ASMCUE Travel Awards

ASM offers 3 travel awards for ASMCUE, Nov. 19-21, 2026 in Seattle, Wash. Each travel award has a separate application.

Application Opening Date | Wednesday, May 13
Application Deadline | Wednesday, July 15 at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT
Notification Date | Friday, July 24

Applicants should wait to register for the conference until after the notification date. ASMCUE Travel Awards are considered taxable income, and recipients will receive appropriate United States IRS tax filing documents at the end of the tax year. Awardees must register in ASM’s accounts payable portal, Tipalti, to receive tax documents.

For questions regarding the ASMCUE Travel Awards, contact Ronica Rodela, Senior Specialist, Education.

New This Year!

  • ASMCUE Travel Awardees will receive 1 complimentary student registration to ABRCMS (co-located with ASMCUE).
  • All travel award applications require a separate ASMCUE proposal submission (mini-workshop, biology education research poster, roundtable discussion or microbrew).
  • ASMCUE Travel Award is open to both returning and first-time attendees.
 

 

Travel Award

Textbook Travel Award

Dr. Sybil A. Wellstood Travel Award

Awards 12 1 1
Career Stage Faculty, early-career scientist or postdoctoral Faculty, early-career scientist or postdoctoral Faculty, early to mid-career scientist or postdoctoral
Teaching Experience ≤5 years ≤3 years ≤10 years
Currently Teaching Undergraduate Biological Sciences Undergraduate Microbiology Undergraduate Microbiology, Biology or Related Life Sciences
ASMCUE Proposal
First-time Attendee    
Recommendation Letter    
ASM Member
U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident
Travel Award Package Registration and/or Housing (shared room) Registration, Housing (single room) and $250 travel stipend Registration, Housing (single room) and $500 travel stipend
Complimentary ABRCMS Student Registration


The following individuals are not eligible to apply for an ASMCUE Travel Award:
  • Individuals that have received an ASMCUE travel award within the past 5 years.
  • Individuals that have received scholarship or fellowship funding for ASMCUE conference and related travel expenses from other funding sources.
  • Individuals that have relatives of members of the award selection committee, or of ASM officers, directors or substantial contributors.

ASMCUE Travel Award

Awards Available: 12

ASMCUE is pleased to offer a limited number of travel awards to ASMCUE attendees who are currently teaching biological sciences to undergraduates at 2- or 4-year U.S. educational institution. The ASMCUE Travel Award covers registration and/or up to 3 nights at an ASMCUE hotel, as designated by ASM staff. The award package will be determined by the strength of the application and financial need.




Eligibility
Prospective ASMCUE Travel Award applicants must satisfy the following criteria:
  • U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident.
  • Current 2026 ASM member in good standing, at any level except basic.
  • Faculty member, early-career scientist or postdoctoral scientist.
  • Presenting author or coauthor of an accepted proposal at ASMCUE 2026 (mini-workshop, biology education research poster, roundtable discussion or microbrew).
  • Began teaching within the past 5 years at 2- or 4-year U.S. educational institution.
  • Currently teaching (part-time or full-time) a course in undergraduate biological sciences.
* Travel award is open to everyone. Preference will be given to first-time attendees and individuals who bring diverse perspectives and experiences to the microbial sciences. This includes applicants from community colleges, rural and remote areas, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), Asian American and Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AAPISIs).
Award Package
  • ASMCUE registration.
  • Housing (shared room) at 1 of the conference hotels assigned by ASMCUE staff from Thursday, Nov. 19–Sunday, Nov. 22.
*One complimentary ABRCMS student registration is included in the award package. ABRCMS is co-located with ASMCUE and provides an opportunity for travel awardees to bring an undergraduate student to Seattle.

 
Application
The travel award application includes the following:
  • Teaching/outreach experience and professional development activities.
  • Scholarly activities (presentations, grants, awards, etc.).
  • Teaching philosophy statement.
  • Motivation to attend.
  • Description of other funding sources.

ASMCUE Textbook Travel Award

Awards Available: 1

ASMCUE is pleased to offer the prestigious ASMCUE Textbook Travel Award to a first-time ASMCUE attendee who is currently teaching microbiology and developing a scholarly teaching practice to undergraduates at 2- or 4-year U.S. educational institution. This Textbook Travel Award covers registration, 3 nights at an ASMCUE hotel, as designated by ASM staff and a $250 travel stipend. The 2026 ASMCUE Textbook awardee will be acknowledged at the conference and highlighted through conference materials.





