Sue Merkel

As a senior lecturer in Microbiology, I currently teach a course in Public Health Microbiology. My academic focus is on incorporating and assessing student-centered learning into different classroom environments. Through my role as Associate Director of the CALS Office of Academic Programs, I provide support for a variety of teaching and learning projects across the college.

Research Focus

My research focuses on scientific teaching-- how do we know our students are learning? Working with graduate students in the department, we have developed and evaluated new teaching tools.

Teaching Focus

As a senior lecturer in Microbiology, my current professional focus is on incorporating student-centered learning into our many different classroom environments, and assessment of that learning. Through my role as Associate Director of the CALS Office of Academic Programs, I provide support for teaching and learning across the college.

Areas Of Expertise

• Assessment
• Education
• Science Education
• Student Centered Learning

Selected Publications

Journal Publications

• Merkel, S. M. (2016). American Society for Microbiology resources in support of an evidence-based approach to teaching microbiology. FEMS Microbiology Letters. 363.
• Merkel, S. M., & the ASM Task Force on Curriculum Guidelines for Undergraduate Microbiology, (2012). The Development of Curricular Guidelines for Introductory Microbiology that Focus on Understanding. JMBE: Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education. 13:32-38.
• Merkel, S. M., Hanson, B., & Parks, A. (2010). A Small Group Activity About Bacterial Regulation And Complementation. JMBE: Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education. 11:152-155.
• Merkel, S. M., Walman, L., & Leventhal, J. (2000). An Evaluation of Computer Based Instruction in Microbiology. Microbiology Education. 1:14-19.