Start an ASM Student and Postdoctoral Chapter

March 8, 2024

ASM student and postdoctoral chapters are for students and postdocs interested in microbiology at their local universities. Chapters host several events throughout the year, such as career panels, visits to microbiology companies, judging science fairs, etc., to promote ASM's mission of advancing the microbial sciences.

Hold weekly or monthly meetings for students and faculty.
Collaborate with local ASM Branches or Ambassadors to develop meeting programs, organize local ASM events or create presentation opportunities for their members.
Invite local experts from the Careers in Microbial Sciences Speaker Program to speak with their chapter.
Organize professional development workshops on scientific writing or presenting and communicating your science.
Host informational seminars using materials from ASM Careers to discuss next career steps, creating a CV and the job search process.
Tour microbiology-related companies, such as local laboratories, hospitals, breweries, sewage treatment plans, wineries, etc.
Support primary and secondary science education by hosting (or judging) a science and technology fair.

Your Benefits to Starting a Chapter:

Expand your network by collaborating with students, faculty, industry, clinical laboratories and nonprofit organizations.
Develop leadership instincts.
Improve presentation skills.
Give back to your local community and support science through K-12 engagement.
Gain mentors outside of academic institutions.
Have an opportunity to write a proposal seeking financial support from ASM.
Recognition as an official part of ASM and a network of sister chapters throughout the world.

How to Start a Chapter:

Draft a constitution for your group.
Seek initial sponsorship from your university. Universities have various requirements for forming on campus groups. Consult your student affairs department to make sure you are in compliance with your institution.
Select a faculty advisor who is a current member of ASM.
Draft an action plan of activities your chapter would like to accomplish in the current calendar year.
Ask your local branch or ambassador for sponsorship. Contact the ASM Branch in your area or local ambassador to request sponsorship to become an ASM-recognized student and postdoctoral chapter. Enclose a copy of your constitution and action plan for review.
Submit an application to StudentChapters@asmusa.org with:
- Your drafted constitution.
- Letter or email of approval from your faculty advisor (who is an ASM member).
- Letter or email of support from your local ASM Branch or ASM Ambassador.
- List of names and contact information of executive board members.
ASM will review your application and contact you when your chapter is provisionally approved. Your chapter will be officially approved by the ASM Board of Directors at the next ASM Microbe meeting.

Questions? Please contact StudentChapters@asmusa.org.

Where We Work

ASM student and postdoctoral chapters are for students and postdocs interested in microbiology at their local university. Find one near you or start a chapter at your university.

International ASM Student and Postdoctoral Chapters

Armenia

Yerevan State University
Yerevan, Armenia
Faculty Advisor: Anna Poladyan
apoladyan@ysu.am; armicroasm@gmail.com

Bangladesh

Islamic University
Kushita, Bangladesh
Faculty Advisor: Minnatul Karim
mkmicro.du@gmail.com

University of Rajshahi
Rajshahi, Bangladesh
Faculty Advisor: Imtiaj Hasan
hasanimtiaj@yahoo.co.uk, imtiajbio@ru.ac.bd; asmru.office@gmail.com

University of Chittagong
Chittagong, Bangladesh
Faculty Advisor: Md. Zobaidul Alam
mzamicro@yahoo.com; asmcu2020@gmail.com

Brazil

Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Faculty Advisor: Tatiana Pinto
tati.micro@gmail.com; tcap@micro.ufrj.br
ufrjstudentchapter@gmail.com

Universidade Federal Fluminense
Niterói, Brazil
Faculty Advisor: Rachel Leite Ribeiro
rachelribeiro@id.uff.br

Cameroon

University of Yaounde 1
Yaounde, Cameroon
Faculty Advisor: Sado Sylvian
sadosylvain@hotmail.com

University of Buea
South West Province, Cameroon
Faculty Advisor: Jane-Francis Okoachere
Jane.Francis@ubuea.com

Colombia

Universidad del Quindio
Quindío, Colombia
Faculty Advisor: Jorge E. Gomez-Marin
jegomez@uniquindio.edu.co;

Egypt

Mansoura University
Mansoura, Egypt
Faculty Advisor: Alaa Aboelnour Elmoursi
aalaa_abo@yahoo.com

