Traci Kinkel, Ph.D., an instructor in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, has been recognized as a 2024 “Best Teacher” at Colorado State University.
“With purple hair and an energetic voice, she connects everyone in the class with her passion for microbiology. I have never looked forward to any class as much as hers,” wrote a student nominator.
Kinkel, or “Dr. Traci” as most students call her, teaches multiple hands-on undergraduate lab courses, in addition to supporting undergraduate learning assistants (ULAs) integrated throughout the curriculum. Ten current Microbiology & Infectious Diseases concentration students submitted Best Teacher nominations in her name.
Her passion for science, as well as her students, has had an undeniable positive impact on their experience and the program.
“I get to show students the wonders of Microbiology under the microscope every lab period and encourage their own joy as they discover the uniqueness and smelliness that Microbiology has to offer,” Kinkel said.
Cultivating inclusive culture in microbiology
Those wonders often begin in MIP150, where first- and second-year students from several majors complete a full research project isolating, identifying, and analyzing novel antimicrobial-producing bacteria, from soil sample to final research poster.
Conducting original research for the first time can be challenging, but Kinkel’s welcoming and inclusive approach cultivates a fun and supportive classroom culture where everyone feels valued.
“She had more patience than the bacteria we were working with, and she was always equally excited about each student’s new discoveries,” said another student nominator of their MIP150 experience.
Kinkel also teaches sections of MIP302 General Microbiology and MIP352: Medical Bacteriology labs, as well as rotating topical research projects for MIP401 Research Methods in Microbiology in the CURE Lab. She enjoys fostering all students’ success in her classes, and science more broadly.
“It is easy as a student to get excited about the content she teaches, because her love of what she does is infectious,” wrote another student nominator about Traci’s approach to teaching.
All student nominators noted how Kinkel takes the time to individually help those who are still mastering class material and techniques, both in and out of the lab classroom.
She has also been an active part in recent improvements to the Microbiology & Infectious Disease Undergraduate Learning Assistant program, transitioning for-credit roles to paid positions, and co-founding an Inclusive Pedagogy Seminar which mentors and supports ULAs as they learn inclusive learning practices.
As a visible role model for those who are neurodivergent like herself, Kinkel also recognizes the diverse needs of her students. She enjoys supporting them to find their own strategies for success, in and out of the lab.
A first-year student nominator shared, “Every time I walk into her classroom, I know that my differences are an asset, not something that must be overcome. Not only has Dr. Traci inspired me to contribute to science in my own neurodivergent way, she has also helped foster an unmatched passion for microbiology itself.”
Commitment beyond the classroom
Kinkel’s commitment to her students does not end with the semester, as she encourages them to pursue additional research opportunities and introduces them to others in the department.
“She inspired me to try harder to get into a research lab after leaving comments on my assignments telling me I belonged in research,” recalled a senior student nominator, who went on to a student researcher role in a mycobacteria lab after taking MIP150.
Multiple students attributed finding and succeeding in student research positions to Kinkel’s encouragement and connections, in addition to the research skills gained in lab courses.
She also encourages her students to pursue independent research opportunities, advancing research from one course on to another course or to a research lab, resulting in several successful outcomes including first-author publications.
Through her keen involvement throughout the program, she has also fostered community among the students, making connections and helping them find a home in the department.
Kinkel’s broader efforts in the department do not go unnoticed by her students either.
“Outside of the classroom, she plays a big role in mentoring student organizations, in order to help people feel more confident in leadership positions and comfortable in the major,” responded a student nominee active in the Microbiology Student Association (MSA).
As a faculty mentor, Kinkel provides MSA access to more colorful activities in an appropriate wet-lab environment, such as tie-dying their standard-issue white lab coats and creating microbial art to display at CSU’s Homecoming and Family Weekend.
Kinkel engaged students in fall lab classes and MSA to create microbial art by painting petri dishes full of agar with pigmented bacteria. Once grown, the colorful ‘paintings’ came to life and were assembled as an educational showcase for the booth.
Since 2022, Kinkel has been an instrumental part of the organizing group that brought an MIP booth, full of hands-on science activities for all ages, to CSU Homecoming’s Festival on the Oval. Gatorade DNA extraction, biofilm slime, mouth microbiome discovery, future scientist photo booth, and more attracted dozens of attendees, ultimately winning the department a second-place prize for “Most Interactive” booth the first year.
More recently, she has collaborated with fellow MIP teaching faculty Katriana Popichak and Jordan Hoffman, to design a food microbiology experience at a mock food truck rally, where prospective and admitted CSU students ultimately identify the bacterial cause of the outbreak of food-borne illness.
With the help of undergraduate volunteers, the food microbiology experience will also be a part of the 2024 Women in Science Symposium K-8 activities on March 8, 2024, for local third and seventh graders.
Expanding these outreach and engagement activities beyond the university welcomes more potential students into Kinkel’s thrilling world of microbiology.
Scientific success
At CSU, her most profound moment has been receiving this award, 20 years after she graduated from the Microbiology program herself, and 23 years after her favorite teacher, and now fellow faculty, Erica Suchman was honored as a “Best Teacher” as well.
While pursuing her PhD, Traci recalled, “I was inspired to begin teaching after mentoring students in the research lab showed me how fun it was to help others learn to overcome the challenges of research.”
After teaching at several institutions, Kinkel found herself back at Colorado State University in 2019. She expressed, “The opportunity to be able to educate and inspire young Rams on their path forward has been an exceptionally rewarding experience and brings me joy every day!”
Her commitment, joy, welcoming inclusivity, and passion Kinkel brings to her role are evident and recognized by her students through a 2024 “Best Teacher” Award.
One final student nominator reflected, “Dr. Traci’s passion for microbiology inspires me because it makes me want to give microbiology my own generous helping of passion. She’s taught me that passion is a huge component of what defines a successful scientist.”
