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Richard Kidd

Photo of Richard Kidd

Address:

4800 Oak Grove Drive
M/S 183-301

Pasadena, CA 91109

Phone:

818.393.0409

Fax:

818.393.4445

Curriculum Vitae:

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Member of:

Affiliates

Education

  • B.S., Genetics, University of California at Davis (1987)
  • Ph.D., Molecular and Cell Biology, The Pennsylvania State University (1996)

Professional Experience

  • Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California (2004-Present)
    • Discipline Program Manager for Exobiology and LARS Programs (2012-Present)
    • Research Scientist, Planetary Chemistry and Astrobiology Group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory (2008-present)
    • Cognizant Engineer, Pre-Concentrator/Gas Chromatograph, Vehicle Cabin Atmosphere Monitor (2007-2010)
    • Scientist, Astrobiology Research Group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory (2004-2008)
  • Honorary Research Fellow, Dept. of Biochemistry, University College London, UK (2002-2004)
  • Senior Scientist, Target Discovery, Inpharmatica Ltd., United Kingdom (2002-2003)
  • Senior Research Officer, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, Australia (2001-2002)
  • Research Fellow, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland, New Zealand (1998-2001)
  • Postdoctoral Scholar, Department of Veterinary Science, The Pennsylvania State University (1996-1997)

Research Interests

  • The design, testing and integration of microfluidic liquid chromatography components for the detection of macromolecules with the eventual goal of developing field and flight instruments.
  • The nature, diversity and evolution of antifreeze biomolecules in cold-adapted micro-organisms, as well as their longevity in the geologic record.
  • The use of X-ray diffraction/spectroscopy to study the chemical and structural biosignatures of organisms that live in rock and sediment (including ice).

Selected Awards

  • UC Davis College of Biological Sciences Distinguished Alumnus (2014)
  • JPL Team Bonus Award, SHERLOC Proposal Manager Team (2014)
  • JPL Team Bonus Award, VCAM Post-Flight Analysis (2013)
  • JPL Team Bonus Award, SBIR/STTR Technical Monitor Team (2013)
  • JPL Team Bonus Award, SBIR Subtopic Manager Team (2012)
  • NASA Group Achievement Award, Habitat Demonstration Unit (2011)
  • NASA Group Achievement Award, Vehicle Cabin Atmosphere Monitor (2011)
  • JPL Mariner Bonus Award (2008)
  • JPL Mariner Bonus Award (2007)
  • Invited to illustrate the cover of the September 2001 issue of Protein Science.
  • Accepted into the NSF "Integrative Biology and Adaptation of Antarctic Marine Organisms" course, held at McMurdo Station, Ross Island, Antarctica (2001).
  • Elected to Full Life Membership in Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society (1997).
  • Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Nominee for the Pennsylvania State University Graduate Assistant Award for Outstanding Teaching (1994).
  • Recipient of a Life Sciences NASA Space Grant College Fellowship Award, The Pennsylvania State University (1993).
  • Recipient of a UC Davis Alumni Scholarship, The University of California at Davis (1982).

