The Microbiology Society is pleased to announce the winners of our 2025 Prizes, which will be awarded at Society’s Annual Conference 2025 in Liverpool from 31 March – 3 April, where the winners will present their Prize Lectures.
The Microbiology Society’s Prizes recognise excellence and are awarded to those making significant contributions in the field of microbiology, based on nominations received from the membership. Winners are selected for their work to advance understanding of microbiology and champion the contribution made by microbiology, our members and their work in addressing global challenges.
Prize Medal 2025: Professor Richard Lenski
Professor Lenski is a University Distinguished Professor at Michigan State University. He did his undergraduate studies at Oberlin College, Ohio, and received his PhD from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, where he conducted ecological research on insects.
Wanting a system where he could see evolution in action, he switched to microbiology for a postdoc at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and studied the coevolution of bacteria and phages. Professor Lenski joined the faculty at the University of California, Irvine, in 1985, before moving to Michigan State University in 1991.
Professor Lenski is best known for his Long-Term Evolution Experiment, or LTEE, which he started in 1988, and which continues to this day. He and his team have maintained and studied 12 populations of E. coli for 75,000 generations. The LTEE offers a unique record of evolution, providing insights into the dynamics of adaptation by natural selection, the mechanisms of genome evolution, the repeatability of evolutionary changes, and even the origin of new functions.
With an interdisciplinary team, Professor Lenski has also led pioneering research on the evolution of digital organisms—computer programs that replicate, mutate, compete, and evolve to perform new functions. He is a member of the US National Academy of Sciences and a fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology. Professor Lenski has served as President of the Society for the Study of Evolution, and he received a Friend of Darwin Award from the National Center for Science Education for his public-facing work discussing evolution and its importance. Last, but not least, Professor Lenski has mentored some 30 graduate students and postdoctoral scientists who are now on the faculties of universities around the world.
Commenting on receiving the Microbiology Society Prize Medal 2025, Professor Lenski said: “I’m deeply honoured to receive the Prize Medal from the Microbiology Society. Like most awards in science, it reflects the work of many talented people – the students, postdocs, and colleagues who’ve worked with me to ask and answer questions, and my mentors who helped me learn how to do science and mentor others. I’d also like to thank my family for tolerating my scientific obsessions for all these years.”
The Prize Medal is awarded to an outstanding microbiologist who is a global leader in their field and whose work has had a far-reaching impact beyond the discipline of microbiology. The recipient is awarded an engraved medal and £1,000 at the Society’s Annual Conference.
Marjory Stephenson Prize 2025: Professor George Salmond
Professor Salmond is Professor of Molecular Microbiology at the University of Cambridge. As a postdoctoral researcher in Edinburgh, Professor Salmond worked on the molecular genetics of cell division in E coli and continued into his first lectureship post in Canterbury. At Warwick, he continued to work on E coli and also started work on developing the genetics of the potato pathogen, Erwinia (Pectobacterium). That work initially focussed on exoenzyme secretion and led to the definition of the first four protein secretion systems (Type I-IV).
The development of genetic tools for the study of Erwinia led to work on virulence in phytopathogenesis and carbapenem antibiotic synthesis through the phenomenon of quorum sensing. The study of the genes involved in carbapenem synthesis led to a related study of biosynthesis and regulation of antibiotics in Serratia and analysis of quorum sensing in that host. Study of Serratia hosts and some rhizosphere enterobacteria led to the discovery, analysis and regulation of various antibiotics (carbapenems, prodigiosin, andrimid, oocydin /haterumalides, zeamine and solanimycin).
The development of genetic tools for these bacteria was enabled by isolation and characterisation and the use of new environmental phages. This led to the discovery of abortive infection of phages due to toxin-antitoxin systems. The Serratia strain that made prodigiosin and a carbapenem also had the capacity to make intracellular gas vesicles also controlled by quorum sensing. Analysis of the bacterial surface receptors of various phages led to genetic approaches that allowed manipulation of the viral host range of phages.
Professor Salmond is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, of the Royal Society of Biology, of the American Academy of Microbiology and the European Academy of Microbiology.
