For Ryan Kitko (Updated: 18 May 2013)
Education
• Ph.D. student - Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology at Ohio State University in the lab of Dr. John Freudenstein. September 2011 - present.
• M.A. coursework - Environmental Studies at The Evergreen State College, Olympia, WA. September 2005 - March 2007; passed candidacy but left the program before completion.
• B.S. - Biology at Lebanon Valley College, Annville, PA. Minor in chemistry. August 2001 - May 2005, magna cum laude (GPA 3.747). Recently profiled as an alumnus in the President's Report (April 2011).
Research
• September 2011 - present: Systematics and molecular evolution of Dipodium (Orchidaceae) in Dr. John Freudenstein's lab at The Ohio State University.
• April 2008 - September 2011: Research assistant in Dr. Joan Slonczewski's lab at Kenyon College, Gambier, OH. We study pH homeostasis in the model organisms Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis using fluorescence microscopy, survival assays, and whole-genome microarrays. Research was funded through NSF and NIH.
• May - August 2003: Summer research position in Dr. Stephen Williams' lab at Lebanon Valley College, Annville, PA. Research, which continued through the following academic year, involved investigations of the electrophysiology of Drosera (sundew) tentacles and random transposon mutagenesis via Agrobacterium tumefaciens.
• May - August 2002: Summer research position in Dr. Luke Huggins' lab at Lebanon Valley College, Annville, PA, on Drosophila developmental biology using fluorescence microscopy, directed mutant crosses, and cell tissue cultures.
• September 2011 - present: Systematics and molecular evolution of Dipodium (Orchidaceae) in Dr. John Freudenstein's lab at The Ohio State University.
• April 2008 - September 2011: Research assistant in Dr. Joan Slonczewski's lab at Kenyon College, Gambier, OH. We study pH homeostasis in the model organisms Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis using fluorescence microscopy, survival assays, and whole-genome microarrays. Research was funded through NSF and NIH.
• May - August 2003: Summer research position in Dr. Stephen Williams' lab at Lebanon Valley College, Annville, PA. Research, which continued through the following academic year, involved investigations of the electrophysiology of Drosera (sundew) tentacles and random transposon mutagenesis via Agrobacterium tumefaciens.
• May - August 2002: Summer research position in Dr. Luke Huggins' lab at Lebanon Valley College, Annville, PA, on Drosophila developmental biology using fluorescence microscopy, directed mutant crosses, and cell tissue cultures.
Publications
1. Martinez II KA, RD Kitko, JP Mershon, HE Adcox, KA Malek, MB Berkmen, and JL Slonczewski. 2012. Cytoplasmic pH response to acid stress in individual cells of Escherichia coli and Bacillis subtilis observed by fluorescence ratio imaging microscopy. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 78: 3706-3714.
2. Deininger KNW, A Horikawa, RD Kitko, R Tatsumi, JL Rosner, M Wachi, and JL Slonczewski. 2011. A requirement of TolC and MDR efflux pumps for acid adaptation and GadAB induction in Escherichia coli. PLoS ONE 6: e18960.
3. Noguchi K, DP Riggins, KC Eldahan, RD Kitko, and JL Slonczewski. 2010. Hydrogenase-3 contributes to anaerobic acid resistance of Escherichia coli. PLoS ONE 5: e10132.
4. Kitko RD, JC Wilks, GM Garduque, and JL Slonczewski. 2010. Osmolytes contribute to pH homeostasis of Escherichia coli. PLoS ONE 5: e10078.
5. Kitko RD, RL Cleeton, EI Armentrout, GE Lee, K Noguchi, MB Berkmen, BD Jones, and JL Slonczewski. 2009. Cytoplasmic acidification and the benzoate transcriptome in Bacillus subtilis. PLoS ONE 4: e8255.
6. Wilks JC, RD Kitko, SH Cleeton, GE Lee, CS Ugwu, BD Jones, SS BonDurant, and JL Slonczewski. 2009. Acid and base stress and transcriptomic responses in Bacillus subtilis. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 75: 981-990.
1. Martinez II KA, RD Kitko, JP Mershon, HE Adcox, KA Malek, MB Berkmen, and JL Slonczewski. 2012. Cytoplasmic pH response to acid stress in individual cells of Escherichia coli and Bacillis subtilis observed by fluorescence ratio imaging microscopy. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 78: 3706-3714.
2. Deininger KNW, A Horikawa, RD Kitko, R Tatsumi, JL Rosner, M Wachi, and JL Slonczewski. 2011. A requirement of TolC and MDR efflux pumps for acid adaptation and GadAB induction in Escherichia coli. PLoS ONE 6: e18960.
