Dr. Aaron Schirmer smiles into the camera in front of a plain background.
Aaron
Schirmer
Associate Chair, Professor
Biology
College of Arts and Sciences
(773) 442-5617
Expertise
Chronobiology, Neuroscience, Behavioral Genetics, and Molecular Biology
Courses Taught
Introduction to Biology (BIO 100)
Essential Skills for Biologists (BIO 250)
General Biology I (BIO 201)
General Biology II (BIO 202)
General Genetics (BIO 303)
Genomics and Proteomics (BIO 368)
Biology Senior Seminar (BIO 390)
Biological Literature (BIO 405)
Chronobiology (BIO 412)
Biochemical Genetics (BIO 421)
Environmental Health (PH 420)
Honors Intro to Natural Sciences (ZHON 194)
Correspondence Topics in Biology (NDP 321)
Research Interests
My research utilizes a variety of techniques (molecular, physiological, and behavioral) and experimental systems (both vertebrate and invertebrate) to investigate the role of circadian rhythms in animal (including human) behavior and physiology. Specifically, these studies focus on the impact of environmental perturbations on circadian systems, the role of circadian rhythms in the modulation of insect behavior, and molecular genetic mechanisms involved in the regulation and expression of circadian rhythms.
Education

Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Northwestern University

B.S. in Biology from Elmhurst College

Selected Publications

Undergraduate students are underlined

Schirmer AE, Kumar V, Schook A, Song EJ, Marshall MS and Takahashi JS (2023). Cry1 expression during postnatal development is critical for the establishment of normal circadian period. Front. Neurosci. 17:1166137. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1166137

Epiney, D., Salameh, C., Cassidy, D., Zhou, L., Kruithof, J., Milutinović, R., Andreani, T., Schirmer, A.E., and Bolterstein, E. (2021). Characterization of Stress Responses in a Drosophila Model of Werner Syndrome. Biomolecules, 11(12), 1868.

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.

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.

Room BBH 352E
91Porn
5500 North St. Louis Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625
United States

(773) 442-5617
Office Hours
Please email a-schirmer@neiu.edu to arrange to meet or speak with Dr. Schirmer.
Main Campus