Caitlyn Parente

Student NameCaitlyn Parente
Faculty Mentor NameJoseph Bisesi, PhD
CollegePublic Health & Health Professions
MajorBiochemistry
MinorN/A
Research InterestsMarine Chemistry, Environmental Toxicology, Aquatic Toxicology, Marine Biology
Academic AwardsDean’s List, Fall 2017; Dean’s List, Spring 2019; Best Student Poster Presentation, Southeastern Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Annual Meeting, 2019; University Scholars Program 2020
OrganizationsChi Omega Fraternity
Hobbies and InterestsI’m passionate about exploring, learning, and teaching. In my ideal free time, you can find me reading a good book on the beach.

Research Project

Examining the Influence of Overfeeding and Diethylhexyl Phthalate Exposure on Gene Expression and Lipid Metabolism in Zebrafish

My research examines how exposure to diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) in addition to overfeeding alters the expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism and glycolysis in zebrafish. The purpose of our study is to examine DEHP as a potential obesogen, an environmental chemical contaminant that alters normal molecular processes to promote the obese phenotype, and identify how the obese phenotype may be exacerbated in zebrafish following exposure to DEHP and overfeeding. We conducted a 24-week feeding study with zebrafish and analyzed effects on physical fitness, blood lipid mobilization, and gene expression. I am currently observing how glycolysis-related genes extracted from liver samples were differentially expressed in zebrafish following exposure to DEHP and overfeeding.