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ASM News
Results from 2001 ASM Summer Institute
Summer Institute In Preparation for Careers in Microbiology
Participants at the 2001 Summer Institute discuss their work. In 2001, the ASM Committee on Graduate Education proposed an annual institute for graduate students and postdoctoral scientists to learn about and practice skills that are often overlooked during their formal training. While students have numerous opportunities to conduct scientific research, developing skills in grant preparations, communications, and teaching are frequently lacking or inconsistent. To address these shortcomings in graduate education, the committee began sponsoring the Summer Institute (SI) for Preparation of Careers in Microbiology.
Twenty-one pioneers joined five committee members in August 2001 at the University of Wisconsin-Madison for six intensive days of closely guided instruction and practice in five key areas important for choosing and preparing for a career as a microbiologist. The areas are grant preparation, scientific presentations, effective teaching, career opportunities, and scientific ethics. One year later, the committee conducted follow-up interviews to assess the pioneers’ development. The table on p. 567 summarizes the participants in the 2001 and 2002 Summer Institutes.
Grant preparation. About 40% of the SI training is dedicated to understanding the National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant-making process and learning how to prepare a competitive proposal. This requires preparation of a 20-page proposal before attending the Institute, an onerous requirement but one of the most valued experiences for all participants. During the Institute, participants share their work in a series of simulated review sessions, modeled after an NIH study section. While members of the ASM Committee on Graduate Education serve as coaches and referees, each student serves as a reviewer, and all proposals are critiqued. About 40% of the 2001 SI respondents indicated that they revised their proposals and 33% submitted it for funding after the Institute. One respondent stated, "The SI helped me significantly in the area of grant writing. After the Institute, I rewrote the proposal that I wrote for the SI and submitted it to NIH. Although it was not funded on the first attempt, I feel extremely lucky to have gone through the whole process from start to finish where the livelihood of my own lab didn't depend upon getting the grant. It was so valuable to do all of the work myself, and to also get the comments back from the reviewers. What a tremendous learning experience. I never would have had that experience if I hadn't attended the SI."
Scientific presentations and communications. Before attending the Institute, participants prepare a 10-minute oral presentation and accompanying visuals. The culminating activity occurs when participants present their research, learning from one another through highly interactive and carefully coached sessions. In the follow-up interviews, everyone reported to have revised and presented their work. One wrote, "I have given many presentations, all of which have been met with high praise. I think what I learned at the SI led me to winning second place student presentation at the ASM Virginia Branch Meeting in November 2001." Another participant said, "I am planning to apply for postdoctoral funding very soon. I gave an oral presentation at an international Chlamydia meeting this summer and I used the skills we learned at the Institute. It went really well and right after my presentation I got four postdoc offers!"
Career opportunities. Students have limited opportunities to learn about the diversity of careers in microbiology in their formal training. For many, the Institute is the first place to learn about different career opportunities. About two-thirds of respondents in the follow-up interviews indicated that they considered a new career that they hadn't known about prior to attending the Institute. "The Institute certainly exposed me to the diversity of career opportunities. The experiences shared by the many speakers set me thinking about which path to follow and the way to do it. The candid discussions of starting salaries and what to ask for in your interview were most informative. I have a much clearer idea of how to proceed when I finish my degree," reported one participant.
Learning about different career options benefits undergraduate as well as graduate students participating in the SI. "The speakers on different careers were most beneficial to me. It was helpful to see all the options, not only for me, but also for undergraduate students whom I may influence," says one participant.
Effective teaching. Most participants will pursue academic careers; however, they will be at very different types of institutions mentoring and teaching students with diverse learning needs. Thus, about 10% of the training is focused on effective teaching strategies. Many of the survey respondents incorporated new approaches to teaching as a result of the Institute. "Beyond the discussions about career choices, I think our teaching discussions were most beneficial to me. I have since earned a distinguished TA award at the University of Maryland, one of two within our department. I have also been asked to serve on a university-wide panel of three experienced TAs for all incoming TAs this fall. Because I love teaching, this type of recognition is important for me," one reported.