El Salvador

Universidad Dr. Jose Matias Delgado
San Salvador, El Salvador
Faculty Advisor: Mario Romero
mario.romero2@ues.edu.sv; microes.studentchapter@gmail.com

Ghana

University of Energy and Natural Resources
Sunyani, Ghana
Faculty Advisor: Kenneth Bentum Otabil
Kenneth.otabil@uenr.edu.gh; Asmuenr@gmail.com

Guatemala

Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala (USAC)
Faculty Advisor: Silvana Melini
gsilvanamelini@gmail.com

India

Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College Aligarh
Aligarh, India
Faculty Advisor: Fatima Khan
fatimasalmanshah@gmail.com

Madurai Kamaraj University
Madurai, India
Faculty Advisor: P. Varalakshmi
pvlakshmi.biotech@mkuniversity.org; mku.asm@gmail.com

Jamaica

University of the West Indies
Mona, Jamaica
Faculty Advisor: Paul Brown and Stacy Stephenson-Clarke
paul.brown@uwimona.edu.jm; stacy.stephenson02@uwimona.edu.jm
uwi.asm@gmail.com

Mexico

Universidad de Guadalajara
ASM Capítulo Estudiantil Mexicano
Faculty Advisor: Pedro Martinez
pemayala4@gmail.com

Nepal

Pokhara University
Pokhara, Nepal
Faculty Advisor: Suresh Jaiswal
suuress@gmail.com

Nigeria

Kwara State University (KWASU)
Kwara, Nigeria
Faculty Advisor: Muritala Bale
muritala.bale@kwasu.edu.ng; kwasuasm@gmail.com

Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU)
Ilesa, Osun State, Nigeria
Faculty Advisor: Adebayo Olawande Osesusi
osesusibayo@gmail.com

University of Calabar
Calabar, Nigeria
Faculty Advisors: Ernest B.Asikong; Ukeye Andrew
ebeasikong@gmail.com; ukeyeandrew@unical.edu.ng

University of ilorin
llorin, Nigeria
Faculty Advisor: Mutiat B. Odebisi-Omokanye
odebisimutiat@yahoo.com

Pakistan

CECOS University
Peshawar, Pakistan
Faculty Advisor: Maryam Anwar
maryam@cecos.edu.pk

Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University
Islamabad, Pakistan
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Mustafeez Mujtaba Babar
mustafeez.scps@stmu.edu.pk

University of Agriculture
Faisalabad, Pakistan
Faculty Advisor: Muhammad Umar Zafar Khan
umar.zafarkhan@uaf.edu.pk

University of the Punjab
Lahore, Pakistan
Faculty Advisor: Imran Sajid
imran.mmg@pu.edu.pk; puasmstudentchapter@gmail.com

University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore
Lahore, Pakistan
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Shahzad Ali
shahzad.ali@uvas.edu.pk

Federal Urdu University of Arts, Sciences & Technology
Karachi, Pakistan
Faculty Advisor: Zeba Imran
zebaparveen.imran@fuuast.edu.pk

Jinnah University for Women
Karachi, Pakistan
Faculty Advisor: Kashmala Zainab and Taqdees Malik
Kashmala.juw@gmail.com; taqdees_13@hotmail.com

University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences
Lahore, Pakistan
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Muhammad Asad Ali
asad.ali@uvas.edu.pk

Paraguay

Universidad Nacional de Asunción
Asunción, Paraguay
Faculty Advisor: Claudia Salinas
salinasdavalos@gmail.com

Philippines

University of Santo Tomas
Santo Tomas, Philippines
Faculty Advisor: Nino Andree Caguimbal
necaguimbal@ust.edu.ph; ust.microsoc@gmail.com

United Arab Emirates

Manipal Academy of Higher Education Dubai Campus
Dubai, UAE
Faculty Advisor: Faheem Syed Mohammed and Madhumitha Kedhari
faheemsm@manipaldubai.com; madhumitha.kedharisundaram@manipaldubai.com

Venezuela

Central University of Venezuela
Caracas, Venezuala
Faculty Advisor: Daniela Lucía Mendoza Millan
daniela.lm.millan@gmail.com; ceim.ucv.asm@gmail.com

