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Parent Category: News & Events

Who can attend?

• Faculty members that have a primary or secondary faculty appointment in the Department of Microbiology

• All graduate students and postdocs who have mentors with a primary or secondary faculty appointment in the Department of Microbiology

• First-year Microbiology & Immunology Theme Students

• Other Microbiology and Immunology theme students are welcome to apply and will be considered based on availability.

• Staff who work in laboratories of faculty members with a primary or secondary faculty appointment in the Department of Microbiology

• Overnight accommodation space at the facility is limited. There are 58 rooms, with 2 queen-size beds in each. If registration numbers exceed the overnight accommodations available, priority will be given in the following order:                                                                                                                                                                       
  • Trainees from primary or secondary faculty who have submitted an abstract and their mentors

  • First-year GBS students in Microbiology and Immunology themes.

  • Faculty with a primary appointment in micro

  • Faculty with a secondary appointment in micro

  • Microbiology and Immunology theme student (not first year) who have submitted an abstract

Accommodations

• Rooms will be available for attendees at the Joe Wheeler Resort Lodge. Please see the lodging page for additional details.

• All rooms contain 2 queen beds. Double occupancy is required.

• Provide the name of the individual you'll be sharing a room with at the time of registration. Those who do not provide a roommate name will be provided with one.

Meals

• Friday, Nov. 21: Dinner will be provided

• Saturday, Nov. 22: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner will be provided

• Sunday, Nov. 23: Breakfast will be provided

Registration Details

• Fee: There is a $100 registration fee for faculty, staff, postdocs, and graduate students who have been in the program for more than 1 year (registration fee for first-year graduate students is waived)

• Registration is now closed. If you have any questions, please contact Heather Carter at hcarter3@uab.edu.

Abstract Submissions

• All predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees who have been in the lab for one year or more are expected to submit an abstract for a poster or an oral presentation. Others are encouraged to do so.

• Prizes will be awarded for the best poster and oral presentations.

• Abstract Submissions are now closed. If you still need to submit your abstract, please contact Heather Carter at hcarter3@uab.edu.

• View more details on abstract submissions.

Agenda

Download the 2025 Agenda 

Details

Parent Category: News & Events

The 31st Gail Cassell Microbiology Research Retreat will be Friday, Nov. 21 - Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025, at Joe Wheeler State Park.

Join us for an enriching experience filled with insightful presentations, networking opportunities, and the latest advancements in our departmental research. Find details about this year's retreat here. Download the 2025 Agenda here.

Directions to Joe Wheeler State Park
4401 McLean Drive
Rogersville, AL 35652 

Registration is now closed. If you have any questions, please contact Heather Carter at hcarter3@uab.edu.

Susanna Greer, PhD.

Dr. Greer is the director of the Clinical Cancer Research, Nutrition, and Immunology program in the Extramural Grants department at the American Cancer Society. She manages peer review committees focused on clinical cancer research, cancer control and epidemiology, nutrition and the environment, leukemia, immunology, immunotherapy, and blood cell development.

Dr. Greer comes to the Society from Georgia State University, where she served as a tenured faculty member. There, she managed a robust, peer review funded research program in immunology, and mentored graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. Dr. Greer’s research focused on the induction of immune responses to tumors and epigenetic regulation of that process. This work has provided fundamental insights into how tumor cells can interfere with the ability of the immune system to recognize and eliminate cancer cells, thus enabling unrestricted cancer growth and metastasis.

Dr. Greer has also served as the director of the Interdisciplinary Molecular Basis of Disease Area of Focus Center at GSU. At the national level, Dr. Greer is a member of the Committee for Public Affairs and chair of the Advocacy Programs subcommittee for the American Association of Immunologists (AAI). Dr. Greer is also a member of the Public Outreach Committee for the American Society for Biochemistry and Microbiology (ASBMB) with whom she piloted a national training course to certify scientists in lay communication.

Dr. Greer received her PhD in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in Dr. Louis Justement's laboratory. She graduated with a BS in chemistry from Berry College in Rome, Ga