As part of the WellHome study group, PhD candidate Sam Hemmings recently attended the 17th European Conference of Fungal Genetics, which was held this year in Dublin. This prestigious conference is held once every two years and brings together leading researchers from Europe (and beyond!) to discuss the latest advancements in fungal biology and genetics. Sam presented his research on developing quantitative methods of measuring airborne fungal bioaerosols and potentially allergenic fungal genera—an area of growing importance due to its implications for public health, indoor air quality, and respiratory diseases.
His work was met with high praise from the community, earning him two major awards. He was named joint winner of the Best Poster Award by Asperfest, a specialized session within the conference dedicated to Aspergillus research. In addition, he was awarded the prize for Best Oral Presentation at the conference—an impressive achievement given the 187 presentations delivered at the event. This recognition not only highlights the significance of his research but also underscores the strength of the WellHome study in advancing our understanding of airborne fungal exposure in the home.
Sam’s success at the conference reflects the growing interest in environmental mycology and the need for improved methods to assess fungal presence in the air we breathe.
