By Michael Shamash is a PhD student at McGill University

The picturesque island of Spetses, Greece, served as the backdrop for The New Microbiology EMBO FEBS lecture course, held from September 3rd to 11th, bringing together over 80 students with diverse backgrounds in microbiology.

“The New Microbiology” represents a shift toward a more integrative understanding of bacteria, not just as isolated organisms, but as complex systems interacting with their environments and hosts. The curriculum covered a range of cutting-edge topics, including bacterial cell biology, microbial evolution, pathogenesis, and the growing challenge of antibiotic resistance. The program was intensive, featuring lectures from pioneers in the field, including Dr. Pascale Cossart, Dr. Roberto Kolter, and Dr. Rotem Sorek.

As an early-career scientist, attending this course was a truly transformative experience. I had the opportunity to present my own PhD research during the poster sessions, investigating the effects of fecal virome transplants on the infant gut microbiome. In addition to receiving invaluable feedback from both peers and senior scientists, I was also awarded the FEMS Poster Award for my work.

Looking back, The New Microbiology course exceeded all expectations. I left Spetses not only with new ideas and insights, but also with a sense of excitement for the future of microbiology research. I am grateful to the QCBS Excellence travel award for providing the support that made my participation in this international meeting possible.

About the author:

Michael Shamash is a PhD student in the lab of Dr. Corinne Maurice, in the Department of Microbiology & Immunology at McGill University. His research focuses on the development of the infant gut microbiota, where he is exploring the potential of applying fecal virome transplants to alter microbial succession during early life.