Jennifer Bray

Jennifer Bray, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Biology

Office: CBB 311
Phone: (715) 346-3569
Fax: (715) 346-3624
Email: jbray@uwsp.edu
 
 

Education

 
Ph.D., Biology (Neurophysiology) – Marquette University (2010)
B.S., Biology - University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point (2000)

Courses​

 
Bio 160 - Introduction to Animal Biology
Bio 385 – Human Physiology
Bio 390 - Neurobiology
Bio 399 - Independent Study in Biology
Bio 490 - Senior Seminar on Neurodegenerative Diseases
 
 

Professional Affiliations

  • Research Society on Alcoholism
  • Society for Neuroscience

 

Alcohol negatively affects multiple organs in the body, but is most damaging to brain function.  Several studies have shown that alcohol exposure induces inflammatory processes in the brain that may directly contribute to the neuroadaptive changes that are associated with alcohol use.  The studies in my laboratory will investigate the partnership between neuroimmune factors and alcohol use using a variety of techniques including behavioral tests, biochemical studies, and electrophysiology.

Honors and Awards

2015 - Honorary Faculty Inductee for Phi Eta Sigma

2015 - University Excellence in Teaching Award, UWSP

2014 – Excellence in Teaching Award, Department of Biology, UWSP

 

Select Publications

Bray, J.G., Reyes, K.C., Roberts, A.J., and Gruol, D.L. Altered Hippocampal Synaptic Function in Transgenic Mice with Increased Astrocyte Expression of CCL2 after Withdrawal from Chronic Alcohol. Neuropharmacology 135, 113-125 (2018).

Bray, J.G. Roberts, A.J. and Gruol, D.L. Transgenic Mice with Increased Astrocyte Expression of CCL2 Show Altered Behavioral Effects of Alcohol. Neuroscience, 354:88-100 (2017)

Gruol, D.L., Vo, K., and Bray, J.G. Increased astrocyte expression of IL-6 or CCL2 in transgenic mice alters levels of hippocampal and cerebellar proteins. Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience 8:234 (2014). 

Gruol, D.L., Vo, K., and Bray, J.G., and Roberts, A.J. CCL2-ethanol interactions and hippocampal synaptic protein expression in a transgenic mouse model. Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience 8:29 (2014). 

Bray, J.G., Reyes, K.C., Ransohoff, R.M., and Gruol, D.L. Synaptic Plasticity in the Hippocampus Shows Resistance to Acute Ethanol Exposure in Transgenic Mice with Astrocyte-Targeted Enhanced CCL2 Expression. Neuropharmacology 67, 115-125 (2013).

Bray, J.G., and Mynlieff, M. Involvement of PKC and PKA in the Enhancement of L-type Calcium Current by GABAB Receptor Activation in Neonatal Hippocampus.  Neuroscience 179, 62-72 (2011).

Bray, J.G., and Mynlieff, M.  Influx of Calcium Through L-type Calcium Channels in Early Postnatal Regulation of Chloride Transporters in the Rat Hippocampus.  Developmental Neurobiology 69(13), 885-896 (2009).