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As part of the Society’s grant scheme, microbiologists who have been members for a year or more can apply for Society-Supported Conference Grants to help them in organising scientific conferences. That’s exactly what the organisers of the London Infection Network for ECRs (LINE) did ahead of organising their annual symposium for early career researchers (ECRs) in June 2026. Below, they reflect on the experience of organising the symposium and the importance of the event to the community it serves.

The Microbiology Society is a membership charity and not-for-profit publisher. We support and invest in the microbiology community for the benefit of everyone. In order to do this as effectively as possible; to seize opportunities as they arise and, to meet the ambition of our strategy 2023-2027, we are evolving.

We recently launched our first fundraising initiative for members who may require support for a variety of reasons, to help them to progress and reach their full career potential.

As we look to broaden our community to be more inclusive and international, the Society supported the 8^th Conference on Beneficial Microbes in Wisconsin (USA), providing awards, opportunities and prizes for thirteen microbiologists. The conference on Beneficial Microbes brought together US and international researchers across multiple disciplines, including clinical science.

Applications for the Society Conference Grant to support members attending Annual Conference 2022 are now open, for a two-week period. As this is the Society’s first in-person Annual Conference since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Society’s Council has increased the standard award amount in order to support the attendance of early career members who have been unable to present their work and build their networks at conferences over the last two years.

Applications for the 2022 Harry Smith Vacation Studentships are now open.

The Harry Smith Vacation Studentships, named after former Society President and champion of early career microbiologists Professor Harry Smith, offers undergraduate students the opportunity to work on projects across the breadth of microbiology. The studentships enable future microbiologists to work alongside scientists to gain an insight into the world of research.