Pamela J. Langer

Pamela J. Langer serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Molecular Biology at the University of Wyoming, conducting research at the intersection of molecular biochemistry and organismal biology. Her laboratory investigates fundamental biological processes in diverse systems ranging from arachnids to parasitic protozoa.

Research Focus: Dr. Langer's primary research explores the molecular mechanisms of spider silk recycling, specifically investigating proteases capable of degrading solid silk fibers that resist common enzymatic breakdown. Her lab examines structural properties enabling these enzymes to utilize solid silk as substrate. Concurrently, she maintains significant contributions to parasitology through genomic studies of Leishmania species, analyzing heat shock protein organization and surface glycoprotein polymorphism.

Publication Trends: Her scholarly output reveals dual trajectories: early work (1992-1993) established foundational knowledge in molecular parasitology through detailed genomic analyses of Leishmania, while later research (1999) expanded into bioethical dimensions of genetic technologies. The spider silk research represents her most current investigative direction, demonstrating methodological continuity in protein characterization applied to novel biological systems.

Laboratory: Dr. Langer directs an active research laboratory in the Animal Science/Molecular Biology Complex, where her team employs biochemical and molecular techniques to study enzyme-substrate interactions in both arachnid and parasitic systems, with particular emphasis on protease functionality and evolutionary adaptations.