# Utah State University

the laboratory of Randy Lewis, the world's leading academic authority on spider-silk genetics, which first decoded the spidroin genes, built transgenic goat and moss platforms, and set the wet-spinning methods the industry now uses.

Source: https://en.bioecon.ru/companies/utah-state-university/
Updated: 2026-06-29

- Country: United States

## Verifiable facts

| Fact | Value | Source |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Affiliation | Utah State University (Department of Biology, Synthetic Bioproducts Center/Institute, College of Science) | https://research.usu.edu/awards/undergraduate-research-mentor/awardees/lewis-randy, https://www.usu.edu/today/story/maritime-defense-usu-synthetic-spider-silk-lab-awarded-navy-grant, https://www.usu.edu/today/story/spider-man-can-usu-scientist-says-synthetic-spider-silk-research-advancing, https://www.usu.edu/today/story/usu-spider-silk-research-spawns-a-web-of-literary-offerings, https://www.usu.edu/today/story/usu-synthetic-spider-silk-lab-awarded-115m-in-navy-nsf-grants |
| Research focus | Spider silk genetics, protein production (bacteria, goats, alfalfa, silkworms), and synthesis of biomaterials (fibers, films, glues, coatings, gels) | http://nhmu.utah.edu/articles/spinning-sustainable-future, https://research.usu.edu/awards/undergraduate-research-mentor/awardees/lewis-randy, https://www.usu.edu/today/story/maritime-defense-usu-synthetic-spider-silk-lab-awarded-navy-grant |
| Facility | Lewis Lab, Synthetic Spider Silk Lab, Synthetic Bioproducts Center, Bioproducts Scale-Up Facility (Innovation Campus) | https://sfdev.usu.edu/today/story/maritime-defense-usu-synthetic-spider-silk-lab-awarded-navy-grant, https://www.usu.edu/today/story/maritime-defense-usu-synthetic-spider-silk-lab-awarded-navy-grant, https://www.usu.edu/today/story/spider-man-can-usu-scientist-says-synthetic-spider-silk-research-advancing, https://www.usu.edu/today/story/usu-spider-silk-research-spawns-a-web-of-literary-offerings, https://www.usu.edu/today/story/usu-synthetic-spider-silk-lab-awarded-115m-in-navy-nsf-grants |
| Grant | Over $33 million in lifetime grants; $1.15 million awarded in 2013 (Navy/NSF); $420,000 awarded in 2018 (Navy) | https://research.usu.edu/awards/undergraduate-research-mentor/awardees/lewis-randy, https://www.usu.edu/today/story/maritime-defense-usu-synthetic-spider-silk-lab-awarded-navy-grant, https://www.usu.edu/today/story/usu-synthetic-spider-silk-lab-awarded-115m-in-navy-nsf-grants |
| Publications | Over 140 papers, 16 book chapters, and 9 issued patents | https://exa.ai/library/person/dcgwjfhmhmydf689lr49b5gkr, https://research.usu.edu/awards/undergraduate-research-mentor/awardees/lewis-randy |
| Principal staff | Randy Lewis (Lab Director/Professor), Justin A. Jones, Thomas I. Harris | https://exa.ai/library/person/dcgwjfhmhmydf689lr49b5gkr, https://research.usu.edu/awards/undergraduate-research-mentor/awardees/lewis-randy, https://www.usu.edu/today/story/maritime-defense-usu-synthetic-spider-silk-lab-awarded-navy-grant |
| Headcount | Seven PhD students, 26 undergraduate students, and four postdoctoral scientists (as of 2013-2015 timeframe) | https://research.usu.edu/awards/undergraduate-research-mentor/awardees/lewis-randy, https://www.usu.edu/today/story/maritime-defense-usu-synthetic-spider-silk-lab-awarded-navy-grant, https://www.usu.edu/today/story/usu-synthetic-spider-silk-lab-awarded-115m-in-navy-nsf-grants |

Independent sources: exa.ai, nhmu.utah.edu, research.usu.edu, sfdev.usu.edu, usu.edu

## Technologies

- [Recombinant spider silk & engineered protein fibers](https://en.bioecon.ru/technology/recombinant-spider-silk/)