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University of Idaho

______________________________________________________________________________

Attending an International Microbiology

Conference

Student Grant Proposal

Mark Johnson

3/2/12

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Narrative

Objective

Proposed Activity

The proposed activity is to fund a trip to attend the Australian Society for MicrobiologyAnnual Scientific Meeting of 2012. The Australian Society for Microbiology (ASM) is a non-profit organization dedicated to furthering the science of microbiology. It became anincorporated professional society in 1976. Since then, it has been advancing the science ofmicrobiology through producing and promoting reading materials, seminars, symposia, lectures,and demonstrations on diverse microbiological topics.

The conference will take place from July 1, 2012 through July 4, 2012 and will be heldin Brisbane, Australia at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. It is known asAustralias biggest and most prestigious microbiology conference. Those attending theconference will be researchers, professionals, clinicians, and supporters from a variety of

microbiological specialties. The conference lecturers include a wide spectrum of professionals inthe field of medicine, veterinary science, environmental microbiology, molecular biology, andvirology. Funds appropriated to me would be used for travel expenses to and from theconvention, room and board while at the convention, and a registration fee for the convention.My proposal asks for $3490 for all these expenses, which are outlined later in the Budgetsection of the proposal. I considered the scope of this project to include several other students,but after assessing the cost, I find it only feasible to fund one person.

Overall Goal

The overall goal of this proposal is to attend a large scale international microbiologyconference in order to gain knowledge of current research and findings within the field. Many

international researchers and professionals within the field of microbiology will be attending,and this would promote international connections.

Specific Objectives

A specific objective of this proposal is to meet with international professionals within thefield to collaborate on current research topics and knowledge about microbiology. Professor IanFrazer will be attending the conference. He is the head of the Diamantina Institute in Australia,which focuses on microbiological research. The emphasis of his research is immunoregulationand immunotherapeutic vaccines. Harvey Rubin, the Director of Penns Institute for StrategicThreat Analysis and Response (ISTAR), will also be attending. His research involves thepathogenesis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, as well as enzymology of serine proteases.

Professor Herbert Virgin is the professor and chair of Pathology and Immunology at WashingtonUniversity School of Medicine, and will also be at the conference. His research explores themechanisms of viral disease and immunity. These are just a few of the professionals that willtake part in the conference. Lectures from these professionals will be very beneficial, and gettinga chance to meet them could prove to be rewarding.

There will be a number of lectures, workshops, and symposia covering a wide variety ofmicrobiology topics at the conference, as well as poster sessions and trade exhibitions; I would

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like to take part in as many activities as possible during the four day conference. A few of thesymposia that I find engaging are: tropical medical microbiology, host-pathogen interactions,vaccines and antivirals, diagnostic microbiology & epidemiology, and immune response andviral pathogenesis.

Importance

Both the University of Idaho and I would gain the opportunity to connect on a globalscale regarding current scientific knowledge in microbiology. This should lead to connectionsallowing collaboration on projects to further the knowledge within the scientific community.The University may be able to participate in on an ongoing research project, bringingacknowledgment to the University through news reports or a publication during or after theproject. Joining a research project and said publicity may lead to more money offered to theUniversity for future research.

I plan to bring the knowledge gained through attending this conference back to the

University, benefitting the advancement of the school. I will be able to apply this knowledge tothe biology department, possibly introducing new techniques or insights in the field. It may alsofoster ideas for new research projects that could be performed at the University.

Methods

My travel arrangements include a flight on June 28, 2012 from Spokane, Washington toBrisbane, Australia. The conference begins on July 1, 2012 and continues through July 4, 2012.During this time I will attend lectures, workshops and symposia. I would return to the US on the5th of July.

Timeline

June 28, 2012 Travel to Brisbane

July 1-4, 2012 Attend conference

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Schedule of Events: ASM Meeting 2012 July 1 - 4

Start

Time

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday

1st July 2nd July 3rd July 4th July

08:30 Workshops Plenary Jean-Paul Latge Plenary TBAPlenary Herbert W.Virgin

09:15 Plenary Ralph Tripp Plenary Henry Bishop Plenary Harvey Rubin10:00 Morning Tea Morning Tea Morning Tea Morning Tea

10:30 Workshops

Symposia Symposia Symposia

Tropical MedicalMicrobiology: SultryBugs and HotMicrobiologists

One HealthMicrobiology: OneWorld, One Medicine

DiagnosticMicrobiology &Epidemiology: Back tothe Future

Virus assembly,structure and trafficking

Immune responseand viral pathogenesis

Virus replication &modulation of hostdefences

Microbes and water Food Microbiology TeachingMicrobiology

Host-Pathogeninteractions (I)

Host: Pathogeninteractions (II)

Bacterial Genomics

12:00 Lunch Lunch Lunch Lunch

13:00 Workshops

Plenary - SebastienGagneux

Fenner Lecture Plenary - Jean-MarcGhigo

Plenary - Jill Banfield Prof Johnson Mak

14:00 Plenary - BD awards Proffered papersPlenary Colwell-Millis,Burnett-Hayes recipientsand

Proffered papers15:30 Afternoon Tea Afternoon Tea Afternoon Tea Afternoon Tea

16:00 Proffered papers

Symposia Symposia

VeterinaryMicrobiology:Microbiology Downon the Farm

Antimicrobial Agents& Vaccines: Bug Wars:The Sequel

Vaccines andantivirals

Emerging viruses andenvironment

Applied

microbiology &ecology

Environmental

Microbiology andInformatics

MolecularMicrobiology

Metabolism,Physiology and Genetics

17:30Official

WelcomePoster Session and TradeExhibition

Rubbo Reception

and OrationPublic Lecture

Prof Ian Frazer Prof Jill Banfield

Moderator :Dr Karl

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Kruselnicski

18:00 Bazely Oration

19:00Plenary 14 and

Closing address

19:30OpeningReception andTrade Night

Poster Session B andTrade Exhibition

July 5, 2012 Return to the US

Bibliography

www.asm2012.org