Keynote Speakers
Joy Bergelson is an evolutionary biologist and the Silver Professor of Biology at New York University, known for her work on the evolution of plant-pathogen interactions and the ecology of the model plant species Arabidopsis thaliana. Her lab is known for their pioneering use of genetically manipulated plants to understand the selective forces that shape ecological interactions between plants and their associated microbes
She was elected to the American Academy for the Advancement of Science in 2004, the National Academy of Sciences in 2018 and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2020, and holds numerous other accolades and awards. Dr. Bergelson also holds the position of Executive Vice President of the Simons Foundation Life Sciences division and serves on the advisory boards for TULIP INRAE in France, MiCROP in the Netherlands, the Blavatnik Foundation in NYC, CEPLAS in Germany, Novo Nordisk in Denmark, the European Research Council, and the International Advisory Board of Plant Sciences in The Netherlands. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Washington, an M.Phil. from the University of York, and a B.Sc. from Brown University.
Martin Wiedmann is the Gellert Family Professor in Food Safety and Food Science at Cornell University. His work focuses understanding the pathogenesis of zoonotic and foodborne bacterial diseases, using the model organisms Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella to understand complex interactions between a bacterial pathogen, their environments and their host species. His group also runs an extension program that focuses on food safety and dairy microbiology in New York State.
Wiedmann is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology, and serves as the co-director of the New York State Integrated Food Safety Center of Excellence. He holds a D.V.M in veterinary medicine from the University of Munich and a Ph.D. from Cornell University.
Arturo Casadevall is a microbiologist and immunologist, a Bloomberg Distinguished Professor of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology and Infectious Diseases at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and the Alfred and Jill Sommer Professor and Chair of the W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. He is internationally renowned for his work in the field of infectious diseases. His lab's research is currently focused on understanding host-microbe interactions through the lens of the immune system and host defense mechanism, with a primary focus on the mechanisms by which the opportunistic fungal pathobiont Cryptococcus neoformans evades the host immune response.
Casadevall is a Fellow of the American Academy for the Advancement of Science, the American Academy of Arts and Science, the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Medicine, and the American Academy of Microbiology, among many others. He holds an M.D. from New York University, an M.S. and Ph.D. from New York University, and a B.A. from Queens College, CUNY.
Interested in partnering with us?
We are currently seeking industry partners to help make this event possible while providing your organization with direct access to a highly engaged audience of researchers, students, and young professionals invested in microbiome science and its applications.
To discuss sponsorship packages or other partnership opportunities, please reach out to Grace Deitzler.
As a sponsor, you'll benefit from:
- Brand exposure through symposium signage, our website, social media, and printed conference materials
- Opportunities to exhibit your products and services to a targeted community of microbiome researchers and potential collaborators
- The chance to recruit top students attending from Penn State and around the world
We offer a number of sponsorship tiers to suit your needs and goals, and are happy to discuss custom packages.
| Bronze - $1,500 | Silver - $2,500 | Gold - $5,000 | Platinum - $10,000 (Limit 4) |
| 1 complementary registration | Above level, plus: | All levels above, plus: | All levels above, plus: |
| Logo included in conference booklet, pre- and post-event emails | 2 total complementary registrations | Full page advertisement in symposium booklet | 10-minute talk during one of the regular sessions |
| Recognition during opening remarks | Promotional social media posts | 30-second advertisement video played before a Keynote | Invitation to exclusive opening reception with keynote speakers and OHMC organizing committee |
| Exhibit table at symposium | Full list of conference attendees from those who consent to share their contact information |
To discuss sponsorship packages or other partnership opportunities, please reach out to Dr. Grace Deitzler at gdeitzler@psu.edu.
- Student Poster Awards - $500
- Sponsor an award for best poster or presentation. Branding of award and recognition during awards ceremony. If interested in sponsoring a specific award, reach out to Dr. Deitzler. Limit 6.
- Workshop - $750
- Sponsor one of the career or technical development workshop sessions chosen by the organizing committee. Branding of presentation and recognition during event. If interested in sponsoring a specific workshop, please reach out to Grace Deitzler. Limit 4.
- Networking Hour - $1,000
- Sponsor refreshments and beverages at the networking reception. Recognition during session opening and prominent branding display during event. Limit 4.
- Travel Awards - $1,000 (full) or $500 (partial)
- Sponsor a student to attend the symposium. Branding of award and attribution during opening remarks. No limit.
Travel Tips
The Symposium's main venue is the Life Sciences Building, with a reception at the Hintz Alumni Center.
Paid parking is available at the East Parking Deck on campus.
Commonly, travelers opt to fly into University Park Airport (SCE) in
State College. This airport directly connects to Chicago O'Hare (ORD),
Philadelphia International (PHL), and Washington DC Dulles (IAD) via American Airlines and United Airlines.
Airports such as Harrisburg International (MDT), Pittsburgh International (PIT), and Baltimore-Washington International (BWI) are located 1-4 hours from State College by car.
- Explore the natural beauty of Central Pennsylvania through many nearby hiking trails.
- Visit one of Penn State's museums, such as the Frost Entomological Museum, the Matson Museum of Anthropology, and the Earth and Mineral Science Museum & Art Gallery.
- Catch a local concert or movie screening at The State Theatre.
- Visit the Berkey Creamery.
- Drive to visit big cities such as Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.