2025 Peggy Cotter Awardee: Zhenxin Sun
ASM Microbe 2025 – Peggy Cotter Travel Awardee Experience Summary
Submitted by: Zhenxin Sun, M.Sc./ Ph.D.
Attending ASM Microbe 2025 in Los Angeles as a Peggy Cotter Travel Award recipient was a truly transformative and empowering experience. I am deeply grateful for this opportunity to engage with the global microbiology community, exchange ideas, and explore a wide range of career paths within the field.
One of the highlights of my time at the meeting was participating in the full-day “Unlock Your Career Potential: A Job Search and Career Development Summit” held on June 19, 2025. This summit could not have come at a better time, as I am currently in the midst of a career transition and seeking clarity on my next steps.
The summit opened with a forward-looking session on the future of the microbial sciences workforce by Dr. Shelley Payne, followed by a dynamic panel on navigating career opportunities featuring professionals across various sectors. I especially appreciated the practical workshops on resume building and interviewing led by Lauren Celano and Dr. Casey Schroeder, which were packed with actionable advice that I can directly apply. Equally impactful was the session on mental health in science by Dr. Sharon Milgram, who emphasized the importance of sustainability and balance in scientific careers, an often overlooked yet essential topic. A particularly memorable experience was the career speed networking session, where I had the opportunity to speak directly with professionals from academia, industry, government, clinical microbiology, and public health. I was especially inspired by my conversation with Dr. Rebecca Yee, Chief of Microbiology at George Washington University Hospital. She shared valuable insights into what it is like to work as a microbiologist in a hospital setting and highlighted several advantages of this career path, including access to a steady stream of patient samples, flexibility in balancing research and teaching responsibilities, and opportunities for diverse research funding. Dr. Yee also offered thoughtful guidance on how young scientists or those looking to pivot mid-career can pursue this path effectively. Her encouragement and perspective were incredibly motivating, giving me a clearer picture of a potential direction for my future.
Another exciting and forward-looking aspect of the conference was the growing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in microbiology, showcased during the session titled “Back to the Future: Combining Traditional Microbiology Techniques and Artificial Intelligence Algorithms.” This session opened my eyes to how AI is transforming diagnostic microbiology and laboratory workflows. For example, I learned how AI-assisted analysis is being applied to interpret urine cultures more efficiently, including the detection of pathogens such as MRSA, which was identified by an AI system but missed during manual culturing. The integration of AI with chromogenic agar has enhanced sensitivity, while automated zone diameter measurement offers improved consistency in antibiotic susceptibility testing. What truly impressed me was AI's expanding role beyond bacterial culture, supporting gram stain interpretation, acid-fast bacilli detection, malaria diagnosis in hematology, and even ova and parasite examinations in parasitology. These tools not only increase throughput but also reduce inter-observer variability and error, particularly in resource-limited settings. Additionally, AI is being actively explored in areas such as vaccine development and predictive modeling of pathogen behavior, offering exciting interdisciplinary research opportunities at the intersection of microbiology and computational science.
In addition to these sessions, I was particularly inspired by a talk presented by Dr. Haig Alexander Eskandarian titled “Using Atomic Force Microscopy to Track Bacterial Growth and Membrane Dynamics.” This session demonstrated the power of long-term time-lapse atomic force microscopy (LTTL-AFM) in studying the surface architecture and behavior of Mycobacterium spp. in unprecedented detail. I was fascinated by how AFM can be used to monitor bacterial growth and membrane dynamics in real time, revealing insights into how physical properties of the bacterial envelope contribute to pathogenesis and virulence. This cutting-edge technique offers a valuable tool to bridge the gap between molecular biology and biomechanical behavior, and it has inspired new ways of thinking about host-pathogen interactions at the nanoscale.
Beyond the summit and scientific sessions, ASM Microbe itself was an outstanding meeting, filled with cutting-edge presentations, poster sessions, and meaningful networking opportunities. It was inspiring to be surrounded by such a passionate and collaborative community of microbiologists working to solve critical problems in health, the environment, and beyond.
Thank you again to the Peggy Cotter Travel Award committee for supporting my participation. This experience has greatly enriched my professional development, broadened my perspective on career possibilities in microbiology, and strengthened my resolve to contribute meaningfully to the field, particularly at the exciting intersection of microbiology, AI, and advanced microscopy.
2025 Peggy Cotter Awardee: Qian “Lydia” Li
Dear Hawaii American Society for Microbiology Members,
Thank you for helping to fund my attendance at ASM Microbe 2025 in Los Angeles, CA, through the Peggy Cotter Award. This support made my journey from Hawaii to California possible. Attending ASM Microbe 2025 at the Los Angeles Convention Center was an incredible experience. With thousands of microbiologists from around the world, this biggest event in microbial science, immersed me in a whirlwind of discovery, connection, and inspiration.
