Sarah Stellwagen

Sarah Stellwagen is an Assistant Professor at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, specializing in biomaterials, genetics, and arthropod biology. Her research focuses on understanding the evolution, ecology, and mechanical properties of natural biological materials like spider silks and bioadhesives. The Stellwagen Lab integrates molecular biology and material property testing to explore how biomaterials function across diverse arthropod models.

Her work spans interdisciplinary fields including evolutionary biology, material science, and ecology, with a particular emphasis on spider silk mechanics and adhesive systems. Research projects include analyzing habitat distributions of spiders in protected areas like Kings Mountain National Military Park, and investigating the genetic and environmental factors influencing bioadhesive properties. Recent studies highlight advancements in genome sequencing (e.g., Opiliones genomes) and next-generation sequencing techniques for bacterial display libraries.

Key themes include understanding how natural materials adapt to environmental conditions (e.g., humidity, UV radiation effects on spider glue) and translating this knowledge into biomimetic applications. While no specific awards are listed, her contributions to arthropod-based biomaterials research demonstrate significant academic impact.