Bryanna Broderick

STUDENT AND RESEARCHER

Phone:

754-302-3920

Email:

bryannabroderick@ufl.edu

Hi! I'm Bryanna!

I'm a third year undergraduate student at the University of Florida on the Pre medical track. I am also involved in research with the UF College of Medicine!

EXPERIENCE

2035-2035

COMPANY NAME

Executive

I am a student at the University of Florida majoring in Microbiology and Cell Science, with a minor in Biomolecular Engineering. My goals are to complete a Masters of Bioengineering, and attend medical school. I have an interest in specializing in Pediatric Oncology.
My research interests include the circadian clock and its functions, multi-organ cross-talk, and physiological hypertension. I investigate this through skills including PCR, RNA isolation, qPCR, and Western blots.

My Research Projects

EDUCATION

Background

Many physiological functions in the body display circadian rhythms, which are controlled by the central clock that resides in the hypothalamus in the brain. This clock affects functions such as hypertension, hormonal output and regulation, cardiovascular disease, and brain function. However, every tissue in the body also has its own peripheral clock. My research within the Gumz lab mainly focuses on the molecular clock mechanisms and the regulation and function of the circadian clock in the kidney and adrenal gland. We work on mouse lines, knocking out one of the core clock proteins, often BMAL1 or PERIOD1, specifically in the kidney or adrenal gland. This mechanism has a positive and negative 'arm' that each inhibit each other, creating the 24 hour oscillation of the circadian rhythm. These mouse lines are being used to analyze the clock mechanism among different tissues. This has allowed us to see that there are not uniform responses to this loss of circadian control, meaning each tissue in the body responds differently, causing us to look into clock cross-talk between the organs. Our lab also looks into sex differences in the circadian clock mechanism.We obtain tissue, urine, and blood samples to isolate and analyze DNA, RNA, and protein.

PI: Dr. Michelle Gumz
UF College of Medicine
Department of Physiology and Aging
May 2023-Present

This project uses a mouse model in which the core protein BMAL1 was knocked out only in the adrenal gland. Our lab then studied the effect of this knockout on kidney function. However, these mice exhibited abnormal eating behaviors, which we believed to be linked to liver function. Many genes in the liver involved in metabolism exhibit robust circadian rhythms. My specific project focuses on the core circadian gene expression in the liver, to determine cross-talk between organs, to determine if the loss of one gene in the adrenal gland would significantly affect organs such as the liver or kidney. I also focus on the sex differences displayed within this data. I found significant differences among multiple circadian genes expressed based on sex, time of day, and genotype.

For this project, I isolated RNA from liver samples obtained by another member of the lab, conducted several qPCR plates, and analyzed and presented data.

This project focuses on investigating the sex differences and the role of gonads and hormones on the circadian clock in the kidney. This model utilizes 4 groups of mice: female gonads and hormones, male gonads and hormones, female gonads with male hormones, and male gonads with female hormones. Hormones, such as estrogen and testosterone, are significantly important to daily physiological function, including that of the circadian rhythm. Isolating either hormones or gonads allows for differentiation of the cause of the sex differences we see of the circadian clock. With this model, we learn why the sex of the animal affects their circadian clock and how.

For this project, I used tissues collected by another member in the lab to make protein lysates, complete BCA assays, conduct Western Blots, and analyze data.

This project took timed tissue from male and female mice in order to compare the circadian transcriptome at different points in the day. This is to sequence and analyze the tissues of the heart, kidney, and adrenal glands. We are looking at sex differences in the way the circadian proteins and genes function and are expressed at different time points, because we have proved previously that time of day significantly changes the function of the central and peripheral clocks. I am focusing on the kidney, as other members of my lab are focusing on the other organs collected.

For this project, I am isolating the protein through lysates with the intention of completing Western Blots and possible further studies.

Coursework and Experience

CLIENTS

Courses

Organic Chemistry 1&2

Physics with Calc 1

Calculus 1&2

Statistics

Python Programming

Emergency Medical Responder

Principles of Microbiology

Bacterial Pathogens

Leadership

Undergraduate American Medical Women's Association (uAMWA)

- Academic Chair

Students for a National Health Program (SNaHP)

- Outreach Director

Gator Powerlifting Team

- Competing Collegiate States Member

Work Experience

Gumz Lab OPS Genotyping Manager (7/23-Present)

Server/Bartender - That Bar and Table (8/23-Present)

Server/Bartender - Hawkstone Country Club (5/23-Present)

Volunteering

Science Olympiad State . Competition

GRACE Marketplace

Gold Coast Youth Orchestra

Mary Help of Christians Church

HCA Emergency Room

SKILLS

Resume

Downloadable Resume

EXPERTISE

CONTACT