The American Society for Microbiology (ASM) has launched the Applied and Environmental Microbiology (AEM) Scientific Unit, a new collaborative hub designed to connect scientists and professionals across key areas of the microbial sciences. The unit brings together expertise from fields including ecology and evolution, biogeochemistry, synthetic biology, engineering, and informatics to support interdisciplinary research and application.
The AEM Scientific Unit is intended to accelerate innovation and translate microbial discovery into practical solutions addressing climate resilience, food safety and security, bioenergy and bioproducts, soil health, and clean water. By fostering collaboration across traditionally siloed disciplines, the unit aims to strengthen pathways from scientific discovery to real-world impact.
The unit is led by Director Veronica Garcia, whose experience spans leadership roles in biotechnology startups and environmental monitoring work with NASA, and Chair Jay Lennon, a professor of biology at Indiana University with a long history of volunteer leadership within ASM. Lennon previously contributed to the launch of the American Academy of Microbiology’s five-year scientific portfolio on climate change.
Established as the second unit under ASM’s strategic roadmap, the AEM Scientific Unit encompasses a broad range of interconnected scientific domains. Its structure is designed to support coordinated research efforts and anticipate emerging environmental and industrial challenges through applied and environmental microbiology.
Guidance for the unit will be provided by a Scientific Advisory Council composed of experts from academia, government, and research institutions. The interim council includes specialists from organizations such as the U.S. Geological Survey, national laboratories, universities across North America and Asia, and independent research centers, reflecting the unit’s international scope.
Council members will work collaboratively to define scientific priorities, identify emerging trends, and inform the unit’s initiatives, while also engaging the broader microbiology community. The AEM Scientific Unit is positioned to support sustained collaboration and long-term impact across the applied and environmental microbiology landscape.
Click here to read the original press release.