U.S. ASM Student and Postdoctoral Chapters

Alabama

Alabama State University
Faculty Advisor: Qiana Matthews
qmatthrews@alasu.edu

Auburn University
Faculty Advisor: Mark Liles
lilesma@auburn.edu

University of Alabama, Birmingham
Faculty Advisor: Jessica Scoffield
jscoff@uab.edu

Alaska

University of Alaska
Faculty Advisor: Brandon Briggs
bbriggs6@alaska.edu

Arizona

Grand Canyon University
Faculty Advisor: Galyna Kufryk
galyna.kufryk@gcu.edu

University of Arizona
Faculty Advisor: Scott Wilbur
wilburj@email.arizona.edu

Arkansas

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Faculty Advisor: Roger Pechous
RDPechous@uams.edu

California

California Institute of Technology
Faculty Advisor: Jared Leadbetter
jleadbetter@caltech.edu

California State University, Chico
Faculty Advisor: Troy Cline
tdcline@csuchico.edu

California State University, Northridge
Faculty Advisor: Gilberto Flores and Rachel Mackelprang
gilberto.flores@csun.edu; rachel.mackelprang@csun.edu; csun.msa@my.csun.edu

California State University, Los Angeles
Faculty Advisor: Edith Porter
eporter@calstatela.edu; csula.asm@gmail.com

California State University, Sacramento
The Student Association of Laboratory Scientists
Faculty Advisor: Susanne Lindgren
Lindgren@csus.edu; Csus.sals@gmail.com

Sierra College
Faculty Advisor: Karen LeGrand
klegrand@sierracollege.edu

University of California, Berkeley
Microbial Biology Graduate Student Group
Faculty Advisor: Arash Komeili
komeili@berkeley.edu

University of California, Davis
Faculty Advisor: Miriam Martin
memartin@ucdavis.edu; asmatucdavis@gmail.com

University of California, Riverside
Faculty Advisor: Patrick Degnan
patrickd@ucr.edu; ucr.asm@gmail.com

Connecticut

Quinnipiac University
Faculty Advisor: Lisa Cuchara; Shawna Reed
lisa.cuchara@quinnipiac.edu; shawna.reed@quinnipiac.edu
asm@quinnipiac.edu

University of Connecticut, Storrs
Faculty Advisor: Patricia Rossi
Patricia.Rossi@uconn.edu

University of Connecticut, Uconn Health
Faculty Advisor: David Banach; Lisa Chirch
dbanach@uchc.edu; chirch@uchc.edu

District of Columbia

Georgetown University
Faculty Advisors: Shaun Brinsmade; Tiffany Zarrella
shaun.brinsmade@georgetown.edu; tiffany.zarrella@georgetown.edu

Howard University
Faculty Advisor: Karl Thompson
karl.thompson@howard.edu

Florida

Nova Southeastern University
Faculty Advisor: Julie Torruellas Garcia
jg1511@nova.edu

Ponte Vedra High School
Faculty Advisor: Kathryn Kehoe
kathryn.kehoe@stjohns.k12.fl.us

University of Florida
ASM Gators
Faculty Advisor: Kevin Lee; Monika Oli
km.lee@ufl.edu; moli@ufl.edu
asmgators@gmail.com

Georgia

Georgia Tech
Faculty Advisor: Brian Hammer
bhammer@gatech.edu

University of Georgia, Athens
Faculty Advisor: Jennifer Walker
Jrswalk@uga.edu

Hawaii

University of Hawaii at Manoa
Faculty Advisor: David Carter
david.carter@chaminade.edu; Hawaii.asm@gmail.com

Idaho

Idaho State University
Faculty Advisor: Jack Shurley; Kristin Lane
shurjack@isu.edu; kristinlane@isu.edu
microbio@isu.edu

University of Idaho
Faculty Advisor: Elizabeth Fortunato
lfort@uidaho.edu

Illinois

Chicago State University
Faculty Advisor: Nadeem Fazal
nfazal@csu.edu; asm@csu.edu

University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Faculty Advisor: Brenda Wilson
wilson7@illinois.edu

Indiana

Ball State University
Faculty Advisor: John McKillip
jlmckillip@bsu.edu

Purdue University, Fort Wayne
Faculty Advisor: Jaiyanth Daniel
danielj@pfw.edu; asm@pfw.edu

