Among the latest American Society for Microbiology (ASM) awardees in research, education and leadership is School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences associate professor Jennifer Glass, who receives the 2021 ASM Alice C. Evans Award for Advancement of Women. Glass also holds a courtesy appointment in the School of Biological Sciences.

The award is given in memory of Alice C. Evans, the first woman to be elected ASM president (elected in 1928). The ASM Awards program is managed by the American Academy of Microbiology, the honorific leadership group within ASM. The mission of the Academy is to recognize microbiologists for outstanding contributions to the microbial sciences and to provide microbiological expertise in the service of science and the public.

Glass's research and lab focus on geochemistry and microbiology in context of the global biogeochemical cycles and astrobiology. "We study tiny microbial cells that have global impact by transforming gases from climate-active to inactive forms. They are only micron-sized, but they change the world," The Glass Lab explains. 

Glass has served as principal investigator on two NASA Exobiology grants exploring microbial-methane interactions, and is a past NASA Astrobiology Postdoctoral Fellow. She is the founding chair of the Southeastern Biogeochemistry Symposium, a Kavli Fellow, a Scialog Fellow, Associate Editor for Frontiers in Microbiology and Geobiology journals, and chair of the local organizing committee for AbSciCon 2021. Glass's education and outreach efforts focus on diversifying the STEM workforce and democratizing science through open-access science communication efforts such as Wikipedia and Hypothesis Browser.

Please join ASM and the College of Sciences in congratulating Glass and all 2021 ASM award recipients!

About ASM

The American Society for Microbiology is one of the largest professional societies dedicated to the life sciences and is composed of 30,000 scientists and health practitioners. ASM's mission is to promote and advance the microbial sciences.
 
ASM advances the microbial sciences through conferences, publications, certifications and educational opportunities. It enhances laboratory capacity around the globe through training and resources. It provides a network for scientists in academia, industry and clinical settings. Additionally, ASM promotes a deeper understanding of the microbial sciences to diverse audiences.