Dr. Odis Burris (O.B.) Williams (1903–1977) was a notable American microbiologist who made significant contributions to bacterial physiology and taxonomy during his long tenure at the University of Texas at Austin. He served as the President of the Texas Branch of the American Society for Microbiology from 1943 to 1944.

The O.B. Williams Award recognizes outstanding Oral Presentation of Graduate Student research in General Microbiology.

2024

1st – Regina Solomon, University of Texas Medical Branch, Mentor: Jere McBride

2nd – Braden Hanson, Texas A&M University, Mentor: Jayanthi Subashchandrabose

3rd – Khondakar Sayef Ahammed, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Mentor: Ambro van Hoof

2023

1st – Brittany Shapiro, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Mentor: Jon Skare

2nd – Chahat Upreti, University of Texas at Dallas, Mentor: Kelli Palmer

2022

1st – Kyra Groover, University of Texas at Austin, Mentor: Bryan Davies

2nd – Chahat Upreti, University of Texas at Dallas, Mentor: Kelli Palmer

3rd – Allison Judge, Baylor College of Medicine, Mentor: Timothy Palzkill

2021

Trusha Parekh, University of Texas at Dallas, Mentor: Stephen Spiro

2016

1st – Hannah Johnson, Sam Houston State University, Mentor: Madhusudan Choudhary

2nd – Starla Thornhill, Texas State University, Mentor: Robert McLean

2015

1st – Marinelle Rodrigues, University of Texas at Dallas, Mentor: Kelli Palmer

2nd – Michael Francis, Texas A&M University, Mentor: Joe Sorg

2014

1st – Veronica M. Garcia, University of Houston, Mentor: Kevin Morano

2nd – Daniel P. Haarmann, Sam Houston State University, Mentor: Aaron Lynne/Sibyl Bucheli

1988

Alesia Reinisch, Texas Tech University, Mentor: Shan Bilimoria

1983

1st – Maria Yeung, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Mentor: Stephen Mattingly

2nd – Hanna Sullivan, Texas Tech University, Mentor: Caryl Heintz

3rd – C.R. Cooper, University of Texas at Austin, Mentor: Paul Szaniszlo

1981

1st – Lawrence Wackett, University of Texas at Austin, Mentor: David Gibson

2nd – Tit-Yee Wong, University of Texas at Austin, Mentor: Peter Jurtshuk

3rd – Charles Jacobs, University of Texas at Austin, Mentor: Paul Szaniszlo

1971

J.P. Allison, University of Texas at Austin, Mentor: George Kitto

1966

Lincoln Arceneaux, University of Texas at Austin, Mentor: C.E. Lankford

1965

Robert Brown, University of Texas Medical Branch