ASTM International’s committee on pesticides, antimicrobials, and alternative control agents (E35) presented its top annual award – the Award of Merit – to John A. Mitchell, Ph.D., consultant, Wordsmith Scientific and Regulatory, LLC, in Bozeman, Montana, USA. The prestigious award, which includes the accompanying title of fellow, is ASTM’s highest recognition for individual contributions to developing standards. 

The committee honored Mitchell for outstanding contributions in the development and validation of scientifically robust standards related to the efficacy of antimicrobial agents and devices, and in the technical mentoring of its members. 

An ASTM International member since 1997, Mitchell has previously been recognized with the Chip Collins Memorial Award (2015). He is also a member of the ASTM International committees on rubber and rubber-like materials (D11) and air quality (D22). 

Mitchell has served in his current position since 2013, having previously with BioScience Laboratories, Inc., Saint Patrick Hospital, Craighead Wildlife-Wildlands Institute, the Institute of Medicine and Humanities, the University of Montana, and Pacific University. 

Mitchell holds a bachelor’s degree in zoology from Oklahoma State University and a doctorate degree in zoology with a minor in microbiology from the University of Montana. 

In addition to ASTM International, Mitchell is a member of Phi Sigma Society, Sigma Xi Society, American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Society for Microbiology, and the Montana Peregrine Institute.     

Media Inquiries: Dan Bergels, tel+1.610.832.9602; dbergels@astm.org 

Release #10782