SUMMARY
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Kimberly Fisher Atkinson, PhD
22700 Lake Forest Dr. Lake Forest, California 92630
404-547-6866
[email protected]
www.linkedin.com/pub/kimberly-fisher/85/b95/41b/
http://sites.chapman.edu/cilia/kim-atkinson/
Pursuit and transfer of scientific knowledge and excellence in biomedical research.
EDUCATION
2006 –2012
Wake Forest University School of Medicine
Degree:
Ph.D., Molecular Medicine and Translational Science
GPA:
3.31
2001 - 2006
University of Georgia
Degrees:
BS Biology, BS Genetics
Minor:
Spanish
GPA:
3.40
LAB EXPERIENCE
2014-Present Dr. Surya Nauli, Department of Pharmacy, Chapman University
Department of Urology, University of California, Irvine
Postdoctoral fellow.
• Studying ciliopathies such as PKD and hypertension by targeting proteins and pathways specific to the
primary cilia.
• Cell culture and transgenic mice as model organisms.
• Cell transfection and isolation of primary cilia and centrosome from cultured LLCPK and endothelial
wildtype cells.
2012 –2014
Dr. Raymond C. Harris, Dept. of Nephrology, Vanderbilt University
Postdoctoral fellow
• Two main projects that focus on the role of G-protein coupled receptors in hypertension: (1) studying the
effect of free fatty acid receptor-1 (FFAR1, GPR40) in hypertension caused by a high salt diet and (2)
investigation into the role of cannabinoid receptors in the metabolism of arachidonic acid metabolites.
• Effect of arachidonic acid metabolites (20-HETE) on cannabinoid receptor activation.
• Role of GPR40 (Free fatty acid receptor-1) in the kidney with respect to salt-sensitive hypertension.
• Analysis of the effect of a high salt diet on GPR40-/- knockout mice.
• Generation of immortalized cell line from mouse proximal tubule using knockout mice crossed with the
Immortomouse (Charles River)
2007 –2012
Dr. Thomas DuBose, Dept. of Internal Medicine (Molecular Medicine), Wake Forest University
Graduate Student, Thesis work
 Studying the acid-activation of proline-rich tyrosine kinase, Pyk2, in acid-secreting intercalated cells of
the collecting duct, including the delineation of the Pyk2 signaling pathway, likely involving MAPKs,
and its regulation of proton secretion via a vacuolar H+-ATPase or H+,K+-ATPase.
 In vitro simulation of acidosis using media acidification and the NH4Cl prepulse in mouse-derived outer
medullary collecting duct (mOMCD1) cells.
 Spectrofluorometry using BCECF-AM as a pHi-sensitive dye during an NH4Cl prepulse.
 Analysis of phosphorylation of MAPK signaling proteins by western blot with analysis of H+ transport
using spectrofluorometric detection of the pH sensitive dye, BCECF-AM.
 Analysis of the effects of specific inhibitors of Pyk2 on acid secretion via the H+-ATPase and H+,K+,ATPase using the NH4Cl pre-pulse to decrease intracellular pH in cultured mOMCD1, m-IMCD-3, and
HEK293 cells.


Use of dominant-negative Pyk2, Pyk2 siRNA, and adenovirus-mediated gene transfer of a truncated
dominant-interfering construct to molecularly inhibit the protein’s expression.
GPR4-/-knockout mice, including breeding, genotyping, kidney dissection, and immunohistochemistry.
2007
Dr. Scott Hemby, Dept. of Physiology and Pharmacology, WFU
Graduate Student, Lab rotation
 Analysis of the role of Glutamate in the brain’s response to morphine
 Western blot analysis of lysates obtained from brain regions of morphine-treated animals
2006
Dr. Mark Van Dyke, Wake Forest Institute of Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM)
Graduate Student, Lab rotation
 Immunohistochemistry and stem cell culture
 Cell therapy: testing the ability of an injectable gel to enhance liver regeneration by recruitment of
stem cells and proliferation of existing hepatic cells and progenitors after damage by chemotoxin or
surgical resection (70% hepatectomy).