I arrived early on Thursday, June 19th, just in time for full-day workshops and the engaging “Attendee Orientation.” The real highlight came during the Opening General Session, where ASM President Theresa Koehler, CEO Stefano Bertuzzi, and Lifetime Achievement Awardee Susan Weiss delivered motivational remarks. Over the next few days, I explored various sessions covering topics from Antimicrobial Resistance to Microbial Ecology & Biodiversity.
One of the most rewarding aspects of my experience was attending sessions focused on Environmental & Ecological Microbiology, particularly aquatic microbial ecology. I was thrilled by the innovative methods used to explore species-level metabolic potential in aquatic samples, especially the combination of metagenomics, single-cell genomics, and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) to identify rare or uncultured microbial taxa.
These sessions not only broadened my perspective on environmental microbiology but also sparked new ideas for integrating omics tools with ecological modeling in my own research. I left feeling inspired by the community’s shared commitment to understanding and protecting aquatic ecosystems in a rapidly changing world.
Beyond the scientific sessions, I found great energy in networking with colleagues at various events and the Exhibit Hall. A standout moment was attending the “Profession of Microbiology” (POM) session on Friday, tailored for early-career attendees focused on clinical and public health microbiology. This structured networking event provided valuable space to connect with professionals across diverse sectors of microbial sciences.
The opportunity for small-group discussions with experts was especially beneficial, as they shared practical advice on navigating academic and professional development, from grant writing to building a strong promotion dossier. The format allowed for meaningful dialogue and candid exchanges, providing insights that I found particularly helpful as I reflect on the next steps in my career.
Exploring the Exhibit Hall was also a highlight, where I discovered new technologies and tools relevant to environmental microbiology and microbial ecology. Several booths featured innovative instruments for single-cell analysis and molecular quantification, which sparked ideas about incorporating new approaches into my research on plankton trophic strategies and microbial interactions in aquatic systems.
As I left Los Angeles, I took home not only new data and literature but also rekindled collaborations and a renewed sense of momentum. With ASM Microbe transitioning into a more customized format in 2026, I’m excited about what next year holds.
Thank you once again, and I look forward to the opportunity to attend ASM again in the future!
Qian “Lydia” Li, PhD
School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
2025 Peggy Cotter Awardee: Michael Norris
Dear Hawaiʻi ASM Members,
The Peggy Cotter Travel Award for early career investigators helped me attend the world’s premier microbiology conference, ASM Microbe 2025. As a Graduate Student I had the honor of collaborating with Dr. Peggy Cotter when she was part of the Pacific Southwest Regional Center of Excellence, so I was honored to be a recipient of her namesake travel award.
ASM Microbe is a richly diverse meeting where the breadth of current microbiology research is on full display. Attending this meeting is a great way to meet current and future collaborators, inspire new ideas, and see the direction research is moving. For me, it really helped visualize the governance of the American Society of Microbiology which is a large national organization that contributes to the scientific and political narrative surrounding science in the US and the world. While attending the Branch Officers forum we met with other regional ASM Branches and I was able to see that our Hawaii Branch excels at interacting with our Student Chapter, due mostly in part to strong leadership in our Student Chapter. It was inspiring to see that as an incoming Branch Office. I hope we can continue the level of student engagement at HiASM into the future and show off our impressive student chapter at the next ASM Microbe.
Another really valuable part of attending meetings like ASM Microbe are the interactions with scientists and funding agency representatives. This can be important due to the geographic isolation of the Hawaiian Islands. Sharing your work with a diverse group of scientists can ignite new ideas, produce new collaborations, and attract interest to you work. Of note, I met government scientists from the Republic of Korea and spent a long time discussing my poster with them. I’m hopeful this can turn into an international collaboration. I also met with scientists in the US government to understand funding opportunities going forward in the current austere funding environment. Building these types of relationships are vital to maintaining a research program, especially for early-stage investigators. I also met with friends I had not seen in a long time and got to catch up on the status of their research programs and various academic pursuits. Last but not least, ASM Microbe provides a forum for learning about cutting-edge science. The meeting also highlighted the ever-growing role of computation in the biological sciences. This included the use of artificial intelligence to mine extinct organism genomes for therapeutic proteins. Resurrecting functional cryptic antimicrobial peptides from the genomes of Neanderthals and wooly mammoths is truly extraordinary. Another application is using artificial intelligence to predict the next mutations in viral pathogens, keeping effective vaccines one step ahead of disease.
All told, the meeting was an enjoyable and extraordinarily productive event. I am grateful to the Branch officers for selecting me as one of the awardees representing the Hawaiʻi Branch of the American Society for Microbiology. I encourage scientists in Hawaiʻi to take advantage of the program and apply for the Peggy Cotter Travel Award. Attending ASM Microbe is immensely beneficial for professional growth, especially so for those early in their career. I extend a big mahalo to the Hawaiʻi Branch of ASM for the assistance in attending ASM Microbe 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
Warm Regards,
Michael Norris, PhD
Peggy Cotter Awardees 2025
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the awardees of the Peggy Cotter Award. This recognition is a testament to your hard work, dedication, and contributions to the field of microbiology. Your achievements inspire fellow early-career scientists and highlight the importance of fostering talent within our community. We wish you continued success as you advance your research and make significant impacts in your respective areas of study. Thank you for your commitment to the discipline and for being role models to others in the scientific community.
