The ASM Carski Award for Undergraduate Education recognizes an educator for outstanding teaching of microbiology to undergraduate students and for encouraging them to subsequent achievement. The award is given in memory of Theodore Carski (1903-2003), who founded the Baltimore Biological Laboratory, Inc. in the 1930s. The lab was later acquired by the engineering firm Becton Dickinson. Carski served as ASM Treasurer from 1970-1975. He and his wife established a foundation in 1964 and an endowment to support this ASM Award. The first award was presented in 1968.
2023 ASM Carski Awardee
- 2022: Nancy Boury.
- 2021: Jason Tor.
- 2020: David Westenberg.
- 2019: Louise Temple.
Eligibility
Nominees must be teaching microbiology currently at a recognized college or university, with a substantial portion of their time during the past 5 years devoted to teaching undergraduate students in microbiology. Nominees must have a minimum of 10 years total teaching experience as primary course instructors at a college or university. Experience as a Teaching Assistant (TA) does not count toward the required 10 years of experience. Nominees may have engaged in research or other concerns, provided that teaching undergraduates remained a substantial activity.
Nominators must address how the nominees meet the criteria and how they have gone "above and beyond" to advance microbiology education at the undergraduate level.
Apply
Nominations must include:
- Nomination Form. Nominator will need to create a free ASM account, or log in to their current ASM account to complete the nomination. Self-nominations will not be accepted (in other words, you cannot nominate yourself for the award).
- Curriculum Vitae (CV) of the nominee is required to complete the nomination. After the nomination form is submitted by the nominator, the nominee will be contacted by ASM and asked to enter highlights from their CVs on a CV template or provide their current CV. Completing the CV template is highly recommended, however, the selection committee will accept either the template or the nominee’s current CV.
- Self-nominations will not be accepted.
- Nominations will be considered without updating for 3 years.
- More than 1 nomination per nominee will not be accepted.
- Only 1 nominator and 2 supporters are accepted per nomination.
- Of the 3 participants in a nomination (nominator and 2 supporters), only 1 can be from the same employment unit (e.g., department, institute, center, company) as the nominee.
- Supporters should not submit a letter of support at the time the nomination is made. They will be contacted during the selection process only if the selection committee requires additional information about the nominee.
Checklists
- Coordinate the nomination with the nominee and supporters.
- Inform the nominee that ASM will request a CV after the nomination form is submitted. Nominees should wait for the notification and instructions from ASM before submitting a CV.
- Complete and submit the online nomination form.
- Submit the nomination form by the deadline.
- Get notified by the nominator about the nomination.
- Supporters should not submit a letter of support at the time the nomination is made. They will be contacted during the selection process only if the Selection Committee requires additional information about the nominee.
- Provide the selection committee with additional information if requested.
- Complete a CV template (provided by ASM) or submit a current CV, when instructed to do so by ASM. ASM will email each nominee to provide submission instructions. CVs should be submitted via the submission deadline.
- Remind the nominator of the submission deadline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I nominate more than one nominee?
Yes, you may nominate as many nominees as you would like. However, we recommend that you nominate or support only 1 nominee for each award.
I am listed as a supporter for one nominee for the (X) Award. Can I nominate another nominee for the (X) Award?
You cannot nominate more than 1 nominee per award in a given year. If you have nominated a nominee for the (X) Award, we recommend that you do not serve as a supporter for any other nominee for that particular award. However, you may serve as a nominator or supporter for nominees for other awards.
I was approached by a colleague who asked me to be their nominator—is this allowed?
Yes. Since 2021, individuals have been encouraged to reach out to their colleagues to request a nomination.
A colleague at my department asked me to nominate them; can I be the nominator?
Yes, you can nominate a colleague from the same department. However, in that case, the 2 supporters must be from different departments or institutions. For example, if you and the nominee are from the Department of Biology at XYZ University, neither of the 2 supporters can be from the Department of Biology at XYZ University.
This is my first year submitting a nomination. What do I need to know?
Nominators hold the primary responsibility to coordinate with the nominee and supporters. Use the checklists (above) to help you stay on track and submit your nomination in advance of the deadline. Late submissions will not be accepted.
Can I save my nomination online and return to complete it later?
