The newest of ASM's Milestones in Microbiology,  the site of the former Laboratory of Hygiene  at the University of Pennsylvania, was  commemorated in a ceremony held before the ASM General Meeting in Philadelphia. The  building itself was a sophisticated design built in  1892 specifically for the study of bacteriology  and was the first of its kind in the United States.  It was home to many early bacteriologists, including  ASM founder Alexander C. Abbott and  David H. Bergey, who worked on his famous  Manual of Determinative Bacteriology here.  ASM placed a commemorative plaque on the  site, which now houses the modern Vagelos  Laboratories.    

ASM has long been committed to the educational  development of young professionals wishing to  pursue a career in infectious diseases, clinical microbiology,  health care epidemiology, and related  fields. Now in its fifth year, the ICAAC ID Fellows  Grant Program continues to receive outstanding  reviews from participants, offering ID Fellows a  unique opportunity to attend the 49th ICAAC and  participate in an experience specifically tailored to  their educational development needs.    

Few scientists set out to be writers. Nonetheless, in a profession that lives by the mantra "publish  or perish," tremendous credibility lies in the  ability to write well. Young scientists quickly learn that disseminating results to the larger  scientific community via professional journals is  a critical aspect of the scientific process, but they often are uncertain of how to best produce clear  and well-presented writing themselves.

The 2009 ICAAC Young Investigator Awards  recognize and reward five early-career scientists  for their research excellence and potential in  microbiology and infectious diseases. Since  1983, two awards have been supported by an  unrestricted educational grant from Merck, U.S.  Human Health Division, while two are sponsored  by ASM. In 2007, an additional award  from Merck, U.S. Human Health Division, was  added to recognize excellence in HIV research.  Tobias M. Hohl and Xiaorong Lin are the 2009  laureates for the Merck-sponsored awards, and  Angelika Gründling and Anton Y. Peleg are the  2009 laureates for the ASM-sponsored awards.  David Masopust is the 2009 laureate for the  Merck-sponsored award for HIV research.    

ABRCMS 2009 Blasts Off with  Stellar Speaker Lineup    

The Annual Biomedical Research Conference  for Minority Students (ABRCMS) is a  key stepping stone for enhancing the scientific  and professional development of  young scientists. Each year, the conference  features inspiring plenaries and information-  rich concurrent scientific presentations  and professional development sessions.  The 2009 ABRCMS, scheduled for  4-7 November in Phoenix, Ariz., is no exception,  with a core lineup of speakers representing  wide-ranging experience in technology,  engineering, and medical research.    

The Advantages of Branch  Membership: a Perspective from  Region 7    

ASM Region 7 Branches comprise a  unique blend of the Pacific Coast, Southwest,  Intermountain (Utah and southern  Idaho), and the Aloha State of Hawaii. As Regional Planning Coordinator, I have had the honor and privilege of meeting  with the different Branches in this region.  The hard work, research, student support, collaboration, and dedication to ASM illustrate the advantages of Branch membership.    

Deceased Member    

John N. Brady, dedicated researcher, scientific pioneer, and visionary teacher, died on 27 April 2009 after a short but courageous battle with colon cancer. Qualities that come to mind when one remembers John are integrity, humility, dedication, consideration, fairness, loyalty, and always, a sense of humor.