Robert Walker MD, Founder of WP Lab
My name is Robbie (not Bob..not Bobby...). I'm a bioengineering graduate student at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, UT and currently applying for residency in neurological surgery.
Originally from Charleston, WV and grew up with a passion for exploring the world around me. When I'm not at school or tinkering in my garage, you'll find me doing my other two greatest loves-riding my bicycle or playing pipe organ.
I created this website to be a fun way to keep my random projects and adventures organized in one place as well as share what I learn. Hope it brings you as much joy as it does for me.
Favorite Quote:
I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious. -Albert Einstein
Hobbies:
- Pipe organ (JS Bach and F. Mendelssohn are favorites to play)
- Classical piano (Romantic era is my favorite to play, Rachmaninoff in particular)
- Clarinet (Actively play in small groups and orchestras such as NIH Philharmonia)
- Triathlon (Olympic and Ironman Distances)
- Cycling (Road and Mountain)
- Long distance running (trail and road)
- Hobby electronic engineering (love tinkering)
- Skiing (Alpine and just started Cross-country and love it!)
- Tennis (Singles....doubles not my forte haha)
- Astronomy (Evening telescope adventures with my signature hot chocolate)
Education and Training:
MS, Bioengineering, Thesis emphasis Bio-innovation, University of Utah, expected May 2019
MD, Howard University College of Medicine, June 2018
IRTA Predoctoral Fellow Surgical Neurology, NIH/NINDS, July 2016
IRTA Post-Baccalaureate Fellow, Molecular Biophysics, NIH/NHLBI, July 2011
B.S., Biophysics & Honors Program, summa cum laude La Sierra Univerity, June 2010
High School Diploma, valedictorian Cross Lanes Christian School, May 2006
Publications:
Robert L. Walker and Jennifer C. Lee, (2011) Membrane interactions of apolipoprotein C-III probed by tryptophan fluorescence. 2011 Biophysical Society Meeting Abstracts. Biophysical Journal, Supplement, 100 (3), Abstract, p. 508a See Publication
Robert L. Walker, Candace M. Pfefferkorn, Yi He, Jennifer C. Lee, (2012) Tryptophan probes at the apolipoprotein C-III and membrane interface. 2012 Biophysical Society Meeting Abstracts. Biophysical Journal, Supplement 1, 102 (3), p77a See Publication
Johnny D. Figueroa, Kathia Cordero, Keisha Baldeosingh, Aranza I. Torrado, Robert L. Walker, Jorge D. Miranda, and Marino De Leon (2012) Docosahexaenoic acid pretreatment confers protection and functional improvements after acute spinal cord injury. J. Neurotrauma. 29(3): 551-566 PMID: 21970623 See Publication
Candace M. Pfefferkorn, Robert L. Walker, Yi He, James M. Gruschus, Jennifer C. Lee (2015) Tryptophan probes reveal residue-specific phospholipid interactions of apolipoprotein C-III. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta-Biomembranes 1848 (11 PtA): 2821-2828 PMID: 26301570 See Publication
Xong-Xing Zhou MD PhD, Robert Walker BS, David Katz MD, Roger Weir MD, and Annapurni Jayam-Trouth MD FAAN FANA FAAP (2017) Varicella-zoster virus reactivation resulting in stroke ad progressive outer retinal necrosis: Case report and literature review. EC Neurology 6(5): 238-242 See Publication
Robert L. Walker III, Gautam Mehta, Carmen Brewer, Ashok Asthagiri, Jeffrey Kim, John Butman, Prashant Chittiboina (2017) MRI FLAIR hyperintensity in labyrinth is a predictive biomarker for hearing loss in neurofibromatosis type 2 patients with small vestibular schwannoma. J. Neurosurg 126 (4), p. A1399 See Publication
Jessica D. Flynn PhD, Ryan P. McGlinchey PhD, Robert L. Walker III, and Jennifer C. Lee PhD (2018) Structural features of α-synuclein amyloid fibrils revealed by Raman spectroscopy. J. Biol Chem 293(3): 767-776 PMID: 29191831 See Publication *January 19, 2018 Issue Cover Page of Journal of Biological Chemistry. **Highlight JBC Special Virtual Issue "Amyloids, prions and protein oligomers" March 2018
Alvin T deTorres , Carmen Brewer, Christopher Zalewski, Kelly King, Robert L. Walker, Ashok Asthagiri, Prashant Chittiboina, Jeffrey Kim (2018) Audiologic Natural History of Small Volume Cochleovestibular Schwannomas in Neurofibromatosis Type 2. Otol & Neurotol 39(3): 357-364 PMID: 29342057 See Publication
Alvin T deTorres, Robert L. Walker et. al. Audiometric and radiologic associations with auditory brainstem response in treatment-naïve small volume cochleovestibular schwannomas in neurofibromatosis type 2. Submitted 2018 to Otology & Neurotology