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Biology Department Advising
Email us at biologyadvising@neiu.edu for guidance on course selection, registration, and graduation requirements.
Bachelor’s Degree, Indiana University
Ph.D., University of Illinois, College of Medicine
Rumschlag-Booms, E. and Rong, L. Influenza A Virus Entry: Implications in Virulence and Future Therapeutics. Advances in Virology. January 2013.
Ahmet Dirim Arslan, Xiaolong He, Minxiu Wang, Emily Rumschlag-Booms, Lijun Rong, and William T. Beck. A High-Throughput Assay to Identify Small-Molecule Modulators of Alternative Pre-mRNA Splicing. J Biomol Screen 18(2):180-90 (2013).
Rumschlag-Booms E, Hongjie Zhang, D Doel Soejarto, Harry H S Fong, Lijun Rong. One-stone-two-birds, an antiviral screening protocol. J Antiviral Antiretroviral (2011), PMID 22140608.
Rumschlag-Booms E, Guo Y, Wang J, Caffrey M, Rong L., 2009. Comparative analysis between a low pathogenic and a high pathogenic influenza H5 hemagglutinin in cell entry. Virology Journal 2009, 6:76; June 10.
Guo Y, Rumschlag-Booms E*, Wang J, Xiao H, Yu J, Wang J, Guo L, Gao GF, Cao Y, Caffrey M, Rong L., 2009. Analysis of hemagglutinin-mediated entry tropism of H5N1 avian influenza. Virology Journal, 6:39; April 2. *Co-first author
Manicassamy B, Wang J, Rumschlag E, Tymen S, Volchkova V, Volchkov V, Rong L, 2007. Characterization of Marburg virus glycoprotein in viral entry. Virology, 358:79-88.
Room BBH 352D
Northeastern Illinois University
5500 North St. Louis Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625
United States
Ph.D. in Molecular and Environmental Toxicology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison
B.S. in Resource Ecology and Management from the School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Michigan
Bolterstein, E., Rivero, R., Marquez, M. and McVey, M. (2014) The Drosophila Werner exonuclease participates in an exonuclease-independent response to replication stress. Genetics. 197(2): 643-52.
BBH 352A
Northeastern Illinois University
5500 North St. Louis Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625
United States
B.S., University of Northern Iowa
Ph.D., University of Missouri-Columbia
Northeastern Illinois University
5500 North St. Louis Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625
United States
Developmental Biology
Cancer Biology
Ph.D. in Neuroscience, Northwestern University
B.A. in Biology, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
High School Diploma, Mundelein High School
Monick, Sarah, Vineet Mohanty, Mariam Khan, Gowtham Yerneni, Raj Kumar, Jorge A. Cantu, Shunsuke Ichi, Guifa Xi, Bai Ram Singh, Tadanori Tomita, and Chandra Shekhar Mayanil. "A Phenotypic Switch of Differentiated Glial Cells to Dedifferentiated Cells Is Regulated by Folate Receptor α." STEM CELLS (2019).
Wiwatpanit, Teerawat*, Sarah M. Lorenzen*, Jorge A. Cantú*, Chuan Zhi Foo, Ann K. Hogan, Freddie Márquez, John C. Clancy, Matthew J. Schipma, Mary Ann Cheatham, Anne Duggan, and Jaime Garcia-Anoveros. "Trans-differentiation of outer hair cells into inner hair cells in the absence of INSM1." Nature 563, no. 7733 (2018): 691. *Equal Contribution
Nimrod Miller, Zhihua Feng, Brittany M. Edens, Ben Yang, Han Shi, Christie C. Sze, Benjamin Taige Hong, Susan C. Su, Jorge A. Cantu, Jacek Topczewski, Thomas O. Crawford, Chien-Ping Ko, Charlotte J. Sumner, Long Ma, Yong-Chao Ma. "Non-aggregating tau phosphorylation by cyclin-dependent kinase 5 contributes to motor neuron degeneration in spinal muscular atrophy." Journal of Neuroscience 35, no. 15 (2015): 6038-6050.
Remis, Natalie N., Teerawat Wiwatpanit, Andrew J. Castiglioni, Emma N. Flores, Jorge A. Cantú, and Jaime Garcia-Anoveros. "Mucolipin co-deficiency causes accelerated endolysosomal vacuolation of enterocytes and failure-to-thrive from birth to weaning." PLoS genetics 10, no. 12 (2014): e1004833.
Cantu, Jorge A., G. Parker Flowers, and Jacek Topczewski. "Notum homolog plays a novel role in primary motor innervation." Journal of Neuroscience 33, no. 5 (2013): 2177-2187.
