Linda Kinkel

Linda Kinkel is a Professor in the Department of Plant Pathology at the University of Minnesota, specializing in microbial ecology and soil microbiomes. Her research focuses on antibiotic-producing Streptomyces bacteria, their role in disease suppression, and plant-microbe interactions across native prairie and agricultural soils.

• Education:
  • PhD in Plant Pathology, University of Wisconsin-Madison (1988)
  • MS in Biometry, University of Wisconsin-Madison (1987)
  • BS in Biology and Pathology, St. Olaf College (1981)

Her research explores:

• Antibiotic-mediated microbial interactions
• Co-evolutionary dynamics of inhibition and resistance
• Microbiome engineering for sustainable agriculture
• Impacts of environmental changes on soil health

Recent work includes reverse-engineering soil microbiomes and leveraging green manures to control plant diseases. She leads NSF and USDA-funded projects on potato soil health and prairie ecosystem responses to climate change.

Scientific Awards: No explicit awards mentioned in the provided text.

Advising & Grants: Active in mentoring through research collaborations, with over 36 funded projects including multi-decadal LTER studies and microbiome management initiatives.