Commenting on receiving the Marjory Stephenson Prize 2025, Professor Salmond said: “I joined the society as a final year undergraduate and I am absolutely delighted to be awarded this prize by the selection committee acknowledging the work of my dedicated research group over many years. I was nominated by two ex-Biochemistry undergraduates (one a previous Fleming Prize winner) who both progressed through to PhD and postdoc work here in Cambridge before eventually moving on to highly successful academic professorial careers. Marjory Stephenson had a fantastic impact in the domain of chemical microbiology. She was one of the two women first elected Fellows of the Royal Society – and of course, she had a key role in the early development of the Microbiology Society (Society of General Microbiology) conducting much of her innovative research in the Department of Biochemistry in Cambridge – where I have taught undergraduates in the Marjory Stephenson Seminar Room in the Hopkins Building on Tennis Court Road and built my research team over 26 years. So given this history, this prize is really a very special honour indeed for me.”
The Marjory Stephenson Prize is named after the Society's founding member and former President Marjory Stephenson (1947–1948). The Prize is awarded to an individual who has made exceptional contributions to the discipline of microbiology. The recipient is awarded £1,000.
Translational Microbiology Prize 2025: Professor David Aanensen
Professor Aanensen is the Director of The Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance at the University of Oxford. He studied for his BSc in Biology and Biochemistry at the University of Salford, followed by an MSc in Neuroscience at the Institute of Psychiatry before spending a period in the web industry. In 2001, David joined the laboratory of Professor Brian Spratt at Imperial College developing bioinformatics solutions for Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST). He undertook a PhD in Bioinformatics at Imperial focussed on the development of web applications for microbiology while working on the understanding of the recently sequenced capsular loci of Streptococcus pneumoniae, a key target in vaccine development.
Combining an interest in population and evolutionary biology and a drive to democratise insight and application to global molecular surveillance, David and his team have been taking advantage of innovations in the web (eg mapping and mobile) to develop widely used applications focussed on key but synergistic components of the data landscape (eg EpiCollect for mobile data gathering; Microreact for linking and visualising genomics and epidemiology; pathogen.watch and amr.watch for easy access to bioinformatics and the collation of information to inform policy). With the advent, and democratising, of whole genome sequencing an allied focus on capacity building for both technology and insight led to the establishment of the Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance aimed at developing capacity in both scientific understanding and application engineering, largely focussed in Low- and Middle-Income settings. This led to the formation and directorship of the NIHR Global Health Research Unit on genomic surveillance of AMR working with partners in Nigeria, India, Philippines and Colombia embedding genomics into national control programmes and developing technical support packages for broader adoption. As a consequence of their global support to programmes, David's team have been designated as the WHO Collaborating Centre on genomic surveillance of AMR and continues to drive the development and uptake of genomic and microbiological interpretation in parallel with increasing country capacity to identify and mitigate risk.
Commenting on receiving the Translational Microbiology Prize 2025, Professor Aanensen said: “It is a great honour to receive the microbiology prize on behalf of my team and our collaborators, both past and present, whose passion and insight have translated genomic and microbiological insight into impactful global public health policy and practice, and who have made the journey so enjoyable.”
The Translational Microbiology Prize is awarded to an individual who has demonstrated an outstanding contribution to translational microbiology. The recipient is awarded £1,000.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Prize 2025: Dr Nicola Veitch, Dr Leighann Sherry, Dr Stewart White and Dr Victoria Paterson
Dr Veitch is a Professor of Bioscience Education and Parasitology in the School of Infection and Immunity, College of Medical Veterinary and Life Science, at the University of Glasgow. Nicola’s research background is molecular parasitology and is the programme coordinator of the Microbiology degree and a Senior Adviser of Studies. Nicola is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and focuses on the Scholarship of Learning and Teaching, publishing on embedding EDI, blended learning strategies, and the use of digital technology to enhance learning.
Dr Sherry is a mycologist in the School of Infection and Immunity at the University of Glasgow. Leighann is passionate about creating a curriculum that is inclusive to all, whether it's through decolonising approaches that bring staff and students on the journey, development of virtual field trips or ensuring all students have equal access to employment opportunities.
Dr White is an ornithologist, entomologist and tropical ecologist, but has spent a lot of time developing and delivering EDI materials and classes to both under and postgraduate students over the last few years, as well as being active in Athena Swan – a framework which is used across the globe to support and transform gender equality within higher education (HE) and research.
Dr Paterson is a senior lecturer in the School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine.
