Famous Microbiologists - List of Famous Microbiologists

Microbiologists are the scientists who study microscopic organisms like bacteria, fungi, algae, etc. and their effects on other living organisms. Microbiology, as a separate field of biology focuses on studying the characteristics, growth and development of microorganisms both at the molecular and cellular level. It also involves the study of their ecology and their effects on other living organisms like plants and animals. Microbiologists in the course of their work collect samples from various types of environments like human beings, animal, field locations, etc. and analyze these in the laboratory to identify and monitor the microorganisms present in the samples. Some specializations within this field include bacteriology, immunology, mycology, and phycology. This field of science is closely related with other life sciences like molecular biology and biochemistry. Microbiologists work in a number of fields like medicine, research, and university teaching. They basically work in a laboratory setting and use a variety of tools like microscopes, gas chromatographs, and electrophoresis gels while working with microbes. Their work is also required in industries like pharmaceuticals, food processing, and biotechnology. What follows is a collection of the biographies, timelines, trivia and other information about the professional and personal lives of some of the world’s most famous microbiologists.

The Most Famous Microbiologists

NameBirthdayNationalityBio
Louis PasteurDecember 27, 1822FrenchLouis Pasteur was a French chemist and microbiologist who developed the first vaccines for rabies and anthrax
André LwoffMay 8, 1902FrenchAndré Michel Lwoff was a French microbiologist, geneticist and protozoologist, who received the ‘Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine’ in 1965
Francis CrickJune 8, 1916BritishFrancis Crick was an English molecular biologist, biophysicist and neuroscientist, who received the Nobel Prize for Medicine
Ferdinand CohnJanuary 24, 1828PolishFerdinand Cohn was a German biologist who is considered as the father of bacteriology and microbiology
Selman WaksmanJuly 22, 1888UkrainianSelman Waksman was a noted Russian-born American scientist who discovered the antibiotic streptomycin
John Franklin EndersFebruary 10, 1897AmericanJohn Franklin Enders, a Nobel laureate, is popularly referred to as the Father of modern vaccines
Carlo UrbaniOctober 19, 1956ItalianItalian epidemiologist Carlo Urbani was the first person who identified SARS as a highly contagious disease
Daniel NathansOctober 30, 1928AmericanDaniel Nathans was an American microbiologist who received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1978
Robert KochDecember 11, 1843GermanRobert Koch was a famous German microbiologist who identified the cause of various deadly diseases such as anthrax and cholera
Jules BordetJune 13, 1870BelgianJules Bordet was a Belgian microbiologist and immunologist who won the 1919 Nobel Prize in Medicine "for his discoveries relating to immunity"

Hamilton O. Smith

Hamilton Othanel Smith is an American microbiologist who received the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 1978

AmericanAugust 23, 1931134 views

Daniel Nathans

Daniel Nathans was an American microbiologist who received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1978

AmericanOctober 30, 1928167 views

Werner Arber

Werner Arber is a Swiss microbiologist and a geneticist who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1978

SwissJune 3, 1929113 views

Salvador Luria

Salvador E

ItalianAugust 13, 1912108 views

André Lwoff

André Michel Lwoff was a French microbiologist, geneticist and protozoologist, who received the ‘Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine’ in 1965

FrenchMay 8, 1902193 views

John Franklin Enders

John Franklin Enders, a Nobel laureate, is popularly referred to as the Father of modern vaccines

AmericanFebruary 10, 1897173 views

Ferdinand Cohn

Ferdinand Cohn was a German biologist who is considered as the father of bacteriology and microbiology

PolishJanuary 24, 1828185 views

Selman Waksman

Selman Waksman was a noted Russian-born American scientist who discovered the antibiotic streptomycin

UkrainianJuly 22, 1888176 views

Jules Bordet

Jules Bordet was a Belgian microbiologist and immunologist who won the 1919 Nobel Prize in Medicine "for his discoveries relating to immunity"

BelgianJune 13, 1870164 views