Iowa

Iowa State University
Microbiology Graduate Student Organization, Iowa State
Faculty Advisor: Melha Mellata and Nicholas Peters
mmellata@iastate.edu; ntpeters@iastate.edu

University of Iowa
Faculty Advisor: Mary Weber
mary-weber@uiowa.edu

Kansas

University of Kansas
ASM Jayhawk
Faculty Advisor: Shelli Nauman
s121g752@ku.edu

Kentucky

University of Kentucky
Faculty Advisor: Erin Garcia
erin.garcia@uky.edu

Louisiana

Northwestern State University
Faculty Advisor: Christopher N. Lyles
lylesc@nsula.edu

Maine

University of Maine
Maine Society of Microbiology
Faculty Advisor: Robert Wheeler
robert.wheeler1@maine.edu

Maryland

Uniformed Services University
Faculty Advisor: George Liechti
george.liechti@usuhs.edu

Massachusetts

University of Massachusetts - Amherst
Faculty Advisor: Kristen Deangelis
deangelis@microbio.umass.edu

Michigan

Michigan State University
Faculty Advisor: Jeannine Scott
scottj21@msu.edu; micclub@msu.edu

Minnesota

University of Minnesota
Faculty Advisor: Christian Mohr
mohrx005@umn.edu

Mississippi

Mississippi State University
Faculty Advisor: Justin Thornton
thornton@biology.msstate.edu; msuasm@yahoo.com

Saint Louis University
Faculty Advisor: John Tavis
john.tavis@health.slu.edu

Missouri

Missouri University of Science and Technology
Faculty Advisor: Melanie Mormile and Dave Westenberg
mmormile@mst.edu; djwesten@mst.edu

Saint Louis University
Faculty Advisor: John Tavis
john.tavis@health.slu.edu

Washington University in St. Louis
Faculty Advisor: Liz Mallott
mallott@wustl.edu

Montana

Montana State University
Faculty Advisor: Frank Stewart; Eric Boyd
frank.stewart@montana.edu; eboyd@montana.edu

Nebraska

University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Faculty Advisor: Karrie Weber
kweber2@unl.edu

Nevada

University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Faculty Advisor: Eduardo Robleto
eduardo.robleto@unlv.edu; unlv.asm@gmail.com

University of Nevada, Reno
Faculty Advisor: Deanna Colton
dcolton@med.unr.edu; unvreno.asm@gmail.com; unr.asm19@gmail.com

New Jersey

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Faculty Advisor: Max Haggblom
haggblom@rutgers.edu

New York

Binghamton University
Faculty Advisor: Caitlin Light
clight@binghamton.edu; microbiology@binghamtonsa.org

University at Albany, School of Public Health
Eastern New York ASM Student Chapter
Faculty Advisor: Nicole Shakerly
nicole.shakerley@acphs.edu; Enyscasm@gmail.com

North Carolina

North Carolina State University
Faculty Advisor: Mike Taveirne and Alice Lee
michael_taveirne@ncsu.edu; amlee3@ncsu.edu; microbiologyclub@ncsu.edu

North Dakota

North Dakota State University
Faculty Advisor: Danielle Condry
danielle.condry@ndsu.edu

Ohio

Bowling Green University
Faculty Advisor: Hans Wildschutte
hansw@bgsu.edu

Miami University
Faculty Advisor: Alan F. Strautman
strautaf@miamioh.edu

Ohio State University
Faculty Advisor: Birgit Alber
alber.8@osu.edu

Ohio Wesleyan
Faculty Advisor: Laura Tuhela-Reuning
lmtuhela@owu.edu

Otterbein University
Faculty Advisor: Jennifer Bennett
jbennett@otterbein.edu

Oregon

Oregon State University
Faculty Advisor: Linda Bruslind
bruslindl@oregonstate.edu; oregonstatemsa@gmail.com

Pennsylvania

Drexel University College of Medicine
Eastern Pennsylvania Branch Student Chapter
Faculty Advisor: Sunny Shin
sunshin@pennmedicine.upenn.edu; epaasm.students@gmail.com

