Bacteriophage are viruses of bacteria. Phage workers is a category of phage researchers who have made a significant contribution to our understanding of phage biology or who have made significant contributions using phage as model systems to elucidate more-general biological mechanisms. Phage workers played important roles in the development of molecular biology and molecular genetics. As bacteriophage are likely the most numerous "organisms" on Earth, phage workers continue to play important roles in developing a greater understanding of the phage impact on the environment (phage ecology) plus employ phage as evolutionary and ecological models systems.

At least 11 individuals who made significant contributions to phage research have won Nobel prizes.