Todd A. Blackledge

Department of Biology
voice (330) 972-4264
University of Akron
fax (330) 972-8445
Akron, OH 44325-3908
Email: Blackledge@uakron.edu

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Education

Ph.D. The Ohio State University, Department of Entomology, advisor: John W. Wenzel, 2000
B.S. The George Washington University, Department of Biology, 1994, magna cum laude

Academic Employment

  • Professor of Biology, University of Akron, 2012-current
  • Associate Professor of Biology, University of Akron. 2008-2012
  • Assistant Professor of Biology, University of Akron. 2005-2008
  • Postdoctoral Researcher, University of California – Riverside. 2003-2004
  • Lecturer, Cornell University. 2002
  • Postdoctoral Fellow, University of California – Berkeley. 2000-2002
  • Presidential Fellow, The Ohio State University. 1999
  • Graduate Teaching Assistant, The Ohio State University. 1997-1998
  • NSF Predoctoral Fellow, The Ohio State University. 1995-1997
  • National Museum of Natural History Research Training Program, Smithsonian Institution. 1994
  • NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates, Benedict Estuarine Research Laboratory. 1993

Prior Research Experience

  • Postdoctoral Researcher (2003-2004). Evolution of spider silk functional morphology and silk genes. Advisor: Dr. Cheryl Y. Hayashi.
  • Postdoctoral Fellow (2000-2002). Community evolution in adaptive and non-adaptive radiations of Hawaiian spiders. Division of Insect Biology, University of California, Berkeley. Advisor: Dr. Rosemary G. Gillespie.
  • Doctoral Student (1994-2000) Functional aspects of stabilimentum decorations in spider webs and the evolution of spider silk coloration. Department of Entomology, The Ohio State University. Advisor: Dr. John W. Wenzel
  • Research Training Program (1994) Taxonomy of Characiform fish from the upper Amazon. Included morphometric analysis and clearing and staining of specimens. National Museum of Natural History Research Training Program, Smithsonian Institution. Advisor: Dr. Richard P. Vari
  • NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates (1993) Effects of hypoxia on trophic interactions and larval fish in estuarine ecosystems. Benedict Estuarine Research Laboratory. Advisor: Dr. Denise Breitburg

 Publications

Click here for a link to my publications, including PDFs

Teaching Experience

  • Techniques in Integrated Bioscience: Bio 701 - University of Akron (2012-current
  • Biology of Behavior: Bio 428/528 – University of Akron (2005-current)
  • Biology of Behavior Laboratory: Bio 429/529 – University of Akron (2006-current)
  • Comparative Biomechanics: Bio 475 - University of Akron (2011-current)
  • Principles of Biology I: Bio 111 - University of Akron (2007-2010)
  • Experimental Approaches to Behavior: Bio 695 – University of Akron (2005)
  • Entomology 212: Insect Biology – Cornell University (2002)
  • Tropical Field Biology, OTS, La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica “visiting scientist” trained 25 students in field research techniques, spider ecology and silk biomechanics (2008)
  • Undergraduate research advisor (see students and example projects here)

Grants and Fellowships

  • "Collaborative Research: Performance and evolution of environmentally responsive biomaterials in a unique biological adhesive system: Spider orb web capture threads", National Science Foundation, PI, (2003-2017), $492,408
  • "CAREER: Evolutionary origins of high performance major ampullate spider silk: Development of an integrated bioscience training program", National Science Foundation, PI, (2008-2013), $589,195
  • "Casting nets across Malagasy rivers: Extraordinary silk in giant orb webs" National Geographic Society, Co-PI (2009-2010), $23,750
  • "OBR Individual Research Challenge Match", Ohio Board of Regents, (2008-2013), $20,000
  • “Investigating the tensile performance and structural properties of spider dragline and egg case silk”, Integrated Bioscience Collaborative Research Incentive Grant. (2007). Co-PI with Shing-Chung Wong. $8,000
  • “Semimicro bomb calorimetry and metabolic costs of web spinning in spiders” Departmental Research Grant. (2006) Co-PI with Peter Niewiarowski. $4,000
  • “Acquisition of a dynamic nano-force tensile test system for ultrathin fibers with environmental control and integrated image analysis”, National Science Foundation, PI, (2005-2008), $337,345
  • “Araneid phylogeny and evolution of spider silk phenotypes”, National Science Foundation, PI with collaborators John Wenzel and Nikolaj Scharff, (2005-2008), $297,990

Awards and Honors

  • Early Career Research Award, Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences, University of Akron (2008)
  • Mentor of the Year, Conference on Undergraduate and Graduate Student Research, University of Akron (2007)
  • Excellence in Research Honorable Mention for undergraduate McNair Scholar research (2006)
  • Favorite Faculty teaching award, Mortar Board Honor Society, University of Akron (2005)
  • Frank A. Pitelka Award for excellence in research, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, (2002) 
  • John Henry Comstock research award, Entomological Society of America (1999)
  • W. Fred Hink Research Award - Department of Entomology, The Ohio State University (1998)

