Dr. Samuel Kaplan (1934–2024) was a leading microbiologist in the molecular genetics of membrane biosynthesis in photosynthetic bacteria. From 1989 to 2011, he was the founding Chair of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics at UTHealth Houston and served as the American Society for Microbiology Treasurer from 1991 to 1999.
The Samuel Kaplan Award recognizes outstanding Poster Presentation of Graduate Student research.
2024
Environmental Microbiology
1st – Angelica Torres, University of Texas at Arlington, Mentor: Woo-Suk Chang
2nd – Christopher Howard, University of Houston-Clear Lake, Mentor: Eric Lamontagne
3rd – Dasire Brawley, Tarleton State University, Mentor: Dustin Edwards
General Microbiology
1st – Seerpatham Divyasorubini, University of Texas at Austin, Mentor: Tony Keiler
2nd – Anh Pham, University of Texas at Austin, Mentor: Tony Keiler
3rd – Haden Ha, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Mentor: Anna Konovalova
Medical Microbiology
1st – Ryan Sloan, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Mentor: Soo Chan Lee
2nd – William Carpenter, University of Texas Medical Branch, Mentor: Amy Coady
3rd – Emily Hendrix, University of Texas Medical Branch, Mentor: Ashok Chopra
Pathogenic Microbiology
1st – Iris George, Texas A&M University, Mentor: Jayanthi Subashchandrabose
2nd – Anna Evers, University of Texas at Dallas, Mentor: Nick Dillon
3rd – Tessa Williams, Texas A&M University, Mentor: Jayanthi Subashchandrabose
2023
Antimicrobial Resistance Microbiology
1st – Nathaniel Thomas, University of Texas at Dallas, Mentor: Nick Dillon
2nd – Lily Tillett, University of Texas at Dallas, Mentor: Kelli Palmer
Environmental Microbiology
1st – Sreemoye Nath, University of North Texas, Mentor: Calvin Henard
2nd – Weerakkody Ranasinghe, Sam Houston State University, Mentor: Madhu Choudhary
General Microbiology
1st – Spencer Lee, University of North Texas, Mentor: Calvin Henard
2nd – Aayushi Gaur, University of Texas at Dallas, Mentor: Kelli Palmer
Pathogenic Microbiology
1st – Tahira Amdid Ratna, University of Texas at Dallas, Mentor: Kelli Palmer
2nd – Rebecca Gabrilska, Texas Tech University, Mentor: Kendra Rumbaugh
2022
AMR and Environmental Microbiology
1st – Jacob Zulk, Baylor College of Medicine, Mentor: Katy Patras/Anthony Maresso
2nd – Malyn Selinidis, Rice University, Mentor: Joff Silberg/James Chappell
General Microbiology
1st – Andrea Garza Elizondo, Rice University, Mentor: James Chappell
2nd – Aparna Uppuluri, University of Texas at Dallas, Mentor: Kelli Palmer
Microbiome and Computational Biology
1st – Ronika De, University of North Texas, Mentor: Rajeev Azad
2nd – Christian Peterson, University of Texas at Arlington, Mentor: Woo-Suk Chang
Pathogenic Microbiology
1st – Stephany Navarro, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Mentor: Abdul Hamood
2nd – Priya Christensen, University of Texas at Dallas, Mentor: Kelli Palmer
2021
Environmental Microbiology
Sarbjeet Niraula, University of Texas at Arlington, Mentor: Woo-Suk Chang
Pathogenic Microbiology
1st – Marlyd Mejia, Baylor College of Medicine, Mentor: Kathryn Patras
2nd – Qi Xu, Rice University, Mentor: Natasha Kirienko
Virus and Computational Microbiology
Craig Schindewolf, University of Texas Medical Branch, Mentor: Vineet Menachery
2016
Environmental Microbiology
1st – Jacquelyn Vasquez, Sam Houston State University, Mentor: Sibyl Bucheli/Aaron Lynne
2nd – Maura Purcell, University of Texas at Tyler, Mentor: Ri-Qing Yu
Genomic Microbiology
1st – Luke R. Joyce, University of Texas at Dallas, Mentor: Kelli Palmer
2nd – Matthew R. Breuer, Sam Houston State University, Mentor: Anne Gaillard/Madhusudan Choudhary
Medical Microbiology
1st – Derek Fleming, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Mentor: Kendra Rumbaugh
2nd – Hannah Zhao Fleming, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Mentor: Kendra Rumbaugh
Molecular Microbiology
1st – Valerie Price, University of Texas at Dallas, Mentor: Kelli Palmer
2nd – Prapti Mody, Texas Woman’s University, Mentor: Lynda Hanson
3rd – Celso Catumbela, Sam Houston State University, Mentor: Anne Gaillard
2015
Medical/Environmental Microbiology
1st – Pooja Bhardwaj, University of Texas at Dallas, Mentor: Kelli Palmer
1st – Christina Morra, Baylor College of Medicine, Mentor: James Versalovic
3rd – Nymisha Avadhanam, University of Texas at Dallas, Mentor: Juan González
4th – Mehul Jani, University of North Texas, Mentor: Rajeev Azad
Molecular Microbiology
1st – Robert Fultz, Baylor College of Medicine, Mentor: James Versalovic
2nd – Akshaya Ravichandran, Texas A&M University, Mentor: James Smith
3rd – Hannah Adams, University of Texas at Dallas, Mentor: Kelli Palmer
2014
Eukaryotic Microbiology
1st – Amy Ford, University of Houston, Mentor: Kevin Morano
2nd – Katie McCallum, University of Houston, Mentor: Danielle Garsin
Gram-Negative Microbiology
1st – Allie Clinton, Texas Tech University, Mentor: Kendra Rumbaugh
2nd – Sarah L. Schmidt, University of Texas Medical Branch, Mentor: Jere McBride
Gram-Positive Microbiology
1st – Chunxu Gao, Baylor College of Medicine, Mentor: Jim Versalovic
2nd – Austen Terwilliger, Baylor College of Medicine, Mentor: Anthony Maresso
3rd – Michael Francis, Texas A&M University, Mentor: Joe Sorg
Molecular Microbiology
1st – Thieng Pham, University of Houston, Mentor: Anne Delcour
2nd – Chelcy E. Brumlow, Sam Houston State University, Mentor: Todd Primm