Yes, you can.
I have decided I want to withdraw my nomination/support after further consideration. Can I do that?
Yes, withdrawal will be accepted at any time before July 1. Nominator and/or supporters can withdraw their nomination/support with or without reasons by notifying the Awards Program at awards@asmusa.org. The nominee will not be contacted. Because of the impact of the decision on the nominee, we highly encourage careful consideration and discussion among the involved parties before notifying the Awards Program.
Can I update my nomination from last year?
ASM keeps and considers nominations without updating for a period of 3 years, assuming the nominee still meets eligibility criteria. Alternatively, if you would like to update any part of a previously submitted nomination form and/or CV, please contact awards@asmusa.org for instructions on how to proceed.
I have been named as a "supporter" for an Award nomination and/or Prize application. Should I submit a letter of support to ASM?
Supporters for ASM Awards: Supporters for ASM Award nominations should not submit a letter or any documentation at the time the nomination is submitted. If the selection committee requires additional information about the nominee during the review process, a committee representative will contact the supporters to request letters of support for the nomination.
Supporters for ASM Microbiome Data Prize: Supporters for ASM Microbiome Prize applications will submit letters of support during the application process. Once the online application form is submitted, an automated message will be sent to supporters with instructions on how to submit their letters of support. Letters of support for the Microbiome Data Prize must be submitted by the application deadline.
Can I nominate myself for an ASM Award?
No, self-nomination is not allowed for ASM awards, so you may not nominate yourself. However, potential nominees are encouraged to reach out and collaborate with a colleague to ask for their nomination and support.
Two of my colleagues want to nominate me for the (X) Award. They plan to submit 2 separate nominations for that award. Will that increase my chances of receiving the award?
No, if a nominee is nominated more than once for the same award, the nominee will be informed and asked to select which nomination they would like the Selection Committee to review. We suggest that nominees coordinate with nominator(s) to avoid duplicate nominations.
Do I need to be an ASM member to be eligible for an ASM Award?
Not all of the ASM Awards require ASM membership. A careful review of the award description is critical.
I identify as a woman. Do I have a lower chance of being selected for an ASM Award?
ASM embraces diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). We maintain that all nominees are fairly reviewed and evaluated based on the merits of their work, not their gender, race, etc.
I am an ethnic minority nominee. I am reluctant to reveal my demographic information. Why does ASM ask for demographic information? How do I ensure my data is safe and does not work against me?
The field of microbiology has changed significantly in the last decades. ASM embraces diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Thus, we want to know how we are making progress in ensuring that historically underrepresented groups have access and get nominated for the awards. An organization-wide policy and new practices were put in place to support DEI efforts. Your data will not be shared with any third party and will not be used in any part of the award decision-making process.
I was nominated for an ASM award a few years ago but did not get selected. Should I try again?
Absolutely. We encourage nominees who did not receive an award in the past to try again. Due to a variety of factors, a strong nominee might not be selected in any given year. Nominees will be evaluated using the same standards applied for that year for all nominees.
I work in industry. Am I eligible for an ASM Award?
Microbiologists in all sectors should be nominated and will be considered for the ASM Awards. Diversity in expertise and background is essential. Regardless of the sector in which one is working, contribution to the field of microbial sciences is the key to distinguish the nominees.
What should I do to make my nomination stand out?
- Spend time preparing your CV by following the format and guidelines. Make sure the information is clear to facilitate the review process.
- Communicate with your nominator and supporters to ensure they have the information they need.
- Remind the nominator to submit the materials before the deadline.
All eligible nominations will be reviewed by the respected award selection committee. The committee members will use the nomination materials to evaluate each nominee using the described eligibility criteria. The committee will discuss outstanding candidates and determine the awardee for that year. The committee takes into consideration various factors about the nominees in the decision to ensure the selected awardee is a strong example of excellence in the respected field.
- Shelley Payne, Ph.D. (chair).
- Jorge C. Escalante-Semerena, Ph.D.
- Robert P. Hausinger, Ph.D.
- Erin Lipp, Ph.D.
- Brian Palenik, Ph.D.
ASM awards are granted at the discretion of award selection committees and may not be awarded every year.
Questions? Contact awards@asmusa.org.