ASBMB Announces New Committee Members and Leadership Transitions for 2025-2026 Term
Key Insights
The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) has appointed new members across nine key committees, with terms beginning July 1.
Notable leadership transitions include Mark Whitmer of Bristol Myers Squibb (search) becoming incoming Membership Committee chair and Juanita Limas of Eli Lilly as incoming WiBMB chair.
The society expanded professional membership eligibility to molecular life scientists across all sectors, including academia, government, and industry.
The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) has announced the appointment of new members across its nine standing committees, with terms commencing July 1. These appointments, made by the ASBMB president with approval from the Council Executive Committee, reflect the society's ongoing commitment to advancing its strategic plan and expanding its reach across the molecular life sciences community.
The new committee members were recruited through an open call for applications in the months preceding their appointments, with several current members also beginning second terms.
Committee Appointments Across the Society
The Awards Committee, responsible for evaluating award nominations and reviewing award criteria, welcomed George Carman of Rutgers University and Tina Izard of the University of Florida.
The Education and Professional Development Committee (EPD), which supports molecular life sciences curricula and career resources, added four new members: Lauren Douma (University of Florida), Mercy Kehinde–Ige (Caris Life Sciences), Christin Monroe (University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign), and John Weldon (Towson University). Within the EPD, Erin Sayer assumed the role of accreditation review chair, Mike Borland became accreditation and exam subcommittee chair, and chair Nathan Vanderford extended his term through June 2027.
The Maximizing Access Committee (MAC), which works to increase visibility and support for historically excluded groups, appointed Pumtiwitt McCarthy of Morgan State University.
The Membership Committee gained Kathleen Cornely of Providence College as a new member. Current member Mark Whitmer of Bristol Myers Squibb (search) accepted an invitation to serve as incoming chair, working alongside current chair Rick Page until assuming the chair position in July 2027.
The Public Affairs Advisory Committee (PAAC) added Louis Justement of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, while chair Kevin Gardner of The City University of New York extended his term through June 2028.
The Science Outreach and Communication Committee (SOCC) welcomed Oseeyi Daudu (University of Nebraska–Lincoln) and Meric Ozturk (Iowa State University).
The Student Chapters Committee appointed Derek Cashman (Tennessee Technological University), Irfana Muqbil (Lawrence Technological University), and Michael Wolyniak (Hampden–Sydney College).
The Women in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Committee (WiBMB) added Ruby Sharma of Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Juanita Limas of Eli Lilly was named incoming chair, serving alongside current chair Karlett Parra until July 2027.
Expanding the Molecular Life Sciences Community
These committee transitions coincide with ASBMB's broader strategic evolution. In a presidential message, the society's new president reflected on ASBMB's historical expansion—from its name change decades ago under Howard Schachman's leadership to the recent decision to open professional membership to molecular life scientists across all sectors, including academia, government, and industry.
"ASBMB is the nexus of molecular life science, and we can bring ecosystems together to accelerate progress," the president stated, emphasizing the importance of bridging fundamental research with translational application. The president noted that today's students are increasingly focused on "big, grand challenges and global problems," creating opportunities for closer connections between basic science and biotechnology applications.
The society is looking ahead to its annual meeting, ASBMB 2027 in Boston, which is positioned as "a platform for the entire molecular bioscience community writ large to come together to share ideas, build connections, and help take insight to impact."