CV

Curriculum Vitae: Caitlin M Kirkwood

EDUCATION

Doctor of Philosophy, Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Expected August 2014

Bachelor of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering
Minor: Chemistry
April 2009

AWARDS

Ruth Kirchstein NRSA Predoctoral Fellow, NIA: Vilip1 in Alzheimer disease and psychosis, Laboratory of Robert A. Sweet, M.D., January 2013-present.

PUBLICATIONS

Murray P.S., Kirkwood C.M., Ikonomovic M.D., Fish K.N. & Sweet R.A. (2013). Tau phosphorylation is exaggerated in Alzheimer disease with psychosis, The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 21 (3) S80-S81. DOI: 10.1016/j.jagp.2012.12.105

Kirkwood C.M., Ciuchta J., Ikonomovic M.D., Fish K.N., Abrahamson E.E., Murray P.S., Klunk W.E. & Sweet R.A. (2013). Dendritic Spine Density, Morphology, and Fibrillar Actin Content Surrounding Amyloid-β Plaques in a Mouse Model of Amyloid-β Deposition, Journal of Neuropathology & Experimental Neurology, 72 (8) 791-800. DOI: 10.1097/NEN.0b013e31829ecc89

Murray P.S., Kirkwood C.M., Gray M.C., Ikonomovic M.D., Paljug W.R., Abrahamson E.E., Henteleff R.A., Hamilton R.L., Kofler J.K., Klunk W.E. & Lopez O.L. (2012). β-Amyloid 42/40 ratio and kalirin expression in Alzheimer disease with psychosis, Neurobiology of Aging, 33 (12) 2807-2816. DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2012.02.015

POPULAR PRESS

2013

Higher Status, Better Health; Social status alters gene expression. BeingHuman.org

Too Old for Santa Claus? How age affects imagination. BeingHuman.org

The New Science of Cuffing Season; Gene expression modifies monogamy. BeingHuman.org

Tricking Taste Buds but Not the Brain: Artificial Sweeteners Change Brain’s Pleasure Response to Sweet.  Scientific American Mind Guest Blog

ABSTRACTS

C.M. KIRKWOOD, M.L. MACDONALD, P. S. MURRAY, T.A. SCHEMPF, J.K. KOFLER, O.L. LOPEZ, R. A. SWEET. VILIP-1 protein in Alzheimer disease with psychosis postmortem brain tissue. Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting; November 9, 2013; 2013-S-7952-SfN

P. S. MURRAY, C. M. KIRKWOOD, A. V. VATSAVAYI, S. L. ERICKSON, P. PENZES, R. A. SWEET. A mouse model with distinct features of the Alzheimer disease with psychosis phenotype. Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting 2013; November 9, 2013; 2013-S-8385-SfN

R. A. SWEET, C.-W. LIN, L.-C. CHANG, G. C. TSENG, C. M. KIRKWOOD, E. SIBILLE. Age-related alterations in VSNL1 co-expression networks in frontal cortex. Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting 2013; 2013-S-7732-SfN; November 9, 2013

C. M. KIRKWOOD, P. S. MURRAY, T. A. SCHEMPF, S. L. ERICKSON, M. D. IKONOMOVIC, R. A. SWEET. VILIP-1 in Alzheimer disease with psychosis. 13th Annual Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic Research Day; June 6, 2013

C. M. KIRKWOOD, P. S. MURRAY, T. A. SCHEMPF, S. L. ERICKSON, M. D. IKONOMOVIC, R. A. SWEET. VILIP-1 in Alzheimer disease with psychosis. Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting; October 17, 2012; 752.11/F25

P. S. MURRAY, C. M. KIRKWOOD, M. D. IKONOMOVIC, K. N. FISH, R. A. SWEET. Phosphorylated tau and cognition in Alzheimer disease with psychosis. Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting; October 17, 2012; 752.10/F24

C. M. KIRKWOOD, L. J. PERWAS, E.E. ABRAHAMSON, K.N. FISH, M.D. IKONOMOVIC, W.E. KLUNK, R.A. SWEET. Relationship between amyloid plaques and dendritic spine alterations in Alzheimer disease. 12th Annual Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic Research Day; June 7, 2012

P. S. MURRAY, C. M. KIRKWOOD, M. D. IKONOMOVIC, K. N. FISH, R. A. SWEET. Phosphorylated tau and cognition in Alzheimer disease with psychosis. American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry Annual Meeting; March 17, 2012

C. M. KIRKWOOD, L. J. PERWAS, E.E. ABRAHAMSON, K.N. FISH, M.D. IKONOMOVIC, W.E. KLUNK, R.A. SWEET. Relationship between amyloid plaques and dendritic spine alterations in Alzheimer disease. Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting; November 15, 2011; 667.09/O11

P. S. MURRAY, C. M. KIRKWOOD, W. R. PALJUG, E. E. ABRAHAMSON, R. L. HAMILTON, O. L. LOPEZ, K. N. FISH, M. D. IKONOMOVIC, R. A. SWEET. Increased ratio of neocortical soluble amyloid β 42/40 in Alzheimer disease with psychosis. Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting; November 15, 2011; 667.07/O9

C. M. KIRKWOOD, E.E. ABRAHAMSON, K.N. FISH, M.D. IKONOMOVIC, W.E. KLUNK, R.A. SWEET. Dendritic spine alterations and plaque characterization in PSAPP mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease. 11th Annual Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic Research Day; June 2, 2011

C. M. KIRKWOOD, E.E. ABRAHAMSON, K.N. FISH, M.D. IKONOMOVIC, W.E. KLUNK, R.A. SWEET. Dendritic spine alterations and plaque characterization in PSAPP mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease. Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting; November 17, 2010; 746.19/F42

C. M. KIRKWOOD, E.E. ABRAHAMSON, K.N. FISH, M.D. IKONOMOVIC, W.E. KLUNK, R.A. SWEET. Dendritic spine alterations and plaque characterization in PSAPP mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease. 10th Annual Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic Research Day; June 3, 2010

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

Graduate Student Researcher, Pittsburgh Center for Pain Research, Pittsburgh PA
June 2009 – August 2009 

Research Assistant, Zeringue Research Group, Pittsburgh PA
October 2008 – May 2009 

Research Fellow, National Center for Biomedical Engineering Science, Galway Ireland
June 2008 – August 2008                                                                                            

Research Technician, Pittsburgh Development Center, Magee–Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh PA
September 2005 – October 2008

Student Intern, Epidemiology Magee–Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh PA
June 2004 – August 2005

CERTIFICATIONS

Emergency Medical Technician – Basic, Center for Emergency Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
December 2012

COMMITTEES AND PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES

University of Pittsburgh Center for Neuroscience Admissions Committee
Society for Neuroscience
Society of Women Engineers University of Pittsburgh Section; President 2008 – 2009
Society of Women Engineers Region G Conference Committee Chair
Phi Sigma Rho Sorority for Women in Engineering

BLOGGING

2013-present: The Synaptic Scoop