James Fackenthal

James Fackenthal serves as a Lecturer in the Department of Biological Sciences at Benedictine University, where he leads the SEA-PHAGES program course BIOL1199 focused on phage discovery and microbiology education.

His research centers on:

• Microbial ecology of bacteriophages
• Genomic analysis of phage-host interactions
• Evolutionary mechanisms in viral systems
• Microbiology education pedagogy

Fackenthal actively teaches multiple course sections annually, utilizing Arthrobacter globiformis as the primary bacterial host for phage isolation. His instructional approach spans in situ discovery methods with student cohorts of 13-20 learners per section, featuring structured laboratory hours ranging from 3-4 weekly contact hours across Fall and Spring terms. The program integrates genomic sequencing and evolutionary analysis into undergraduate curriculum through the HHMI-sponsored SEA initiative.

His educational contributions include:

• Fall 2024: Primary instructor for two BIOL1199 sections (13 students with 4 weekly hours; 20 students with 1 weekly meeting)
• Spring 2025: Scheduled primary instruction for BIOL1199-Section-A (20 students)
• Fall 2023: Additional instructor role supporting course delivery