{"id":12169,"date":"2022-03-07T10:41:52","date_gmt":"2022-03-07T15:41:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/biology\/?post_type=cu-people&p=12169"},"modified":"2025-04-25T12:02:14","modified_gmt":"2025-04-25T16:02:14","slug":"alexandra-pettit","status":"publish","type":"cu-people","link":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/biology\/people\/alexandra-pettit\/","title":{"rendered":"Alexandra Pettit"},"content":{"rendered":"

A biochemist and neuroscientist by training, my research has historically explored the brain\u2019s own regenerative capacity; first examining the role of inhibitor of apoptosis proteins in mitigating neurodegenerative disease severity and later, mechanisms regulating adult hippocampal neurogenesis.\u00a0 During my graduate studies, pedagogy and STEM education captured my attention and over the last 10+ years as an educator my focus has become delivering courses in biochemistry, biology and neuroscience using a wide variety of student-centered, evidence-based approaches. I am passionate about creating teaching resources to support active learning in the classroom with a focus on using biomolecular visualization to integrate learning core disciplinary concepts and scientific skills development.<\/p>\n

Teaching<\/h3>\n

BIOC\/BIOL 2200 – Cellular Biochemistry<\/em>
\nBIOC 3102 – Biochemical Signals and Structures: The Molecular Language of Cells<\/em>
\nBIOC 3103 – Experimental Biochemistry I: Principles and Practices<\/em>
\nBIOC 3104 – Experimental Biochemistry II: Research Experience<\/em>
\nBIOC 4007 – Membrane Biochemistry<\/em><\/p>\n

Select Publications and Conference Proceedings<\/h3>\n
    \n
  1. Pettit, A. S., Johnson, K. A., Gadd, B., & Dutta, S. (2025). Box of Lessons: An Open Educational Resource for Exploring Biomolecular Structure and Function. Journal of College Science Teaching, 1\u20138. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/0047231X.2025.2472144<\/a><\/li>\n
  2. Scherle, T.K., Pettit, A., and <\/strong>Harris, C.(2024) Rimonabant & Cannabinoid Receptors: Teaching The Next Generation. 3rd<\/sup> Annual Cannabis Scientific Symposium: From Plants to People, 2024<\/li>\n
  3. Scherle, T.K., Harris, C., and Pettit, A.S<\/strong> (2024) Using a data-focused molecular case study to improve students\u2019 understanding of molecular interactions and conformational change. Ottawa-Carleton 3rd Symposium on Science Education, 2024<\/li>\n
  4. Procko K, Pettit A,<\/strong> Pollock E, Riley KJ, Vardar-Ulu D, and Dutta S. (2023) Developing a Pipeline for Authoring, Piloting, and Evaluating Molecular Case Studies. Discover Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Annual Meeting of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Journal of Biological Chemistry 299 (3), S247, https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.jbc.2023.103499<\/a><\/li>\n
  5. Mastroianni, B, Montpetit C.J. , and Pettit A.S.<\/strong> (2023) Do students\u2019 attitudes toward active learning in science affect buy-in?<\/a> Western Conference on Science Education 2023 (WCSE 2023).<\/li>\n
  6. Pettit AS<\/strong>, Desroches R and Bennett SAL. (2012) The opiate analgesic buprenorphine decreases proliferation of adult hippocampal neuroblasts and promotes survival of their progeny.\u00a0 Neuroscience, 200:211-222<\/li>\n
  7. Imbeault S, Gauvin LG, Sorbara CD, Migahed L, Toeg HD, Pettit A<\/strong>, DesRoches R, Menzies AS, Nishii K, Paul DL, Simon AM and Bennett SAL. (2009) Gap junction protein expression and function in postnatal hippocampal neural progenitor cells is controlled by the extracellular matrix, BMC Neurosci 10:13<\/li>\n
  8. Maier JKX, Balabanian S, Coffill CR, Stewart A<\/strong>, Pelletier L, Franks DJ, Gendron NH and MacKenzie AE (2007) The Distribution of Neuronal Apoptosis Inhibitory Protein in Human Tissues. J Histochem Cytochem. 55(9):911-23<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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