Microbiology is a diverse field dealing with the study of microorganism. Microbiology covers structure, function, genetics, classification of microorganism along with their interactions with other organisms and the environment. Microbiology plays a critical role in human health, food production and safety, agriculture, environmental monitoring, bioremediation and various industrial process of organic acid, vitamins & enzyme production, cheese & bread making, and antibiotics production. Furthermore, microbiology has contributed in development of vaccines and sera for prevention and treatment of infectious diseases. Microbiology is a tool in biotechnology, molecular biology and genetic engineering. In 2006, four-year BS (Hons.) program of microbiology was initiated in the Department of Zoology at GCU Lahore. In 2009, this program was shifted to Institute of Industrial Biotechnology (IIB). In 2010, the first batch of BS (Hons.) Microbiology was passed out. Since then, hundreds of microbiology graduates have been successfully passed out and are pursuing professional careers in the field. Furthermore, many of the microbiology graduates have successfully won national and international scholarships for higher degrees. Keeping in view the increasing demand for microbiology graduates in the field and the outstanding reputation of the program of the institute, the post-graduate programs M.Phil and Ph.D. in microbiology were started in the institute in 2009 and 2014, respectively. In 2023, Department of Microbiology was constituted under the umbrella of Dr. Ikram Ul Haq Institute of Industrial Biotechnology (IIIB). To the date, Prof. Dr. Sikander Ali was appointed as the first Chairperson of Department of Microbiology.
