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Science & Research · Updated Aug 2026

Microbiologists

Investigate the growth, structure, development, and other characteristics of microscopic organisms, such as bacteria, algae, or fungi. Includes medical microbiologists who study the relationship between organisms and disease or the effects of antibiotics on microorganisms.

JVS 2.0.0-phase4b
AI Exposure
58/100
Moderate

How much of this occupation’s work can be materially affected by current AI systems.

Replacement Risk
51/100
Moderate

How likely exposure is to translate into reduced human demand.

Includes provisional estimates for AI adoption pressure and labour-market resilience. How this is measured

Evidence quality
Confidence83/100
Task coverage87%

Confidence reflects task coverage, mapping and capability-evidence quality, and how much of the score rests on provisional inputs.

Task-level evidence

What is driving the score?

Occupation scores are built from the task mix—not a single prediction about a job title.

JVS 2.0.0-phase4b
TaskImportanceAI impactExposure
Isolate and maintain cultures of bacteria or other microorganisms in prescribed or developed media, controlling moisture, aeration, temperature, and nutrition.High
68
Provide laboratory services for health departments, community environmental health programs, and physicians needing information for diagnosis and treatment.High
69
Supervise biological technologists and technicians and other scientists.High
68
Use a variety of specialized equipment, such as electron microscopes, gas and high-pressure liquid chromatographs, electrophoresis units, thermocyclers, fluorescence-activated cell sorters, and phosphorimagers.High
68
Investigate the relationship between organisms and disease, including the control of epidemics and the effects of antibiotics on microorganisms.High
70
Prepare technical reports and recommendations, based upon research outcomes.High
69
Research use of bacteria and microorganisms to develop vitamins, antibiotics, amino acids, grain alcohol, sugars, and polymers.Medium
68
Study growth, structure, development, and general characteristics of bacteria and other microorganisms to understand their relationship to human, plant, and animal health.Medium
68
Examine physiological, morphological, and cultural characteristics, using microscope, to identify and classify microorganisms in human, water, and food specimens.High
31
Monitor and perform tests on water, food, and the environment to detect harmful microorganisms or to obtain information about sources of pollution, contamination, or infection.High
30
Observe action of microorganisms upon living tissues of plants, higher animals, and other microorganisms, and on dead organic matter.Medium
37
Most exposed

Where AI can do more

Routine, digitized, and highly repeatable tasks face the greatest pressure.

  1. Investigate the relationship between organisms and disease, including the control of epidemics and the effects of antibiotics on microorganisms.70
  2. Provide laboratory services for health departments, community environmental health programs, and physicians needing information for diagnosis and treatment.69
  3. Prepare technical reports and recommendations, based upon research outcomes.69
  4. Isolate and maintain cultures of bacteria or other microorganisms in prescribed or developed media, controlling moisture, aeration, temperature, and nutrition.68
Hardest to automate

Where people still matter

These tasks score lowest on automation feasibility—physical presence, judgement, accountability and real-world variability all resist end-to-end automation.

  1. Examine physiological, morphological, and cultural characteristics, using microscope, to identify and classify microorganisms in human, water, and food specimens.01
  2. Monitor and perform tests on water, food, and the environment to detect harmful microorganisms or to obtain information about sources of pollution, contamination, or infection.02
  3. Observe action of microorganisms upon living tissues of plants, higher animals, and other microorganisms, and on dead organic matter.03
  4. Isolate and maintain cultures of bacteria or other microorganisms in prescribed or developed media, controlling moisture, aeration, temperature, and nutrition.04
  5. Provide laboratory services for health departments, community environmental health programs, and physicians needing information for diagnosis and treatment.05
Where else this work leads

Related occupations

Occupations O*NET links to this one. Relatedness reflects shared work, not a claim that these roles are safer.

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Beyond AI capability

Adoption and labour-market outlook

Structural factors are kept separate from raw capability so you can see what actually resists automation. Adoption pressure and labour-market resilience are still provisional models—25% of this occupation’s replacement-risk weight rests on them.

Human dependency64
Physical dependency43
Adoption pressure64
Labour-market resilience60
Methodology & sources

O*NET 30.3 occupational data interpreted through the JobsVsAI capability, automation and structural-constraint models.

Confidence83/100
CalculatedAug 21, 2026
Read methodology →