B.A. (cum laude) in Biochemistry, Olivet College, Olivet, Michigan, 1986. Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio, 1991. Postdoctoral fellowship, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland, 1992-1996. Assistant Professor, The University of Texas at Houston Medical School, Houston, Texas, 1998-2004. Adjunct Assistant Professor, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 2002-2005. Associate Professor, The University of Texas at Houston Medical School, Houston, Texas, 2004-2005. Professor and Chair, The University of Texas at El Paso, Department of Biological Sciences, 2005-present.

• Office of Research and Sponsored Projects Millionaire Research Award - ORSP (01/01/2018-12/31/2018)
• Office of Research and Sponsored Projects Millionaire Research Award - ORSP (01/01/2017-12/31/2017)
• Office of Research and Sponsored Projects Millionaire Research Award - ORSP (01/01/2016-12/31/2016)
• Office of Research and Sponsored Projects Millionaire Research Award - ORSP (01/01/2015-12/31/2015)
• Office of Research and Sponsored Projects Millionaire Research Award - ORSP (01/01/2014-12/31/2014)
• Outstanding leadership and mentoring - ORSP (01/01/2014-12/31/2014)
• Office of Research and Sponsored Projects Millionaire Research Award - ORSP (01/01/2013-12/31/2013)
• Office of Research and Sponsored Projects Millionaire Research Award - Office of Research and Sponsored Projects (01/01/2012-12/31/2012)
• Office of Research and Sponsored Projects Outstanding Performance Award 2012 - Office of Research and Sponsored Projects (01/01/2012-12/31/2012)
• Symposium Chair Award - BIT's 3rd Annual World DNA and Genome Day (04/27/2012)
• UTEP Office of Research and Sponsored Projects Award for Outstanding Performance in securing Extramural Funding (08/01/2011-08/31/2011)
• Award for Outstanding Performance in Securing Extramural Funding and Faculty Mentoring - UTEP Office of Research and Sponsored Projects (08/31/2010)
• Young Investigator Travel Award - American Society of Transplant Surgeons (01/01/1999-12/31/1999)
• Intramural Research Training Assistantship Award - National Institutes of Health (01/01/1995-12/31/1995)
• Intramural Research Training Assistantship Award - National Institutes of Health (01/01/1994-12/31/1994)
• Intramural Research Training Assistantship Award - National Institutes of Health (01/01/1993-12/31/1993)
• Intramural Research Training Assistantship Award - National Institutes of Health (01/01/1992-12/31/1992)
• Graduate Student Research Lecture Award, Wright State University - Sigma Xi (01/01/1987-12/31/1987)
• Commencement Speaker - Olivet College (01/01/1986-12/31/1986)
• Student Research Award, Olivet College - American Institute of Chemists (01/01/1986-12/31/1986)
• President, Olivet College Chapter of the ACS - American Chemical Society (01/01/1985-12/31/1985)
• Presidential Scholar Award for Academic Excellence - Olivet College (01/01/1985-12/31/1985)
• Student Senate Representative - Olivet College (01/01/1985-12/31/1985)
• Presidential Scholar Award for Academic Excellence - Olivet College (01/01/1984-12/31/1984)
• Student Senate Representative - Olivet College (01/01/1984-12/31/1984)
• Presidential Scholar Award for Academic Excellence - Olivet College (01/01/1983-12/31/1983)
• Presidential Scholar Award for Academic Excellence - Olivet College (01/01/1982-12/31/1982)

• Cytokine Molecular Mechanisms Section, National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute (1996)
• Ph D in Biomedical Sciences, Wright State University (1991)
• BA in Biochemistry, Olivet College (1986)

• Phosphorylation of Tyrosine 841 Plays a Significant Role in JAK3 Activation Life 13 4 (2023), Shengjie Sun, Georgialina Rodriguez, Yixin Xie, Wenhan Guo, Alan E. Lopez Hernandez, Jason E. Sanchez, Robert A. Kirken, Lin Li.
