Public release date: 6-Jun-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Garth Hogan ghogan@asmusa.org American Society for Microbiology
Washington, DCJune 6, 2012 Lilliam Casillas-Martnez, Ph.D., has been honored with the 2012 Carski Foundation Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching Award. Casilla is a Professor in the Biology Department at the University of Puerto Rico-Humacao (UPRH). One of Casillas' strongest passions is to educate and help women from low income homes, or "invisible students," as she calls them. Because there are so few Latin American women in positions of power, she feels that mentoring young women is crucial to their development. Nominator and former student Lorraine D. Rodriguez-Rivera, now a Ph.D. candidate in the Laboratory for Food Microbiology and Pathogenesis of Foodborne Diseases at Cornell University, describes Casillas' effect on others: "Casillas has had a profound impact on the professional development of many women in Puerto Rico. As my undergraduate advisor, she provided me with valuable tools for my career. I would like to become a professor and inspire minority students the way she inspired me towards becoming a professional in microbiology."
Casillas received her B.S. in Industrial Microbiology from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez, and her Ph.D. in Microbiology from the University of Connecticut, Storrs. There she studied Bacillus subtilis under the tutelage of Peter and Barbara Setlow. Upon completion of her doctorate, Casillas attended the Microbial Diversity Course in Woods Hole and she continues to conduct research in emerging fields such as geomicrobiology and metagenomics. Once at the University of Puerto Rico-Humacao, Casillas started a productive collaboration in geomicrobiology with Pieter Visscher from the Integrative Geosciences Department at the University of Connecticut.
One of Casillas' proud accomplishments is the NSF-funded Cabo Rojo Salterns Microbial Observatory, where undergraduate students learn how to conduct in situ studies. To date, more than one hundred Puerto Rican students have received hands-on training in techniques in geomicrobiology and metagenomics. In addition to working on research projects, undergraduate students in Casillas' lab are required to design outreach activities to implement during visits to local public schools. Her laboratory is well known for its active participation in science fairs, open houses, and the development of workshops for local high school teachers.
Casillas' nomination was supported by Mayra Cancel, a high school teacher from the Puerto Rico public school system. "Casillas' efforts have changed my perception of the community of researchers in Puerto Rico and have strengthened their ties with teachers of the public system education," explained Cancel. "Education is basic for human progress, individually and collectively. Casillas' workshops for teachers strengthen the collective of research groups in the schools of our community and have served as motivation to reaffirm our confidence in higher education and its commitment to educational principles."
With the support of several agencies, Casillas has been able to combine undergraduate education with research projects such as characterizing novel microorganisms, constructing metagenomic libraries from various extreme environments in Puerto Rico, and screening for novel antibiotics. In the last decade, more than fifty undergraduates from her laboratory have continued graduate studies. "Casillas' success as a teacher and a mentor is evident in the triumphs of her students. Her down-to-earth style of mentoring, her charismatic personality and her availability to her students allowed us to approach her whenever advice was needed," described a former undergraduate student, Angel Casanovanow a Ph.D. candidate in the Microbiology Doctoral Training Program of the University of Wisconsin, Madison. "She was more than my undergraduate professor; she is a teacher from whom I have learned and acquired many skills that have allowed me to succeed in my quest for knowledge."
In her short career, Casillas has received several honors and has been invited to serve as a member on several review panels for agencies such as the National Science Foundation and the United States Department of Agriculture. She has been the main speaker in several local and international conferences and has published more than twenty scientific publications (two in educational journals) and three book chapters. More recently, she was awarded the 2010 Arturo Carrion Lecture Award from ASM's Puerto Rican Chapter for her excellence in teaching Microbiology in Puerto Rico. Casillas is already building a legacy through the achievement and values she instills in her students, as well as her overall impact on the Puerto Rican community.