Another wrote, "As a result of the Institute, I have chosen a different path for my life. In September, I will start teaching at a private high school. The skills I learned in the teaching workshops really helped me during the interview process for this job and helped me to have the confidence that I really can do it." She continues, "I know the Institute did not talk about this as a career option, but I still feel it helped me in choosing a path of life that I would like to do first. I say first because I also realized that this may just be my first stop along an evolving career pathway."
Perhaps the most talked-about benefits of the SI are the genuine openness and contacts that one encounters. As expressed by one participant, "The most important aspect I gained from the ASM SI was the personal contacts made. It gave me the confidence to network with individuals in my research field. It taught me all the information they never taught us in graduate school."
The 3rd Summer Institute will be held 3-6 August 2003 at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Council Policy Committee Minutes
The Council Policy Committee (CPC) met in formal session on Saturday, 15 December 2001 at the Chicago Hilton and Towers Hotel in Chicago, Ill. The meeting was called to order by Abigail Salyers, President, at 8:05 A.M.
Voting members of the CPC in attendance were: Abigail Salyers (President), Ronald Atlas (President-Elect), Martha Howe (Past President), Judy Daly (Secretary), Ronald Luftig (Treasurer), Eugene Nester (chair, American Academy of Microbiology), Clifford Houston (chair, Education Board), Peter Maloney (chair, Meetings Board), Marie Pezzlo (chair, Membership Board), Gail Cassell (chair, Public and Scientific Affairs Board), Sam Kaplan (chair, Publications Board), Christon Hurst, Stanley Maloy, and Roy Curtiss III, (Members at Large [Divisions]), and Millicent Goldschmidt, James Beebe, and Joan Rose (Members at Large [Branches]).
Invited guests and ex officio members in attendance were: Michael Goldberg (executive director), John FitzGerald (deputy executive director), Ron Butler (director, Information Systems), Carol Colgan (director, American Academy of Microbiology), Lorna Kent (director, Membership Services), Barbara Hyde (director, Communications), Nancy Elder (director, Meetings and Industry Relations), Linda Illig (director, Journals), Jeff Holtmeier (director, ASM Press), Charlotte Daniels (coordinator, Leadership Services), and Joseph Campos (dean, College of the American Academy of Microbiology).
Abigail Salyers and Ronald Atlas both had opening remarks prior to discussing the agenda items. Roll call was noted. The CPC Agenda was unanimously approved with no changes or additions. The minutes from the 24 May 2001 CPC meeting were unanimously approved with no changes or additions. It was noted that the Constitution and Bylaws were included in the packet.
II. A. Official Appointments. Judy Daly had no official appointments at this time.
II.B. Nominating Committee for 2003. Martha Howe presented the following individuals as members of the Nominating Committee for 2003: Cathy Squires* (Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Mass.), Judy Wall (University of Missouri, Columbia, Mo.), Mike Doyle (University of Georgia, Griffin, Ga.), Peter Maloney* (Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md.), David Hooper* (Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Mass.), and J. Michael Miller (Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, Ga.). Members names followed by an * indicates they are members of Council. Three members of the Council are required. The committee was unanimously approved.
III.A. Submission of 2002 Schedule of Meetings. The schedule was unanimously approved with the decision to hold the September CPC Meeting, which is held in conjunction with ICAAC, on Thursday, 26 September 2002.
III.B. Submission of 2002 Budget. CPC approval is required for the FY 2002 Budget. Ronald Luftig pointed out that the overall budget including investment income and the financing cost on the headquarters building projects a deficit. He noted out historically, the actual results are approximately 3% above the revenue budget. Michael Goldberg pointed out that the operating budget projects a surplus of $6,000 making it a positive budget.
Roy Curtiss asked Ronald Luftig to present a short resume of the due diligence exercised in preparing the budget prior to asking for general approval of the budget. Ronald Luftig did a brief synopsis of the due diligence that was done. There being no other questions, additions, or changes, the budget was unanimously approved.