• JAK1 Pseudokinase V666G Mutant Dominantly Impairs JAK3 Phosphorylation and IL-2 Signaling International Journal of Molecular Sciences 24 7 (2023), Alice H. Grant, Alejandro C. Rodriguez, Omar J. Rodriguez Moncivais, Shengjie Sun, Lin Li, Ming-Ying Leung, Robert A. Kirken, Georgialina Rodriguez.
• Rapid shift from SARS-Cov-2 Delta to Omicron sub-variants within a dynamic southern U.S. borderplex Viruses (2023), Elisa Robles, Jonathon E. Mohl, Lisett Contreras, Ana P. Betancourt, Bibiana M. Mancera, Robert A. Kirken, Georgialina Rodriguez.
• Rapid Shift from SARS-CoV-2 Delta to Omicron Sub-Variants within a Dynamic Southern U.S. Borderplex. Viruses 15 3 (2023), E Robles-Escajeda, Jonathon E. Mohl, L Contreras, A P. Betancourt, Bibiana M. Mancera, Robert A. Kirken, Georgialina Rodriguez.
• Identification of a Unique Cytotoxic Thieno[2,3-c]Pyrazole Derivative with Potent and Selective Anticancer Effects In Vitro. Biology 11 6 (2022), J D. Hess, L H. Macias, D A. Gutierrez, K Moran-Santibanez, L Contreras, S Medina, P J. Villanueva, Robert A. Kirken, A Varela-Ramirez, M L. Penichet, Renato Aguilera.
• Identification of a Potent Cytotoxic Pyrazole with Anti-Breast Cancer Activity That Alters Multiple Pathways Cells 11 2 (2022), Denisse A. Gutierrez, Lisett Contreras, Paulina J. Villanueva, Edgar A. Borrego, Karla Morán-Santibañez, Jessica D. Hess, Rebecca DeJesus, Manuel Larragoity, Ana P. Betancourt, Jonathon E. Mohl, Elisa Robles-Escajeda, Khodeza Begum, Sourav Roy, Robert A. Kirken, Armando Varela-Ramirez, Renato Aguilera.
• Identification of a Potent Cytotoxic Pyrazole with Anti-Breast Cancer Activity That Alters Multiple Pathways Cells (2022), Robert A. Kirken, Denisse A. Gutierrez, Lisett Contreras, Paulina J. Villanueva, Edgar A. Borrego, Karla Morán-Santibañez, Jessica D. Hess, Rebecca DeJesus, Manuel Larragoity, Ana P. Betancourt, Jonathon E. Mohl, Elisa Robles-Escajeda, Khodeza Begum, Sourav Roy, Armando Varela-Ramirez, Renato J. Aguilera.
• Identification of a Potent Cytotoxic Pyrazole with Anti-Breast Cancer Activity That Alters Multiple Pathways Cells 11 2 (2022), Denisse A. Gutierrez, Lisett Contreras, Paulina J. Villanueva , Edgar A. Borrego, Karla Morán-Santibañez, Jessica D. Hess, Rebecca DeJesus, Manuel Larragoity , Ana P. Betancourt, Jonathon E. Mohl , Elisa Robles-Escajeda, Khodeza Begum, Sourav Roy, Robert A. Kirken, Armando Varela-Ramirez, Renato J. Aguilera.
• Identification of a Potent Cytotoxic Pyrazole with Anti-Breast Cancer Activity That Alters Multiple Pathways. Cells 11 2 (2022), D A. Gutierrez, L Contreras, P J. Villanueva, E A. Borrego, K Morán-Santibañez, J D. Hess, R DeJesus, M Larragoity, A P. Betancourt, Jonathon E. Mohl, E Robles-Escajeda, K Begum, Sourav Roy, Robert A. Kirken, A Varela-Ramirez, Renato Aguilera.
• The SARS-CoV-2 origin dilemma: Zoonotic transfer or laboratory leak? BioEssays (2021), Blanca E. Ruiz-Medina, Armando Varela-Ramirez, Robert A. Kirken, Elisa Robles-Escajeda.
