Beth Behr

Beth Behr is a Microbiology Instructor at Madison Area Technical College, actively serving as Primary Instructor for multiple sections of the HHMI Science Education Alliance-Phage Hunters Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Science (SEA-PHAGES) program since Fall 2022. She teaches undergraduate students in hands-on phage discovery courses with enrollments of 12-17 students per section, including freshmen, sophomores, and juniors.

Her research focuses on microbial genomics and bacteriophage characterization using bacterial hosts Arthrobacter globiformis and Gordonia rubripertincta. Through the SEA-PHAGES initiative, she integrates authentic genomic research into community college curricula, emphasizing laboratory techniques in phage isolation, microbial culturing, and genomic analysis. Her work contributes to national efforts in science education reform and genomic database expansion.

Beth Behr participates in the SEA-PHAGES national network, attending workshops and symposia to advance phage genomics education. She teaches 2-3 sessions weekly (3.7-6.5 hours) across consecutive academic terms through Fall 2025, demonstrating sustained commitment to undergraduate research mentorship in microbiology.