III.C. Revision of General Financial Policy. The current policy focuses primarily on actual performance measurements. Changes were proposed that provide more specific guidance as to the role of the Finance Committee in the annual budgeting process. New guidelines for budget targets and budget preparation were also proposed. The proposed policy will increase budgeting discipline, clarify the role of the Finance Committee, and reduce the probability that large deficits will be forthcoming from the preliminary budgeting process.
Roy Curtiss entered a motion that summaries of the draft budget with the original letters from the Finance Committee to the programs recommending cuts and approvals be provided along with the actual budget to CPC members before the CPC meeting. The background information will permit a more realistic review of the budget prior to approval by CPC.
The motion was carried with a vote of 12 in favor; 4 opposed; and 1 abstention.
It was pointed out that CPC members are always invited and encouraged to attend the various Board and CPC Committee meetings to gain a better understanding of the development and funding needs of the numerous programs undertaken by the Society.
An amendment was made to defer discussion of Bullet 2 on page 2 until after discussion of Item III.D. The amendment was agreed upon. Bullet 2 is as follows: Positive net revenue producing areas of ASM should be budgeted and managed to provide net revenues at least equal to the actual average net revenue achieved for the previous five years adjusted for inflation. If this is not possible, explanations must be provided. Pricing decisions for products and services should provide value for members within market constraints, recognize a differential between members and nonmembers, and be sensitive to general economic conditions and membership perception. Overly conservative or aggressive budget projections should be avoided as they may mislead the Finance Committee and CPC. Also, such projections could imply that programs lack an understanding of their market and consequently cannot accurately project revenues and expenses.
The following changes to the General Financial Policy are to be noted: In the paragraph labeled Solvency Goal, The sentence "the major programs are publications and meetings, which account for approximately 60 percent of ASM expenses"—now reads: " meetings, which provide approximately 60% of the revenues necessary to support ASM."
Definitions of the following terms should be provided in order that everyone reading the policy should have the same understanding: "net operating income," "total operating revenue," "operating income," and "total income."
Bullet 3 on page 2 should now read: "Program areas should provide a proposed budget that produces a deficit no greater than 5% higher than the prior year's deficit; unless there are programmatic changes recommended by the CPC."
Bullet 6 on page 2 should now read: "... (e.g., workshops, audioconferences, certification and CME credits)" omitting the word "placement" since it is now a free member benefit.
The General Financial Policy was unanimously approved with the changes noted. As mentioned earlier, Bullet 2 on page 2 was tabled and not included in the vote.
III.D. Journals Program Budget. Sam Kaplan brought the following issue to the CPC: "publications shall not have a deficit budget." This has been, and continues to be, interpreted to mean that journals are not expected to do more than "break even" and books shall produce revenue for the ASM (1989 draft report from ad hoc Committee on Journal Growth and Financing).
According to Kaplan, "This stricture has led the journals program to take a very conservative approach towards the budgeting process, i.e., because it can't lose money it must by necessity create some expectation of a cushion given the vagaries of the journals publishing business over the course of a year." This approach to journals operations, and despite the estimate of a $1.6 million dollar net (a profit by any reckoning) which far exceeds any historical admonitions, was found by the Finance Committee in August to be an "unacceptable business practice," i.e., we were informed that we actually had a greater profit than budgeted.
Sam Kaplan entered the following motion: The Journals Program budget is to be freed from any and all expectations, positive or negative, with respect to the bottom line.
The motion was not carried with the vote tallied at: 2 in favor; 12 opposed; and 1 abstention.
A second motion was entered proposing Bullet 2 on page 2 be reinstated in the General Financial Policy with the following changes noted: Positive net revenue producing areas of ASM (such as meetings, journals, and books) should be budgeted and managed to provide net revenues at least equal to the actual average net revenue achieved for the previous five years adjusted for inflation. If this is not possible, explanations must be provided. Pricing decisions for products and services should provide value for members within market constraints, recognize a differential between members and nonmembers and be sensitive to general economic conditions and membership perception.(start new bullet). Overly conservative or aggressive budget projections should be avoided as they may mislead the Finance Committee and CPC. All programs should have an understanding of their constituency and/or market and consequently should attempt to accurately project revenues and expenses.
