Cindy Liu, assistant research professor in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and chief medical officer for GW’s Antibiotic Resistance Action Center, received an 2016 American Society for Microbiology Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC) Young Investigator Award. The award recognizes early career scientists for research excellence and potential in microbiology and infectious disease.
It is often difficult to make the transition from research training to independent investigator. Accolades, such as the ICAAC Young Investigator Award, help bridge the change by recognizing important contributions and outstanding work. Liu says, “Research is very challenging and rewarding on its own. Publishing and funding are, of course, important indicators of achievement. The Young Investigator Award is a wonderful recognition that also holds an expectation to continue significant research contributions. It’s an honor and an incentive.”
Through her work on the human microbiome, Liu hopes to advance our understanding of the inner workings of microbial communities that live in and on the human body and in the environment and how the microbiome could impact an individual's risk for infectious diseases.
Liu’s post-doctoral advisor at Northern Arizona University, Regents' Professor and Cowden Chair Paul Keim, nominated her for the award.