The UAB Department of Pathology recently funded travel awards to two trainees, Samar Kumar Halder and Dr. Kenneth Long, who will present their research at national meetings this year.

Samar Kumar Halder, a graduate student in the lab of Girish Melkani, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Molecular and Cellular Pathology, will present at ObesityWeek 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. Halder will be presenting the poster, “Genetic Modeling of Obesity-induced Cardiac, Circadian and Memory Impairment in Drosophila.”

“I’m honored to receive the Department of Pathology Travel Award, which will help me share my research to leading experts in the field and proudly represent UAB on an international stage.”

Kenneth Long, M.D., Ph.D., a PGY5 training in the Division of Infectious Diseases, and American Board of Internal Medicine research trainee, will present at IDWeek 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. Long will be presenting the poster “Required Documentation of Risk Factors for Candidemia for T2 Ordering: A Diagnostic Stewardship Intervention,” and the platform presentation, “Long-term Utility of Clinical Nudges within Clostridioides difficile Diagnostic Stewardship.”

“I’m excited to make my academic debut in the realm of diagnostic stewardship! These projects served as a wonderful experience in partnering between Laboratory Medicine and Infectious Diseases.”

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Required application materials:

A copy of the submitted abstracted, oral or poster presentation, and copy of email confirmation of submission and acceptance.

A short paragraph outlining what scientific meeting will be attended and how attending this meeting contributes to training.

Brief biosketch/CV of applicant, including years in program, research lab and qualifying exam status (student) or years in lab (postdoc).

A letter of support from PI/mentor.

Application submission:

Email all required materials as a single pdf file identified by the applicant’s name (i.e., LASTNAME_FIRSTNAME) using: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For more information on eligibility, requirements, review criteria, and subsequent deadlines contact Fatima Igdoura at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Shannon Bailey, Ph.D., Vice Chair for Faculty Affairs, at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..