The motion was carried with the vote tallied at: 15 in favor; 1 opposed; and no abstentions.
III.E. ASMR Business Plan. Unanimously approved during 9/25/01 conference call. Minutes of the call are below.
CPC Conference Call to Discuss Approval of the ASMR Business Plan. Present: Abigail Salyers, Ronald Atlas, Martha Howe, Judy Daly, Ronald Luftig, Eugene Nester, Clifford Houston, Peter Maloney, Marie Pezzlo, Roy Curtiss III, Millicent Goldschmidt, James Beebe, Joan Rose, Steve Lerner, Peter Rizik (ASMR), Carol Nacy (ASMR), Michael Goldberg (ASM), John FitzGerald (ASM), and Charlotte Daniels (ASM).
Carol Nacy introduced Peter Rizik as the President and CEO of ASMR. She also offered a summary of his background and expertise. Dr. Nacy explained that Dr. Rizik would offer an overview presentation of the Business Plan and encouraged the asking of any questions.
Dr. Rizik covered the mission, purpose and three business elements key to the ASMR Business Plan. The three areas of business involvement are: (i) Direct investment; (ii) Alliance with other potential investors; and (iii) Market research.
It was pointed out that there is an error on page 15 of the handout labeled III-E. The last line before Table 3 which reads: "The row `Operational Costs Increased 25%' represents the baseline financial model run but with annual operational costs reduced by 25%" should read ". . . with annual operational costs increased by 25%."
The CPC was then asked to further discuss approval of the business plan. The call for a motion was made.
A point was made that this type of investment is a large risk. Also, the question was asked whether or not ASM has the $7.5 million that ASMR is requesting.
Several points were brought up in response: First, the entire $7.5 million would not have to be given all at once but could be allocated over a time period. ASMR is investing $300,000-$500,000 per company in a limited number of companies.
The alliance activities and the market research activities will generate funds to offset operating costs. This will allow ASMR to maximize the money available for direct investment.
The three businesses will be initiated in the following priority: (i) alliance: easier to start up. The upcoming Investment Forum is intended to generate a profit; (ii) direct investment: already have a couple of investments in mind; and (iii) market research: the hardest to start up.
A motion was made to approve the ASMR Business Plan and authorize capitalization to a level of $5 million. Any additional funding would have to be approved through the CPC.
A quorum of nine members was present and the motion was approved unanimously.
III.F. Publications Board Chair Review Committee. Ronald Atlas presented the following list of individuals as members of the Publications Board Chair Review Committee: Ronald M. Atlas, University of Louisville, Louisville, Ky. (chair); Patrick Murray, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md.; Roy Curtiss III, Washington University, St. Louis, Mo.; Judy D. Wall, University of Missouri, Columbia, Mo.; and Alan Weiner, University of Washington, Seattle, Wa.
The committee was approved with a vote tallied at 16 in favor with 1 abstention.
III.G. CME Mission Statement. In March, 2000, ASM received notification of approval of a four-year accreditation status by the American Council of Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) for sponsorship of continuing medical education for physicians and clinical microbiologists. A review of the CME Mission Statement by the responsible committee and subsequent approval by the Society's leadership is required annually to maintain this status.
The statement was unanimously approved with no additions or changes.
III.H. Relationships with Other Microbiology Societies. ASM should have guidelines governing our responses to other organizations that propose affiliations or that seek services.
Earlier this year, CPC approved a limited set of guidelines for such relationships. Since then other examples have occurred that require a revision of the current guidelines.
A request was made concerning Item 1. "Opportunity to recruit new members" under Statement of Purpose that an item be placed on a future CPC agenda to audit the efforts to recruit new members.
Under Statement of Purpose, add a fifth item: Provide new opportunities for current ASM members.
