Since 2005, Dagmara Motriuk-Smith has taught biology and zoology courses for the UW/CC Center, and mentored undergraduate students in a grant-funded research laboratory. Her research interests include silk genes structure, silk proteins mechanical properties, biomaterials, and the molecular evolution of parasites. She is an alumna of the University of Wyoming, earning her BS and Ph.D. in molecular biology.

Courses Teaching: Cell Biology (LIFE 3600); Microbial Diversity and Molecular Phylogeny (LIFE 3000); HIV/AIDS: The Disease and the Dilemma (ZOO 4100); Problems (ZOO 4900)

Office Hours: Vary each semester

Best Method of Communication: Telephone or Email

Affiliations, Associations, Consultations: American Arachnological Society; International Society of Arachnology; Gamma Sigma Delta; American Society of Parasitology

Current Links: Silk Research
PBS/NOVA: Making stuff stronger (see chapter 7) http://video.pbs.org/video/1701025927/
NSF: Got silk?  http://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/science_nation/spidersilk.jsp
NSF: Spiders and silk worms  http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=117415

Current Committees: Scholarship Committee; Learning Community Leadership Committee; Research Advisory Committee; Building Technology Committee

Current Publications: D. Motriuk-Smith, R.S. Seville, L. Quealy, C.E. Oliver. Comparison of the ITS1 and ITS2 rDNA in Eimeria callospermophili (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from sciurid rodents. In press; D. Motriuk-Smith, R.S. Seville, C.E. Oliver, D.L. Hoffman, and A.W. Smith. Species of Eimeria (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from tree squirrels (Sciurus niger) (Rodentia: Sciuridae) and analysis of the ITS1, ITS2, and 5.8 rDNA. Journal of Parasitology. 95:191-7 (2009); D. Motriuk-Smith, A. Smith, C.Y. Hayashi, R.V. Lewis. Analysis of the conserved N-terminal domains in major ampullate spider silk proteins Biomacromolecules. 6:3152-9 (2005)