Dr. Joan Abramowitz (1949–2005) was dedicated to understanding microbial physiology and chaired the Microbiology Degree Program at the University of Houston-Downtown.

The Joan Abramowitz Award recognizes outstanding Poster Presentation of Undergraduate Student research.

2024

General Microbiology

1st – Aurelio Del Carmen, Sam Houston State University, Mentor: Todd Primm/Madhusudan Karki

2nd – Natalie Meklenburg, Texas A&M University-Galveston, Mentor: Jessica Labonte

3rd – Madison Schultz, Sam Houston State University, Mentor: Todd Primm/Madhusudan Karki

Pathogenic Microbiology

1st – Harish Jawahar, University of Texas at Dallas, Mentor: Nick Dillon

2nd – Cora Kosnick, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston/Rice University, Mentor: Heidi Kaplan

3rd – Spandan Mukherjee, University of Texas at Dallas, Mentor: Juan Sanchez

2023

General Microbiology

1st – Swami Sadanala, University of Texas at Dallas, Mentor: Nicole De Nisco

2nd – Eesha Desai, University of Texas at Dallas, Mentor: Nicole De Nisco

2022

General Microbiology

Julie Nguyen, University of Texas at Dallas, Mentor: Kelli Palmer

Pathogenic Microbiology

1st – Luke Hamilton, Texas Christian University, Mentor: Shauna McGillivray

2nd – Alex Caron, Texas Christian University, Mentor: Shauna McGillivray

2021

Medical and Molecular Microbiology

1st – Robyn Alba, University of North Texas, Mentor: Calvin Henard

2nd – Irene N. Hau, University of Texas at Dallas, Mentor: Nicole DeNisco

Phage and Environmental Microbiology

Bryce Jones, St. Edward’s University, Mentor: Claire Edwards

2016

Environmental Microbiology

1st – Annie Kwok, Baylor University, Mentor: Sanghoon Kang

2nd – Reavelyn Pray, Del Mar College, Mentor: Daisy Zhang/Richard Overath

Medical Microbiology

1st – Madeline Bush, Texas Christian University, Mentor: Shauna McGillivray

2nd – Sara Ping, University of Texas at Dallas, Mentor: Kelli Palmer

Molecular Microbiology

1st – Megan McCurry, Rice University, Mentor: Yousif Shamoo

2nd – Christina Koo, University of Texas at Arlington, Mentor: Woo-Suk Chang

2015

Medical Microbiology

1st – Luis Valencia, Texas A&M University, Mentor: Sangeeta Khare

2nd – Kyra Curtis, Baylor University, Mentor: Diane Hartman

Molecular Microbiology

1st – Karthik Hullahalli, University of Texas at Dallas, Mentor: Kelli Palmer

2nd – Matthew Breuer, Sam Houston State University, Mentor: Anne Gaillard

3rd – Christina Koo, University of Texas at Arlington, Mentor: Woo-Suk Chang

2014

Medical Microbiology

1st – John Pinard, Sam Houston State University, Mentor: Todd Primm

2nd – Jaffar Altowaileb, University of Texas Medical Branch, Mentor: Jaffar Altowaileb

Molecular Microbiology

1st – Ardalan Sharifi, University of Texas at Dallas, Mentor: Kelli Palmer

2nd – Julie Heffler, University of Houston & University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Mentor: Kevin Morano