Every year, after a stringent review process, the awards and 1 prize are given to exceptional individuals who come from all sub-disciplines and career stages of microbiology. ASM Awards highlight individuals who have made significant contributions to advance the field and their institutions. Recipients are awarded an honorarium and are invited to present and be recognized at the ASM Microbe meeting.
Being nominated for an ASM Award or Prize is an honor for any scientist. It reflects the trust and respect of their colleagues. Therefore, there is no better way to show gratitude to a mentor, respect to a colleague or support for an early career scientist than by nominating them and sharing their good work.
The ASM Awards and Prize program is managed by the American Academy of Microbiology (Academy), the honorific leadership group and think tank within ASM. The Academy is aware that there are excellent microbiologists from underrepresented groups who deserve this honor, but are less often nominated. Nomination of microbiologists from diverse backgrounds, geographic locations and sectors are greatly welcomed.
Nominations for the 2025 Awards and Prize cycle are now closed. Nominations for the 2026 Awards and Prize cycle will open in May 2025.
Awards and Prize
With 17 awards and a microbiome data prize, there is an award for everyone.
Nominate a Colleague
Review the nomination process and application timeline.
2024 Award and Prize Recipients
ASM congratulates the 2024 ASM Award & Prize recipients for their achievements in research, education and leadership.
Recognize Excellence in Microbial Sciences
From early career to lifetime achievement, clinical to environmental microbiology, there is an award to honor outstanding science at every career level and in every sub-discipline of the microbial sciences.
View Past Awards and Prize Recipients’ Contributions
Meet the Microbiologist: Vibrio Cholerae with Rita Colwell
Listen to the Podcast
Editors in Conversation: Dynamite Parasites with Bobbi Pritt
View the ASM Microbe Session
Meet the Microbiologist: Good Science, Bad Science and How to Make it Better With Fang and Casadevall
Arturo Casadevall, M.D., Ph.D., and Ferric Fang, M.D., outline a roadmap to understanding and improving the scientific endeavor for the benefit of society at large.
Listen to the Podcast
Editors in Conversation: SARS-CoV-2 Sequencing for Clinical Care and Infection Control
Alex Greninger, M.D., Ph.D., and Francesca Lee, M.D., discuss guidelines for clinical labs and institutions using SARS-CoV-2 sequencing for patient care and infection control.
Watch the Recording
ASM’s Inclusive Leadership Program, MicroBio-LEAP, Welcomes New Task Force
Lee Hughes, Ph.D., joins the MicroBio-LEAP Task Force to develop a curriculum to promote inclusive diversity with equity, access and accountability (IDEAA) within the microbial sciences.
Read the Press Release
What Microbes Can Teach Us About Adapting to Climate Change
Gemma Reguera, Ph.D., shares how lessons learned from both beneficial and harmful microbes may inspire ways to harness those activities to address climate change.
Read the Article