Under General Guidelines, the additional paragraph below should be added to the end: "Any relationship with another not-for-profit that extends beyond these guidelines will be brought to the attention of the Council Policy Committee."
Under Exhibit A, the section labeled "Criteria," first paragraph "Requests for ASM endorsement... will be forwarded for evaluation to the Meetings Board in order..." In the sixth paragraph "There is no financial support... although limited funds (not to exceed $5000.00) can be made available..." The last paragraph should now read "To avoid conflicts, ASM Committees, but not Boards, who are organizing an ASM-sponsored specific session at a meeting of another organization must submit the proposal for review by the President and for evaluation by the Meetings Board. ASM Boards must submit proposals for review by the President and for information to the Meetings Board."
Under Exhibit D, the section labeled "Criteria," third paragraph "...the traditional ASM meeting program as determined by the Meetings Board."
Under Exhibit D, Managing Joint Meetings, Conferences, or Workshops, the section labeled "Criteria" for ASM Conferences, the second paragraph "...with another non-profit organization, as determined by the ASM Conferences Committee." The section labeled ICAAC should now read "ICAAC and the General Meeting." The first paragraph should also read "...joint ICAAC or General Meeting..." The third paragraph should read "The organization must agree to ASM control of management of the meeting, including administration of all funds." The next paragraph should read "...if ICAAC or the General Meeting were to be held..." "An agreement as to excess net revenue allocated to the other organization..." The last paragraph should now read "The quality of the scientific program must be consistent with current programming policies of the ICAAC Committee or the General Meeting Committee."
Unanimous provisional approval was given to be re-presented at the next CPC meeting with the changes listed for final approval.
IV.A. ASM Governance Structure. The Governance Task Force presented its final report to CPC. The report contained recommendations which would have significantly changed the current governance structure and authorities.
A motion was made to thank the task force for their considerable efforts and to end discussion of this document. The motion was carried with the vote tallied at: 10 in favor; 3 opposed; and 1 abstention.
An additional motion was made to establish a committee, with Judy Daly to serve as the chair, in conjunction with legal counsel. The committee is charged to examine if there are differences between the Constitution and Bylaws and our current practices. If illegal or inconsistent operations are found, the committee is to bring these issues forward and suggest corrective changes inside the current governance structure. The motion was carried with the vote tallied at: 11 in favor;1 opposed; and no abstentions.
IV.B. "What Can ASM Do For Its Members." In 1999 at the request of then President-Elect Martha Howe, the CPC established a task force charged with the goal of identifying ways that ASM could help its members become more effective in their careers. The task force met on the opening day of the 2000 General Meeting, focusing its efforts towards generating answers to a number of questions using a format much like that employed in strategic planning. During the summer each board and CPC committee prepared a reply to each relevant question. All the material was posted 23 August on the ASM website. E-mail announcing the availability of the report was sent to more than 34,000 members. A member could use a reply box to comment on each of the 45 items. To date, 36 members have responded. A summary of comments is incorporated after each question. Both the report and the comments will be forwarded to the boards and committee for further action as appropriate.
It was suggested and favorably received that additional comments should be solicited perhaps through ASM News. Comments can be grouped by areas and point membership back to the website for additional comments. A summary of the document should be sent to all Branch councilors to take back to the Branches and each division should receive a copy. A booth (perhaps part of the membership booth) should be placed at our meetings to glean comments from the membership. An online suggestion box should be instituted where in any all comments would be forwarded to the appropriate boards.
IV.C. Finance Committee's Membership. ASM Bylaws Article XVII, Section 1, defines the membership of the Finance Committee. In addition to the Treasurer and Elected Officers, it also adds two of the two most senior members of CPC (who are not officers or board chairs). Whenever there are instances of equal seniority, the two will be elected by CPC. Although not clearly outlined in the Bylaws, there has been a yearly rotation, although there is nothing stated regarding a limitation on the number of years a person can serve.
In part the issue is a result of two independent changes to the Bylaws. In the first and earlier revision, the composition of the Finance Committee was established. In the second revision, at large members of CPC, who are elected by the Council, can stand for a second term of three years.
