The nucleus of the Northeast Branch of the American Society for Microbiology was the Boston Bacteriology or “Bug” Club. In 1948, some of these men (women were initially excluded from the Bug Club) formed the Branch and became its first officers. The Northeast Branch is supported by the American Society for Microbiology but functions independently.

The Branch currently serves members in Maine, Vermont, and the areas of Massachusetts and New Hampshire east of the Connecticut River. The Branch has one affiliated student chapter located at the University of Maine at Orono, ME.

Upcoming meetings

Save The Date

November 13, 2026

55th Annual Region I Meeting

Northeast, Connecticut Valley, Eastern New York, New York City and Central New York Branches – American Society for Microbiology

Featuring: Symposia, Posters and Prizes, Exhibitors

Preliminary Program Topics: Antibiotics for the Next Decade, Climate Change, Student Oral Presentations, Clinical Microbiology Diagnostics, Genome Sequencing, Environmental Microbiology

Location: Bristol Community College, 77 Elsbree Street, Fall River, MA 02720