About ASM-TMC

The American Society for Microbiology Texas Medical Center (ASM-TMC) chapter is composed of talented and motivated students and postdocs from research institutes across the greater Houston area.

ASM-TMC Officers

President

Alex Kang
PhD Candidate
Rice University
Department of Biosciences

Vice President & MicroTalks Co-Chair

Victoria Poplaski
PhD Candidate
Baylor College of Medicine
Department of Molecular Virology & Microbiology

Treasurer

Melissa Martinez
PhD Candidate
UTHealth
Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics

Co-Secretary

Valeria Melendez
PhD Candidate
Baylor College of Medicine
Department of Immunology & Microbiology

Co-Secretary & Community Outreach Co-Chair

Taylor Halsey
PhD Candidate
MD Anderson Cancer center
Department of Genomic Medicine

Faculty Advisor

Heidi Kaplan, PhD
Associate Professor
UTHealth
Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics

ASM-TMC Initiative Leaders

Community Outreach Co-Chair

Samantha (Sami) Ottinger
PhD Candidate
Baylor College of Medicine
Department of Immunology & Microbiology

MicroTalks Co-Chair

Lois Armendariz
Graduate Research Assistant
Rice University
Department of Biosciences

Media Relations Chair

Kristen Engevik, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
Baylor College of Medicine
Department of Molecular Virology & Microbiology