The item was tabled after agreement that a subcommittee be formed to bring a proposal to the spring meeting.
IV.D. Board of Professional Development and Credentialing. Joseph Campos (Dean of the College of the American Academy of Microbiology) was introduced as a participant in the discussion. Currently the credentialing and accreditation programs are components of the College of Microbiology, which in turn is an arm of the American Academy of Microbiology. The credentialing programs have been associated with the Academy since their inception. Last year the leadership of the College convened a task force to reexamine the relationship between the College and the Academy. The task force considered a number of alternatives, ranging from status quo to incorporation as an organization independent of both the Academy and ASM. The preferred option was establishment of a new board to include the College.
The point was made that establishing a new board to handle credentialing and accreditation would perhaps be premature. A better beginning would be as a committee of the CPC. It was suggested that a CPC Task Force be established to identify a potential operating budget and to approach the affected boards (PSAB, Meetings, and Education) to identify the areas that would be nurtured better by the committee.
Roy Curtiss entered a motion to establish a CPC task force to pursue the idea of establishing a new committee of the CPC specifically dealing with postdoctorate-continuing education and professional development. Ronald Atlas was suggested to serve as chair or to find someone else to serve as chair.
The motion was carried with the vote tallied at: 13 in favor; 1 opposed; and no abstentions.
V.A. Update on Microbial Physiology Task Force. Abigail Salyers updated the CPC with respect to relationships with NIH. The task force has been unable to meet or form an agenda because of the 11 September crisis. She pointed out that NIH has become fixated on bacteria, which is a positive benefit. The task force has 12 members and is determing a more favorable time to begin. She feels that the task force should be able to move forward soon and will have a more definite report at the next CPC meeting.
V.B. Update on NIH Study Section Task Force. This fall, ASM received a request from NIH for recommendations of immunologists to serve on the NIH panel that will reorganize the distribution of specific topics to study sections in the immunology IRG. Martha Howe assembled a group of prominent ASM immunologists which met by conference call followed by e-mailed rankings of candidates discussed. This group identified 10 excellent individuals from the clinical and basic immunology arenas that have been recommended to serve on the panel. She suggests that ASM also submit a letter to the panel identifying any areas of concern we might have. ASM expects to receive a letter in January requesting recommendations for the Microbiology IRG panel by March.
Gail Cassell stated that the number of outstanding immunologists who are either ASM or AAM members is too small. ASM needs to do something to stimulate more immunologists to join ASM. One potential mechanism could be to identify immunologists in the AAM and NAS, who are also ASM members, and solicit their participation in an ASM Conference in order to get them more involved in ASM and to gain their support of our efforts.
V.C. Update on President's Task Force to Examine Relationships with IDSA. The task force will meet and have a report available before the next CPC meeting.
VI. Adjournment. The meeting was adjourned at 5:06 P.M.
Awards
James Mihelcic, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Michigan Technological University (MTU), has been selected to receive the 2002 AEESP/Wiley Interscience Award for Outstanding Contributions to Environmental Engineering and Science Education from the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors.
The award includes a $1,000 cash prize donated by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. It honors educators for ‘the development of innovative teaching methods, including the application of these methods in the classroom and the dissemination of methods to the academic community."
Mihelcic was a leader in establishing MTU's Peace Corps Master's International Program in Civil and Environmental Engineering, the only engineering program of its kind in the nation. He actively promotes the environmental engineering profession among area high school students and has instituted innovative teaching approaches at the undergraduate and graduate level.
Undergraduate Environmental Engineering Degree Program
He coauthored the textbook Fundamentals of Environmental Engineering, which was recently translated into Spanish, and also spearheaded the successful participation of MTU undergraduates in the WERC International Environmental Design Contest. His environmental engineering website, which he codeveloped with fellow MTU faculty member Kurt Paterson, provides prospective students with a broad base of information about the profession.
