University of Wisconsin–Madison

Professor JD Sauer Receives Vilas Associate Award

Professor JD Sauer has been selected as a Vilas Associate, a prestigious award that recognizes new and ongoing research of the highest quality and significance. The Vilas Associates Competition is highly competitive, with recipients chosen by divisional Research Committees based on the strength and impact of a detailed research proposal. As a Vilas Associate, Sauer …

Postdoc Zhenyu Zhang Research Published in Nature Communications

Postdoc Zhenyu Zhang recently published a high-profile paper in Nature Communications (December 2025). The study was a highly collaborative effort involving multiple students and postdocs in the Andrew Mehle lab, along with research partners at Fort Detrick and Johns Hopkins, highlighting the strength of cross-institutional teamwork behind the work

4 MMI Postdocs Receive WPP Grants

Supporting the Future of Health Research: Wisconsin Partnership Program Awards a Record 17 Postdoctoral Grants Given the current funding landscape, the Wisconsin Partnership Program (WPP) at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH) is pleased to announce its enhanced and continued commitment to grow the next generation of promising scientists through …

Dr. Mandel Research Featured in ASM Microcosm Journal

The Mark Mandel Lab is featured in the Fall 2025 issue of Microcosm, the flagship magazine of the American Society for Microbiology (ASM). The article, “Shedding Light on the Vibrio–Squid Symbiosis,” written by Jennifer Tran, PhD, highlights the lab’s cutting-edge work on the luminous partnership between Vibrio bacteria and their squid hosts. This feature coincides with the launch of ASM’s new journal, Animal …

Katie Barnes Awarded Microbiology Society 2026 Prize

The Microbiology Society has announced the recipients of its 2026 Prizes, honoring individuals whose outstanding contributions continue to advance the field of microbiology. These awards—nominated and selected by members—will be formally presented at the Society’s Annual Conference 2026, taking place in Belfast from 13–16 April. Prize winners will also deliver their prestigious Prize Lectures during …

Dr. Andrew Hryckowian Receives Vilas Faculty Early-Career Investigator Award

The University of Wisconsin–Madison has announced that Dr. Andrew Hryckowian, assistant professor in the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, has been selected to receive a Vilas Faculty Early-Career Investigator Award. This prestigious honor recognizes outstanding early-career faculty members who have demonstrated exceptional research accomplishments and show great promise for continued scholarly excellence. The award provides $60,000 in flexible …

Dr. Jeniel Nett Tackles Catheter-Related Infections Through Collaboration

Spotlight on Collaborative Health Science: Dr. Jeniel Nett Leads Innovative Research to Combat Catheter-Related Infections The Wisconsin Partnership Program (WPP) at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health has awarded $3.6 million through its Collaborative Health Sciences Grant Program, supporting six interdisciplinary research teams tackling some of today’s most pressing health challenges. Among the funded projects is …

Dr. May and Colleagues Organize COMBINE 2025

The Computational Modeling in Biology Network (COMBINE) brings together experts to advance community standards and data formats in systems biology and related fields. We’re excited to share that COMBINE 2025 will be a workshop-style event hosted at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, with Dr. Elebeoba E. May and colleagues serving as local organizers. Location: The Pyle …

May Lab Publishes Paper in MDPI

Congratulations to the May Lab! The May Lab has published a new paper in MDPI Microorganisms titled “Methods for Evaluating the Effects of 2D and 3D Culture Environment on Macrophage Response to Mycobacterium Infection.” Led by Danielle Stolley, Komal Rasaputra, and Dr. Elebeoba May, this study establishes experimental and computational methods to compare macrophage behavior …

John Williams Lab Paper Accepted into Journal of National Library of Medicine

We’re pleased to share a new research article from faculty member Dr. John V. Williams and his lab, titled “Limited nasal interferon production contributes to delayed respiratory virus clearance and suboptimal vaccine responses,”published in JCI Insight and available through the National Library of Medicine and the National Center for Biotechnology Information. This study investigates how …

Dr. David Andes Receives AAC Service Award

Congrats to David Andes, MD, William A. Craig Endowed Professor and chief, Infectious Disease, who received the Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (AAC) Extraordinary Service Award from the American Society of Microbiology! The Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (AAC) Extraordinary Service Award is a recognition from the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) for individuals who have made …

Dr. Federico Rey and Trainee Vaibhav Vemuganti Publish Commentary in Nature

Dr. Federico Rey, with Ph.D. student Vaibhav Vemuganti, published a commentary in the journal Nature regarding the role of the microbiome-produced molecule, imidazole propionate, in promoting atherosclerosis. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-02060-5