Follow our lab on Twitter! @ProfCantu
BBH 310
Northeastern Illinois University
5500 North St. Louis Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625
United States
B.S. in Biology, Northeastern Illinois University
Israel is an alumnus of NEIU, where he completed a bachelor's degree in Biology. During his time here as an undergrad he researched Rhodiola integrifolia ssp. Leedyi genetic variability in various populations by using microsatellite data. Afterward, he worked on the Biology lab prep team, where he got to interact with both faculty and students. This experience inspired him to continue working at NEIU.
Room BBH 358G
Northeastern Illinois University
5500 North St. Louis Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625
United States
M.S. in Microbiology, Arizona State University
B.A. in Biology and Spanish, Knox College
Kip came to NEIU after working in biocides research and development at Dow Chemical, and later as a research geneticist testing new drugs for toxicity in mammalian immune cell lines. At Arizona State University he enjoyed a National Science Foundation Fellowship where he was able to present his virology research to high school students to inspire a new generation of scientists. His master’s degree resulted in a publication as well as a patented method to facilitate genetic engineering in viruses. His interest in sharing his love for microbiology compelled him to seek employment in a university setting.
BBH 358E
Northeastern Illinois University
5500 North St. Louis Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625
United States
B.S. in Biology, Northeastern Illinois University
Sara is an alumna of NEIU, where she completed a bachelor's degree in Biology and a minor in Environmental Studies. During her time here as an undergraduate she researched diatoms and the epizoic community of microscopic organisms living on the shells of captive snapping turtles. Sara thrived with the experiences brought to her by doing research at NEIU and wants to help students take advantage of the resources of the Biology Department so they can continue to grow as biologists and help others better understand the world we're living in.
Room BBH 358C
Northeastern Illinois University
5500 North St. Louis Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625
United States
Since being at NEIU, Dr. Frankel has focused on the ecology of prairies, particularly on the effect of fire on prairie communities.
B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Ph.D. thesis: "Light effects on plant chemistry: implications for plants and herbivores"
Effects of anthocyanin content on Brassica rapa resistance to UVB radiation. With R. Klapper and M.R. Berenbaum. Photochemistry and Photobiology. 1996. 63:811-813
Antioxidant capacity and correlated characteristics of 14 unifloral honeys. With M.R. Berenbaum and G.E. Robinson. Journal of Apicultural Research.b1998.b37(1):27-31.
Effects of light regime on antioxidant content of foliage in a tropical plant community. With M.R. Berenbaum. Biotropica. 1999. 31(3).
Room BBH 358B
Northeastern Illinois University
5500 North St. Louis Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625
United States
Ph.D., Ecology, University of Chicago
Post-doc., Ecology, Loyola University Chicago
M.S., Biology, Florida International University
B.S., Biology, Florida International University
A.A., Biology, Miami-Dade Community College
Volesky, L.A., S. Iqbal, J.J. Kelly, and P. Geddes. 2018. Relationships of native and exotic Phragmites australis to wetland ecosystem properties. Wetlands 38(3):577-589. DOI 10.1007/s13157-018-1001-1.
Geddes, P. 2015. Experimental evidence that subsidy quality affects the stability of recipient planktonic communities. Aquatic Sciences 77(4):609-621.
Geddes, P., T. Grancharova, J. J. Kelly, D. Treering, and N. C. Tuchman. 2014. Effects of invasive Typha x glauca on wetland ecosystem properties are influenced by time since invasion. Aquatic Ecology 48:247-258.
Lishawa, S.C., K.J. Jankowski, P. Geddes, D.J. Larkin, A.M. Monks, and N.C. Tuchman. 2014. Denitrification in a Laurentian Great Lakes coastal wetland invaded by hybrid cattail (Typha × glauca). Aquatic Sciences 76:483-495.
Larkin, D. M. Freyman, S. Lishawa, P. Geddes and N.C. Tuchman. 2011. Mechanisms of dominance by the invasive hybrid cattail Typha X glauca. Biological Invasions 14(1):65-77.
Mitchell, M.M, S. Lishawa, P. Geddes, D. Larkin, D. Treering, and N.C. Tuchman. 2011. Time-dependent impacts of cattail invasion in Great Lakes coastal wetlands. Wetlands 31:1143-1149.
