Using ASM’s Meet the Microbiologist podcast to expose students to current research, the diversity of the field of microbiology, and professional development

ABSTRACT In this article, I share how I have incorporated ASM’s Meet the Microbiologist (MtM) podcast into a microbiology course that serves as a capstone course for biology majors at a small liberal arts university. Through short interviews with scientists, MtM exposes students to current research, the diversity of areas, careers, and scientists in the field, and career advice and tips from professionals. I outline how I have incorporated this podcast into my course, share my materials, provide data demonstrating positive outcomes, and offer other ideas for implementation. While this focuses on one particular podcast series, the materials and ideas presented can be applied to other podcast series to fit a wide range of audiences and courses.