Microbiology and Cell Science Department

From Glaciers to Genomes: What Microbiology and Cell Science Research Looks Like at UF

by Dana Saunders
October 14, 2026

Quick Answer The University of Florida's Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, an R1 research university, organizes faculty research into five areas: Microbial Ecology, Host-Microbe Interactions, Plant Molecular Biology and Microbe ... READ MORE

Category: UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research, UF/IFAS Teaching,
Tags: Department Of Microbiology And Cell Science, University Of Florida, University Of Florida Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences

“Flesh-Eating Bacteria” Is a Scary Phrase. The Microbiology Behind Vibrio vulnificus Is Even More Interesting.

by Dana Saunders
September 30, 2026

Quick Facts Organism: Vibrio vulnificusType: Gram-negative, curved, rod-shaped bacteriumHabitat: Warm saltwater and brackish coastal waterCommon sources: Open wounds exposed to coastal water, raw or undercooked shellfishHighest risk: People ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, UF/IFAS, Water
Tags: Environmental Microbiology, Flesh-eating Bacteria, IFAS, Soil And Water Sciences, University Of Florida, University Of Florida Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences, Vibrio Vulnificus

Beer, Bourbon and Biology: The Fermentation Careers Hiding Inside a Microbiology Degree

by Dana Saunders
August 26, 2026

Think a microbiology degree only leads to a hospital or a research bench? Pour yourself something cold and think again. With students heading back to campus this month, a few things are predictable. New notebooks. New roommates. New routines. ... READ MORE

Category: Professional Development, UF/IFAS
Tags: Department Of Microbiology And Cell Science, Microbiology And Cell Science, UF/IFAS, University Of Florida, University Of Florida Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences

The Impact of the Intestinal Microbiome on Health and Disease

by Melissa Jones
August 17, 2026

The intestinal microbiome is made up of trillions of microorganisms. This community of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microbes typically exists in a symbiotic relationship with the human host and plays a pivotal role in maintaining human ... READ MORE

Category: UF/IFAS
Tags: Microbiology, Microbiome

Sargassum Summer: Florida’s 2026 Record Sargassum Bloom Is More Than a Beach Problem

by Dana Saunders
August 10, 2026

Quick Facts What it is: Sargassum is a free-floating brown seaweed that drifts across the open ocean. Where it comes from: The Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt, a massive accumulation of floating algae stretching from West Africa to the Gulf ... READ MORE

Category: Coasts & Marine, Events, Invasive Species, UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Department Of Microbiology And Cell Science, Sargassum Bloom, UF/IFAS, University Of Florida, University Of Florida Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences

Looking for the Parasite’s Weakest Link: How UF Ph.D. Candidate Javier Rosero Is Advancing Research Against a Deadly Tropical Disease

by Dana Saunders
July 28, 2026

For decades, one of the deadliest parasites on Earth kept a secret. Once it infects human cells, it creates a protective layer that separates and protects it from the defense mechanisms of the host cell. This protective membrane, known as the ... READ MORE

Category: UF/IFAS, UF/IFAS Research

Is a Master’s Degree in Microbiology Worth It? Why Now May Be the Best Time to Invest in Your Future

by Dana Saunders
July 23, 2026

Great graduate programs don't just prepare you for your next job. They prepare you for what's next. For decades, earning a graduate degree followed a familiar path: build experience, return to school, earn another credential and advance your ... READ MORE

Category: Professional Development, UF/IFAS
Tags: Department Of Microbiology And Cell Science, Microbiology And Cell Science, University Of Florida, University Of Florida Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences

Cyclospora cayetanensis: The Microscopic Mystery Scientists Still Can’t Solve

by Dana Saunders
July 14, 2026

Quick Facts Organism: Cyclospora cayetanensis.Type: Single-celled parasite.Causes: Cyclosporiasis.Common source: Contaminated fresh produce or water.Why scientists study it: It cannot yet be reliably cultured in a laboratory, making it one ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Crops, Food Safety, Fruits & Vegetables, UF/IFAS

The Microbiology of Microgreens: Unearthing the Nutrition, Benefits and Science

by Dana Saunders
June 24, 2026

Quick answer Microgreens are young vegetable greens harvested shortly after germination when nutrient density and phytochemical production are especially high. Research has shown some microgreens contain significantly higher concentrations ... READ MORE

Category: Agribusiness, Agriculture, Crops, Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Food Safety, Fruits & Vegetables, Health & Nutrition, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, UF/IFAS
Tags: Department Of Microbiology And Cell Science, Microbiology And Cell Science, University Of Florida, University Of Florida Institute Of Food And Agricultural Sciences

Microbiology and Cell Science Students Visit Washington, D.C. in Inaugural ‘Study America’ Trip

by Dana Saunders
May 28, 2026

The inaugural Study America trip included 13 graduate students from both UF’s Department of Microbiology and Cell Science along with participants from the College of Pharmacy. The experience was open to master’s and doctoral students. ... READ MORE

Category: Professional Development, UF/IFAS
Tags: Department Of Microbiology And Cell Science, Microbiology And Cell Science, University Of Florida

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