###
To view Dr. Cassillas' biosketch, please visit: http://www.asm.org/index.php/awards-grants/current-carski-foundation-distinguished-undergraduate-teaching-award-laureate.html
View post:
The American Society for Microbiology honors Lilliam Casillas-Martinez
- Monoclonal antibody production by hybridoma technique explained [Last Updated On: October 11th, 2010] [Originally Added On: October 11th, 2010]
- Humoral immunity [Last Updated On: October 11th, 2010] [Originally Added On: October 11th, 2010]
- Introduction to Microbiology Culture Techniques [Last Updated On: August 27th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 27th, 2011]
- Microbiology 2: Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes [Last Updated On: August 27th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 27th, 2011]
- Microbiology [Last Updated On: August 27th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 27th, 2011]
- Human Physiology : What Is Microbiology? [Last Updated On: August 27th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 27th, 2011]
- Microbiologist [Last Updated On: August 27th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 27th, 2011]
- Lecture 18 Introduction to Microbiology [Last Updated On: August 27th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 27th, 2011]
- microbiology final review [Last Updated On: August 27th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 27th, 2011]
- A Day in the Life - Microbiologist [Last Updated On: August 27th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 27th, 2011]
- Microbiology Open House [Last Updated On: August 27th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 27th, 2011]
- Microbiology Dilution series demonstration [Last Updated On: August 27th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 27th, 2011]
- MCQ in Microbiology : DoctorKC [Last Updated On: August 31st, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 31st, 2011]
- Microbiology Movie [Last Updated On: September 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 23rd, 2011]
- Microbiology Pure Culture Technique [Last Updated On: September 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 23rd, 2011]
- Wastewater Microbiology [Last Updated On: September 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 23rd, 2011]
- Microbiology and Parasitology Case Study Mycobacterium Tuberculosis [Last Updated On: September 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 23rd, 2011]
- Lecture 19 Microbiology [Last Updated On: September 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 23rd, 2011]
- Pharmaceutical Microbiology [Last Updated On: September 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 23rd, 2011]
- Quest Diagnostics Department of Molecular Microbiology Summer Blast 2009 [Last Updated On: September 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 23rd, 2011]
- Koch's Postulates: an introduction to microbiology [Last Updated On: September 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 23rd, 2011]
- Microbiology: Streaking for Isolation [Last Updated On: September 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 23rd, 2011]
- Anatomy and Physiology, Microbiology, Pathophysiology Videos [Last Updated On: September 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 23rd, 2011]
- Duke Graduate Program in Molecular Genetics and Microbiology [Last Updated On: September 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 23rd, 2011]
- Hot Topics in Diagnostic Microbiology: Chlamydia and Asthma [Last Updated On: September 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 23rd, 2011]
- Tim Day - Undergraduate Microbiology Research [Last Updated On: September 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 23rd, 2011]
- Microbiology Practice Test Chapter 1 part 2/3 [Last Updated On: September 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 23rd, 2011]
- Welcome to Microbiology at NUI Galway [Last Updated On: September 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 23rd, 2011]
- Microbiology degree, college program interview from drkit.org [Last Updated On: September 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 24th, 2011]
- Microbiology: Aseptic Transfer [Last Updated On: September 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 24th, 2011]
- Improving Soils with Microbiology [Last Updated On: September 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 24th, 2011]
- Microbiology Practice Test Chapter 1 part 1/3 [Last Updated On: September 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 24th, 2011]
- Microbiologists Careers Overview [Last Updated On: September 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 24th, 2011]
- Biology 1AL - Lecture 2: Lab 2 - Enzymes, Microbiology-Vibri [Last Updated On: September 25th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 25th, 2011]
- Day in the Life - Microbiology / Virology - Prof Bill Rawlinson [Last Updated On: September 25th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 25th, 2011]
- Laboratory Manager Job (Microbiology) - London, UK [Last Updated On: September 25th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 25th, 2011]
- Assuring Quality in Microbiology Diagnostics [Last Updated On: September 25th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 25th, 2011]
- Microbiology Testing Innovations for China and The World [Last Updated On: September 25th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 25th, 2011]
- TRINITY V3 Industrial Microbiology System [Last Updated On: September 26th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 26th, 2011]
