SDSU Professor Elected To Lead World's Largest Microbiological Society

Stanley Maloy to Serve as President of American Society for Microbiology for 2005-2006

Stanley Maloy, Ph.D., director of San Diego State University’s Center for Microbial Sciences and director of SDSU’s Center for Applied and Experimental Genomics, has been elected president of the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) for the 2005-2006 term.

ASM is the largest single life science society, composed of more than 42,000 scientists and health professionals. Its mission is to promote research and research training in the microbiological sciences and to assist communication between scientists, policy makers, and the public to improve health, the environment, and economic well-being.

“I’m honored that my colleagues have given me the opportunity to hold this office at a very exciting and crucial time,” said Maloy, who joined SDSU’s Biology faculty in 2002. “From the rapidly growing threats of bioterrorism, antibiotic-resistant bacteria and emerging infectious diseases such as SARS to the promising potential for new and improved uses of microorganisms in biotechnology, it’s obvious that microbial biology holds a more imperative and urgent role than ever before. But we’re also in a situation where research funding is becoming more scarce, and there is tremendous competition with other disciplines for public attention and financial support. It will be my challenge to help ensure that the microbiology field remains in the best possible position to meet our world’s current needs and address future developments.”

Maloy’s research interests include bacterial genetics, phage biology, microbial physiology, microbial pathogenesis, and genomics. Potential applications of his research and other research he supervises at the Center for Microbial Sciences include better detection and identification of bioterrorism agents, and finding new ways to fight problems ranging from antibiotic-resistant bacteria to food-borne illness.

He will assume the duties of ASM’s president-elect on July 1, 2004, and become president on the same date the following year. He said the issues ASM needs to address include promoting more interdisciplinary research, expanding the electronic dissemination of current scientific information among researchers, and ensuring new microbiologists have the education and training they need to be productive in today’s rapidly changing environment.

ASM features 24 scientific divisions and 36 local branches. The Society also publishes 11 professional journals: Eukaryotic Cell; Clinical Microbiology Reviews; Journal of Virology; Journal of Bacteriology; Molecular and Cellular Biology; Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy; Applied and Environmental Microbiology; Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology; Journal of Clinical Microbiology; Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews; and Infection and Immunity.

Thomas R. Scott, Ph.D., dean of SDSU’s College of Sciences, said Maloy’s term as ASM president will increase nationwide recognition of the Biology department and of the university's research activities, especially in microbiology.

“Dr. Maloy’s election to the presidency of ASM validates the distinction of the faculty SDSU has attracted in recent years, both to teach our students and to conduct advanced research,” Scott said. “In concert with the development of an outstanding faculty we’re continuing to create state-of-the-art facilities, such as the forthcoming SDSU BioScience Center, to give our students and faculty the technological and physical resources they need to further their scientific exploration and education.”

Media Contact: Jason Foster, SDSU Marketing & Communications, (619) 594-2585, foster@mail.sdsu.edu