Commenting on receiving the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Prize 2025, the team said: “We are all thrilled to be part of the team receiving the Microbiology Society EDI prize, recognising our commitment to embedding EDI into our Life Science curriculum. We strive to make our teaching practices inclusive and have been developing new resources around this in relation to decolonising the curriculum in collaboration with undergraduate and postgraduate students for many years. The prize is excellent recognition for the hard work put in by students, who generated many of the resources, working alongside the University of Glasgow staff. We would also like to acknowledge the funding from The Wellcome Trust and the University of Glasgow Learning and Teaching Fund, without which the project would not have been possible.”
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Prize 2025: I’ah Donovan-Banfield, Dr Ariangela Kozik, Dr Nikea Pittman, Dr Chelsey Spriggs, Dr Ninecia Scott and Dr Kishana Taylor
I’ah Donovan-Banfield is the Director of Communications of the Black Microbiologists Association and a postdoctoral researcher. I’ah’s PhD research explored the impact of mutagenic antiviral drugs on the evolution of SARS-CoV-2, producing three critical publications on the effects of molnupiravir. She is now a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Liverpool, using proteomics and virus-host interaction validation to investigate coronavirus replication and pathogenesis. Her research interests include virus evolution, zoonosis, and multi-omics method development. In 2020, I'ah joined Monash University to develop novel sequencing methods to support Wolbachia-based mosquito control for reducing the arboviral disease burden. She joined the inaugural organising team of Black in Microbiology Week the same year, becoming a Public Relations committee member. In 2022, she was appointed Director of Public Relations for the Black Microbiologists Association (BMA). Now, as Director of Communications, she manages BMA's internal and external communications strategy. I'ah also volunteers with other initiatives, such as the Microbiology Society’s Members Panel and the Queer in Micro working group, to increase representation and resources for historically marginalised microbiologists.
Dr Ariangela J. Kozik is Vice President of the Black Microbiologists Association. Dr Kozik was a postdoctoral fellow when she helped her friend, Dr Kishana Taylor, organise the first Black in Microbiology Week on Twitter in 2020. Now, she is an Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan in the Departments of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, and Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine. Dr Kozik leads a laboratory focused on the respiratory microbiome, using multi-omic strategies to study host-microbe and microbe-microbe interactions to advance understanding of chronic respiratory diseases. Dr Kozik champions equity in STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine) through scholarship and initiatives aimed at transforming research systems for future generations. As Vice President of the Black Microbiologists Association (BMA), formerly known as Black In Microbiology, she supports multiple committees, manages initiatives like the Journal Club collection, and collaborates with partner organisations. Additionally, she serves on the Health Equity and Diversity Committee of the American Thoracic Society and the advisory board of 2030 STEM, a nonprofit dedicated to creating a more inclusive STEM ecosystem that better serves everyone. Driven by her belief that public engagement with science is critical to a just society, Dr Kozik's science communication outreach spans audiences from elementary school students to adults. She is dedicated to fostering a supportive environment for the next generation of research scientists and increasing public awareness of the importance of science in the broader community.
Dr Nikea Pittman is Secretary of the Black Microbiologists Association and a Teaching Assistant Professor at the University of North Carolina (UNC) Chapel Hill’s biochemistry and biophysics department. She teaches biochemistry full-time, impacting hundreds of undergraduate students and medical students each semester. A former virologist, she recently launched her department’s first research group in STEM education and built the university’s first short course discussing race in STEM graduate careers. In 2021, Dr Pittman co-founded the Black Microbiologists Association, where she has been involved in many roles leading social media and communications since the launch of the first #BlackInMicroWeek. Through BMA, she continues to advocate for and build support systems for rising scientists. Dr Pittman completed her PhD in biomedical science at the University of Florida and her postdoc in the Seeding Postdoctoral Innovators in Research and Education (SPIRE) programme at UNC Chapel Hill. Since then, she has continued to combine her training in virology, structural biology, and pedagogy to build supportive learning communities in higher education. Dr Pittman’s research and teaching practices emphasise equity in STEM education, community-building, and methods to empower early career scientists.
