Ph.D. candidate presents research at international microbiology conference
Posted on June 24, 2026 by Michelle Ryan-Day
Sayema Naaz, a Ph.D. candidate in the Borchert Lab at the Whiddon College of Medicine,
recently presented her research at ASM Microbe 2026, the annual meeting of the American
Society for Microbiology, held June 4-7 in Washington, D.C.
Naaz presented a research poster on her work investigating stress responses and persistence in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. She said the experience provided an opportunity to share her findings with scientists from a variety of disciplines and gain valuable feedback to advance her research.
"Presenting my research provided an excellent opportunity to discuss my findings with microbiologists from diverse research backgrounds, receive valuable feedback from experts in the field, and gain new perspectives that will help guide future experiments," Naaz said.
According to her advisor, Glen Borchert, Ph.D., professor of pharmacology in the USA College of Medicine and a National Science Foundation CAREER Investigator, ASM Microbe is one of the premier international conferences in microbiology and infectious disease research. Accepted presentations undergo peer review for scientific merit and significance.
"Being selected indicates that the student's work contributes meaningful new knowledge to the field and is considered of interest to the broader scientific community," Borchert said. "Presenting at ASM Microbe provides recognition of the student's accomplishments while offering an opportunity to disseminate findings, engage with leading researchers and establish a professional presence within the international research community."
Naaz's research focuses on bacterial persistence, a phenomenon that presents a major challenge in the treatment of infectious diseases. Persister cells can survive antibiotic treatment and later regrow, contributing to infection relapse and prolonged treatment. Borchert said Naaz's study identifies the RpoE protein as a molecular driver of persistence and suggests that targeting RpoE could help reduce persister survival and limit infection recurrence.
In addition to presenting her work, Naaz attended scientific sessions highlighting recent advances in microbiology and connected with researchers from around the world. She said the conference broadened her perspective and strengthened her professional skills.
"The conference allowed me to learn about recent advances in the field, establish professional connections with researchers from around the world, and develop my scientific communication skills," she said.
Borchert noted that participation in international conferences plays an important role in preparing graduate students for successful research careers.
"Conferences help students build professional networks, increase the visibility of their work and gain confidence as emerging scholars," he said. "Collectively, these experiences accelerate scientific development while preparing graduate students to become independent researchers and future leaders within the scientific community."