The introduction of the subject Microbiology into the curriculum at the then PMF – Department of Biological Sciences, and today's Faculty of Biology, dates back to 1977, when the Department of Microbiology was established at the Institute of Botany and the Botanical Garden. The Head of the Department, Dr. Draga Simić, taught the subject General Microbiology, giving it a new and modern concept. In 1984, postgraduate teaching began in the field of Biology of Microorganisms, and in 1987, an elective field of Biology of Microorganisms was organized in the basic studies of Biology. Microbiology was also introduced to the study programs Molecular Biology and Physiology and Biochemistry, and from the 1997/98 school year, also to the study group Ecology and Environmental Protection with the subject Microbiology and Microbial Ecology. Since 2002, the elective field Biology of Microorganisms has been organized and offered in the study program Molecular Biology and Physiology. In the past 46 years, the department has been headed by Prof. Dr. Draga Simić from 1977 to 2004, Prof. Dr. Jelena Knežević Vukčević from 2004 to 2009 and from 2015 to 2020, Prof. Dr. Branka Vuković-Gačić from 2009 to 2015, and since 2020, the department has been headed by Prof. Dr. Slaviša Stanković.

Today, the Department teaches at all levels of academic studies at the Faculty of Biology. The subject Microbiology is included in the curriculum of the basic Biology studies in all three study programs: Biology, Molecular Biology and Physiology, Ecology and Environmental Protection, while the module Biology of Microorganisms is included in the curricula of the master's studies Biology and Molecular Biology and Physiology. At the proposal of the Department, the module Astrobiology will be accredited in the master's academic studies in the study program Biology from 2023. In addition, the Department is the holder of the module Microbiology in the specialist academic studies of the Biology program, and also participates in teaching in the modules Genetics and Immunobiology with Microbiology. In doctoral studies, the Department organizes and teaches in the modules Biology of Microorganisms and Genotoxicology and participates in the modules Genetics and Hydroecology. Since its establishment, more than 200 diploma and master's theses, as well as more than 50 specialist theses, have been defended at the Department, and the Department's teachers have been mentors or members of the defense committee for 79 master's theses and more than 70 doctoral dissertations.

The scientific work of the Department includes research in the field of microbiology, especially the genetics and ecology of microorganisms, genotoxicology, mutagenesis and antimutagenesis. In these areas, members of the Department have published a large number of review papers in monographs of international importance and more than 200 scientific papers in international and domestic journals. At the initiative of the Department, the Center for Genotoxicology and Ecogenotoxicology was established in 2013, with expertise in the field of laboratory testing of genotoxicity and antigenotoxicity, as well as genotoxic monitoring of various ecosystems. In 2021, also at the initiative of the Department, the Center for Pathogen Biocontrol and Plant Growth Promotion was established, with expertise in the field of the role of bacteria in promoting plant growth, biocontrol of pathogenic bacteria and fungi, as well as the characterization of bacterial plant pathogens. In the last 10 years, members of the Department have participated in a large number of international and national projects from the basic research and technological development program.