Andrews-Polymenis named 2023 American Academy of Microbiology Fellow

Helene Andrews-Polymenis, DVM, PhD, professor, Presidential Impact Fellow and faculty researcher in the Department of Microbial Pathogenesis & Immunology at the Texas A&M University School of Medicine, has been elected a Class of 2023 Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology.

Within the larger American Society for Microbiology (ASM), American Academy of Microbiology fellows are annually elected following a rigorous peer-reviewed evaluation of their scientific merit. Established 50 years ago, the American Academy of Microbiology has elected more than 2,600 esteemed scientists from around the world. Andrews-Polymenis was selected as one of 65 fellows this year.

“I’m delighted to be elected to the American Academy of Microbiology by my peers, this is a tremendous honor. I’d like to thank both those who supported my nomination, as well as all my trainees, students, postdocs and laboratory staff who have contributed so much to our work over the years,” Andrews-Polymenis said.

Since its founding in 1899, the ASM has focused its mission on advancing the field of microbiology by offering a platform for scientists to network, attend conferences, publish research findings and communicate those findings to diverse audiences. The ASM is dedicated to diversity and equity, and the 2023 Fellowship Class represents a variety of historically underrepresented ethnic and gender groups from eleven different countries.

Andrews-Polymenis received her undergraduate degree from Brown University in 1989, her PhD from Tufts University in 1999, and her DVM from Texas A&M University in 2001. Her lab focuses on identifying the genes that allow Salmonella to be infectious and elucidating their biological functions.