• Quadruple and Truncated MEK3 Mutants Identified from Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Promote Degradation and Enhance Proliferation International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2021), Yoshira M. Ayala-Marin, Alice H. Grant, Robert A. Kirken.
• Phosphorylation of CrkL S114 induced by common gamma chain cytokines and T-cell receptor signal transduction. Scientific Reports 11 1695 (2021), Armando Estrada, Alejandro C. Rodriguez, Georgialina Rodriguez, Alice H. Grant, Yoshira M. Ayala-Marin, Amy J. Arrieta, Robert A. Kirken.
• The Genomic Landscape of a Restricted ALL Cohort from Patients Residing on the U.S./Mexico Border International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18 14 (2021), Alice Hernandez Grant, Yoshira M. Ayala-Marin, Jonathon E. Mohl, Elisa Robles Escajeda, Georgialina Rodriguez, Julie Dutil, Robert A. Kirken.
• The Many Faces of JAKs and STATs Within the COVID-19 Storm Frontiers in Immunology 12:690477 (2021), Alice H. Grant, Armando Estrada, Yoshira M. Ayala-Marin, America Y. Alvidrez-Camacho, Georgialina Rodriguez, Elisa Robles Escajeda, Denisse A. Cadena-Medina, Alejandro C. Rodriguez, Robert A. Kirken.
• Immunodiagnostic Biomarkers for Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC): The First Step in Detection and Treatment. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2021), Mengtao Xing, Xinzhi Wang, Robert A. Kirken, Ling He, Jian-Ying Zhang.
• Pharmacodynamic biomarkers in metronomic chemotherapy: Multiplex cytokine measurements in gastrointestinal cancer patients Clinical and Experimental Medicine (2021), Paloma Valenzuela, Derrick Oaxaca, Teresa Di Desidero, Karla Parra, Georgialina Rodriguez, Marian M. Manciu, Giacomo Allegrini, Alfredo Falcone, , Guido Bocci, Robert A. Kirken, , Giulio Francia.
• Pharmacodynamic biomarkers in metronomic chemotherapy: multiplex cytokine measurements in gastrointestinal cancer patients Clinical and Experimental Medicine (2020), Paloma Valenzuela, Derrick Oaxaca, Teresa D. Desidero, Robert A. Kirken.
• Bif-1 Interacts with Prohibitin-2 To Regulate Mitochondrial Inner Membrane During Cell Stress and Apoptosis. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (2019), Robert A. Kirken, S-G. Cho, X. Xiao, X. Wang, H. Gao, R. Rafikov, S. Black, S. Huang, H. Ding, Y. Yoon, X. Yin, H. Wang, Z. Dong.
• Green Barley Mitigates Cytotoxicity in Human Lymphocytes Undergoing Aggressive Oxidative Stress, Via Activation of Both the Lyn/PI3K/Akt and MAPK/ERK Pathways. Scientific Reports (2019), Robert A. Kirken, Blanca E. Ruiz-Medina, Dennise Lerma, Michael Hwang, Jeremy A. Ross, Rachid Skouta, Renato J. Aguilera, Armando Varela-Ramirez, Elisa Robles-Escajeda.
• Green barley mitigates cytotoxicity in human lymphocytes undergoing aggressive oxidative stress, via activation of both the Lyn/PI3K/Akt and MAPK/ERK pathways. Scientific reports 9 1 (2019), B E. Ruiz-Medina, Daniela Lerma, M Hwang, Jeremy Ross, Rachid Skouta, Renato Aguilera, Robert A. Kirken, A Varela-Ramirez, E Robles-Escajeda.
• Green barley mitigates cytotoxicity in human lymphocytes undergoing aggressive oxidative stress, via activation of both the Lyn/PI3K/Akt and MAPK/ERK pathways. Scientific reports 9 1 (2019), B E. Ruiz-Medina, Daniela Lerma, M Hwang, Jeremy Ross, Rachid Skouta, Renato Aguilera, Robert A. Kirken, A Varela-Ramirez, E Robles-Escajeda.
