Pitt-Greensburg hosted the Allegheny Branch of the American Society of Microbiology annual meeting

The University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg welcomed more than 125 participants from 15 universities and colleges to 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 that included 53 poster presentations and 17 talks.

“The meeting provided professional development opportunities for both faculty and students,” said Sarah J. Swedlow, assistant professor of biology at Pitt-Greensburg, who is co-president-elect of ABASM with fellow Pitt-Greensburg associate professor Olivia Long. 

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 foundation’s Division for Undergraduate Education.

Pitt-Greensburg students placed first in four poster categories:

• Sophomore Faith Boyle received first in the SEA-PHAGES category
• Senior Jacob Calleja won the environmental microbiology category
• Juniors Riley Lesko, Mackenzie Taylor and Taylor Podob (pictured) won in the general microbiology category
• Jennifer Labbe-Kinney (UPG ’24) earned first in the computational microbiology category

Dorothy Zilic, Pitt-Greensburg’s director of career services, organized and facilitated a career-path seminar that featured professionals and students sharing their journeys and experiences. Pitt panelists included Velpandi Ayyavoo and Jeremy Martinson, both faculty in the School of Public Health.

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.

In November 2025, ABASM will be hosted at Pennsylvania Western University’s campus in the California borough, offering a new environment for faculty and students to present their research and connect with the microbiology community.