ASM Peggy Cotter Travel Award for PRSM Members

The ASM Peggy Cotter Travel Award Program provides funds for outstanding early career PRSM Branch members to attend ASM Microbe. The Peggy Cotter Awards, fully funded by ASM, are named in honor of Peggy Cotter, Ph.D., past president of ASM, to recognize her commitment to mentoring and training of early career scientists.

Peggy Cotter, Ph.D., is a professor in microbiology and immunology at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and is a Past ASM President (2017-2018). She earned a B.A. in microbiology and psychobiology and a Ph.D. in microbiology and molecular genetics at the University of California, Los Angeles. Cotter established her own lab at the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2001 and moved to the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill in 2009.

Cotter has served various roles within ASM, was an Editor for Molecular Microbiology from 2006-2011, and is currently Chair of the National Institutes of Health Prokaryotic Cell and Molecular Biology Study Section. She also serves as a leader for ASM’s Manuscript Writing and Publishing for Scientists webinar series. Lastly, she also was one of the distinguished Plenary Speakers for ASMCUE 2019.

Who is Peggy Cotter?

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ASM PEGGY COTTER TRAVEL AWARD APPLICATION

  • Awardees will use the awards to partially defray the costs for registration, accommodation and travel associated with attending ASM Microbe.

  • Awardees will be responsible for registering for ASM Microbe and making all their own travel arrangements to attend the meeting. 

  • The award funds will be distributed after ASM Microbe and are to be used for expenses associated with attending the meeting (registration, travel, accommodation, meals, incidentals). 

  • The award amount generally does not cover all costs. If the award amount does not cover the awardee's full costs of attending ASM Microbe, the awardee will be responsible for paying the balance.

  • Abstract submission to ASM Microbe is completely independent of the ASM Peggy Cotter
    Travel Award Program for Early Career Branch Members.

Program Details

  • Submit a cover letter which includes:

    • Brief introduction of yourself

    • Why do you want to participate in ASM Microbe?

    • How can this award contribute in your career and attendance to ASM Microbe?

  • Submit your Curriculum Vitae.

  • Abstract submission for ASM Microbe is not required but encouraged. If you submitted an abstract, please upload the abstract in PDF and the submission confirmation on the application form. Also attach abstract acceptance if it's already been confirmed.

  • Submit formal evidence of degree completion (degree certification or diploma).

  • If selected, awardees must submit a brief written report to the PRSM branch about their experience at ASM Microbe, including photos during the event (additional details will be given to the awardees).

Requirements

Eligibility Criteria

  • Must be a regular member of the Puerto Rico Society of Microbiologists (PRSM) at the time of application. Students are NOT eligible for the Peggy Cotter Award for Early Career Branch Members.

  • Must be an ASM member at the time of application. Only postdoctoral, clinical laboratory scientist, contributing or premium ASM members are eligible. Student, supporting, emeritus and honorary members are NOT eligible for the award.

  • Past recipients of this travel award are not eligible to receive the award again.

  • All awardees must be “early career,” which, for the purposes of this award, includes the following:

    • Postdoctoral fellows (up to 15 years beyond terminal degree).

    • Clinical laboratory scientists/Bench Techs (CLS, MT, MLT, MLS)—up to 15 years beyond terminal degree.

    • Early career faculty (either tenure track or non-tenure track; e.g., Assistant Professors, Research Assistant Professors, Visiting Assistant Professors, etc.)—up to 15 years beyond terminal degree.

    • Early stage investigators (ESIs)—up to 15 years beyond terminal degree.

    • Industry personnel—up to 15 years beyond terminal degree.

    • Exceptions to the 15-year time limit may be made in special circumstances on a case-by-case basis (e.g., career delays caused by taking parental leave to care for children).

ASM Award Limits

  • Individuals may receive only 1 grant, award and/or travel subsidy from ASM to attend ASM Microbe in a given year. ASM staff will cross-check awardee lists from various ASM award programs and session speaker lists to ensure that no individual receives more than 1 grant, award and/or travel subsidy of any kind for travel to ASM Microbe in a given year. If it is determined that any Peggy Cotter awardees were also selected for other ASM awards, the individual awardees will be asked to choose which award they wish to accept

APPLICATION DEADLINE IS FEBRUARY 5, 2026!

Apply today!

  • Angélica M. Rosado Quiñones, Ph.D.

    Fellow at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention | 2025 Awardee

  • Natalie M. Meléndez Vázquez, Ph.D.

    Postdoctoral fellow at the UPR-Medical Sciences Campus | 2025 Awardee

  • Valerie Ortiz-Gómez, MSc., Ph.D.

    Faculty at the School of Dental Medicine of Ana G. Méndez University | 2025 Awardee

  • Eduardo L. Tosado-Rodríguez, Ph.D.

    Associate Professor at the School of Dental Medicine at Ana G. Méndez | 2024 Awardee

  • Rafael Maldonado-Hernández, Ph.D.

    Assistant Professor at the University of Puerto Rico-Cayey Campus | 2024 Awardee

  • Marcos J. Ramos-Benitez, Ph.D.

    Assistant Professor at Ponce Health Sciences University | 2024 Awardee