- Microbiology Advancing Translational Medicine [Last Updated On: September 27th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 27th, 2011]
- Advancing Microbiology Testing Technology [Last Updated On: September 27th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 27th, 2011]
- Biology 1AL - Lecture 2: Lab 3: Enzymes, Microbiology-Vibrio [Last Updated On: September 28th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 28th, 2011]
- Microbiological Fuel Contamination [Last Updated On: September 28th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 28th, 2011]
- Microbiology Streaking Plates [Last Updated On: September 30th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 30th, 2011]
- Lecture 2: Essentials of Microbiology, Introduction to Microfluidics [Last Updated On: October 2nd, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 2nd, 2011]
- Healthwatch: PRHC Microbiology Lab [Last Updated On: October 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 6th, 2011]
- SOIL not DIRT - Dr Elaine Ingham talks Soil Microbiology [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2011]
- The Microbiology of Reptiles - Video [Last Updated On: October 13th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 13th, 2011]
- Microbiology - Video [Last Updated On: October 13th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 13th, 2011]
- Safer Sprouts - Part 6 - Sampling and MIcrobiological Testing - Video [Last Updated On: October 14th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 14th, 2011]
- Microbiology movie - Video [Last Updated On: October 14th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 14th, 2011]
- Kaplan's USMLE Step 1 Program Preview: Microbiology - Video [Last Updated On: October 14th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 14th, 2011]
- DNA Replication Process Animation from Microbiology 2e - Video [Last Updated On: October 15th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 15th, 2011]
- Rhizobium Microbiology Video - Video [Last Updated On: October 15th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 15th, 2011]
- Introduction to Microbiology Dr. Ahmed Ramzy (Part 1).wmv - Video [Last Updated On: October 15th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 15th, 2011]
- A tour of the Microbiology Lab - Section one - Video [Last Updated On: October 16th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 16th, 2011]
- Environmental Biology, Microbiology and Chemistry through Science at UCD - Video [Last Updated On: October 16th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 16th, 2011]
- Total Solutions for Microbiology Testing - Video [Last Updated On: October 18th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 18th, 2011]
- US Navy Microbiologist- Dr. Rockabrand - Video [Last Updated On: October 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 23rd, 2011]
- Microbiology Song - Video [Last Updated On: October 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 24th, 2011]
- Marine Microbiology Initiative Overview - Video [Last Updated On: October 26th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 26th, 2011]
- A tour of the Microbiology Lab - Section Three - Video [Last Updated On: October 26th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 26th, 2011]
- Great microbiologists - Video [Last Updated On: October 26th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 26th, 2011]
- Microbiology: Viruses Vs Prokaryotes Vs Eukaryotes - Video [Last Updated On: October 27th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 27th, 2011]
- Food Microbiology part-2 - Video [Last Updated On: October 30th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 30th, 2011]
- Food Microbiology Research - Video [Last Updated On: October 31st, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 31st, 2011]
- Interview with a Medical Microbiologist - Video [Last Updated On: November 1st, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 1st, 2011]
- Food Microbiology part-1 - Video [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2011]
- Food Microbiology part-3 - Video [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2011]
- Microbiology Safety in the Laboratory 1 - Video [Last Updated On: November 13th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 13th, 2011]
- serology, microbiology, jjmmc, davangere - Video [Last Updated On: November 27th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 27th, 2011]
- Microbiology department, JJMMC, Davangere - Video [Last Updated On: December 5th, 2011] [Originally Added On: December 5th, 2011]
- Thermo Scientific Heratherm Microbiological Incubators - Video [Last Updated On: December 5th, 2011] [Originally Added On: December 5th, 2011]
- Food Microbiology: An Overlooked Frontier | Lecture 11 (2011) - Video [Last Updated On: December 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: December 6th, 2011]
- A tour of the Microbiology Lab - Section Two - Video [Last Updated On: December 7th, 2011] [Originally Added On: December 7th, 2011]
- Microbiology catalase test - Video [Last Updated On: December 8th, 2011] [Originally Added On: December 8th, 2011]
- Microbiology Lab Safety - Video [Last Updated On: December 20th, 2011] [Originally Added On: December 20th, 2011]
- Coast to Coast Mysterious Deaths of Microbiologists [Last Updated On: December 26th, 2011] [Originally Added On: December 26th, 2011]
- MSU Microbiology - BPS Blues 2010 - Video [Last Updated On: January 1st, 2012] [Originally Added On: January 1st, 2012]
- Kiestra fully automated microbiology testing system - Video [Last Updated On: January 4th, 2012] [Originally Added On: January 4th, 2012]