3. Noguchi K, DP Riggins, KC Eldahan, RD Kitko, and JL Slonczewski. 2010. Hydrogenase-3 contributes to anaerobic acid resistance of Escherichia coli. PLoS ONE 5: e10132.
4. Kitko RD, JC Wilks, GM Garduque, and JL Slonczewski. 2010. Osmolytes contribute to pH homeostasis of Escherichia coli. PLoS ONE 5: e10078.
5. Kitko RD, RL Cleeton, EI Armentrout, GE Lee, K Noguchi, MB Berkmen, BD Jones, and JL Slonczewski. 2009. Cytoplasmic acidification and the benzoate transcriptome in Bacillus subtilis. PLoS ONE 4: e8255.
6. Wilks JC, RD Kitko, SH Cleeton, GE Lee, CS Ugwu, BD Jones, SS BonDurant, and JL Slonczewski. 2009. Acid and base stress and transcriptomic responses in Bacillus subtilis. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 75: 981-990.
Teaching
• February - April 2013: Teaching Assistant for two laboratory sections in Ecology (EEOB 3410) in the Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University (Columbus, OH).
• August - December 2012: Teaching Assistant for two laboratory sections in the introductory biology course for non-majors (Biology 1101) at the Center for Life Sciences Education, The Ohio State University (Columbus, OH).
• April 2008 - September 2011: Regular instruction of new first-year students in laboratory techniques for independent research in the Slonczewski Lab at Kenyon College and occasional opportunities to direct students in PCR, DNA gels, and the Agilent RNA Bioanalyzer in Kenyon College Biology Department laboratory courses.
• September - December 2008: Adjunct Biology Instructor at North Central State College, Mansfield, OH, teaching an introductory biology course for non-majors in a distance-learning video conference setting.
• February - April 2013: Teaching Assistant for two laboratory sections in Ecology (EEOB 3410) in the Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University (Columbus, OH).
• August - December 2012: Teaching Assistant for two laboratory sections in the introductory biology course for non-majors (Biology 1101) at the Center for Life Sciences Education, The Ohio State University (Columbus, OH).
• April 2008 - September 2011: Regular instruction of new first-year students in laboratory techniques for independent research in the Slonczewski Lab at Kenyon College and occasional opportunities to direct students in PCR, DNA gels, and the Agilent RNA Bioanalyzer in Kenyon College Biology Department laboratory courses.
• September - December 2008: Adjunct Biology Instructor at North Central State College, Mansfield, OH, teaching an introductory biology course for non-majors in a distance-learning video conference setting.
Service and professional memberships
• January 2011 - present: Vice-president, North American Sarracenia Conservancy (NASC), involved in conservation of North American pitcher plants and their habitats.
• March 2010 - present: Founder and organizer of the Ohio Carnivorous Plant Society (OHCPS).
• Memberships: International Carnivorous Plant Society (2005-present), North American Sarracenia Conservancy (2008-present), American Society for Microbiology (2008-2011), International Triggerplant Society (2009-present), Botanical Society of America (2012-present)
• January 2011 - present: Vice-president, North American Sarracenia Conservancy (NASC), involved in conservation of North American pitcher plants and their habitats.
• March 2010 - present: Founder and organizer of the Ohio Carnivorous Plant Society (OHCPS).
• Memberships: International Carnivorous Plant Society (2005-present), North American Sarracenia Conservancy (2008-present), American Society for Microbiology (2008-2011), International Triggerplant Society (2009-present), Botanical Society of America (2012-present)
Honors and awards
• University Fellowship, Ohio State University, 2011-2012
• Dean's List, Lebanon Valley College, 2001-2005
• Arthur L. Peterson Leadership Award, Lebanon Valley College, 2004
• Quitapahilla Audobon Society Award, Lebanon Valley College, 2005
• Vickroy Award Scholarship, Lebanon Valley College, 2001-2005 (half-tuition)
• Mary E. Graham Scholarship in Biology, Lebanon Valley College, 2001-2005
• Scholar, New Jersey Governor's School on the Environment, Summer 2000
• University Fellowship, Ohio State University, 2011-2012
• Dean's List, Lebanon Valley College, 2001-2005
• Arthur L. Peterson Leadership Award, Lebanon Valley College, 2004
• Quitapahilla Audobon Society Award, Lebanon Valley College, 2005
• Vickroy Award Scholarship, Lebanon Valley College, 2001-2005 (half-tuition)
• Mary E. Graham Scholarship in Biology, Lebanon Valley College, 2001-2005
• Scholar, New Jersey Governor's School on the Environment, Summer 2000