My research interests focus on two broader themes: 1) Invasive plant species and the mechanisms that underlie successful invasions in wetlands, and 2) Ecological interactions in communities. Under theme No. 1, I’m interested in how plant invasive species’ traits (such as rapid growth, large biomass, large litter deposition, and even genotype) trigger a cascade of effects that span from their interaction with co-occurring native species all the way up to ecosystem-level processes. Within this topic, I am exploring two important wetland plant invaders: cattails (Typha spp.) and common reed (Phragmites spp.). I also combine molecular tools (microsatellite markers) to answer ecological questions, mostly related to the identification of hybridizing invasive plant species. Under theme No. 2, I’m interested in: a) how communities respond to external disturbances (e.g., invaders, pollutants, urbanization), and b) how aquatic communities are fueled, either via primary production, detritus, or external inputs (i.e., spatial subsidies).
BBH 340H
Northeastern Illinois University
5500 North St. Louis Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625
United States
M.S. in Molecular Biology, Northeastern Illinois University
M.S. in Veterinary Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iraq
B.V.M.&S. (Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery), College of Veterinary Medicine, Iraq
Nawaf Habib, Gauri Goswami, and Sue Mungre. Inflammatory Cytokines Induce Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis in PC12 Cells. FASEB. 24(11):485.8. Abstract.
Tanya Gorgis, Nawaf Habib, and Sue Mungre. 2010. Oxidative stress injury to PC12 cells under glycating conditions. FASEB. 24(11):485.7. Abstract
Tanya Gorgis, Nawaf Habib, and Sue Mungre. Effect of methylglyoxal on BV-2 cells. FASEB. 24(11):lb.132. Abstract
I finished veterinary school from the College of Veterinary Medicine in Iraq. I worked in my father’s animal clinic as veterinarian conducting all kind of veterinary services from medicine to surgeries, concentrating on farm animals.
After that I decided to pursue post graduate study in Immunology. My work was based on studying the best vaccination program against infectious bursal disease in chicken. I studied several vaccination programs and compared their effect on both humoral and cellular immunity. I also isolated IgY (a potential immuno-therapeutic for many diseases) from chicken eggs.
I taught biology, microbiology and immunology classes for veterinary school students at the College of Veterinary Medicine in Mosul, Iraq from 2003-2007.
In 2008, I came to the United States and pursued a Master of Science at Northeastern Illinois University. I studied the effect of high levels of methylglyoxal (MG) on PC12 (a neuronal cell line) and BV2 (a macrophage cell line), as well as studied the internal antioxidant glutathione. I also studied the effect of using a supplemental called curcumin in reducing the effect of methylglyoxal.
I have been an instructor at NEIU since 2010. I teach Introduction to Biology courses as well as Human Anatomy and Physiology, with a concentration on human anatomy using cadavers in the lab. I am currently also teaching Microbiology for nurses at Ambria College of Nursing.
BBH 358C
Northeastern Illinois University
5500 North St. Louis Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625
United States
Ph.D., Ecology, University of Michigan
M.S., Botany (Field Naturalist Program), University of Vermont
B.S., Biology, College of William & Mary
BBH 340F
Northeastern Illinois University
5500 North Saint Louis Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625
United States
Ph.D. in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Indiana University
B.S. in Biology and M.S. in Zoology, Arizona State University
Kimble, M. and A. Schirmer. (2012) General Genetics: Laboratory Manual. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Co. Dubuque, Iowa
Department of Biology
Northeastern Illinois University
5500 North St. Louis Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625
United States
B.S. in Biology, Northeastern Illinois University
Born in Celaya, Guanajuato, and raised in Chicago, I recently graduated with a bachelor's in Biology from Northeastern Illinois University. I always knew I wanted to major in biology but didn’t know what to do with the degree. Luckily a friend pointed me toward working with youth in nature for the Student Conservation Association. Later, I joined SCA’s All Women Crew and after four years spent a season leading restoration projects for the Chicago Park District. My current role is Naturalist for Gensburg-Markham Prairie, a 100-acre tallgrass prairie remnant that is an Illinois Nature Preserve and a National Natural Landmark.
I am passionate about equitable access to nature. I hope to use my community engagement experience to bring more visitors to Gensburg-Markham Prairie from the surrounding communities and from across the city. I enjoy connecting with people and building bridges between communities of color and nature. I am very happy to have joined the Biology Department's team to preserve the prairie and include different groups of people in the process.
