The ASM Student Chapter at the University of Iowa is a trainee-led organization that aims to connect Microbiology and Immunology undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral trainees through professional and social activities.
ASM Student Chapter Board 2025-2026
President: Marla Shaffer - Microbiology Graduate Student
Vice President:
Secretary: Riley McFarlane - Microbiology Graduate Program
Treasurer: Swetha Ashokkumar - Microbiology Graduate Program
Microbiology Undergraduate Student Association (MUSA) Representative: Grace Gutzman
Faculty Advisor: Mary Weber, PhD
Meetings, Seminars, and Conferences
Undergraduate and graduate students have their own separate monthly meetings. The goals of these meetings are to discuss career development topics relevant to each trainee level. Additionally, all trainees gather twice a semester for joint meetings that either discuss professional topics relevant to everyone or social activities that support community building between postdoctoral, graduate and undergraduate trainees.
Our ASM Student Chapter also hosts faculty and student seminars each semester that are available to all trainees and encourage a low-pressure environment for trainees to engage with on-campus research.
Events
Fall 2025
September
9/2 - Fellowship Application Info Session
This workshop will primarily focus on the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship and include a brief overview of other fellowships, such as the NIH F31.
- 9/5 - Fall Kickoff Students vs Faculty Kickball Game
9/17 - Group Writing Session
A quiet space designated for graduate students to facilitate manuscript writing.
October
- 10/1 - First-Year Graduate Student Coffee Hour
10/15 - Micro Student Coffee Hour
A welcoming environment to foster relationships between graduate and undergraduate students in order to create a campus-wide microbiology community.
- 10/31 - Halloween Party
November
- 11/7 & 11/8 - ASM North Central Branch Meeting, University of Norther Iowa
December
TBD - Cookie Drive
Come out and support our biggest fundraiser for our Chapter! Donations are used to fund bi-annual travel awards sponsored by our Chapter.
- TBD - Winter Holiday Party
Spring 2026
January
TBD - Fellowship Application Info Session
This workshop will primarily focus on NIH fellowships for current graduate students and postdocs such as the NIH F31 and F32.
February
- 2/17 - ASM Chapter Sponsored Seminar, Dr. Emily Speranza
March
TBD - Mock Chalk Talk
This event offers a unique chance to experience a key part of academic interviews, where candidates present their research goals using only a whiteboard.
April
- TBD - Cookie Drive
2025 Summer Lab Olympics!