Invited Presentations (select)

2018

  •  U.C. Berkeley “A sticky situation: the evolution of spider glues from nature to technology”
  • U. Florida “A sticky situation: the evolution of spider glues from nature to technology”

2016

  •  U. Louisville, Brown and Williamson Lecturer “A sticky situation: the evolution of spider glues from nature to technology”

2014

  • U. Georgia “A biomechanical perspective on the evolution of spider orb webs”

2013

  • Ohio State University “A biomechanical perspective on the evolution of spider orb webs”
  • U. Guelph “A biomechanical perspective on the evolution of spider orb webs”
  • MIT “Emergent design in biological and bioinspired materials” ARO workshop
  • 19th International Congress of Arachnology, Kenting, Taiwan, invited plenary, “A biomechanical perspective on the evolution of spider orb webs”
  • College of Wooster, “Spider silk genes: tying together evolution of genes, biomaterials, and behaviors”

2012:

  • University of Pittsburgh, “Spider silk: a 400 million year experiment in materials science”
  • Cleveland Clinic, “Spider silk: a 400 million year experiment in materials science”

2011

  • Cornell University, “Spider silk: Tying together evolution of behaviors and biomaterials”
  • Silk: Is it all spin AFOSR workshop in New York “Evolutionary biomechanics of spider silk”

2010

  • Explorer Series (Cleveland Museum of Natural History), “Spider silk: a 400 million year experiment in materials science”
  • John Carroll University, “Innovation and constraint in silk performance drives spider evolution”

2009

  • University of Chicago, “Innovation and constraint in silk performance drives spider evolution”
  • Arizona State University, “Spider silk: a 400 million year experiment in materials science”

2008

  • University of Oregon, “Spider silk: a 400 million year experiment in materials science”
  •  La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica, “Evolution of Spider Webs”
  • University of Kentucky, “New Perspectives on the Ecology and Evolution of Spider Webs”

2007

  •  International Congress of Arachnology, invited plenary, "New perspectives on the ecology and evolution of spiders webs"
  • Case Western Reserve University, "New perspectives on the ecology and evolution of spider webs"
  • Case Western Reserve University, "Spider silk: an evolutionary experiment in materials science"

2006

  •  John Carroll University, "Spider silk: a 400 million year experiment in materials science”
  • Susquehanna University, "Spider silk: a 400 million year experiment in materials science”

2005

  •  Franklin Philosophical Society, “Spider silk: a 400 million year experiment in materials science”
  • Kent State University, “Spider webs: the evolution of behavior across biological levels”
  • Greater Akron Audubon Society, “Spiders: silk and web evolution”

2004

  •  University of Akron, “Spider webs: the evolution of behavior across biological levels”

2003

  •  California State University Longbeach, “Evolution of the modern orb web and beyond”
  • Lewis & Clark College, “Predator vs. Prey: Why do spiders decorate their webs?”
  • University of California Riverside, “A new look at stabilimenta in spider webs”
  • San Diego State University, “A new look at stabilimentum decorations in spider webs”

2002

  • Cornell University, “Spider webs: confronting ecological and evolutionary challenges through behavior”
  • University of Toronto at Scarborough, “Spider webs: confronting ecological and evolutionary challenges through behavior”
  • University of Massachusetts Amherst, “Spider webs: confronting ecological and evolutionary challenges through behavior”
  • California State University Hayward, “Stabilimenta in spider webs: predator-prey conflict and sensory drive”
  • Pacific Coast Entomological Society, California Academy of Sciences, “Why do spiders decorate webs with stabilimenta?” (2001)

Professional Service

Co-host of the annual meeting of the American Arachnological Society at Univ. of Akron (2005)

Public Affairs Committee student representative, Animal Behavior Society (1998-2000)

ad hoc reviewer – Acta Zoologica Sinica, American Midlands Naturalist, Behavioral Ecology, Behaviour, Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology, Biologia, Canadian Journal of Zoology, Cladistics, Ethology, Environmental Entomology, Ethology, Ethology Ecology & Evolution, Ecology Letters, European Journal of Entomology, Journal of Arachnology, Journal of Chemical Ecology, Journal of Experimental Biology, Journal of Insect Behavior, Journal of Natural History, Journal of Zoology, Southwestern Naturalist, National Geographic, National Science Foundation, Nature, Naturwissenschaften, Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, Science, Zoology

Consultant for: Audubon Magazine, Discovery Channel (online and television), Earth & Sky (National Public Radio), National Geographic, Outside Magazine, Science News, various regional newspapers and magazines

 Research featured in: Akron Beacon Journal, BBC Wildlife Magazine, CBC Radio (Quirks & Quarks), Crain’s Cleveland Business, Discovery Channel (Superhero Science), Discovery News, Environmental News Network, Geo Magazine, History Channel (Modern Marvels), Iran Daily News, National Geographic News, Nature News, New York Times (News & Syndicate), “This week in wild California” California Academy of Sciences