Ph.D., Molecular Biology, Loyola University Chicago (Stritch School of Medicine) and University of Chicago
Post-doctoral Fellowship, University of Chicago
BBH 352G
Northeastern Illinois University
5500 North St. Louis Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625
United States
Ph.D., Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda (Biochemistry)
M.S., Pune University (Biochemistry)
B.S., Pune University (Chemistry major, Microbiology and Botany Minors)
Faculty advisor: Beta Beta Beta National Biological Society
BBH 340E
Northeastern Illinois University
5500 North St Louis Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625
United States
M.S., Northeastern Illinois University
B.S., Purdue University
Sanchez, J.C., Carrillo, M., Pandey, S., Noda, M., Aldama, L., Feliz, D., Claesson, E., Wahlgren, Y., Tracy, G., Duong, P., Nugent, A.C., Field, A., Šrajer, V., Kupitz, C., Iwata, S., Nango, E., Tanaka, R., Tanaka, T., Fangjia, L., Tono, K., Owada, S., Westenhoff, S., Schmidt, M., and Stojković, E.A. (2019) "High-resolution crystal structures of a myxobacterial phytochrome at cryo and room temperatures" Structural Dynamics. 6: 054701.
Woitowich, N.C., Halavaty, A.S., Waltz, P., Kupitz, C., Valera, J., Tracy, G., Gallagher, K.D., Claesson, E., Nakane, T., Pandey, S., Nelson, G., Tanaka, R., Nango, E., Mizohata, E., Owada, S., Tono, K., Joti, Y., Nugent, A.C., Patel, H., Mapara, A., Hopkins, J., Duong, P., Bizhga, D., Kovaleva, S.E., St. Peter, R., Hernandez, C.N., Ozarowski, W.B., Roy-Chowdhuri, S., Yang, J., Edlund, P., Takala, H., Ihalainen, J., Brayshaw, J., Norwood, T., Poudyal, I., Fromme, P., Spence, J.C.H., Moffat, K., Westenhoff, S., Schmidt, M., and Stojković, E.A. (2018) "Structural basis for light control of cell development revealed by crystal structures of a myxobacterial phytochrome" IUCrJ. 5: 619-634.
Björling, A., Berntsson, O., Takala, H., Gallagher, K.D., Patel, H., Gustavsson, E., St. Peter, R., Duong, P., Nugent, A., Zhang, F., Berntsen, P., Appio, R., Rajkovic, I., Lehtivuori, H., Panman, M.R., Hoernke, M., Niebling, S., Harimoorthy, R., Lamparter, T., Stojković, E.A., Ihalainen, J.A., Westenhoff, S. (2015) “Ubiquitous Structural Signaling in Bacterial Phytochromes.” Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters. 6: 3379–3383.
Room BBH 358 B
Northeastern Illinois University
5500 North St. Louis Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625
United States
Ph.D. University of Chicago, 2009
B.Sc. University of Iowa, 2000
Room BBH 217A
Northeastern Illinois University
5500 North St. Louis Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625
United States
Ph.D., University of Minnesota (Plant Biological Sciences)
B.A., North Park University (Chemistry major, minors in Biology and German)
BBH 358A
Northeastern Illinois University
5500 North Saint Louis Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625
United States
Conservation biology
Restoration ecology
Carbon storage in soil systems
Soil microbiome and the conservation of soil health
M.S. in Plant Biology and Conservation, Northwestern University
B.A. in Environmental Studies, Knox College
Yost, J. L., L. M. Egerton-Warburton, K. M. Schreiner, C. E. Palmer, and A. E. Hartemink. (2016). Impact of Restoration and Management on Aggregation and Organic Carbon Accumulation in Urban Grasslands. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 80:992-1002. doi:10.2136/sssaj2015.10.0383
Yost, J., C. Palmer, and L. M. Egerton-Warburton. (2014). The contribution of soil aggregates to carbon sequestration in restored urban grasslands. In: A. Hartemink and K. McSweeney (Eds.) Progress in Soil Science Series: Soil Carbon (147-154). Heidelburg, Germany: Springer.
