Department of Microbiology

The Department of Microbiology was established two years back at the KUM, Murree. The department started with the BS Microbiology program in 2021. This field is becoming very popular in the region and across due to its mounting scope especially after siege of COVID-19 across the globe. In addition to the BS program the department has started MS programs in Microbiology, Admissions will be announced soon for Fall-2022.

Bachelor of Science in Microbiology aims to produce professionals who have thorough knowledge and skills to develop a career in any sub discipline ranging from Human Health (Diagnostics; Epidemiology & Sanitation & Hygiene; Immunology; Vaccines) as well as Livestock Health, Plant Microbiology to Environmental Microbiology. The program is committed to provide the budding scientists with an environment conducive for learning and critical thinking in different aspects of biological sciences. A degree in Microbiology discipline will prepare students for a promising career in the field of teaching, clinical and research institutes, pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology industries, etc. In short, graduates with focused and unique understanding as well as expertise in techniques involved in bacteriology/mycology/virology, emergence and re-emergence of infectious diseases, resistance acquired by the bacteria and viruses against antibacterial and antiviral drugs, failure of successful vaccines against infectious diseases. Upon successful completion of the degree program, the graduates should be able to apply knowledge of bacteriology/mycology/virology for agriculture, animal health, environment and clinical research in an applied context

Microbiology program covers range of specialized fields, from more applied disciplines such as medical, public health, industrial, and food microbiology, to basic fields of immunology, microbial ecology and evolution, physiology, genetics of microbes, antibiotic resistance, microbial forensics and host-pathogen interaction. The training through taught courses will help students to understand the disease-causing potential of various pathogenic bacteria, fungi and viruses, and the responses of the immune system. These studies will teach the students that how knowledge gained by studying microbiology and immunology can be applied and will prepare them for suitable careers in areas as diverse as medicine (disease epidemiology), brewing, food spoilage, control of environmental pollution, biotechnology, diagnostics and therapeutics. KUM provides all possible resources to the students so that they gain maximum knowledge and practical skills needed to be           highly competitive for availing the best opportunities in their professional careers. A BS student is bound to perform research as an integral part of degree as an independent research project /internship. For this, the students are encouraged not only to conceive and develop a research project related to local challenges ranging from environment, biotechnology, forest, plant and human diseases as well as becoming useful surveillance and monitoring force for ever increasing and evolving microbes crossing species barriers such as HIV, SARS-CoV-2, Dengue, Campylobacter, Salmonella, Shigella etc. but also to execute that research project independently. The program offers research in all major sub disciplines of Microbiology which includes Microbiology and Immunology, Bacteriology, Virology, Epidemiology, Plant Pathology, Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology. It also encourages the students to come up with new innovative interdisciplinary ideas and develop new techniques to achieve new heights of success in the relevant field.

The department welcomes students and researchers each year. We have strong research linkages and collaborations with some celebrated labs of USA, Denmark, Netherlands, Italy and UK where our undergraduate graduate students have secured future opportunities of international exposure to equip themselves with advanced skills and research techniques.

The interactive programs in Microbiology are intended to prepare aspiring skilled workforce to pursue not only a successful career in the field of Microbiology, but also translate knowledge into products through translational research.

Please see the eligibility / admission requirements for the BS Microbiology programs at Kohsar University, Murree:

Department of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Jhika Galli Campus, Kohsar University Murree

The Microbiology program (Department of Biomedical and Life Sciences) of KUM emphasizes not only on the education and training of the students in diverse disciplines of Microbiology, but also aims to expand the current body of knowledge through research. The graduates would gain in-depth knowledge about the beneficial as well as disease-causing microbes and would also contribute in enhancing the community understanding of the potential and challenges of microbes prevailing in the region. The program has been carefully designed to train students to understand biodiversity and evolutionary dynamics of microbes, molecular mechanism of drug resistance, and exploring new materials or natural products to be used as drug and vaccines, as well as plants pests or virus. The syllabi will introduce the students with the environmental, medical, and industrial microbiology; biochemistry; cell biology; molecular biology; virology; mycology; immunology; plant pathology, microbiome and forensics microbiology or diagnostics and more. The graduate research projects will be focused on contemporary local and global challenges such as environmental waste management, sanitation and hygiene, water and food borne diseases and scientific discoveries into diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines against human, plant and animal diseases.

Students studying at the department will benefit from working with experts, remarkable library and state-of-the-art facilities. Department of Microbiology believe in strengthening the linkage between industry and institutions for sustainable growth and productivity.

• The candidates holding F.Sc. Pre-Medical or equivalent qualification with at least 45% marks are eligible to apply.
• The candidate holding 3rd division in HSSC or equivalent exam is not eligible for admission in BS or equivalent program at Kohsar University Murree.
• The maximum age of the applicant to BS Microbiology must not exceed 24 years.
• Equivalence Certificate of O & A Levels /Intermediate Certificate awarded by the foreign institutions from the applicants issued by the Inter Board Committee of Chairman (IBCC) is mandatory.
• In case of late sessions, such applicant has to furnish an affidavit to the effect that he/she did not get admission in any Institution in the period intervening between the year of passing the Examination and year of application for admission.

• Applicants must possess 16 years degree in the relevant field from HEC accredited national/international universities
• with CGPA 2.5/4 (semester system) or not less than 50% in annual system. For department and selection of program of studies, the applicant shall have to go through the Graduate Prospectus available at website: www.kum.edu.pk

1. The BS Microbiology is a four-year degree program and is spread over 8 semesters, two semesters per year.
2. The MS Microbiology is a two-year degree program and is spread over 4 semesters, two semesters per year.

The following major research equipment’s are available at Kohsar University Murree:

• Next Generation sequencer iSeq 100
• LC-MS
• Fluorescence microscope
• Ultracentrifuge
• Real Time PCR
• Tissue culture facility
• Gradient PCR
• Automatic tissue processor
• ELISA plate reader

In addition, a smart campus comprising of most reliable internet connectivity through sufficiently large bandwidth with unlimited data download and upload facilities for both students and faculty has been constructed with support from the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan.

Faculty and Staff members

Department of Microbiology has world class faculty and created interdisciplinary/intra and inter-departmental research groups, who collectively take part in the teaching and training programs leading to the degree of BS Microbiology and MS Microbiology. The following expert’s group is currently available for you.