Heidi Goodrich-Blair, the David and Sandra White Professor and head of the UT Department of Microbiology, received the 2022 Award for Education from the American Society for Microbiology (ASM). The ASM awards recognize leading scientists and researchers in the field for their contributions to research, education, diversity and professional accomplishments.
“This is an extraordinary honor and a testament to Heidi’s excellence in the training and advancement of scientists throughout her distinguished career,” said Alison Buchan, the Carolyn W. Fite Professor and associate head of microbiology.
The American Academy of Microbiology, the honorific leadership group with the ASM, manage the awards and choose recipients from among a competitive list of candidates nominated by their peers.
“We congratulate all of our awardees on this incredible professional success,” said ASM CEO Stefano Bertuzzi.”Being nominated and receiving an ASM Award is an honor for any microbiologist as the awards help advance the careers of the awardees and their institutions.”
Goodrich-Blair received her PhD from the State University of New York at Albany in 1992. After conducting post-doctoral research with Roberto Kolter at Harvard Medical School, Goodrich-Blair joined the faculty of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Bacteriology in 1997. She joined UT as department head in 2016.
Her research has revealed the molecular mechanisms that underlie bacterial associations with animals in symbiotic relationships that can promote either health or disease. Her work has advanced knowledge of the selection, maintenance, and consequences of bacterial-animal mutualisms from molecular, cellular, and evolutionary perspectives. She has 82 peer-reviewed publications.
In her varied roles as research mentor, committee member, instructor, advisor, undergraduate and graduate program director, and training grant co-director, Goodrich-Blair has had the opportunity to share her curiosity about, passion for, and knowledge of microbiology with numerous students. During the course of her career, Professor Goodrich-Blair has mentored 66 undergraduates, seven master’s students, 19 doctoral students, and nine post-doctoral fellows.
Professor Goodrich-Blair is a member of ASM and an AAM Fellow and served as an editor of Applied and Environmental Microbiology from 2013-2016. She received the 2013 Outstanding Advisor Award and the 2006 Pound Research Excellence Award from the UW-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. She was a Burroughs Wellcome Investigator in Pathogenesis of Infectious Diseases (awarded in 2002).