• Olfactory Receptor Family 7 Subfamily C Member 1 as a potential prognostic marker for pediatric T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients The FASEB Journal 33 S1 (2019), Haidar Ahmed, Juan S. Espinoza, Dayoung Jeon, Alexia Jauregui, Charles A. Bill, Zachary Parada, David Paz, Alice Hernandez, Robert A. Kirken, Colin A. Bill, Charlotte Vines.
• Integration of a Personalized Molecular Targeted Therapy into the Multimodal Treatment of Refractory Childhood Embryonal Tumor with Multilayered Rosettes (ETMR). Case Reports in Oncology (2019), Robert A. Kirken, L.R. Hartman, D.M. Oaxaca, B. Carcamo, H.L. Wilson, J.A. Ross, E. Robles-Escajeda.
• Integration of a Personalized Molecular Targeted Therapy into the Multimodal Treatment of Refractory Childhood Embryonal Tumor with Multilayered Rosettes (ETMR). Case reports in oncology 12 1 (2019), Hartman LLR, D M. Oaxaca, B Carcamo, Harry L. Wilson, Jeremy Ross, Elisa Robles Escajeda, Robert A. Kirken.
• The Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) Translational Research Network: Building and Sustaining Capacity for Multi-Site Basic Biomedical, Clinical and Behavioral Research (2019), Robert A. Kirken, E.O. Ofili, P.B. Tchounwou, E. Fernandez-Repollet, R. Yanagihara, T.H. Akintobi, J.E. Lee , M. Malouhi, S.T. Garner Jr., T.T. Hayes, A.R. Baker, A.L. Dent, M. Abdelrahim, L. Rollins, S.P. Chang , A. Sy, B.Y. Hernandez , P.L. Bullard, R.J. Noel Jr., B. Shiramizu, J.R. Hedges, M.J. Berry , V.C. Bond, M.F. Lima, N. Mokuau , M. Cruz-Correra , D.F. Sarpong , J. Vadgama, C. Yates, S.A Kahn, K.F. Soliman, G. Perry, M. Pezzano, C.A. Luciano, M.E. Barnett, A. Oyekan, D. Kumar, K.C. Norris.
• Optimization of biomarkers-based classification scores as progression free survival predictors: an intuitive graphical representation Future Science Open Access 4 10 (2018), Marian M. Manciu, Sorour Hosseini, Teresa Desidero, Giacomo Allegrini, Alfredo Falcone, Guido Bocci, Robert A. Kirken, Giulio Francia, , , .
• Optimization of biomarkers-based classification scores as progression free survival predictors: an intuitive graphical representation Future Science Open Access 4 10 (2018), Marian M. Manciu, Sorour Hosseini, Teresa Desidero, Giacomo Allegrini, Alfredo Falcone, Guido Bocci, Robert A. Kirken, Giulio Francia, , , .
• Exploration of Nanoparticle-Mediated Photothermal Effect of TMB-H2O2 Colorimetric System and Its Application in a Visual Quantitative Photothermal Immunoassay. Annals of Chemistry 90 9 (2018), G Fu, S T. Sanjay, W Zhou, R A. Brekken, Robert A. Kirken, X Li.
• Isoproterenol induced beta-2 adrenergic receptor activation negatively regulates interleukin-2 signaling. Biochem J. (2018), B E. Ruiz-Medina, D A. Cadena-Medina, E Esparza, A J. Arrieta, Robert A. Kirken.

• UTEP U54 Program Overview (2024), Volume Bethesda, MD, Robert A. Kirken.
• Identification of novel tyrosine phosphorylation sites within the pseudokinase and kinase domains of the T-cell leukemia oncogenic JAK1 V658F mutant protein (2023), Volume El Paso, TX, Robert A. Kirken, V. Estrada, O. J. Rodriguez-Moncivais, L. Teran-Rodriguez, B. Fernandez, G. Rodriguez.
• Development of Adenosine Receptor Over-Expressing Human Leukemia Cell Line (2023), Volume El Paso, TX, Robert A. Kirken, L. Teran-Rodriguez, G. Rodriguez.
