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The American Society for Microbiology, which now brands itself simply as ASM, is a professional society for the microbial sciences. Its public pages answer the practical questions most overviews skip: what each membership category costs, how reduced-rate countries are handled, which meetings it runs and what its journals are. This guide collects those facts as described on ASM’s own pages on 2026-10-29, with links to CASRAI’s background guides on microbiology and bacteriology.
What is the American Society for Microbiology and who runs it?
ASM describes itself as a global community shaping the future of the microbial sciences. Its about page states that it was established in 1899 and is composed of more than 38,000 scientists, educators and health professionals. It publishes 17 peer-reviewed journals and hundreds of key reference books.
ASM’s activities, as listed on its about page, are meetings and conferences, publishing, advocacy for evidence-based public policy, and Global Public Health Programs covering laboratory capacity building, staff training and outbreak response. Governance is through a Board of Directors and senior staff, and its strategic framework is organised around three scientific units.
Is it called ASM or the American Society for Microbiology?
Both refer to the same organisation. ASM’s brand page says: since 1899 it has been known as the American Society for Microbiology, and it will now be known simply as ASM. Search results, journal pages and membership pages use ASM, so either name leads to the same society. ASM publishes journals such as mBio; see CASRAI’s entry on the mBio impact factor for how that title is measured.
Eligibility and membership categories
As described on the official ASM membership page on 2026-10-29, annual dues are in US dollars and there are six membership levels. The page links to a separate description of each membership type for the detailed criteria; this guide reports only the prices and rules that the membership page itself states.
| Membership level | Annual dues (USD) |
|---|---|
| Premium | $245 |
| Contributing | $130 |
| Medical Lab Scientist (bench level only) | $80 |
| Postdoctoral | $70 |
| Student | $40 |
| Emeritus | $0 |
Source: ASM membership page, checked 2026-10-29. Prices change, so confirm the current figure on the membership page before joining.
Reduced and waived rates by country
ASM uses Research4Life country groups. Group A countries receive complimentary ASM membership, and Group B countries receive 75% off the standard annual dues rate. The country lists belong to the Research4Life eligibility page rather than to ASM, and the rate is applied from the country of residence entered when joining or renewing.
Financial hardship
The membership page describes a one-time fee waiver for financial hardship, requested through ASM member services.
What ASM offers and requires
ASM does not describe a grant or funding programme on its membership or about pages. What a member receives, according to the membership page, is exclusive member rates on ASM Microbe, courses and publications, plus full-text access to ASM’s 17 peer-reviewed journals. The requirement is payment of the annual dues for the chosen level.
Journals and publications
ASM’s journal portfolio is its main scholarly output. When weighing where to send a manuscript, the general criteria in CASRAI’s guide to choosing a journal apply; the journals’ own policy pages are the authority on scope and fees.
ASM Microbe
ASM Microbe is described on its event page as the premier forum showcasing the full breadth of the microbial sciences. The 2027 edition is listed on the official page on 2026-10-29 as June 22-25, 2027 in Chicago, running Tuesday to Friday, and organised as three meetings: ASM Health, ASM Applied & Environmental Microbiology, and ASM Mechanism Discovery. The page states that session proposals have closed and that abstracts will open in mid-November.
How to join, step by step
- Open the ASM membership page and choose the level that matches your career stage or role.
- Enter your country of residence when you join or renew, so any Research4Life rate is applied.
- Pay the annual dues, or request the one-time hardship waiver through ASM member services if that applies.
- Use your member account to reach member rates for ASM Microbe, courses and publications, and journal access.
Typical timeline phases
- Joining. Membership is processed online through the member portal, with the country-of-residence rate applied at that moment.
- Membership year. Membership runs on a calendar year, so it ends on December 31 of the membership year rather than twelve months after the join date.
- Meeting cycle. For ASM Microbe, session proposals open first, abstracts follow, and the meeting itself takes place the following summer, according to the event page.
Common mistakes
- Assuming dues carry past December 31. The membership page describes calendar-year membership, so renewal timing follows the calendar.
- Entering the wrong country. The Research4Life rate depends on the country of residence entered at join or renewal; the group lists are kept by Research4Life, not ASM.
- Treating ASM as a funder. ASM’s own pages describe membership, publishing, meetings and public health programmes; check ASM’s awards pages directly for any prize or travel award, and confirm terms there.
- Mixing up similarly named societies. ASM is a US-based society; other microbiology societies are separate organisations with their own membership rules.
Related ASM programs
| Program | What ASM’s page says |
|---|---|
| ASM Health | One of the three meetings that make up ASM Microbe 2027. |
| ASM Applied & Environmental Microbiology | One of the three meetings that make up ASM Microbe 2027. |
| ASM Mechanism Discovery | One of the three meetings that make up ASM Microbe 2027. |
| Global Public Health Programs | Laboratory capacity building, staff training and outbreak response. |
| Journals | 17 peer-reviewed journals; full-text access is a member benefit. |
For the fields these programs serve, see CASRAI’s guides to microbiology and virology.
FAQ
How much is ASM membership?
On 2026-10-29, the membership page listed Premium at $245, Contributing at $130, Medical Lab Scientist at $80, Postdoctoral at $70, Student at $40 and Emeritus at $0 per year, in US dollars.
Is ASM membership free for some countries?
Yes. Research4Life Group A countries receive complimentary membership and Group B countries receive 75% off standard dues, based on country of residence.
What is ASM Microbe?
ASM Microbe is ASM’s annual meeting, described as the premier forum for the microbial sciences. The 2027 edition is structured as ASM Health, ASM Applied & Environmental Microbiology and ASM Mechanism Discovery.
How many journals does ASM publish?
Its about page states 17 peer-reviewed journals, plus hundreds of reference books.
Sources
- ASM, About ASM, https://asm.org/about-asm, checked 2026-10-29.
- ASM, Membership, https://asm.org/membership, checked 2026-10-29.
- ASM, About the ASM brand, https://asm.org/about-asm/about-the-asm-brand, checked 2026-10-29.
- ASM, ASM Microbe, https://asm.org/events/asm-microbe, checked 2026-10-29.