Eligibility
Prospective Textbook Travel Award applicants must satisfy the following criteria:
  • U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident.
  • Current 2026 ASM member in good standing, at any level except basic.
  • First-time ASMCUE attendee.
  • Faculty member, early-career scientist or postdoctoral scientist.
  • Began teaching within the past 3 years at a 2- or 4-year U.S. educational institution.
  • Currently teaching a course in undergraduate microbiology or participating in frequent outreach activities related to microbiology.
  • Presenting author or coauthor of an accepted proposal at ASMCUE 2026 (mini-workshop, biology education research poster, roundtable discussion, or microbrew).
  • Must have evidence of developing a scholarly teaching practice.
Award Package
  • ASMCUE registration.
  • Housing (single room) at 1 of the conference hotels assigned by ASMCUE staff from Thursday, Nov. 19–Sunday, Nov. 22.
  • $250 Travel Stipend (provided after the conference).
*One complimentary ABRCMS student registration is included in the award package. ABRCMS is co-located with ASMCUE and provides an opportunity for travel awardees to bring an undergraduate student to Seattle.
Application
The Textbook Travel Award application includes the following:  
  • Evidence of scholarly teaching practice(s) and how ASMCUE will help you in your journey.
  • Teaching/outreach experience and professional development activities.
  • Scholarly activities (presentations, grants, awards, etc.).
  • Teaching philosophy statement.
  • Motivation to attend.
  • Description of other funding sources.
  • Letter of recommendation–Department chair or dean must address your commitment to education and the institution's commitment to your attendance at ASMCUE 2026.

Funding for the Textbook Travel Award derives from a special endowment created in 2008 by several textbook authors committed to faculty development and ASMCUE. The authors sponsoring this endowment include:
  • Denise Anderson at University of Washington, Wash.
  • Robert Bauman at Amarillo College, Texas
  • Barry Chess at Pasadena City College, Calif.
  • Marjorie Cowan at Miami University, Ohio
  • Jeffrey Pommerville at Glendale Community College, Ariz.
  • Sarah Salm at SUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College, N.Y.
  • Kathleen Talaro at Pasadena City College, Calif.
  • Christopher Woolverton at Kent State University, Ohio.

Dr. Sybil A. Wellstood Travel Award

Awards Available: 1

ASMCUE is pleased to offer the Dr. Sybil A. Wellstood Travel Award to an early to mid-career life sciences educator employed at an accredited 2- or 4-year U.S. educational institution. The Dr. Sybil A. Wellstood Travel Award covers registration, three nights at an ASMCUE hotel, as designated by ASM staff, and a $500 travel stipend. The Dr. Sybil A. Wellstood Travel Awardee will be acknowledged at the conference and highlighted through conference materials.
 

Eligibility
Prospective Dr. Sybil A. Wellstood Travel Award applicants must satisfy the following criteria:
  • U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident.
  • Current 2026 ASM member in good standing, at any level except basic.
  • Faculty member, early to mid-career scientist or postdoctoral scientist.
  • Presenting author or coauthor of an accepted proposal at ASMCUE 2026 (mini-workshop, biology education research poster, roundtable discussion or microbrew).
  • Must have less than 10 years’ full-time teaching undergraduate microbiology, biology or related life sciences courses at an accredited 2- or 4-year U.S. educational institution.
Award Package
  • ASMCUE registration.
  • Housing (single room) at 1 of the conference hotels assigned by ASMCUE staff from Thursday, Nov. 19–Sunday, Nov. 22.
  • $500 travel stipend (provided after the conference).
*One complimentary ABRCMS student registration is included in the award package. ABRCMS is co-located with ASMCUE and provides an opportunity for travel awardees to bring an undergraduate student to Seattle.

*Award package cannot exceed $2,000; package may differ each year depending on location.
Application
The Dr. Sybil A. Wellstood Travel Award application includes the following: 
  • Teaching/outreach experience and professional development activities.
  • Scholarly activities (presentations, grants, awards, etc.).
  • Teaching philosophy statement.   
  • Motivation to attend.  
  • Description of other funding sources. 
  • ASMCUE Proposal. *
* Preference will be given to applicants whose ASMCUE presentation reflects creative and innovative teaching practices, approaches or strategies and demonstrates their impact on student learning.