2004-2005
Dr. Michael Hahn, Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, UGA
Undergraduate, paid employee
Transgenic mutants used to study the biosynthesis of pectin oligosaccharides
Generation of SALK clones in Arabidopsis thaliana.
PCR to identify RNAi mutants.
2003-2004
Dr. Maor Bar-Peled, Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, UGA
Undergraduate research
Transgenic SALK and RNAi mutants used to study the biosynthesis of pectin oligosaccharides in
Arabidopsis thaliana
E. coli used to transform pectin-related genes into pet vectors.
Genetic analyses included restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and PCR.
PUBLICATIONS
1.
Fisher K, Codina J, Petrovic S, and DuBose TD. Pyk2 regulates H+-ATPase-mediated proton secretion in the
outer medullary collecting duct via an ERK1/2 signaling pathway. Am J Physiol- Renal Physiology
303(9):F1353-62, 2012. (ISSN: 1522-1466) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3518186/?tool=pubmed
2. Fisher KD and DuBose TD Jr. Acid-stimulated Pyk2 regulates H+,K+-ATPase activity via a p38 MAPK
signaling pathway in outer medullary collecting duct cells. AJP-Renal Physiol. Currently under review.
3. Atkinson KF, Kathem SH, AbouAlaiwi WA, Muntean B, Jin X, Nauli A, and Nauli S. Dopaminergic signaling
within the primary cilia in the renovascular system. Frontiers in Physiology. Currently under review
TRAVEL & PRESENTATIONS
Poster presentation at American Society of Nephrology (ASN) Kidney Week 2013 in Atlanta, Georgia.
 Circulating 20-HETE monoglyceride induces ERK1/2 phosphorylation via a cannabinoid receptormediated signaling pathway
 Acid-stimulated Pyk2 regulates H+,K+-ATPase activity via a p38 MAPK signaling pathway in outer
medullary collecting duct cells.

Poster presentation at the 2010 meeting of the North Carolina Academy of Science (NCAS) at Guilford College,
Greensboro, NC.
 Acid-activation of Pyk2 and ERK1/2 in the outer medullary collecting duct
Poster presentation at the Gordon Research Conference – ‘Phosphorylation-mediated signaling networks’ in
Biddeford, ME June 2010.
 Pyk2: an acid-activated protein in outer medullary collecting duct (mOMCD1) cells
HONORS & AFFILIATIONS
 2012, Postdoctoral Fellowship, Vanderbilt University
 2010, Wake Forest University Travel Award
 2006-2012, Graduate School Fellowship, Wake Forest School of Medicine
 Beta beta beta (βββ) Biological Sciences Honors Society
 Delta Epsilon Iota (DEI) Honors Society
 Phi Eta Sigma Honors Society
 American Medical Student Association (AMSA)
 National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS)
KEY SKILLS
 Western blot protein expression and activation (phosphorylation), using the ECL system and infrared
fluorophores by the Licor scanner using Odyssey V3.0 software.
 RT-PCR and Taqman PCR
 Tissue and Cell Culture
 Histology: immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence
 Stable and transient cell line generation
 Breeding and maintenance of mice colonies (transgenic, knockout mice, and wildtype mice)
 Genotyping PCR.
 Assays with fluorescent labeled substrates
 Biological and chemical inhibitors, dominant negative, siRNA.
 microCT scanning of GPR4-/- KO mice
 In situ hybridization, including generation of the probe, sequencing, and miniprep.
 Microscopy:
- Light microscopy to analyze cell morphology in various kidney-derived cell lines.
- Fluorescent microscopy
- Confocal and electron microscopy
 Full computer literacy in word processing, spreadsheet, and graphic presentations using Microsoft Office.
 Great presentation skills
 Continued experience in travel, both local and national, for presentation and attendance of relevant scientific
conferences.