Welcome Back: ABRCMS Begins Today in Anaheim

I am thrilled to welcome everyone to the Annual Biomedical Conference for Minoritized Scientists (ABRCMS)! It’s a pleasure to be here with you in Anaheim, Calif., a city that embraces imagination, much like the scientists who are part of the ABRCMS community. Your creativity and ingenuity shine a light on the world of biomedical science every day.

As we come together for the first time since 2019, we also celebrate our new identity, which truly reflects the inclusiveness that has always been a hallmark of ABRCMS. Since 2001, ABRCMS has been the go-to conference for underrepresented community college, undergraduate and postbaccalaureate students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. As the conference has continued to grow and evolve, it has also become a space for graduate students, postdocs, faculty, program administrators and more.

Our inclusiveness extends to the virtual world, and once again this year we welcome participants who are unable to meet in-person. Virtual registration is available to allow everyone to participate in this dynamic event.

Community has long been a driving force behind ABRCMS and the scientists it supports. And while our virtual community has done an exceptional job of staying connected the last two years, we are overjoyed to bring that community back together. This year’s event features 32 scientific sessions, 48 professional development and networking sessions and 7 accomplished keynote speakers, including Carolyn R. Bertozzi, Ph.D., winner of the 2022 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

New this year is the ABRCMS Graduate Symposium, which is currently in its second day. I hope the graduate students have enjoyed their experience and are making critical connections as they develop in their scientific careers.

Oral and poster presentations are an integral part of ABRCMS every year, and we look forward to learning about students’ research this week—and recognizing award winners on Saturday!

I would like to thank ABRCMS Chairperson Avery August, Ph.D., for his exceptional leadership, as well as the ABRCMS Steering Committee and the many research faculty advisors who have served as judges and mentored students. They contribute greatly to the success of this conference, and I look forward to their future participation.

I also applaud the staff of the American Society of Microbiology, who have worked tirelessly to ensure a rewarding experience for ABRCMS participants—students, faculty members and exhibitors. Much appreciation goes to ASM CEO Stefano Bertuzzi, Ph.D., MPH, and the ASM Board of Directors for their continued support of educational programs like ABRCMS. Finally, I would like to acknowledge our funding agency, the National General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health, for supporting ABRCMS for more than 20 years.

Don’t forget to visit our meeting news site, ABRComms.org, the official digital news source of ABRCMS 2022. Watch for our emails and check the news site during the conference for the latest meeting news, session previews and schedule updates.

To stay connected with the ABRCMS community, I also invite you to join ABRCMS365, a virtual extension of the in-person conference and an opportunity to participate in year-round scientific and professional development engagement.

Welcome to Anaheim!

Irene Hulede
ASM Director of Education and ABRCMS Project Director