• Identification of novel tyrosine phosphorylation sites within the pseudokinase and kinase domains of the T-cell leukemia oncogenic JAK1 V658F mutant protein (2023), Volume El Paso, TX, Robert A. Kirken, V. Estrada, O. J. Rodriguez-Moncivais, L. Teran-Rodriguez, B. Fernandez, G. Rodriguez.
• Concurrent Session II-E: RCMI CC Multi Site Collaborations and Equitable Breakthroughs in Medicine Development (2023), Volume Bethesda, MD, Robert A. Kirken.
• CRKL Association with Common Gamma Chain Receptors (2023), Volume Bethesda, MD, Robert A. Kirken, B. Fernandez Marrero, V. H. Estrada, G. Rodriguez.
• JAK1 V666G Mutant Impairs IL-2 Signaling in Leukemia (2023), Volume Bethesda, MD, Robert A. Kirken, O. J. Rodriguez Moncivais, A. H. Grant, A. C. Rodriguez, S. Sun, L. Lin, J. E. Mohl, M-Y Leung, G. Rodriguez.
• JAK3 pS449 is induced by IL-2 and IL-15 Cytokines (2023), Volume Bethesda, MD, Robert A. Kirken, L. A. Teran-Rodriguez, G. Rodriguez.
• Structural-Functional Analysis of JAK3 Y841 Phosphorylation (2023), Volume Bethesda, MD, Robert A. Kirken, S. A. Chavez, O. J. Rodriguez Moncivais, G. S. Martinez, S. Sun, W. Guo, Y. Xie, L. Li, C. Xiao, G. Rodriguez.
• JAK3 Y841 autophosphorylation is critical for kinase domain stability and dimer formation (2023), Volume San Angelo, TX, Robert A. Kirken, O. J. Rodriguez-Moncivais, G. S. Martinez, O. D. Negrete, S. Sun, W. Guo, Y. Xie, L. Li, A. Lazarski, C. Xiao, J. A. Ross, G. Rodriguez.
• Mining the Human Kinome for Druggable Cancer Targets (2023), Volume Ciudad de Panamá, Panamá, Robert A. Kirken, .
• UTEP's Effort to Address Cancer Health Disparities in the Paso Del Norte Region (2022), Volume El Paso, TX, Robert A. Kirken.
• Phosphoproteomic Analysis of Janus Kinase 3 (2022), Robert A. Kirken, C. Bencomo, G. Rodriguez.
• Characterization of Jak3 SH2 Domain Serine Phosphorylation (2022), Robert A. Kirken, A. Y. Alvidrez-Camacho, G. Rodriguez, D. F. Diaz, D. Armendariz, A. H. Grant, H. Pena, X. Chuan.
• Cross-talk between γc-JAK3 and Adenosine Receptor Pathways (2022), Robert A. Kirken, C. Quintana, G. Rodriguez, A. Y. Alvidrez-Camacho, S. A. Chavez.
• Phosphoproteomic Analysis of JAK3 (2022), Robert A. Kirken, C. Bencomo, G. Rodriguez, S. A. Chavez.
• Phosphotyrosine-γc Facilitates CrkL-IL2 Signaling Cascade (2022), Robert A. Kirken, O. J. Rodriguez-Moncivias, G. Rodriguez, Y. M. Ayala-Marin, A. Estrada-III.
• Psuedokinase Mutation HiJAKs Tyr Phosphorylation (2022), Robert A. Kirken, E. Robles, A. H. Grant, G. Rodriguez, A. C. Rodriguez, A. Lazarski, J. E. Mohl, M-Y Leung.
• Structure-Function of Novel JAK Autophosphorylation Sites (2022), Robert A. Kirken, G. Rodriguez, G. S. Martinez, O. D. Negrete, S. Sun, W. Guo, Y. Xie, L. Li, A. Lazarski, C. Xiao, J. A. Ross.
• JAK3: Past, Present, and Future (2021), Volume New Mexico State University, Robert A. Kirken.
• COVID Q & A (2021), Volume El Paso, TX, USA, Chuan Xiao, Robert , Manuel Llano, Keith H. Pannell.
