Careers Using Microscopes: Explore Opportunities in Science & Medicine

Microscopes are used by a number of different occupations in the scientific and medical fields for a variety of purposes. However, microscopes can be used by anyone who wants to learn more about biology.

Doctors and Nurses

• Doctors and nurses may use microscopes to look at samples to help treat patients. For example, a urine sample can be examined for the presence of blood.

Histologists

• A histologist studies cell and tissue structure by cutting and staining samples to examine under the microscope.

Field Biologists

• Field biologists can use microscopes to assist in the study of an organism's structure or to help determine diversity in a given area. For example, a field biologist may record the number of different species found in samples of pond water taken over a period of time.

Medical Research Scientists

• Medical research scientists use many different types of microscopes for a variety of studies. A cell biologist may use a fluorescent tag to examine the location of a given protein in a cell, for example.

Lab Technicians

• Lab technicians also use microscopes to examine samples from patients or experiments.