Duquesne University
Faculty Advisor: Wook Kim
kimw1@duq.edu

Pennsylvania State University
Faculty Advisor: Tim Miyashiro
tim14@psu.edu

West Chester University
Faculty Advisor: John M. Pisciotta
jpisciotta@wcupa.edu; Wcumicrosocial@gmail.com

Puerto Rico

University of Puerto Rico, Humacao
Capitulo de Estudiantes de Microbiologia (CEM)
Faculty Advisor: Mario Ortiz
mario.ortiz@upr.edu; cemicro.uprh@upr.edu

University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus at San Juan
Faculty Advisor: Yisel M. Cantres Rosario
yisel.m.cantres@upr.edu; microbiologia.rcm@gmail.com

South Carolina

Clemson University
Faculty Advisor: Harry D. Kurtz
hkurtz@clemson.edu

University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville
Faculty Advisor: Steven Fiester
fiester@greenvillemed.sc.edu

University of South Carolina Upstate and Furman University
Upstate of SC Chapter of ASM
Faculty Advisor: Ginny Webb and Min-Ken Liao
Will4283@uscupstate.edu; Min-Ken.Liao@furman.edu

South Dakota

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
ASM-SD Bioindustry Accelerator and Innovation Hub
Faculty Advisor: Rajesh Sani and Kelsey Gilcrease
Rajesh.Sani@sdsmt.edu; Kelsey.Gilcrease@sdsmt.edu

Tennessee

Vanderbilt University
Faculty Advisor: Ann Tate
a.tate@vanderbilt.edu

East Tennessee State University
Faculty Advisor: Sean Fox and Dara Young
foxsj@mail.etsu.edu; youngdc@etsu.edu

University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Faculty Advisor: Gary LeCleir
glecleir@utk.edu

Texas

Baylor College of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Faculty Advisor: Heidi Kaplan
heidi.b.kaplan@uth.tmc.edu; asmattmc@gmail.com

St. Edward’s University
Faculty Advisor: Patricia Baynham and Claire Edwards
patricib@stedwards.edu; medward9@stedwards.edu

Texas State University
San Marcos, Texas
Faculty Advisor: Robert Mclean and Kelly Woytek
mclean@txstate.edu; woytek@txstate.edu

Texas Tech University
Faculty Advisor: Catherine Wakeman
catherine.wakeman@ttu.edu

Texas Woman's University
Faculty Advisor: Laura Hanson
lhanson@twu.edu; asm.twu@gmail.com

University of Dallas
Faculty Advisor: William Cody
wcody@udallas.edu

University of North Texas
UNT Society for Microbiology
Faculty Advisor: Lee Hughes
lee.hughes@unt.edu

University of Texas at Austin
Faculty Advisors: Jonathan Partridge; Ethel Bayer-Santos
j.partridge@utexas.edu; ebayersantos@austin.utexas.edu

University of Texas at El Paso
Faculty Advisor: Rosa Maldonado
ramaldonado@utep.edu; utepasm@gmail.com

University of Texas at San Antonio
Faculty Advisor: Soo Chan Lee
Soochan.Lee@utsa.edu; Asmatutsa@gmail.com

Virginia

Shenandoah Valley Chapter (BRCC/EMU/JMU)
Faculty Advisor: Stephen Baron
sbaron@bridgewater.edu

Virginia Commonwealth University
Faculty Advisor: Daniel Miller
daniel.miller@vcuhealth.org

Virginia Tech
Faculty Advisor: Ann Stevens
ams@vt.edu

Washington

University of Washington
Microphiles
Faculty Advisor: Karen Thickman
thickman@uw.edu; microph@uw.edu

Washington State University
Faculty Advisor: Anthony Nicola
anthony.nicola@wsu.edu

West Virginia

West Virginia University
Faculty Advisor: Meenal Elliott
melliott@hsc.wvu.edu; Wvuasm@gmail.com

Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin, La Crosse
Faculty Advisor: Bonnie Jo Bratina and Marisa Barbknecht
bbratina@uwlax.edu; mbarbknecht@uwlax.edu

University of Wisconsin, Madison
Faculty Advisor: Garret Suen; Melissa Christopherson
gsuen@wisc.edu; christophers@wisc.edu

University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
Faculty Advisor: Ryan Newton and Sandra McLellan
newtonr@uwm.edu; mclellan@uwm.edu