For more information on the award and how it can help fund travel to ASM Microbe:
https://asm.org/travel-award/peggy-cotter-travel-awards-early-career-branch-mem
Awardees from left to right:
Qian “Lydia” Li, PhD (Center for Microbial Oceanography: Research and Education)
Michael H. Norris, PhD (The PATH Group, School of Life Sciences)
Zhenxin “Amy” Sun, MSc/PhD (School of Life Sciences)
Peggy Cotter Awardee: Michelle Gould
HI-ASM awarded Michelle Gould, an Assistant Professor at the University of Hawaii—Maui College, the Peggy Cotter Travel Award. This helped fund her travels to the ASM Microbe 2024 conference in Atlanta, GA. Her write-up on her experience at ASM Microbe is linked here.
2024 Spring Meeting
The 2024 HI-ASM Spring Meeting is at a close and was a great success! There were nearly 80 attendees, great food, presentations, and talks.
A HUGE mahalo goes to our student chapter; without them, this meeting would not have been such a big success.
Also, thank you to our generous donors: COL Donald Person and ThermoFisher!
Without further ado, here are the awardees:
Travel awards: Troy Odo, Yu-Ching Dai, Yuewen Ding
COL Person Award: Troy Odo
Undergraduate Posters
1. Eiren Phoebe Ulep Tamayo
2. Amber Caranchini
3. April Iwatani
Graduate Posters
1. Md Samiul Huq Atanu
2. Brandi Mikami
3. Nicholas Miwa
M.S. Orals
1.Renn Silve Salomon
2. Jaymie Bilog-Mina
3. Annie Deck
Phd Orals
1. Endrei Marcantonio
2. Thomas Ken Awamura
3. Jayna Wong
Here’s a great write-up and some photos of the meeting on UH’s Trop Med website:
ASM Microbe 2022
ASM Microbe happened back in June 2022 and a handful of HI-ASM representatives and members flew all the way to Washington, DC to attend. Take a look at a few photos!
2022 Peggy Cotter Awardee Alanna Tseng, PhD
Congratulations to Alanna Tseng, the awardee for the Peggy Cotter Travel Award!
Alanna is a Ph.D. at the Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology & Pharmacology department at the John A. Burns School of Medicine. She is mentoring seven graduate and undergraduate students on various SARS-CoV-2 research projects. She has been involved in HI-ASM since 2013 and even served as the student chapter President in 2016 and Secretary from 2013-2015.
As a student, Alanna’s research has been recognized by HI-ASM:
2018: 2nd place - PhD Poster Presentation
2016: 2nd place - MS Oral Presentation
2014: 1st place - MS Oral Presentation
2013: 3rd place - MS Poster Presentation
We’re very excited to hear what she will experience at the 2022 ASM Microbe this summer!
History of the HI-ASM
It’s always great to know how things started. Not necessarily “news” but Dr. Lieberman found this article from a 1974 ASM News (“Diamond Jubilee”) issue:
“The Hawaii Branch - American Society for Microbiology was formed in 1965, under the direction of Albert Benedict (Chairman of the Department of Microbiology, University of Hawaii). The late Max Levine, internationally known bacteriologist, served as the Branch’s first president.
The Branch’s main objective is to promote a close scientific relationship among persons interested in microbiology in the state of Hawaii and the non-US Pacific area, through the media of presenting papers, personal associations, and interchange of ideas concerning microbiological problems.
Two meetings are held annually. The spring meetings are scheduled with the presentations of scientific papers by graduate students, professors, professional microbiologists, and other scientists. The fall meetings are scheduled with guest lecturers, either local or from the US mainland.
The Branch participates in the annual Science Fairs of the local intermediate schools and high schools by presenting book awards to three student winners specializing in microbiology. Beginning in 1975, the Branch will be awarding monetary gifts to graduate students for excellence in their organization and presentation of scientific papers in the Branch’s annual spring meetings.”
Free Virtual Lecture
Please join us on Monday, November 15, 2021 at 11:00am ET (Washington, DC time) for the virtual lecture:
ASM Distinguished Lecturer: Shannon Manning, PhD
Topic: Why Are Some E. coli Meaner?
Description: This talk will focus on the diversity of bacterial pathogen populations and will illustrate how this diversity impacts virulence and variation in disease severity. Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), a common foodborne pathogen, will be used as a model. Bacterial evolution and STEC emergence will be discussed as well as the high degree of genetic variation, which can be examined via the use of multiple molecular genotyping tools. Application of these tools to epidemiological data from patients with infections will highlight the role that genetic diversity plays in disease presentation.
This event is free for all, but it does require prior registration on the ASM website: https://rb.gy/dl7yy1.