Young Microbiologist of the Year 2021 Competition: Meet the finalists
The prize, which recognises excellence in science communication, is awarded each year to an early career Society member as part of the Society’s mission to advance understanding of microbiology and champion the contribution made by microbiology, our members and their work in addressing global challenges.
For this year’s competition the finalists were shortlisted by the Society’s Divisions from entrants who presented at the Annual Conference Online 2021. The finalists will each give a 10-minute presentation on their research to a panel of judges chaired by one of the Society’s Sustainability Committee co-Chairs during the Society Showcase and Annual General Meeting (AGM) in September.
The 2021 finalists and the titles of the presentations they were shortlisted from are as follows:
- Emma Banks, University of Nottingham, UK
Asymmetric peptidoglycan editing generates the curvature of predatory bacteria, optimising replication within a spherical prey niche
- Joanne Haney, University of Glasgow, Centre for Virus Research, UK
Coinfection with influenza A virus and respiratory syncytial virus generates chimeric viral particles with altered structural and functional properties
- James Horton, University of Bath, UK
Extreme parallel evolution of flagellar motility in Pseudomonas fluorescens is facilitated by silent mutations
- Danielle Nader, Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin
Targeting the evolutionary RGD motif in the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 serves as a novel treatment option to prevent vascular damage during COVID-19
- Gabriel Tarrason Risa, University College London, UK
Archaeal origins of eukaryotic cell cycle control
- Mary Turley, Trinity College Dublin
Polysaccharide-Dependent Biofilm Formation is Induced by Bile in Cystic Fibrosis Isolates of Staphylococcus aureus
- Luke Woodford, University of St Andrews, UK
Healthy honey bees – analysis of the Deformed wing virus population to assess rational Varroa control on a Scottish island
All Microbiology Society members are invited to attend this year’s final at the AGM and Showcase in September. Find out more, including the day’s full schedule.
Image credit: Hana Veler