Middleton, E. L., S. Richardson, L. Koziol, C. E. Palmer, Z. Yermakov, J. A. Henning, P. A. Schultz, and J. D. Bever. (2015). Locally adapted arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi improve vigor and resistance to herbivory of native prairie plant species. Ecosphere 6(12):276. doi:10.1890/ES15-00152.1
Room BBH 352G
Northeastern Illinois University
5500 North St. Louis Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625
United States
Ph.D., Northwestern University
Room BBH 217A
Northeastern Illinois University
5500 North St. Louis Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625
United States
Ph.D., The University of Chicago
B.A., University of Illinois at Chicago
Prete FR, R Theis, S Dominguez, W Bogue (2013) Visual Stimuli Eliciting Tracking and Striking in the Praying Mantises, Parasphendale affinis (Giglio-Tos), Popa spurca (Stål), and Sphodromantis lineola (Burmeister). Journal of Experimental Biology, 216: 4443-53
Popkiewicz B, FR Prete (2013) Macroscopic Characteristics of the Praying Mantis Electroretinogram, Journal of Insect Physiology, 59: 812–823
Prete FR, S Dominguez, JL Komito, R Theis, JM Dominguez, LE Hurd, GJ Svenson, (2013) Differences in Appetitive Responses to Computer-Generated Visual Stimuli by Female Rhombodera basalis, Deroplatys lobata, Hierodula membranacea, and Miomantis sp. (Insecta: Mantodea), Journal of Insect Behavior, 26: 261-282
Prete FR, R Theis, JL Komito, J Dominguez, S Dominguez, G Svenson, F Wieland (2012) Visual Stimuli that Elicit Visual Tracking, Approaching and Striking Behavior from an Unusual Praying Mantis, Euchomenella macrops (Insecta: Mantodea). Journal of Insect Physiology, 58: 648-659
Prete FR, J Komito, S Domínguez, G Svenson, YL López, A Guillen, N Bogdanivich (2011) Prey Recognition in Three Morphologically Distinct Species of Praying Mantis, Journal of Comparative Physiology A, 197: 877-894
Prete FR (2007) Complex Learning in Arthropods. International Journal of Comparative Psychology, 19: IV-VI
Hurd, LE, FR Prete, T Jones, R Portman, TB Singh, JE Co (2004) The first identification, synthesis and behavioral test of a mantid pheromone. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 30: 155-166
Prete, FR (ed) (2004) Complex Worlds from Simpler Nervous Systems. Cambridge: MIT Press
Gonka, MD, TJ Laurie, and FR Prete (1999) Responses of movement sensitive descending visual interneurons to prey-like stimuli in the praying mantis, Sphodromantis lineola (Burmeister). Brain, Behavior and Evolution, 54: 243-262
Bullaro, M and FR Prete (1999) The Thoracic and Prothoracic Leg Neuromuscular System of the Praying Mantid, Sphodromantis lineola (Burmeister). The Journal of Comparative Neurology, 409: 325-338
Prete FR, H Wells, P Wells, LE Hurd (eds) (1999) The Praying Mantids. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press
Chan, WP, FR Prete, and MH Dickinson (1998) A visually guided motor-controlled gyroscope in flies. Science, 280: 289-292
Room BBH 344F
Northeastern Illinois University
5500 North St. Louis Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625
United States
Ph.D., University of Toronto
Postdoctoral work in chronophysiology and bioelectromagnetics at Argonne National Laboratories
A Totally, Unabashedly Incomplete Book About Bugs (Prairie House Gallery Press, 2018)
Room BBH 352B
5500 North St. Louis Avenue
Northeastern Illinois University
Chicago, IL 60625
United States
Evolution
Pigment physiology
B.A. in Zoology from Indiana University Bloomington
Ph.D. in Evolutionary Biology from Dartmouth College
Reinke, Beth A., David Miller, and Fredric Janzen. 2019. What have long-term studies taught us about population dynamics? In press at Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics.
Reinke, Beth A., Luke Hoekstra, Anne Bronikowski, Frederic Janzen, and David Miller. 2019. Joint estimation of growth and survival from mark-recapture data to improve estimates of senescence in the wild. In press at Ecology.
Reinke, Beth A., Ryan Calsbeek, Devi M. Stuart-Fox. 2017. A test of an antipredatory function for conspicuous coloration in freshwater turtles. Evolutionary Ecology 31(4):463-473. DOI: 10.1007/s10682-017-9892-5.
Read about Dr. Reinke's research with turtles and how you can adopt a turtle!
BBH 352F
Northeastern Illinois University
5500 North St. Louis Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625
United States
M.S. in Microbiology and Immunology, University of Illinois at Chicago
Room BBH 352B
Northeastern Illinois University
5500 North St. Louis Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625
United States
Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill.
Doctor of Philosophy, Neuroscience
Elmhurst College, Elmhurst, Ill.
Bachelors of Science, Biology
Minors in Chemistry and Urban Studies
Cassidy, D., Epiney, D. G., Salameh, C., Zhou, L. T., Salomon, R. N., Schirmer, A. E., ... & Bolterstein, E. (2019). Evidence for premature aging in a Drosophila model of Werner syndrome. Experimental gerontology, 127, 110733.
Schirmer, A. E., Gallemore, C., Liu, T., Magle, S., DiNello, E., Ahmed, H., & Gilday, T. (2019). Mapping behaviorally relevant light pollution levels to improve urban habitat planning. Scientific reports, 9(1), 1-13.
Prete, F. R., Schirmer, A. E., Patel, S., Carrion, C., Prete, G. M., van Alphen, B., & Svenson, G. J. (2019). Rhythmic abdominal pumping movements in praying Mantises (Insecta: Mantodea). Fragmenta entomologica, 51(1), 29-40. doi: https://doi.org/10.4081/fe.2019.332.