Selected Publications

  1. Madzunkov, S. M., Simcic, J., Kidd, R. D., Bae, B., Scianmarello, N. and Darrach, M. (2014). Implementation and test results on a mass spectrometer and micromachined preconcentrator and gas chromatograph for crewed and robotic space missions. Texas Tech, Electronic ICES-2014-292.
  2. Russell, M. J., Barge, L. M., Bhartia, R., Bocanegra, D., Bracher, P. J., Branscomb, E., Kidd, R. D., McGlynn, S., Meier, D. H., Nitschke, W., Shibuya, T., Vance, S., White, L. and Kanik, I. (2014). The drive to life on wet and icy worlds. Astrobiology 14, 308-343.
  3. Barge, L. M., Kee, T. P., Doloboff, I. J., Hampton, J. M. P., Ismail, M., Pourkashanian, M., Zeytounian, J., Baum, M. M., Moss, J. A., Lin, C.-K., Kidd, R. D. and Kanik, I. (2014). The fuel cell model of abiogenesis: a new approach to origin-of-life simulations. Astrobiology 14, 254-270.
  4. Barge, L.M., Doloboff, I.J., Russell, M.J., VanderVelde, D., White, L.M., Baum, M., Zeytounian, J., Kidd, R.D. and Kanik, I. (2014). Pyrophosphate synthesis in iron mineral membranes simulating prebiotic submarine hydrothermal precipitates. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta. 128, 1-12.
  5. Madzunkov, S. M., MacAskill, J. A., Simcic, J., Kidd, R. D. and Darrach, M. (2013). Recent developments in gas chromatographs and mass spectrometers for crewed and robotic space missions. J. Am. Inst. Aeronautics & Astronautics, Electronic 2012-3453.
  6. Coy, S. L. Krylov, E. V., Nazarov, E. G., Fornace Jr., A. J. and Kidd, R. D. (2013). Differential mobility spectrometry with nanospray ion source as a compact detector for small organics and inorganics. Int. J. Ion Mobil. Spec. 16, 217-227.
  7. Darrach, M. R., Chutjian, A., Bornstein, B. .J., Croonquist, A. P., Garkanian, V., Hofman, J., Karmon, D., Kenny, J., Kidd, R. D., Lee, S., MacAskill, J. A., Madzunkov, S. M., Mandrake, Schaefer, R. T. and Toomarian, N. (2012). Trace chemical and major constituents measurements of the International Space Station atmosphere by the Vehicle Cabin Atmosphere Monitor. J. Am. Inst. Aeronautics & Astronautics, Electronic 2012-3432.
  8. Darrach, M. R., Chutjian, A., Bornstein, B. .J., Croonquist, A. P., Garkanian, V., Haemmerle, V. R., Hofman, J., Heinrichs, W. M., Karmon, D., Kenny, J., Kidd, R. D., Lee, S., MacAskill, J. A., Madzunkov, S. M., Mandrake, L., Rust, T. M., Schaefer, R. T., Thomas, J. L. and Toomarian, N. (2011). On-orbit measurements of the ISS atmosphere by the Vehicle Cabin Atmosphere Monitor. J. Am. Inst. Aeronautics & Astronautics, Electronic 2011-5214.
  9. Ehrenfreund, P., Röling, W., Thiel, C., Quinn, R., Septhon, M., Stoker, C., Direito, S., Kotler, M., Martins, Z., Orzechowska, G. E., Kidd, R. D. and Foing, B. F. (2011). Astrobiology and habitability studies in preparation for future Mars missions: trends from investigating minerals, organics and biota. Int. J. Astrobiology 10, 239-253.
  10. Orzechowska, G. E., Kidd, R. D. and Ehrenfreund, P. (2011). Qualitative analysis of soils samples using Solid Phase Microextraction (SPME) and Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS). Int. J. Astrobiology 10, 209-219.
  11. Darrach, M. R., Chutjian, A., Bornstein, B. J., Croonquist, A. P., Garkanian, V., Haemmerle, V. R., Heinrichs, W. M., Karmon, D., Kenny, J., Kidd, R. D., Lee, S., MacAskill, J. A., Madzunkov, S. M., Mandrake, L., Rust, T. M., Schaefer, R. T., Thomas, J. L. and Toomarian, N. (2010). Validation test results from the Vehicle Cabin Atmosphere Monitor. J. Am. Inst. Aeronautics & Astronautics, Electronic 2010-6094.
  12. Mielke, R. E., Wilson, P. R., Coleman, M., Kidd, R. D., Russell, M. J. and Kanik, I. (2010). Design, fabrication and test of a hydrothermal reactor for Origin-Of-Life experiments. Astrobiology 10, 799-810.
  13. Chutjian, A., Darrach, M. R., Bornstein, B. J., Croonquist, A. P., Edgu-Fry, E., Fry, D. J., Garkanian, V., Girard, M. A., Haemmerle, V. R., Heinrichs, W. M., Kidd, R. D., Lee, S., MacAskill, J. A., Mandrake, L., Rust, T. M., Schaefer, R. T., Thomas, J. L., Toomarian, N. & Walch, M. J. (2008). Results from the Vehicle Cabin Atmosphere Monitor: a miniature gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer for trace contamination monitoring on the ISS and Orion. Proc. Int. Conf. Env. Systems, Electronic 2008-01-2045.
  14. Chutjian, A., Bornstein, B. J., Conroy, D. G., Croonquist, A. P., Darrach, M. R., Francis, G. R., Edgu-Fry, E., Fry, D. J., Garkanian, V., Girard, M. A., Haemmerle, V. R., Heinrichs, W. M., Kidd, R. D., MacAskill, J. A., Rust, T. M., Schaefer, R. T., Thomas, J. L., Toomarian, N., Walch, M. J. (2007). Overview of the Vehicle Cabin Atmosphere Monitor, a miniature gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer for trace contamination monitoring on the ISS and CEV. Proc. Int. Conf. Env. Systems, Electronic 2008-01-2045.
