R. Keith Killpack
219 East Victoria St. #F, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 899-4340 / rkillpack@bren.ucsb.edu
EDUCATION
Master of Environmental Science and Management (expected June 2007)
Donald Bren School of Environmental Science & Management – University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB)
Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (December 2000)
University of California, Santa Barbara
Honors: Graduated with High Honors, Award for highest cumulative score during three quarter series of
Organic Chemistry (June 1999), GPA of 3.66
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Research Assistant II – Cambrios Technologies, Mountain View, CA (1/05 – 8/05)
 Performed phage display screens to identify protein sequences with high affinity for inorganic molecules.
 Collaborated with team to optimize assays for high throughput in 96 well format.
 Worked with team in design of protein sequence database.
Research Assistant II – Exelixis, Translational Genetics Dept., South San Francisco, CA (7/01 – 6/04)
 Developed, optimized, and implemented multiple assays using Zebrafish as a model to look at various
therapeutic processes.
 Performed skills including compound microscopy with fluorescence and image analysis software, PCR,
subcloning, Zebrafish embryo injections and scoring of phenotypes, fixing and staining of fish samples, cell
ablation laser, and In Situ Hybridizations.
 Managed and expanded large-scale fish facility.
 Planned and organized genetic screening with Drosophila fruit fly to develop mutational knock out kit.
ADDITIONAL RESEARCH AND TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Research Assistant – UCSB, Genetics and Molecular Biology, Santa Barbara, CA (4/99 – 12/00)
 Worked under the supervision of Dr. Stephen Poole. Awarded Summer Research fellowship (2000).
 Completed Genetic and Molecular biology work with Drosophila Melanogaster.
 Performed skills including In Situ hybridization, Blots (Southern, Northern, and Western), Protein
purification, subcloning, sample prep for sequencing, tissue culture and sterile technique, handling
radioisotopes, and fly genetic screens.
Group Tutor – UCSB, Organic Chemistry, Santa Barbara, CA (10/99 – 4/00) (10/00 – 12/00)
 Worked as both an individual and group tutor for the first and second quarters of Organic Chemistry.
 Prepared lessons, review sessions, handouts, and practice exams for students.
Teaching Assistant – UCSB, Biochemistry, Santa Barbara, CA (10/00 – 12/00)
 Assistant for the first quarter of General Biochemistry, the chemistry of proteins and enzyme catalysis.
 Prepared discussion lectures, graded exams, and worked with students one-on-one during office hours.
Research Assistant – UCSB, Organic Chemistry, Santa Barbara, CA (1/00 – 4/00)
 Performed organic synthesis of ligands for conjugation to quantum dots.
 Implemented multi-step synthesis for medium scale reactions and purifications.
PUBLICATIONS
1) Thibault, S.T., Singer, M.A., Killpack, K., et al. 2004 “A complementary transposon tool kit for Drosophila
melanogaster using P and piggyBac.” Nature Genetics 36, 283 – 287.
2) Parks, A.L., Singer, M.A., Curtis, D., Killpack, K., et al. 2004 “Systematic Generation of high-resolution
deletion coverage of the Drosophila melanogaster genome.” Nature Genetics 36, 288-292.
COMPUTER SKILLS
Proficient in both Mac and PC platforms: Filemaker Pro, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, sequence analysis software,
PCR primer design and genome browsing tools.