Welcome to the Intermountain Branch Webpage! Consider joining our Branch or becoming involved in the American Society for Microbiology (ASM). ASM Branches serve students, postdocs, early-career and established scientists by providing professional development, leadership and mentoring opportunities. For more information, visit ASM Branches.

Annual Meeting Information

The annual meeting of the Intermountain Branch of the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) will be held on April 25 at the Guest House at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. 

This one-day meeting will include a keynote speaker (TBD), opportunities to present science for students and faculty, and a student poster session. Additionally, this year, we hope to have a number of events oriented around giving students the chance to explore careers outside of academia. 

In addition to the meeting, come early to attend the 3i Initiative Symposium, a reception at Nelson Labs, and stay late to enjoy the city! 

***Additional information will be posted here as it becomes available***

Registration & Abstract Submission

The site to both register for the meeting ($5 for students/trainees or $30 for faculty, staff of similar roles) and submit an abstract will be open soon and will be requested by April 4. 

Presentations

We anticipate having multiple concurrent sessions for oral presentations, as well as opportunities for poster presentations. Presentations will be judged and prizes will be awarded for the best talks and posters.

Venue

The meeting will be held at the University of Utah on Saturday April 25, 2026. 

For those who are coming from out of town, there are multiple nearby lodging options as well as rooms available at the Guest House. 

***Note - this is the day of the Salt Lake City Marathon - be advised when considering lodging and transit***

Keynote Speaker

Dr. Jason Rosch - Evolutionary Constraints of Antibiotic Resistance 

ASM Microbe Meeting

The annual ASM Microbe meeting will be held in Washington DC on June 4-7. This meeting is organized by the national ASM and is separate from our annual branch meeting.

Funding Opportunities

Peggy Cotter Travel Award

The ASM Peggy Cotter Travel Award Program for Early Career Branch Members provides funds (up to $1650) for outstanding early career Branch members to attend ASM Microbe (National ASM Conference). Awardees will use the awards to pay for registration, accommodation and travel costs associated with attending the annual ASM Microbe meeting (June 13-17; Atlanta, GA).

The link for nominations can be accessed here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSccjF8ZhA2dF3uC-BcnuolaNKeNzggozqN7qOvSM-0hT0jy0g/viewform.

Branch Information

About Us

We are a group of microbiology professionals, trainees, and students from Utah, Idaho and Nevada. Our mission is to support the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) to promote and advance the microbial sciences in this local community. The Intermountain Branch serves: Idaho (zip codes 83200-83499 and 83600-83799), Nevada (zip codes 89300-89399), and Utah. You can learn more about the geographical area that this branch covers and how to join here. 

Briefly, those desiring to formally join the branch pay annual dues, which are collected online through the ASM registration website.

Branch Officers

The Branch officers for 2024-2025 are:

• President: Javier Ochoa-Repáraz (Boise State University)

• President-Elect: Lauren Brooks (Utah Valley University)

• Secretary: Jay Radke (Veterans Administration; Boise State University)

• Treasurer: Jamee Nixon  (Northwest Nazarene University)

Past Annual Meetings

Past branch meetings have been held at the following venues:

• April 2024: Brigham Young University; Provo, UT

• April 2023: Brigham Young University; Provo, UT

• February 2023: Boise State University; Boise, ID

• April 2022: Brigham Young University; Provo, UT

• December 2021: Weber State University; Ogden UT (Remote)

• December 2020: Weber State University; Ogden UT (Remote)

Contact

Mailing address

Javier Ochoa-Repáraz

Department of Biological Sciences, SN-114

Boise State University

Mail Stop 151

1910 University Dr

Boise, ID 83725-1515

Email

jochoareparaz@boisestate.edu