Brooke Gardner

Specific Project Info:
Dr. Gardner’s research focuses on how cells adapt to their environment, particularly by adjusting the function and morphology of their membrane-bound organelles, such as the peroxisome. Students will assist with laboratory research, including experiments related to cellular adaptation, data collection, and analysis.
Required Skills: Familiarity with molecular biology techniques, such as PCR, gel electrophoresis, and pipetting, would be helpful.
Estimated Number of Students: 4

Bio:

Dr. Gardner earned her BA in Biochemistry from Middlebury College and her PhD in Biochemistry from UC San Francisco, where she conducted research in Dr. Peter Walter's lab. As a Miller Fellow at UC Berkeley, she investigated AAA-ATPase motor proteins involved in peroxisome biogenesis under Dr. Andreas Martin. She joined the MCDB faculty at UC Santa Barbara in 2019. Dr. Gardner’s research explores the challenges eukaryotic cells face in managing membrane-bound organelles, specifically focusing on the peroxisome. Her work utilizes biochemistry, cell biology, and genetics to elucidate how about 30 Pex proteins are involved in the de novo formation of peroxisomes.