the Peter Doherty Institute
• Hospitals such as the Royal Melbourne Hospital and the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
• Government departments of health, innovation, agriculture and environment
• Biotech and pharmaceutical companies such as CSL and GSK
• Universities and public research institutions.