Scholars

Associate Professor

Positions:

Associate Professor, Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Texas A&M University Naresh K. Vashisht College of Medicine

overview

My primary research interest focuses on the unique properties of neurons that generate circadian rhythms and the interactions between them that mediate their ability to coordinate molecular and physiological rhythms in tissues and, ultimately, regulate rhythmic behaviors. Using a combination of molecular, cellular, and behavioral analyses in the mouse model my research aims to identify how cells within the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the anterior hypothalamus function as a biological clock in generating circadian output signals that synchronize rhythmic processes within diverse tissues throughout the body.

education and training

Vanderbilt University - (Nashville, Tennessee, United States), Postdoctoral Training 2009
Texas A&M Health Science Center - (College Station, Texas, United States), Postdoctoral Training 2005
Ph.D. in Medical Science, Texas A&M Health Science Center - (College Station, Texas, United States) 2001
B.S. in Biology, University of Oregon - (Eugene, Oregon, United States) 1995

selected publications

Academic Articles24

Souza, K. A., Powell, A., Allen, G. C., & Earnest, D. J. (2022). Development of an age-dependent cognitive index: relationship between impaired learning and disturbances in circadian timekeeping.. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience. 14, 991833.
Brakora, K. A., Chico, D. E., Allen, G. C., Hubbard, J. K., & Chen, W. (2019). The Long and Short of It: Unopposed Basic Science Instruction over Fewer Weeks Improves Student Written Exam Performance in Medical Gross Anatomy. The FASEB Journal. 33(S1), 607.14-607.14.
Chico, D. E., LunaArvizu, L. P., Allen, G. C., Brakora, K., Hubbard, J. K., Carpenter, R. O., & Chen, W. (2018). Combining Active Learning and Immediate Quiz Feedback: Engaging Students in Anatomy! Medical Jeopardy. The FASEB Journal. 32(S1), 507.9-507.9.

SDG 4
Ratajczak, C. K., Asada, M., Allen, G. C., McMahon, D. G., Muglia, L. M., Smith, D., Bhattacharyya, S., & Muglia, L. J. (2012). Generation of myometrium-specific Bmal1 knockout mice for parturition analysis.. Reproduction, Fertility and Development. 24(5), 759-767.
Farnell, Y. F., Shende, V. R., Neuendorff, N., Allen, G. C., & Earnest, D. J. (2011). Immortalized cell lines for real-time analysis of circadian pacemaker and peripheral oscillator properties.. 33(8), 1533-1540.

Conference Papers2

Thompson, B. J., Cunningham, A., Allen, G. C., Dalley, A. F., Wente, S. R., Chalkley, R., & Norden, J. J. (2007). Preparing tomorrow's medical educators. The FASEB Journal. 21(5), A139-A139.

SDG 4
Farrell, Y. F., West, J. R., Chen, W., Allen, G. C., Marchette, L. D., & Earnest, D. J. (2004). Developmental alcohol exposure disrupts clock gene rhythms in the rat SCN and cerebellum.. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. 28(5), 164A-164A.