Joey Zimmerman
McNair Scholar 2022
Joey Zimmerman is a biochemistry (pre-med) major in the College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences at West Texas A&M University. She is a senior anticipating graduation in Spring 2023. After attaining a bachelor’s degree, Joey plans to attend medical school pending her acceptance.
“While my entire experience has been so amazing, informative and helpful, I think my favorite part was having Career Services come in and talk to us about our top 5 strengths. It was helpful to see how all of the scholars could excel in a variety of different areas and still be just as qualified for their current research and a post-graduate education." - Joey Zimmerman
"Circadian Regulation of Platelets in Mice"
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Stephen Karaganis
Circadian rhythms are 24-hour cycles of biological processes that persist under constant conditions. Prior studies have demonstrated that total platelet number and platelet activation have been shown to follow a circadian rhythm, although little has been published about the entrainment of circadian rhythms in platelets. Based on preliminary data, the current study tested the possibility that the rhythm of platelet abundance may entrain to a daytime restricted feeding schedule under an LD cycle. Using statistically robust sample sizes, no circadian rhythm in platelet abundance was detected under these conditions as assessed by cosinor analysis. This may indicate that platelet rhythms are only weakly coupled with the food entrainable oscillator, thereby disrupting, rather than entraining, oscillations under an LD cycle. Further studies are needed to clarify the roles of environmental zeitgebers on platelet rhythmicity.