Smarr, B. L. and Schirmer, A. E. (2018). 3.4 million real-world learning management system logins reveal the majority of students experience social jet lag correlated with decreased performance. Scientific Reports 8, 4793.
Schirmer, A. E., Prete, F. R., Mantes, E. S., Urdiales, A. F., Bogue, W. (2014) Circadian Rhythms Affect the Electroretinogram, Compound Eye Color, Striking Behavior, and Locomotion of the Praying Mantis, Hierodula patellifera (Serville). The Journal of Experimental Biology 217: 3853-3861.
Research in the Schirmer laboratory focuses on the study of circadian rhythms and the effect that these rhythms have on animal behavior and physiology. Ongoing work on mammalian circadian rhythms includes an investigation of: (1) The molecular genetic mechanisms involved in the regulation and expression of circadian rhythms in the brain and peripheral tissues, (2) the impact of environmental perturbations, such as photopollutions and social jet lag, on the circadian system, and (3) new technologies and techniques for studying circadian clocks in vivo and in vitro. In addition to work on mammalian clocks, the Schirmer lab has established collaborations to investigate the role of circadian rhythms in invertebrate model systems. Specifically, the laboratory is interested in studying the role of circadian clocks in the modulation of appetitive behavior in various praying mantis species and the implications of photopollution on Drosophila behavior.
BBH 352E
Northeastern Illinois University
5500 North St. Louis Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625
United States
Ph.D., Environmental Biology, University of Louisville
B.S., Biology, University of Notre Dame
Slate, J. E., Adler, R. F., Hibdon Jr., J. E., Mayle, S. T., Kim, H., and Srinivas, S. 2019. A multidisciplinary approach to incorporating computational thinking in STEM courses for preservice teachers. In (R. M. Reardon & J. Leonard, eds) Integrating Digital Technology in Education, Information Age Publishing Inc.: Charlotte, N.C.
SCIENTIFIC MODELING IN EDUCATION:
Introductory biology students seldom have the opportunity to build or modify scientific models, despite their importance in bioscience research. Thus, I am developing educational activities for beginning students who are new to modeling. With support from a STEM+C grant from the National Science Foundation, I worked with a group of biology, computer science, math, and education students to create a simulation that applies the Susceptible-Infected-Recovered (SIR) model, commonly utilized by public health officials to predict the spread of disease, to simulate a mosquito-borne viral outbreak. In addition to using the simulation to test disease-causing scenarios, students can expand upon the model by writing computer code. It is thus an excellent exercise to show beginning biology students how computer modeling and simulation is used to examine biological systems.
BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS OF WATER QUALITY:
As sessile aquatic invertebrates, native freshwater mussels potential for use as biological indicators. Because they live on the river bottom and are filter feeders, they are affected by both habitat degradation and water quality. In addition, both mussels and sponges leave resistant remains in the sediment that provide a historical record. With collaborators Laura Sanders and Jean Hemzacek in the Department of Earth Science, Biology, Earth Science, and Environmental Science students recently surveyed the mussel community in the Chicago River. According to a biological index developed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, our data indicate a water quality value of moderate, which is promising for a river in a major metropolitan area such as Chicago. Our study was supported by a pilot grant from the United States Department of Agriculture.
FRESHWATER SPONGE TAXONOMY:
Although common in aquatic habitats in the Midwest, freshwater sponges are understudied due to lack of knowledge of the microscopic features that allow species to be differentiated. Thus, students and I are collecting sponges from local rivers, lakes, and wetlands and quantifying the variation in morphological characteristics. In addition, we are identifying to species the freshwater sponges held in the Field Museum of Natural History’s collection. Currently, the Field Museum’s freshwater sponge collection is difficult for the research community to access, because the majority of their specimens have not been identified to species. My students are currently making microscope slides of Field Museum specimens and measuring microscopic features useful in the taxonomic identification of species.
FLORA AND FAUNA OF SPHAGNUM BOGS:
The majority of wetland habitat in the Midwest has been drained for agriculture and development. Of the wetlands that remain, quaking bogs are among the most unique and beautiful. Plants- even tamarack trees- grow on a floating mat of Sphagnum moss, which rises and falls with water levels. Microscopic organisms, about which little is known, also live on the floating moss. These small flora and fauna include sponges, a primitive animal that is well studied in oceans but not in freshwater habitats. Species new to science, including single-celled protists such as algae and amoebae, have also been recently discovered living on Sphagnum. Students and I recently characterized the microscopic flora and fauna living on Sphagnum moss. In addition to collecting modern samples of Sphagnum from bogs in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana, we examined Sphagnum samples collected for over one hundred years that are held in the Field Museum of Natural History’s collection.