James E. Crowe, Jr., associate professor of pediatrics and assistant professor of microbiology and immunology, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, Tenn., has been selected as the recipient of the 2002 Judson Daland Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Patient-Oriented Clinical Research by the American Philosophical Society (APS).
Crowe has made significant contributions through his work on defining fundamental mechanisms underlying pathogenesis and immunity associated with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection and immunization. He has generated more than 100 different live attenuated RSV vaccine candidates, several of which have been tested in phase I trials at Vanderbilt and other vaccine centers.
Arnold Strauss, director of Vanderbilt Children's Hospital, nominated Crowe for the award. "He has made critical contributions to patient-oriented research endeavors through his fundamental work in the fields of vaccine development, molecular immunology of human responses, and virology of important human pathogens," Strauss said.
Judson Daland was a dedicated physician noted for his research into the causes of disease and after his death in 1937, he left the bulk of his estate to APS as an endowment to be used to support research in clinical medicine.
Deceased Members
Romig William Robert Romig, past chairman of the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), died of complications of emphysema on 11 March 2002. Bob is survived by his wife of 43 years, Mary, their two sons, Claude and Stuart, and two grandchildren. He was a member of ASM for over 50 years and was very active in the local as well as the National Society.
Bob was born in Hope, Ark., on 4 March 1926. He attended school in Clinton, Okla., graduating valedictorian from Clinton High School. He received a Bachelor's degree in Education from Southern Oklahoma State University in 1948. He taught three years in public schools in Oklahoma, teaching mainly mathematics, but also general science, biology, journalism, and assorted other courses.
While on a visit to Los Angeles in 1948, he took a night course in Bacteriology at the University of Southern California. He subsequently enrolled at the University of Oklahoma working for a Master's degree in Bacteriology. During the summers, Bob worked at the Communicable Disease Center (now the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). His first scientific paper was presented at a meeting of the Oklahoma Academy of Science on the results of work on the respiration of Histoplasma capsulatum. Bob was encouraged to continue his education, and he enrolled at the University of Texas, Austin, in 1954 and received his Ph.D. in August 1957. He got a job as Instructor of Bacteriology and started teaching in the Bacteriology Department at UCLA in September 1957. He had no research experience in bacterial genetics and had taken only one course in general genetics. He learned bacterial genetics the hard way, and became an outstanding teacher and practitioner of the subject. Similarly, with little formal training in virology, in collaboration with Jack Stevens he developed the first course in virology in the College of Letters and Science—also a venture with remarkable results. In 1965 he received the coveted Distinguished Teaching Award from the Academic Senate at UCLA for outstanding instruction.
Bob focused his research efforts on studies on the structure and genetics of bacterial viruses, mechanisms of genetic exchange in bacteria, and later on the genetic bases of virulence, primarily using Vibrio cholerae as model system. One of Bob's very early research contributions, and one that brought him considerable prominence among bacterial geneticists, was the demonstration that highly purified Bacillus subtilis phage SPO1 DNA, when introduced into competent B. subtilis cells, gave rise to a burst of phage progeny—the phenomenon of transfection. This work supported and extended the recently published experiments of Hershey and Chase. Bob and his graduate student Fred Eiserling, now Dean of Life Sciences at UCLA, published a series of classic papers describing in beautiful detail the structure of several bacteriophages. These papers became models for the study of bacterial virus structure.
In the 1970s the Romig laboratory focused primarily on Vibrio cholerae genetics. Using methods his group developed for performing insertion mutagenesis, and polarized chromosomal transfer, he reported the first extensive genetic linkage maps for this organism, and also reported the genetic characterization of cholera toxin regulatory mutations and the biochemical analysis of the toxin. Several other Romig associates during this period, including Stephen Johnson, Charlotte Parker, Robert Goldman, and Katie Richardson, went on to successful research careers studying pathogenic microbes utilizing primarily genetic tools gleaned in the Romig lab.