• Regulation of Common Gamma Chain and JAK3 Pathway Signaling by Adenosine Receptor Cross-talk (2021), Volume Houston, Texas, Robert A. Kirken, A. Y. Alvidrez-Camacho, G. Rodriguez, C. Bencomo.
• Establishing a Mechanism of Tumor Evasion Through Adenosine Receptor Cross-talk with Common Gamma Chain Signing in Immune Cells (2021), Volume Virtual Symposium, Robert A. Kirken, A. Y. Alvidrez-Camacho, G. Rodriguez, C. Bencomo.
• Elucidation of Tyrosine Phosphorylation Sites within IL2-Ryc Using Customized Phospho-Specific Antibodies (2021), Volume El Paso, TX, Robert A. Kirken, K. Damian, Y. M. Ayala-Marin, G. Rodriguez.
• Adenosine is a Potential Cross-Regulator of IL-2 Receptor Signaling in Immune Cells (2019), Volume El Paso, TX, Robert A. Kirken, J. S. Joshua, G. Rodriguez, C. Bencomo, D. F. Diaz.
• Adenosine is a Potential Cross-Regulator of IL-2 Receptor Signaling in Immune Cells (2019), Volume El Paso, Texas, Robert A. Kirken, J.S. Joshua, G. Rodriguez, C. Bencomo, D. F. Diaz.
• Detection of Human Jak3 Serine Phosphorylation in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (2019), Volume El Paso, Texas, Robert A. Kirken, D. F. Diaz, G. Rodriguez, C. Xiao.
• Development of Novel Jak3 Phosphoserine Antibodies for the Study of Kinase Regulation (2019), Volume El Paso, Texas, Robert A. Kirken, C. Bencomo, G. Rodriguez, X. Wang, J.S. Joshua.
• Common Gamma Chain Cytokine Inducible Jak3 S449 Phosphorylation is Mediated by the PI3K Pathway (2019), Volume El Paso, TX, Robert A. Kirken, D.F. Diaz, K.A. Ahumada, G. Rodriguez.
• Identification of Novel Phospho-Regulatory Sites within the Common Gamma Chain (γc) and Their Role in Immune Function (2019), Volume El Paso, TX, Robert A. Kirken, K. Damian , Y. M. Ayala-Marin , G. Rodriguez .
• Elucidation of Tyrosine Phosphorylation Sites within IL2-Ryc Using Customized Phospho-Specific Antibodies (2019), Volume El Paso, TX, Robert A. Kirken, K. Damian, Y. M. Ayala-Marin, G. Rodriguez.
• Optimization of biomarkers-based classification scores as Progression Free Survival predictors: An intuitive graphical representation (2018), Volume Grand Rapids, Michigan, Marcos Amendariz, Karla Parra, Paloma Valenzuela, Sorour Hosseini, Teresa Di Desidero, Giacomo Allegrini, Alfredo Falcone, Guido Bocci, Robert A. Kirken, Giulio Francia, Marian M. Manciu.
• Optimization of biomarkers-based classification scores as Progression Free Survival predictors: An intuitive graphical representation (2018), Volume Grand Rapids, Michigan, Marcos Amendariz, Karla Parra, Paloma Valenzuela, Sorour Hosseini, Teresa Di Desidero, Giacomo Allegrini, Alfredo Falcone, Guido Bocci, Robert A. Kirken, Giulio Francia, Marian M. Manciu.
• A regulatory role for serine phosphorylation within the tyrosine kinase Jak3 (2018), Volume El Paso, TX, Robert A. Kirken, J. Hernandez, D.F. Diaz, G. Rodriguez.
• Common gamma chain cytokines regulate serine phosphorylation of Janus Tyrosine Kinase (2018), Volume El Paso, TX, Robert A. Kirken, D.F. Diaz, D. Armendariz, G. Rodriguez.

• Implementing Community-based Approaches to Increase SARS-CoV-2 Testing among an Underserved and Vulnerable Hispanic Population
• Border Biomedical Research Center - Research Infrastructure Core (RIC)
• BBRC Bridge Funding
• Border Biomedical Research Center

No info available.