Dr. Kathleen P. Talaro is a microbiologist, author, educator, and artist who works in a variety of fields. She has had a passion for microbiology since she was a child growing up on an Idaho farm, where she was first enthralled by microscopic animals she could barely see swimming in a pond.

Her fascination with microorganisms prompted her to major in biology at Idaho State University, where she also worked as a teaching assistant and scientific illustrator for one of her professors. She attended Arizona State University, Occidental College, California Institute of Technology, and California State University to further her studies. Dr. Talaro has spent 30 years at Pasadena City College teaching microbiology and biology classes, during which time she has established a new curriculum and modified laboratory experiments. She was also a co-author of earlier editions of Microbiology: A Systems Approach with Kelly Cowan.