  15. Kidd, R. D., Feldman, S. M., Svehla, D., Shakkottai, P. and Choi, D. S. (2006). Nanofluidic size exclusion chromatograph for in situ macromolecular analyses. Astrobiology 6, 258, Abstract 184.
  16. Hollen, S., Strayer, D., Liu, Y., Hays, C., Kidd, R. D. and Israelsson, U. E. (2005). Simulating the Moon's gravity on Earth using magnetic levitation. Space Resources Roundtable VII: LEAG Conference on Lunar Exploration, Abstract 2030.
  17. Harju, E., Kidd, R. D., Bhartia, R. and Conrad, P. G. (2004). Laser-induced native fluorescence detection of organic molecules in hydrothermal vent rocks. Eos Trans. AGU 85(47), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract OS43B-0556.
  18. Wooh, J., Kidd, R. D., Martin, J. L. and Kobe, B. (2003). Comparison of three commercial sparse matrix crystallization screens. Acta Cryst. D59, 769-772.
  19. Baker, E. N., Baker, H. M., Koon, N. and Kidd, R. D. (2002). Lactoferrin: bioactive properties and applications. Bulletin Int. Dairy Fed. 375, 54-58.
  20. Brittain, T., Kidd, R. D. and Baker, E. N. (2002). Electron transfer between cytochrome b5 and some oxidized haemolglobins - the role of ionic strength. J. Inorg. Biochem. 88, 328-334.
  21. Baker, E. N., Baker, H. M. and Kidd, R. D. (2002). Lactoferrin and transferrin: functional variations on a common structural framework. Biochem. and Cell Biology 80, 27-34.
  22. Kidd, R. D., Brittain, T. and Baker, E. N. (2002). A theoretical study of the process of electron transfer between cytochrome b5 and some oxidized haemolglobins. J. Biol. Inorg. Chem. 7, 23-30.
  23. Kidd, R. D., Russell, J. E., Brittain, T. and Baker, E. N. (2001). The role of beta chains in the control of hemoglobin oxygen binding function: chimeric human/mouse proteins, structure and function. Biochemistry 40, 15669-15675.
  24. Kidd, R. D., Baker, H. M., Mathews, A. J., Brittain, T. and Baker, E. N. (2001). Oligomerization and ligand binding in a homotetrameric hemoglobin: two high resolution crystal structures of hemoglobin Bart's, a marker for alpha-thalassemia. Protein Science 10, 1739-1749.
  25. Kidd, R. D., Mathews, A. J., Brittain, T. and Baker, E. N. (2001). Subunit dissociation and reassociation leads to preferential crystallization of hemoglobin Bart's from solutions of human embryonic hemoglobin Portland at low pH. Acta Cryst D57, 921-924.
  26. Kidd, R. D., Baker, H. M., Anderson, B. F., Ivanovich, I., Faber, H. R. and Baker, E. N. (2001). Crystal structure of a form of apo-lactoferrin with both lobes open points to the importance of conformational dynamics in Solution. Crystal XXII Meeting, South Stradbroke Island, Queensland, Australia.
  27. Baker, H. M., Anderson, B. F., Kidd, R. D., Shewry, S. C. and Baker, E. N. (2000). Lactoferrin three-dimensional structure: a framework for interpreting function. in Lactoferrin: Structure, Function and Applications (K. Shimazaki et al., eds), pp. 3-15, Elsevier Science, Amsterdam.
  28. Kidd, R. D. (2000). Crystal structures of hemoglobin Bart's: the carbonmonoxy form at 1.7 A resolution and the azido-met form at 1.86 A resolution. Crystal XXI Meeting, Thredbo, New South Wales, Australia.
  29. Kidd, R. D., Sears, P., Huang, D.-H., Witte, K., Wong, C.-H. and Farber, G. K. (1999). Breaking the low barrier hydrogen bond in a serine protease. Protein Science 8, 410-417.
  30. Staley, M., Zeringue, L. C., Kidd, R. D., Nixon, B. T. and Farber, G. K. (1998). Crystallization and preliminary X-ray studies of the Rhizobium meliloti DctD two-component receiver domain. Acta Cryst. D54, 1416-1418.
  31. Chen, X., Reddanna, P., Reddy, G. R., Kidd, R. D., Hildenbrandt, G. and Reddy, C. C. (1998). Expression, purification and characterization of a recombinant 5-lipoxygenase from potato tuber. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 243, 438-443.
  32. Teo, B., Kidd, R. D., Mack, J., Tiwari, A., Phillips, A. T. and Farber, G. K. (1998). Crystallization and preliminary X-ray studies of L-histidine ammonium lyase from Pseudomonas putida. Acta Cryst. D54, 681-683.
  33. Kidd, R. D., Reddy, G. R., Chen, X., Farber, G. K. and Reddy, C. C. (1997). Cloning, expression and crystallization of 5-lipoxygenase from potato tubers. 17th International Congress of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, San Francisco, CA.
  34. Kidd, R. D., Yennawar, H., Sears, P., Wong, C.-H. and Farber, G. K. (1996). A weak calcium binding site in subtilisin BPN' has a dramatic effect on protein stability. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 118, 1645-1650.
  35. Shi, W., Kidd, R., Giorgianni, F., Schindler, J. F., Viola, R. E. and Farber, G. K. (1993). Crystallization and preliminary X-ray studies of L-aspartase from Escherichia coli. J. Mol. Biol. 234, 1248-1250.