Barbara Kunkel has been a Professor of Biology with WashU since 1994. She serves as the Associate Chair of Undergraduate Education and is the Program Director for Plant and Microbial Biosciences. The Kunkel Lab is focused on the signaling and regulatory events that govern interactions between plant pathogens and their hosts. “We study the virulence mechanisms used by plant pathogens to colonize and cause disease in plants,” explains Kunkel.

The very first class she taught at WashU was the Laboratory on DNA Manipulation, which will be returning in Spring of 2027 as BIOL 4370 in a full circle moment. Both of the projects for the course include developing tools to address the primary research questions that Kunkel Lab seeks to solve.

Students will be learning a mix of basic and complex research skills. It is an investigation-driven course. They will be responsible for generating completely new material in the course, fostering creativity and innovation.

The only prerequisite for the class is the Principles of Biology course sequence BIOL 2960 and 2970. “As long as students have a willingness to learn, they will be successful in the class,” adds Kunkel. They will need to rely on their knowledge of DNA structure, function and replication; topics reviewed in the first few weeks of class.

Students will have the opportunity to take their theoretical knowledge and put it into practice. They will perform DNA cloning, sequencing, and PCR analysis. They will design experiments and carry them out as well as troubleshoot when problems arise. These skills are essential for understanding the scientific method. “I want them to be able to design experiments and critically analyze the data, increasing familiarity with the scientific process,” says Kunkel, explaining her hopes for the course’s learning objectives.

The lab course will not only help students prepare for graduate school, it will also help them in their employment pursuits such as lab assistant or research team positions. The course is relevant to all fields of graduate study in biology and fulfills the advanced lab requirement for most undergraduate biology major concentrations.

Students will develop the Arts and Sciences Literacies of communication through both oral presentations and maintaining written experimental records. Working together as a team will be essential.

This lab is open to 12 students including a lecture component on Wednesday from 4:00 to 5:00
p.m. which will focus on preparing students for the lab component on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 1:00 to 3:50 p.m.

Vibert Putra, the teaching assistant for the course, is a graduate student in the Molecular Microbiology Program. He will be able to speak to his experience as a graduate student and can be a helpful resource for students during their time in class. The course offers a unique opportunity for undergraduates to learn DNA manipulations as a tight knit team, in a specialized environment with mentors committed to their success and learning.

Learn more about Barbara Kunkel and her lab research here.