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SHORT CURRICULUM VITAE OF BRENT D. OPELL

Updated: 24 April 2006

PRESENT ADDRESS :

         Department of Biological Sciences

         Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

         Blacksburg, Virginia 24061

         Phone:   (540) 231-7445,   FAX:   (540) 231-9307,      e-mail: bopell@vt.edu

ACADEMIC DEGREES :

         B. A. ( Magna Cum Laude ), Botany/Zoology, 1971, Butler University, Indianapolis, Indiana.

         M.S., Zoology, 1974, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois.

         PhD., Biology, 1978, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Professional Experience:

Southern Illinois University - Carbondale: Teaching Assistant, 1971-1974.

Harvard University: Teaching Fellow, 1974-1977.

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University: Assistant Professor, 1978-1984; Associate Professor, 1984-1989; Professor 1989-present.

HONORS AND AWARDS:

         Virginia Tech Certificate of Teaching Excellence, 1985-86.

         Biology Department Undergraduate Teaching Award, 1993-94.

         College of Science's Certificates of Teaching Excellence 2004-2005.

SERVICE:

         Secretary, President, and Board of Directors member, American Arachnological Society.

         Editorial Board of Invertebrate Biology, 1994-1997.

         Editorial Board of Journal of Arachnology, 2001-2006.

GRADUATE STUDENT TRAINING:

Amy L. Darby (M.S., Biology, 1987).   Male Pedipalp structures in spiders:   species isolation or female preference?

Paula E. Cushing (M.S., Biology, 1988).   Predator defense behavior in orb-web spiders of the family Uloboridae.

Jason E. Bond (M.S., Biology, 1995).   A systematic study of the spider genus Mallos (Araneae:   Dictynidae).

Jason E. Bond (Ph.D., Biology, 1999).   Phylogenetic systematics and Evolution in the Californian trap-door spider genus Aptostichus (Arancae:   Cyrtaucheniidae).