American Society for Microbiology honors Sara W. Rothman

The 2010 American Society for Microbiology (ASM) Roche Diagnostics Alice C. Evans Award will be presented to Sara W. Rothman, Ph.D., Associate Science Director, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, for her dedication to mentoring women scientists. This award recognizes contributions toward the full participation and advancement of women in microbiology and is given in honor of Alice C. Evans, the first woman elected ASM President in 1928.

Rothman received her Ph.D. from Boston University and began her career at Walter Reed over 30 years ago as a research chemist. During her tenure, there have been numerous promotions while she actively volunteered. She was a founding member of the Washington, D.C. Chapter of the Association for Women in Science and served on ASM's Committee on the Status of Women in Microbiology for 16 years.

Throughout her career, Rothman has worked to make women aware of every opportunity and encouraged them to inquire, apply, and achieve. She has planned and organized countless meetings at her home and the ASM General Meeting which focused on women in science and their professional advancement. Her efforts are not exclusively focused on younger scientists. She consistently nominates women for awards and recommends them for volunteer service. She was instrumental in the establishment of this award in 1983 as well as the Morrison Rogosa Award in 1996. The Morrison Rogosa Award recognizes outstanding research accomplishment and potential of women scientists in the former Eastern-bloc countries.

Provided by American Society for Microbiology