Members of the Willcox Lab represented the School of Optometry and Vision Science (SOVS), UNSW Sydney at the ASM National Meeting 2026, the Australian Society for Microbiology’s premier annual conference on microbiology.

← Back to ASM 2026 overview (Melbourne & Washington, D.C.)

Venue: Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, Melbourne VIC

Dates: 15–18 June 2026

The meeting brought together scientists, clinical researchers, and industry professionals to share the latest advances in microbiology. Lab members presented posters on ocular microbiology and Staphylococcus aureus genomics, and colleagues including Dr. Umme Laila Urmi, Suleman Irfan, and Biruk Bayleyegn Belete also joined the Willcox Lab delegation.

Willcox Lab group selfie at ASM 2026 Melbourne
Scavenger hunt team at ASM 2026 Melbourne
Team dinner at ASM 2026 Melbourne

Lab highlights

Nebiyat Feleke Adimassu

PhD student · ocular microbiology & meibomian gland dysfunction

Lipase activity of eyelid-margin bacteria. Poster, photos, and conference reflection.

Open Nebiyat’s page

Jiawei Shen

PhD student · ocular *Staphylococcus aureus* genomics

Niche-specific resistance and virulence in Staphylococcus aureus. Poster, photos, and conference reflection.

Open Jiawei’s page

Teshome Belachew Eshete

PhD student

Conference photos and reflection.

Open Teshome’s page

Dr. Umme Laila Urmi

Research Associate · antiviral peptides & surface defence

From discovery to surface defence. Poster, photos, and conference reflection.

Open Umme’s page