Michael O’Donnell was a Principal Lecturer in the Department of Biology, and Laboratory Coordinator for the introductory biology sequence of courses (Biol 182 and 183) for life science majors. O’Donnell's teaching philosophy is to get students to be active participants in the creative process of science, putting more ownership for experimental design and analysis on the students. His teaching interests include inquiry-based learning, laboratory curriculum and development, introductory biology, and urban wildlife ecology. O’Donnell earned his M.S. in Wildlife and Forest Biology from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, and his B.S. in Zoology from the University of Rhode Island. Prior to coming to Trinity College, he taught at State Univ. of New York at Cortland, and served as an environmental consultant for several agencies in upstate New York.

• O'Donnell, M.A. 2014. "Science Writing, Wikis, and Collaborative Learning"  In Web Writing: Why and How for Liberal Arts Teaching and Learning, edited by Dougherty, J. and O'Donnell, T.  (Michigan Publishing/Trinity College ePress Edition). http://epress.trincoll.edu/webwriting/
• O'Donnell, M.A. "Science Writing, Wikis, and Collaborative Learning in the Laboratory."  Poster presented at the Annual Conference of the Association for Biology Laboratory Education, University of Calgary, AB, Canada, June 2013.
• O'Donnell, M.A. 2011. "Science Writing, Wikis, and Collaborative Learning," Teaching Millenials in the New Millennium, Paper 5, Trinity College, Hartford, CT.
• Readel, K., Beck, C., and M.A. O'Donnell. "ABLE: A Resource for Inquiry-Based Laboratory Activities for Undergraduate Biology Courses," Lily-East Conference on College and University Teaching, University of Delaware, Newark, DE (2008).
• O'Donnell, M. A., and A. J. DeNicola. 2006. "Den site selection of lactating female raccoons following removal and exclusion from suburban residences." Wildlife Society Bulletin 34 (2): 366-370.
• O'Donnell, M. A. (Editor). "Tested studies for laboratory teaching, Vol. 27." Proceedings of the 27th workshop/conference of the Association for Biology Laboratory Education (ABLE), 2006, 452 pages.
• O’Donnell, M. A. "Den Site Selection and Movement Patterns of Female Raccoons Following Removal and Exclusion from Residences." 57th Annual Northeast Fish and Wildlife Conference, Saratoga Springs, New York, April 2001.
• O’Donnell, M. A. "Lyme Disease: Nutty Interactions." National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science Workshop. State Univ. New York at Buffalo. Buffalo, NY, May 2001.
• O’Donnell, M. A. 1999. “The role of the laboratory experience in science education.” pp. 71-82.  In Teaching Matters: Essays on Liberal Education at the Millennium, edited by McLaughlin, M.W., D.A. Hyland, and J.R. Spencer, Trinity College, Hartford, CT.

• Research Assistant grant from Faculty Research Committee, Trinity College: "Avian nest predation in urbanized areas," 2008
• Research Assistant grant from Howard Hughes Medical Institute, “Monitoring of mammal populations at the Trinity College Field Station,” 2004
• Co-PI on National Science Foundation Field Station and Marine Laboratory Program grant, “Planning Activities: Development of a Strategic Plan for the Trinity College Field Station at Church Farm,” 2001-2003
• Research Assistant grant from the Faculty Research Committee, Trinity College: “Movements of female raccoons after eviction from houses,” 1996
• Arthur H. Hughes Award for Teaching Achievement, Trinity College, 1996