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As we recognize Native American and Indigenous scientists and their achievements, we also acknowledge remaining barriers in the field. According to ��������’s 2020 DEI Taskforce Report survey, Native Americans and Indigenous Peoples represented 1% of respondents. While this is close to representation within the U.S. population at 2.9% Native American, we recognize the gap in representation from the Native Americans and Indigenous community.

We encourage Native American and Indigenous microbiologists and early career scientists to explore ��������’s career development and mentorship opportunities. �������� is committed to fostering and sustaining a positive and welcoming community where everyone has access to ample opportunities to thrive in their chosen career pathway.

ABRCMS365 allows the biomedical sciences community to continue learning and pursuing scientific and networking opportunities. Take advantage of this opportunity to get and stay connected!

How Hunger, Tears and Microbes Connected Kindred Spirits

During the Irish Great Hunger (1845-1852), the Choctaw tribe donated to Irish relief funds, and when COVID-19 exposed inequities on Navajo and Hopi reservations, many Irish people returned the favor.

How Indigenous Knowledge Helped Solve a Mysterious Outbreak

When a mysterious deadly virus attacked the Four Corners region of the U.S., the assistance of Navajo elders proved invaluable in uncovering the cause.

Investigating the Smallpox Blanket Controversy

Lingering questions surround deliberate smallpox outbreaks among Native American and Indigenous communities, leaving a legacy of trauma and distrust that persist to this day. We seek answers to some of these questions.

Follow Your Passion: Spotlight on Stephanie Momeni

Reflecting on her own microbiology journey, Stephanie Momeni, Ph.D., advises that scientists at any career level take time to remember what they’re passionate about and what drives their curiosity.

Infectious Disease Is an Indigenous Issue: Spotlight on Matt Anderson

Matt Anderson, Ph.D., an assistant professor at The Ohio State University, shares how he was strongly influenced to study infectious diseases by his Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians descent.

Making Connections: Spotlight on Rebecca Pollet

Rebecca Pollet highlights the importance of making connections, not just between the lab and the “real” world, but also with scientists with whom one can identify—and helping others to do the same.

MRSA disproportionately affects Indigenous peoples in Canada with higher rates of skin and wound infections, an example of persistent gaps in health outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. This paper discusses an interdisciplinary partnership that utilized Western approaches and traditional Indigenous knowledge to identify plant extracts with promising antimicrobial potential for drug-resistant MRSA wound infections.

Microbiology experts based in Montana designed an inquiry-based course for tribal or 2-year college students who have a general interest in science, research or are STEM majors. The course provides initial exposure to STEM research and intends to strengthen or inspire students’ interest to participate in undergraduate research.

Humans are inextricably linked to each other and our natural world, and microorganisms lie at the nexus of those interactions. The Microbes and Social Equity (MSE) Working Group connects microbiology with social equity research, education, policy and practice to understand the interplay of microorganisms, individuals, societies and ecosystems.

Native Alaskan Perspectives in Microbiology with Kat Milligan-Myhre

Kat Milligan-Myhre, Ph.D., talks about the difficulty of maintaining her Native Alaskan cultural identity during her time in the “lower 48” states studying microbiology. She also explains why stickleback fish are a great model for understanding how the host shapes the microbiota.

Kat Milligan-Myhre's research focuses on determining how the host genetic background contributes to host-microbe interactions. Watch her discussion of adapting an evolutionary model for host-microbe interaction studies, and the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion in the microbial sciences.

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