[Past Projects]
Dr. Todd Blackledge, Dr. Ali Dhinojwala, Angela Alicea-Serrano and K Zin Htut
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- Hands-on experience in interdisciplinary research.
- Introduction to cutting edge technology in spectroscopy techniques for characterization of biomaterials at the molecular level (like proteins and lipids).
- Use of sophisticated nano-tensile tester for characterization of mechanical properties of biomaterials (like silks, bones, skin and muscles).
- Participation in lab meetings and experience presenting research at a professional setting.
- Experience analyzing data and using statistics.
- High chance of publication opportunities.
- Experience handling spiders and collecting of spider silk and other biomaterials.
- Amarpuri G*, Chaurasai V**, Jain D*, Blackledge TA & Dhinojwala A. 2015. Ubiquitous distribution of salts and proteins in spider glue enhances spider silk adhesion. Scientific Reports. 5: 9030.
- Sahni V.*, Miyoshi T., Chen K.**, Jain D.*, Blamires S.J., Blackledge T.A. & Dhinojwala A. 2014. Direct solvation of glycoproteins by salts in spider silk glues enhances adhesion and helps to explain the evolution of modern spider orb webs. Biomacromolecules 15:1225-1232.
- Sensenig A., Kelly S.P.**, Lorentz K.A.**, Lesher B.** & Blackledge T.A. 2013. Mechanical performance of spider orb webs is tuned for high-speed prey. Journal of Experimental Biology. 216: 3388-3394.
- Kelly S.P.**, Sensenig A., Lorentz K.A.** & Blackledge T.A. 2011. Damping capacity is evolutionarily conserved in the radial silk of orb-weaving spiders. Zoology. 114: 233-238.
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For more information visit: https://www.facebook.com/blackledgelab, https://www.blackledgelab.com/, https://blogs.uakron.edu/dhinojwala/