Dr Chelsey C. Spriggs is Treasurer and Director of Membership of the Black Microbiologists Association and an Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan Medical School. She earned her PhD in microbiology from Northwestern University in 2017. Her thesis work researched the role of DNA damage response pathways in human papillomavirus (HPV) replication and carcinogenesis. She went on to do her postdoctoral training at the University of Michigan where she investigated the viral entry mechanisms of another oncogenic virus—simian virus 40 (SV40) polyomavirus. Dr Spriggs now runs an independent research programme at the University of Michigan studying the host-pathogen interactions required for the cellular entry of both oncogenic and oncolytic viruses. The lack of representation in STEM is, at times, discouraging; and she aims to serve as a role model (and resource) for underrepresented minority students interested in biological research through engaging in various outreach, mentorship, and teaching opportunities. Dr Spriggs is a co-founder of the Black Microbiologists Association and works to ensure that the needs of the membership are met.
Dr Ninecia Scott is Director of Programming at the Black Microbiologists Association and a Safety and Health Specialist with Duke University Health System and an Adjunct Professor at Fayetteville State University. She is a renowned microbiologist and immunologist with extensive experience in infectious disease research and applied biosafety. Her research background in infectious disease focused on understanding the mechanisms of bacterial infections and their impact on human health, with the goal of developing innovative therapeutic and diagnostic solutions. Additionally, she applies her scientific knowledge and research experiences to enhance biosafety programs in the US and internationally. She earned her PhD at Washington University in St. Louis in Molecular Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis. Throughout her career, she has worked at the intersection of infectious disease, biosafety and biosecurity, public health, science policy, and science education at academic, government, and non-government organisations, such as Duke University Health Systems, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Association for Immunologists, and American Society of Microbiology. Throughout all of her experiences, Dr Scott enjoys reaching back and supporting younger scientists through mentorship and cultivating beneficial partnerships and collaborations across scientific fields and sectors to continue pushing the boundaries and beneficial impacts of the science field. Dr Scott is a co-founder of the Black Microbiologists Association where she currently serves as the Director of Programming.
Dr Kishana Taylor is a virologist and Assistant Professor at Towson University. Her current research focuses on the pandemic potential of arthropod-borne viruses via experimental evolution, disease ecology and molecular epidemiology. She has researched several zoonotic pathogens including Jamestown Canyon virus, avian influenza viruses and SARS-CoV-2. Dr Taylor earned her Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Biomedical Sciences from The University of Georgia. In addition to her research interests, Dr Taylor is interested in effective ways to improve science literacy and communicate science to the public. She has spoken of the importance of virology, vaccination and broader science literacy to many different audiences ranging from students to fiction writers and everyday citizens concerned about COVID-19 vaccinations. Dr Taylor is a co-founder and President of the Black Microbiologists Association (And Black in Microbiology Week) and is passionate about improving the outlook for scientists from historically excluded groups through tangible solutions to removing systemic barriers in all, but especially academic, spaces.
Commenting on receiving the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Prize 2025, I’ah Donovan-Banfield said: “Winning the inaugural Microbiology Society EDI Prize is a tremendous honour. The Board of Directors of the Black Microbiologists Association has dedicated an incredible amount of effort to developing Black in Micro Week into a sustainable project over the past four and a half years.”
Dr Nikea Pittman said: “Our greatest victory is the impact we are making for early-career scientists. BMA was born as a vision of postdocs and graduate students - all advocating for the type of change we’d been told wasn’t possible.”
Dr Ariangela J. Kozik said: “Winning this prize in recognition of this (sometimes undervalued) work is a profound honour that acknowledges not just our efforts, but the resilience and dedication of our entire community.”
Dr Kishana Y. Taylor said: “BMA and the greater #BlackinX movement was something unexpected but so imperative in a time of isolation and massive political unrest. I am so grateful for everyone on the team and the work they have put in to make BMA what it is today.”
Fleming Prize 2025: Professor Cesar de la Fuente
Professor de la Fuente is a Presidential Associate Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, where he leads the Machine Biology Group. He completed postdoctoral research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and earned a PhD from the University of British Columbia (UBC). His research goal is to use the power of machines to accelerate discoveries in biology and medicine. Notably, he pioneered the development of the first computer-designed antibiotic with efficacy in animal models, demonstrating the application of AI for antibiotic discovery and helping launch this emerging field.
