Biology

Faculty & Staff

Gwendowlyn Knapp - Assistant Professor of Biology

Gwendowlyn Knapp

Assistant Professor of Biology and Program Coordinator of Health Sciences
Parker Science Building, Room 130
217.245.3638
Primary Study Area
Microbiology, Immunology and Virology
Education
Wadsworth Center | Postdoctoral Training | Infectious Disease
Texas A&M University | Ph.D. | Biochemistry
Purdue University | B.S. | Molecular Genetics
Bio

Gwendowlyn Knapp, Ph.D., earned a bachelor’s degree in molecular biology from Purdue University. She went on to earn her Ph.D. in biochemistry from Texas A&M University. Her postdoctoral fellowship was in infectious diseases at the Wadsworth Center in Albany, NY. Dr. Knapp regularly teaches courses in microbiology, immunology, and virology.  She serves as the Pre-Med advisor.

Dr. Knapp’s research program is centered around antimicrobial resistance. Specifically, students in the Knapp lab are interested in identifying where antimicrobial resistance happens and identifying new treatments to combat antimicrobial-resistant infections. Students in her laboratory collect soil samples to survey for bacteria that are antimicrobial resistant and can potentially produce novel antimicrobials using molecular biology approaches.

One of the best things about working with students is their curiosity. My students find even the simplest things "cool" and I love to help foster that curiosity about why bacteria are doing what they are doing.
- Dr. Gwendowlyn Knapp