91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ

• Opportunity to play a leadership role in 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ’s mission to promote and advance the microbial sciences worldwide.

• Prestige of being an official 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ representative to microbiologists in your country.

• Opportunity to network with other scientific leaders worldwide.

• Current 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ membership.

• A Ph.D., or equivalent terminal degree in a microbiology-related field, or a graduate degree and 10 years post-academic experience.

• At least 3 microbiology-related papers in last 5 years.

• Intermediate to advanced proficiency in English.

• At least 5 hours per month to commit to ambassador activities.

The 2025 Ambassador application cycle is now closed. 

Applications must include the following:

• Curriculum Vitae.

• 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ and non-91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ meetings regularly attended.

• Membership in national, regional and international scientific societies.

• Cover letter explaining interest in position, relevant skills and experience.

• Action plan of proposed activities for the calendar year. 

• Letter of recommendation from an 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ member. 

Questions? Contact: service@asmusa.org

• Work with the other 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ Young Ambassadors of Science around the globe to promote and advance the microbial sciences (and make great friends too)!

• Promote networking and collaboration within your local science community.

• Advance collaboration between 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ and local universities.

• Address the needs of young scientists utilizing 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ resources.

• Instill a passion for science in the next generation.

• Be an official 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ representative.

• Current 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ membership.

• Current enrollment as a student or Ph.D. candidate, or have earned a Ph.D. within the past 5 years.

• Demonstrated leadership in your scientific or academic community.

The 2025 Ambassador application cycle is now closed.

Applications must include the following:

• Curriculum Vitae.

• 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ and non-91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ meetings regularly attended.

• Membership in national, regional and international scientific societies.

• Cover letter explaining interest in position, relevant skills and experience.

• Action plan of proposed activities in the young ambassador role.

• Letter of recommendation from an 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ member. 

Questions? Contact: service@asmusa.org

Sierra Hansen
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
schansen@uab.edu
 
Meg Waite
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Fairbanks, Alaska
mwaite2@alaska.edu
 
Emily Higgins Keppler
Arizona State University
Mesa, Arizona
ehiggins@asu.edu
 
Sunghyun Yoon
FDA NCTR
Little Rock, Arkansas
sunghyun.yoon@fda.hhs.gov
 
Celeste Allaband
University of California San Diego
San Diego, California
callaband@ucsd.edu

Astral Bertolio
Front Range Community College
Boulder, Colorado
astralbertolio@gmail.com

Ragini Reddyvari
University of Connecticut
Willimantic, Connecticut
ragini.reddyvari@uconn.edu
 
Zachory Park
Georgetown University
Washington, DC
zmp7@georgetown.edu
 
Christian McDonald
University of Miami
Miami, Florida
cmcdonald@miami.edu
 
Ninecia Scott
Atlanta, Georgia
ninecia.scott@gmail.com
 
Akorede Seriki
University of Idaho
Moscow, Idaho
seri5256@vandals.uidaho.edu
 
Sadia Sultana
Illinois State University
Normal, Illinois
ssulta7@ilstu.edu

Rachel Tat
Indiana University School of Medicine
Indianapolis, Indiana
rtat@iu.edu

Débora Goulart
United States Department of Agriculture
Ames, Iowa
deborabritobh@gmail.com

Blessing Egbejiogu
Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
bcegbejiogu@gmail.com
 
Alaina Weinheimer
Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences
East Boothbay, Maine
alainarw94@gmail.com
 
Huiqiao Pan
Carnegie Institution for Science
Baltimore, Maryland
hpan@carnegiescience.edu
 
Veda Khadka
Cambridge, Massachusetts
veda.khadka@gmail.com
 
Maribel EK Okiye
University of Michigan
Michigan
maribelo@umich.edu
 
Monzur Chowdhury
Mississippi State University
Starkville, Mississippi
qc120@msstate.edu
 
Emily Knebel
University of Missouri - Columbia
Columbia, Missouri
knebele@mail.missouri.edu

Samantha Crane
Rocky Mountain Laboratories
Hamilton, Montana
samantha.crane2@nih.gov
 
Shawn Freed
Creighton University
Omaha, Nebraska
smf11211@creighton.edu
 
Jessica Grifaldo
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
grifaldo@unlv.nevada.edu 

Liisa Veerus
Rutgers University
Highland Park, New Jersey
lv273@cabm.rutgers.edu

Andzoa Jamus
University of New Mexico School of Medicine
Albuquerque, New Mexico
ANJamus@salud.unm.edu
 
Stevie Taddei
University at Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
smtaddei@buffalo.edu
 
Jeanette Black
UNCW
Wilmington, North Carolina
jbb8031@uncw.edu

Steven Sayson
University of Cincinnati
Springboro, Ohio
steven.sayson@uc.edu
 
Damilare Ajagbe
Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, Oklahoma
dajagbe@okstate.edu
 
Kelly Shannon
Oregon State University
Corvallis, Oregon
shannonk@oregonstate.edu

Allison Kumar
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
alk360@pitt.edu

Albersy Armina-Rodriguez
University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus
Utuado, Puerto Rico
albersy.armina@upr.edu

Rebecca Yunker
Brown University
Providence, Rhode Island
rebecca_yunker@brown.edu
 
Jennifer Grier
University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville
Greenville, South Carolina
jgrier@greenvillemed.sc.edu
 
Jillian Walton
University of Tennessee - Knoxville
Knoxville, Tennessee
jwalto12@vols.utk.edu
 
Jessica O'Berry
University of Texas at San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas
jessica.oberry00@gmail.com
 
Annie Hinson
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, Virginia
hinsonan3@vcu.edu

Olalekan Akinsulie
Washington State University
Pullman, Washington
olalekan.akinsulie@wsu.edu

Kyle Leistikow    
Microbial Discovery Group
Cudahy, Wisconsin    
kyle.leistikow@marquette.edu

Yasin Ahmed
University of Wyoming
Laramie, Wyoming
mahmed1@uwyo.edu