Photo Caption: Olivia Long, PhD, congratulates her students on their first-place poster presentation "Effects of Lithium Chloride in C. elegans: A Potential Therapeutic Treatment for Huntington's Disease." From left: Long, Mackenzie Taylor, Taylor Podob, and Riley Lesko.
The University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg welcomed more than 125 participants from 15 universities and colleges to the Hempfield Township campus for the annual meeting of the Allegheny Branch of the American Society of Microbiology (ABASM). The program, which took place over two days in early November, featured 70 presentations, including 53 poster presentations and 17 talks.
“The meeting provided professional development opportunities for both faculty and students,” said Sarah J. Swedlow, PhD, assistant professor of Biology at Pitt-Greensburg, who is the ABASM co-president-elect with Olivia Long, PhD, associate professor of Biochemistry at Pitt-Greensburg.
Faculty and graduate students also were invited to participate in a National Science Foundation (NSF) Grant Workshop to learn about the grants and funding opportunities available through the NSF Division for Undergraduate Education.
“The meeting provided students with a variety of professional development opportunities,” said Long. “These ranged from networking and career exploration to experiential practice through poster presentations on their research while hearing from other scientists via the scheduled talks.”
Pitt-Greensburg students placed first in four poster categories:
- Faith Boyle (sophomore, Biological Sciences major, Greensburg, PA) received first in the SEA-PHAGES poster competition for “SEA-PHAGES in Your Dreams, an Arthobacter globiformis Bacteriophage appears: DreamEater. (Advisor: Sarah J. Swerdlow, PhD)
- Jacob Calleja (senior, Biological Sciences major, Lincoln, RI) and Raychel Cass (senior, Biological Sciences/Psychology majors, Saltsburg, PA) placed first in the Environmental Microbiology poster competition for “Isolating, Purifying, and Amplifying Novel Phages Sling and SwissCheezer with a Microbaterium foliorum Host.” (Advisor: Sarah J. Swerdlow, PhD)
- Riley Lesko (junior, Biological Sciences major, Belle Vernon, PA), Mackenzie Taylor (junior, Biochemistry major, Connellsville, PA), and Taylor Podob (junior, Biological Sciences major, North Huntingdon, PA) won first place in the General Microbiology poster competition for “Effects of Lithium Chloride in C. elegans: A Potential Therapeutic Treatment for Huntington’s Disease” (Advisor: Olivia Long, PhD)
- Jennifer Labbe-Kinney (’24, Biological Sciences major, Murrysville, PA) received first place in the Computational Microbiology Poster competition for “Potential Function of Hypothetical Gene in Arthrobacter sulfureus Bacteriophage MiniMommy Based on Synteny.” (Advisor: Sarah J. Swerdlow, PhD)
“I’m so proud of my students’ success at the conference,” said Swerdlow. “It’s experiences like these that help them grow as scientists—learning to present, getting feedback, and making connections that could shape their careers.”
“Seeing my students succeed at the regional ABASM microbiology conference was incredibly rewarding,” added Long. “Their achievements are a testament to their dedication and hard work. Attending these events is crucial because it allows students to engage with the broader scientific community, sharpen their presentation skills, and receive valuable feedback on their research. These experiences not only build confidence but also open doors to future opportunities in the field.”
Robert Gregerson, PhD, president of Pitt-Greensburg whose academic degrees are in Molecular Genetics and Biology and whose experience includes teaching those subjects, welcomed the participants each day of the session.
ASM distinguished speaker Brenda Anne Wilson, PhD, presented the keynote speech, “Toxins, Toxins Everywhere: Turning Foe Into Friend” and a spotlight presentation “Taking the Wheel: How to Navigate Difficult Conversations.” Funding for her presentation and the ABASM meeting was provided through the American Society for Microbiology (ASM). Among her responsibilities, Wilson is a professor of Microbiology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She also is the associate director for MCB Undergraduate Education and the Sandia Senior Faculty Fellow in the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation there.
Dorothy Zilic, the campus’s director of Career Services, organized and facilitated a career-path seminar, “STEM Career Snapshots: 15 Minutes to Your Future,” that featured professionals and students sharing their journeys and experiences. Panelists included:
- Genevieve Lynn Everett-Sigwalt, MD, a specialist in Electrophysiology and Cardiology with UPMC;
- Becky Moran, operations manager with U.S. Micro Solutions;
- Velpandi Ayyavoo, MSc, PhD, professor and vice chair for Education, Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology in the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Public Health;
- Jeremy J. Martinson, DPhil, assistant professor and vice chair for Research, program director, MPH concentration in infectious disease pathogenesis, eradication, and laboratory practice (MPH-PEL), faculty in Infectious Diseases and Microbiology and Human Genetics in Pitt’s School of Public Health.
Another career-building component offered to ABASM meeting participants was the opportunity to have a complimentary professional headshot taken throughout the second day. Photography services were provided by Susan Isola, Pitt-Greensburg’s director of Media Relations.
Members of Pitt-Greensburg’s Theta Pi chapter of the Beta Beta Beta National Biology Honor Society and students from the SEA-PHAGES microbiology lab took on the important role of space preparation and meeting support throughout the two days.
“The students provided key coordination throughout the meeting that allowed the events to run smoothly and helped guests to feel welcomed and supported,” said Swerdlow.
“We are also grateful for the additional support we received from various Pitt-Greensburg departments, including the Natural Sciences Division, Facilities, Chartwells Dining Services, and Campus Police,” added Long.
In November 2025, ABASM will be hosted at Pennsylvania Western University (formerly California University of Pennsylvania), California, PA, offering a new environment for faculty and students to present their research and connect with the microbiology community.