University of Pittsburgh

Robert Andrew Baldock, PhD

Postdoctoral Associate





	
	


			

		Dr. Robert Baldock	
		

		

	
Contact

    		

		r.baldock@pitt.edu	
		

		
			

		412-623-3227	
		

		
	
	
	    

    
    
   
    
   
    
    		

		
2.35 UPCI Research Pavillion
5117 Centre Avenue
	
		

	    
    
   
   
   
   
   
   
    
    
	
	
	
			

		Pittsburgh, PA 15232	
		

		
		
	



	
Education
	
	

	
PhD in Biochemistry, University of Sussex (UK), 2016
BSc with Honors in Molecular Medicine, University of Sussex (UK), 2012
        

              
   
  
 
 	
Research Summary
	
	

	
Double-strand breaks (DSBs) are some of the most dangerous and detrimental DNA lesions that can cause genomic instability and potentially lead to the development of cancer. DSBs can be repaired using a number of specialized repair mechanisms such as Homologous Recombination (HR). HR is a high-fidelity DSB repair mechanism that requires a homologous template for repair. During HR, the process of finding and utilizing a homologous repair template in cells is orchestrated by the formation of a RAD51-nucleoprotein filament. RAD51 filament formation is aided by the RAD51 paralogs, proteins that structurally resemble RAD51. My research aims to determine the function(s) of these paralogs in the repair process and to identify factors that regulate their function to maintain genomic stability. 
	
	




  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
         
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
 
 
   
   
















        









	
Research Lab Affiliation
	
	

	Bernstein Lab	
	










	
Why I Chose Pitt
	
	

	
University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI) is an environment devoted to understanding cancer with the vision of developing novel therapeutics and identifying genetic risk factors that could be used accurately predict and successfully treat this disease. To aid this process of discovery, the UPCI also has access to the Center for Biologic Imaging, one of the largest microscopy facilities in the country.  I believe continuing my research at the University of Pittsburgh will provide both unique and exciting opportunities to acquire new skills and techniques, as well as allowing me to broaden my professional network. 
	
	




	
Publications
	
	

	
Jongjitwimol J; Baldock R.A; Morley S.J. and Watts F.Z. (2016) Sumoylation of eIF4A2 affects stress granule formation. J Cell Sci. 129: 2407-2415. |  View Abstract
Densham R.M; Garvin A.J; Stone H.R; Strachan J; Baldock R.A; Daza-Martin M; Fletcher A; Blair-Reid S; Beesley J; Johal B; Pearl L.H; Neely R; Keep N.H; Watts F.Z. and Morris J.R. (2016) Human BRCA1-BARD1 ubiquitin ligase activity counteracts chromatin barriers to DNA resection. Nat Struct Mol Biol. 23: 647-655. |  View Abstract
Baldock R.A; Day M; Wilkinson O.J; Cloney R; Jeggo P.A; Oliver A.W; Watts F.Z. and Pearl L.H. (2015) ATM Localization and Heterochromatin Repair Depend on Direct Interaction of the 53BP1-BRCT2 Domain with gammaH2AX. Cell Rep. 13: 2081-2089. |  View Abstract
Watts F.Z; Baldock R; Jongjitwimol J. and Morley S.J. (2014) Weighing up the possibilities: Controlling translation by ubiquitylation and sumoylation. Translation (Austin). 2: e959366. |  View Abstract
Jongjitwimol J; Feng M; Zhou L; Wilkinson O; Small L; Baldock R; Taylor D.L; Smith D; Bowler L.D; Morley S.J. and Watts F.Z. (2014) The S. pombe translation initiation factor eIF4G is Sumoylated and associates with the SUMO protease Ulp2. PLoS One. 9: e94182. |  View Abstract