BBH 358F
Northeastern Illinois University
5500 North St. Louis Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625
United States
Genetics of model organisms
C. elegans
- Cell signaling via receptor tyrosine kinases
- Cell migration guidance mechanisms in the nematode C. elegans
My research focuses on understanding the fundamental mechanisms that control how complex, multicellular animals develop from single-cell fertilized eggs, a field known as Developmental Biology. We use molecular and genetic approaches in the model organism C. elegans to understand how cells within multicellular animals “talk” with each other to generate and maintain their normal structures and functions. Diseases such as cancer and a wide range of other pathologies arise from aberrations in the normal functioning of these processes. My specific areas of focus have concentrated on analyzing the cell-to-cell signaling mechanisms that guide migrating cells to their proper targets and that mediate fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling processes. The high degree of conservation of structure and function during metazoan evolution makes our findings in this organism applicable to our general understanding of biology, human biology and disease.
B.S. in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University
Ph.D. in Biochemistry, University of California, Berkeley
Postdoctoral research: Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Advisor: Dr. H. Robert
Horvitz
Lo, T.-W., Bennett, D.C., Goodman, S.J., and Stern, M.J. (2010). Caenorhabditis elegans fibroblast growth factor receptor signaling can occur independently of the multi-substrate adaptor FRS2. Genetics 185: 537-547. PMID: 20308281
Kam, N., Kugler, H., Marelly, R., Appleby, L., Fisher J, Pnueli, A., Harel, D., Stern, M.J., Hubbard, E.J. (2008). A scenario-based approach to modeling development: a prototype model of C. elegans vulval fate specification. Dev. Biol. 323: 1-5. PMID: 18706404
Goodman, S.J., Branda, C.S., Robinson, M.K., Burdine, R.D. and Stern, M.J. (2003). Alternative splicing affecting a novel domain in the C. elegans EGL-15 FGF receptor confers functional specificity. Development 130: 3757-3766 PMID: 12835392
Mihaylova, V.T., Borland, C.Z., Manjarrez, L., Stern, M.J., and Sun, H. (1999). The PTEN tumor suppressor homolog in C. elegans regulates longevity and dauer formation in an insulin-receptor like signaling pathway. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 96: 7427-7432. PMID: 10377431
Burdine, R.D., Branda, C.S. and Stern, M.J. (1998). EGL-17(FGF) expression coordinates the attraction of the migrating sex myoblasts with vulval induction in C. elegans. Development 125: 1083-1093. PMID: 9463355
Clark, S.G., Stern, M.J., and Horvitz, H.R. (1992). C. elegans cell-signalling gene sem-5
encodes a protein with SH2 and SH3 domains. Nature 356: 340-344. PMID: 1372395
Thomas, J.H., Stern, M.J. and Horvitz, H.R. (1990). Cell interactions coordinate the
development of the C. elegans egg-laying system. Cell 62: 1041-1052. PMID: 1821851
Stern, M.J., Ames, G.F.-L., Smith, N.H., Robinson, E.C. and Higgins, C.F. (1984). Repetitive Extragenic Palindromic Sequences: A major component of the bacterial genome. Cell 37: 1015-1026. PMID: 6378385
Room BBH 358B
Northeastern Illinois University
5500 North St. Louis Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625
United States
St. Olaf College, Chemistry, B.A. magna cum laude, 1996-2000
Honors Thesis: “Monitoring phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity by reversed-phase, high-pressure liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC).”
The University of Chicago, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Ph.D. 2000-2005
Ph.D. Dissertation: “Characterization of the coliphage N4-encoded N-acetylmuramidase, a member of a new family of peptidoglycan-hydrolyzing enzymes.”
2013 Fixen, K.R., A.W. Baker^, E. A. Stojković, J. T. Beatty and C.S. Hardwood. Chromophore-independent modulation of photosynthesis by bacteriophytochromes in response to low light. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 111 (2): E237-44.
2013 Neider, J., E. A. Stojković, K. Moffat, K. Forest, T. Lamparter, R. Bittl and J.T.M. Kennis. (2013) Pigment-Protein Interactions in Phytochromes Probed by Fluorescence Line Narrowing Spectroscopy. J Phys Chem B 117(48):14940-50
2012 F. G. Tobias^, A. Gawedzka^, M. S. Goldmeier^, A. C. Sakols^, E. A. Stojković, S. Tsonchev, and K.T. Nicholson, “Scanning Probe Microscopy of Bacterial Red-Light Photoreceptors”, MRS Proceedings, 1465, mrss12-1465-ss07-12.