Bob was internationally respected for his many contributions to diverse areas in the field of bacterial genetics. His breadth of knowledge was truly remarkable, and he gave freely of his time and experience. Bob, with his students and postdocs, published about 100 scientific papers in various journals. About 25 Ph.D. students trained in his laboratory. Bob was a superb graduate advisor dedicated, compassionate, freely giving of his time and extensive knowledge, and above all, of his wisdom on the strategies of experimentation. He was gentle with criticisms, and always free with praise for a good experiment or an innovative thought.
He was a consultant to NASA, working on the Biosatellite Project that preceded the moon landings, and helped design and supervise microbiological experiments for the satellite. He was appointed to the Advisory Committee to Fort Detrick, Md., and frequently visited there for consultations with bacterial geneticists at that facility. He served as an editor of the Journal of Bacteriology and on review boards of Virology and the Journal of Molecular Biology. He was appointed to grant review Study Sections of the National Institutes of Health, the Veterans Administration, the National Science Foundation, and the Department of Defense. In 1968 he was appointed Chairman of the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics.
Bob was a wonderful colleague and friend who will be sorely missed by those of us who had the good fortune to know him.
Ralph Martinez
University of California Los AngelesInternational Activities
2002 ASM-NAS MIRCEN Research Grant Awardees
In the early 1970s, the United Nations called for the establishment of centers in developing regions of the world to conduct an integrated program for the preservation and use of microbial resources. In 1984, the United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) funded pilot microbial resource centers (MIRCENs) in Brazil, Egypt, Guatemala, Kenya, Senegal, and Thailand. The project was an outstanding success, and the MIRCEN network currently consists of 34 MIRCENs in 26 countries around the globe.
The global MIRCEN network conducts activities in collaboration with the international science community. The MIRCENs are associated with academic and governmental institutions, and, in cooperation with other national, regional, and international organizations, these associations encourage and develop novel ways of approaching problems concerned with technological development and natural resource management. The MIRCENs network engenders partnerships among all countries, regardless of cultural, social, or economic development, and provides training in microbiology, molecular biology, fermentation technology, and bioengineering.
The International Cell Research Organization (ICRO) was founded in 1962 as a nongovernmental organization specifically designed to assist UNESCO in the implementation of its cell biology program. ICRO was in a position to assess the prevailing trends and promise of cell research as well as the best methods for its dissemination. UNESCO in turn worked out planning mechanisms based on its awareness of the needs of member states. This collaboration, together with ICRO's flexibility of operation as a nongovernmental organization, ensured the success and the high standards of this program.
Research projects at MIRCEN and ICRO facilities that have been funded by ASM over the years include research/training in ethyl alcohol production from food plants fluid wastes, food microbiology and biotechnology, marine biotechnology, biological nitrogen fixation, bioconversions of organic waste materials into edible protein in north and central Asia, screening and characterization of petroleum hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria for degradation of oil wastes, culture collections, and toxic waste management and development of cleaner processes and products.
This year the following grants were awarded:
Kock Lodewyk Kock, Industrial Biotechnology MIRCEN, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa; a grant to support the research project "Technology transfer regarding nuclear large subunit (26S) ribosomal DNA partial sequences for use in yeast classification."
Thomas Egwang, ICRO, Med Biotech Laboratories in Kampala, Uganda; a grant to support the research project "Mapping Anopheles gambiae pyrethroid resistance in Uganda."
Mamadou Gueye, Rhizobium MIRCEN, Centre ISRA-IRD, Dakar, Senegal; a grant to support the research project "Edaphic factors limited production of stylosanthes in Senegal."
Mburugu Gitonga Nkanata Mburugu, Rhizobium MIRCEN, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya; a grant to support the research project "Diversity of Rhizobia nodulating tepary beans in Kenyan soils."
Siñeriz Faustino Siñeriz, Biotechnology MIRCEN, Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiologicos, Tucumán, Argentina; a grant to support the research project "Characterization of microbial community of altiplano (Puna) wetlands of Northwestern Argentina."
ASM Branches and Divisions on the Web
The following ASM Branches have established numerous websites
Email: webmaster@asmusa.org