Sue Merkel
Associate Director, Office of Academic Programs
Senior Lecturer, Microbiology
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.
Education
- Master of Science
Cornell University
1988 - Bachelor of Science
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
1980
Awards & Honors
- Carski Foundation Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching Award (2015) American Society for Microbiology
- Innovative Teaching Award (2011) Cornell CALS
Contact Information
215 Garden Avenue
Roberts Hall 171
Ithaca, NY 14853
smm3 [at] cornell.edu
Other Links
Sue in the news

News
Four Cornell faculty members have received Kendall S. Carpenter Memorial Advising Awards, which recognize sustained and distinguished contributions of professorial faculty and senior lecturers to undergraduate advising.
- Microbiology
- Natural Resources and the Environment

News
For students who are the first in their families to attend college, certain parts of the experience can be confusing, such as campus culture and terminology. However, it’s less intimidating to ask a fellow student to explain the context around...
- Department of Communication
- Health + Nutrition
- Communication