Landon Getz honoured with Microbiology Society's EDI Prize

Landon Getz, a postdoctoral fellow in the department of biochemistry in U of T's Temerty Faculty of Medicine, has been recognized with the 2026 Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Prize from the Microbiology Society.

The annual prize honours individuals or groups for advancing initiatives that promote equality, diversity and inclusion in the microbiology community and broaden participation in the field by historically marginalized communities. 

Getz and his co-recipients – Edel Pérez-López of Université Laval, Bruno Francesco Rodrigues de Oliveira of Fluminense Federal University in Brazil, Katie Barnes of the University of Wisconsin–Madison and Nicholas de Mojana di Cologna of the State University of New York – were recognized for their work as co-founders of Pride in Microbiology, an advocacy, mentorship and community-building initiative that supports 2SLGBTQIA+ microbiologists.

Getz's research explores how bacteria evade infection by phages and delves into the ways that the evolutionary partnership between bacteria and phages has shaped biology across domains of life. Outside the lab, he is an active advocate for 2SLGBTQIA+ people in STEM and a writer on public policy and science education.

"Being awarded the 2026 Equality, Diversity and Inclusion prize is such an incredibly validating experience, rewarding the blood, sweat and tears that myself and the rest of the Pride in Microbiology team put into this work," said Getz. "It provides a strong sense moving forward for us that we can and will continue to advocate for 2SLGBTQIA+ microbiologists globally."

Read about the Microbiology Society awards