His lab is at the forefront of developing computational methods to mine the world’s biological information, leading to the identification of over a million new antimicrobial compounds. These efforts started by exploring the human proteome as a source of antibiotics for the first time. His team was also the first to find therapeutic molecules in extinct organisms, launching the field of molecular de-extinction. Molecular de-extinction has already yielded preclinical antibiotic candidates, such as neanderthalin, mammuthusin, and elephasin. Furthermore, Professor de la Fuente’s lab has broadened its antibiotic discovery initiatives to explore other branches of the tree of life beyond eukaryotes. By computationally analysing microbial dark matter, his team have identified nearly one million new antibiotic molecules. These molecules have been made freely available and open access to the scientific community to encourage researchers worldwide to further develop them. Additional advances from his lab include reprogramming venoms into antimicrobials, developing autonomous nanorobots to treat infections, creating novel resistance-proof antimicrobial materials, and inventing rapid, low-cost diagnostic devices for COVID-19 and other infections.
Professor de la Fuente is an elected Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE), becoming one of the youngest ever to be inducted. He was selected as the inaugural recipient of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) Langer Prize. Recently, Professor de la Fuente has been awarded the Princess of Girona Prize, the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) Award for Early Career Applied and Biotechnological Research, the ASM Award for Early Career Basic Research, the Rao Makineni Lectureship Award by the American Peptide Society, and was selected as a National Academy of Medicine Emerging Leader in Health and Medicine.
Commenting on receiving the Fleming Prize 2025, Professor de la Fuente said: “I am deeply honoured to receive the Fleming Prize, a recognition that holds special significance for me. Sir Alexander Fleming’s discovery of penicillin not only transformed medicine but also laid the foundation for modern antibiotic research, saving millions of lives. His legacy has been a profound source of inspiration throughout my journey as a scientist. Today, as we face a growing crisis of antibiotic resistance, I am reminded of the indispensable role antibiotics play in safeguarding global health. It is especially meaningful to have our AI-driven approach to antibiotic discovery recognized, despite the initial scepticism that machines could transform the future of antibiotics. This award motivates my team and me to continue advancing scientific research and tackling antibiotic resistance, one of the greatest challenges in modern medicine. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to my team, collaborators, and family. This recognition is a testament to our collective efforts and unwavering dedication to science.”
The Fleming Prize is named after Sir Alexander Fleming, founder and first President (1945–1947) of the Microbiology Society, then named the Society for General Microbiology, and is awarded to an early career researcher who has achieved an outstanding research record. The recipient is awarded £1,000.
Peter Wildy Prize 2025: Professor Lindsay Hall
Professor Lindsay Hall is the Chair of Microbiome Research at the University of Birmingham, UK, and she is also a Wellcome Investigator. Her lab’s research focus involves defining microbe/microbiota interactions during the early life developmental window.
Professor Hall also has a keen interest in bringing the magical world of the microbiome to life for public audiences and school children.
She obtained a BSc in Microbiology from the University of Glasgow, UK, a PhD in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of Cambridge, UK, and was a postdoctoral fellow at University College Cork, Ireland (APC Microbiome Institute). She returned to the UK to take up a Senior Lectureship at the University of East Anglia before moving to the Quadram Institute (both in Norwich, UK). Before Professor Hall joined the University of Birmingham, she was Chair of Intestinal Microbiome at the Technical University of Munich in Germany.
Commenting on receiving the Peter Wildy Prize 2025, Professor Hall said: “I am incredibly honoured (and surprised!) to receive the Peter Wildy Prize. Public engagement has been a passion of mine, and many members of the team, including our amazing collaborators and PE practitioners. It’s fun, although hard work, and it can’t be done alone, which is why this is a team prize. Making science accessible to all is at the heart of our microbiology and microbiome work, and through different forms of ‘storytelling’, we aim to inspire curiosity, encourage understanding, and hopefully ignite a love for science. This award is not just a recognition of our work, but also of the incredible impact that public engagement can have on bringing microbiology to life for everyone.”
The Peter Wildy Prize is named after distinguished virologist and much-loved teacher Peter Wildy, who was President of the Society from 1978 to 1981 and is awarded for outstanding contributions to microbiology education or the communication of microbiology to the public. The recipient is awarded £1,000.
About the Microbiology Society
The Microbiology Society is a membership charity for scientists interested in microbes, their effects and their practical uses. It has a worldwide membership based in universities, industry, hospitals, research institutes, schools, and other organisations. Find out more at microbiologysociety.org.
For further information please contact info@microbiologysociety.org