2011 Woitowich, N.C., S. E. Kovaleva^, W. Ozarowski and E. A. Stojković. Preliminary X-ray crystallographic and structural analyses of a bacteriophytochrome from Stigmatella aurantiaca. FASEB J. 25:928.15
2011 Toh, K.C., E. A. Stojković, I. H. van Stokkum, K. Moffat and J.T.M. Kennis. Fluorescence quantum yield and photochemistry of bacteriophytochrome constructs. Phys Chem Chem Phys 13 (25): 11985-97.
2011 Toh, K.C., E. A. Stojković, A. Rupenyan, I.H.M. van Stokkum, M. Salumbides, M. Groot, K. Moffat and J. T.M. Kennis. Primary reactions of bacteriophytochrome observed with ultrafast mid-infrared spectroscopy. J Phys Chem A 115 (16): 3778-86.
2010 Toh, K.C., E. A. Stojković, I.H.M. van Stokkum, K. Moffat and J. T.M. Kennis. Proton transfer and hydrogen bond interactions determine fluorescence quantum yield and photochemical efficiency of bacteriophytochrome. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 107 (20): 9170-9175.
BBH 352H
Northeastern Illinois University
5500 North Saint Louis Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625
United States
Ph.D., Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming
M.D., Howard University College of Medicine
M.S., Biological Sciences, University of Illinois
B.S., Biology, Western Michigan University
My research interests have focused primarily on gerontology (the biology of aging). I have investigated the effects of several antioxidant molecules (including vitamin E, vitamin K, and melatonin) on lengthening clonal lifespan in Paramecium tetraurelia. While increased longevity due to antioxidant supplementation in Paramecium tetraurelia can be significant, it does not appear to change the trajectory of mortality rate increase (Type I aging) in this species, which is consistent with reports of the limited efficacy of antioxidant supplementation in other senescent species (including humans).
My scholarly interests are becoming more theoretical as I continue to learn about the complex interplay of various life-history strategies (Type I, Type II, and Type III aging patterns) with sexual or asexual reproduction, and with speciation processes by either Darwinian or non-Darwinian mechanisms. The great controversy between Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace over the possible role of natural selection in speciation events (Darwin arguing against post-zygotic barriers arising from selective processes, and Wallace arguing in favor of these same barriers arising due to natural selection) is still unresolved today, and seems to me to have some bearing on the question of life-history and reproductive strategies in various species.
BBH 340G
Northeastern Illinois University
5500 North Saint Louis Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625
United States
Northwestern University: Postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Molecular Biosciences
Harvard Medical School: Postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Pathology and MGH Cancer Center
University of Wisconsin at Madison: Ph.D. in Biomolecular Chemistry
Bates College: Undergraduate Degree in Biology
Brehme M, Sverchkova A, and Voisine C. (2019) “Proteostasis Network Deregulation Signatures as Biomarkers as for Pharmacological Disease Intervention” Current Opinions in Systems Biology, Volume 15, June 2019, Pages 74-81.
Sandhof CA, Hoppe SO, Druffel-Ausustin S, Gallrein C, Kirstein J, Voisine C, and Nussbaum-Krammer C. (2019) “Reducing INS-IGF1 signaling protects against non-cell autonomous vesicle rupture caused by SNCA spreading” Autophagy, Jul 29:1-22.
Voisine C and Brehme M. (2019) “HSP90 et al.: Chaperome and Proteostasis Deregulation in Human Disease” Heat Shock Protein 90 in Human Diseases and Disorders. Series Editors: Alexzander A.A. Asea and Stuart Calderwood, Springer Press.
Richards Z, Marsili J, McCray T, Manlucu J, Zenner M, Voisine C, Murphy AB, Abdulkadir SA, Prins GS, and Nonn L. (2019) “Prostate stroma supports branching of human prostate organoids and maintains the transcriptional phenotype of tumoroids" iScience, Feb 22;12:304-317.
Neto MF, Nguyen QH, Marsili J, McFall SM, and Voisine C. (2016) “The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans displays a chemotaxis behavior to tuberculosis-specific odorants” Journal of Clinical Tuberculosis and Other Mycobacterial Diseases. Volume 4, August, Pages 44–49.
My research interests focus on using the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans to study human disease. Student researchers investigate the role of molecular chaperones in development, aging and neurodegenerative diseases. We also use worms to study prostate cancer disparities and sniff out tuberculosis quickly and cheaply.
Room BBH 352C
Northeastern Illinois University
5500 North St. Louis Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625
United States
