CEEZAD Director Among 63 Fellows Elected to the American Academy of Microbiology

Dr. Juergen A. Richt, the Director of the Center of Excellence for Emerging and Zoonotic Animal Diseases (www.ceezad.org) and the Center on Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (CEZID; https://www.k-state.edu/cezid/) is one of 63 new members elected to the American Academy of Microbiology.

The election of Dr. Juergen A. Richt, Regents and University Distinguished Professor at Kansas State University and director of CEEZAD and CEZID, as a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology, was announced Feb. 13. The Academy is an honorific leadership group within the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) whose Fellows are elected annually through a highly selective, peer-review process, based on their records of scientific achievement and original contributions that have advanced microbiology. The Academy received 145 nominations this year.

“Academy Fellows are leaders in their field whose work influences the direction of scientific discovery and its role in society,” said Vanessa Sperandio, Ph.D., Chair of the Academy Governors. “Election to the Academy is a significant professional milestone, and I am delighted to welcome Dr. Richt as a member of the 2026 Cohort.”

Dr. Richt said he was honored to be elected as a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology, the honorific leadership group of the American Society for Microbiology (ASM).. “To be elected to the American Academy of Microbiology is a great honor”, he said. “The Academy serves as a scientific think tank and brings together distinguished leaders in the field. I look forward to contributing to this distinguished community.”

The American Society for Microbiology (ASM) is one of the largest professional societies dedicated to the life sciences, with more than 38,000 scientists and health practitioners. “ASM advances the microbial sciences through conferences, publications, certifications, educational opportunities and advocacy,”Dr. Richt noted. “It also strengthens laboratory capacity globally through training and resources and provides a network for scientists across academia, industry and clinical settings. In addition, ASM promotes a deeper understanding of the microbial sciences among diverse audiences.”

The 2026 Fellowship Class brings a wealth of knowledge of the microbial sciences with representation across the globe. The 63 fellows hail from 14 countries, including Australia, Belgium, Canada, China (Mainland), Czech Republic, Denmark, Israel, Netherlands, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the United States.