Black Microbiologists Association wins award with Liverpool representative - University of Liverpool News

The Black Microbiologists Association received an Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Award at the 2025 Microbiology Society Conference, where a Postdoctoral Researcher from the University of Liverpool, who is also a board member of the association, played a key role.

I’ah Donovan-Banfield (shown in the top-left photo), a postdoctoral research assistant at the Emmott Lab (ISMIB), serves as the Communications Director for the Black Microbiologists Association (BMA), a non-profit organization.

During the Microbiology Society's annual conference in 2025, the first-ever Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Prize will be presented. This award aims to recognize "individuals or teams that have significantly contributed to efforts promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion within the microbiology field, as well as encouraging participation from historically marginalized groups by increasing awareness of microbiology and motivating future microbiologists to pursue careers in this area." The first EDI Prize was given to two groups: the Black Microbiologists Association and the University of Glasgow's Life Sciences team, known for their "Decolonising the Curriculum" initiative.

The Board of Directors of the BMA has received the EDI Prize for their efforts in organizing the virtual conference series titled “Black In Microbiology Week.” This week-long event aims to highlight and connect Black microbiologists from around the globe, as well as create a space for discussions about racism in microbiology and the health inequalities associated with diseases linked to microbes.

When I received the award, I’ah expressed: “It’s a great privilege to win the first Microbiology Society EDI Prize. The Board of Directors at the Black Microbiologists Association has worked tirelessly for more than four years to turn Black in Micro Week into a lasting initiative. If you are a Black microbiologist, are mentoring Black students interested in microbiology, or wish to support our cause as an ally, please check out the BMA website for details on how to join us!”

I’ah's doctoral research in the Hiscox Lab (IVES) examined how mutagenic antiviral drugs affect the evolution of SARS-CoV-2, leading to three significant publications on the impacts of molnupiravir. Currently, she is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Liverpool, where she uses proteomics and validations of virus-host interactions to study coronavirus replication and disease development. Her research focuses on virus evolution, zoonotic diseases, and the creation of multi-omics techniques. In 2020, I’ah began her work at Monash University to create innovative sequencing technologies aimed at enhancing Wolbachia-based mosquito control to lessen the impact of arboviral diseases. That same year, she became a founding member of the organizing team for Black in Microbiology Week and served on the Public Relations committee. In 2022, she was appointed as the Director of Public Relations for the BMA and now holds the role of Director of Communications, overseeing the organization’s internal and external communication strategies. Additionally, I’ah volunteers with various initiatives, including the Microbiology Society's Members Panel and the Queer in Micro working group, to boost representation and resources for microbiologists from historically underrepresented backgrounds.