Rate My Professor Mike Geusz

Michael Geusz is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Bowling Green State University. He earned his Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University. His research centers on the role of circadian rhythms in adult neurogenesis, cancer stem cells, and behavior. Geusz investigates tumor formation and progression in brain, esophageal, breast, and lung cancers, with a focus on characterizing cancer stem cells and the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition that facilitates cell migration, metastasis, and resistance to therapies. He explores the inhibitory effects of phytochemicals, such as curcumin and related compounds, on cancer stem cells and their interactions with the circadian timing system. Employing advanced techniques including live cell imaging, mouse models, electrophysiology, genomic and proteomic analyses, and bioluminescence imaging, his work elucidates the regulation of circadian clocks through imaging gene expression rhythms in neural explants and other cultured tissues. Geusz also identifies and characterizes signaling mechanisms between circadian clocks in normal and disease states.

In addition to his research, Geusz teaches undergraduate and graduate courses such as BIOL 4110/5210 Animal Physiology, BIOL 4180/5200 Neurophysiology, and BIOL 4400/5180 Molecular Neurobiology. He serves as a Faculty Ally in Biological Sciences. His publications include "Cancer stem cell generation during epithelial-mesenchymal transition is temporally gated by intrinsic circadian clocks" (Clinical and Experimental Metastasis, 2020), "Anti-cancer properties of curcumin and interactions with the circadian timing system" (Integrative Cancer Therapies, 2019), "Musashi-2 and related stem cell proteins in the mouse suprachiasmatic nucleus and their potential role in circadian rhythms" (International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience, 2019), "Circadian clock genes are essential for normal adult neurogenesis, differentiation, and fate determination" (PLoS ONE, 2015), "Induction of photosensitivity in neonatal rat pineal gland" (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, 2000), "Circadian rhythm in membrane conductance expressed in isolated neurons" (Science, 1993), and "Circadian rhythms in mouse suprachiasmatic nucleus explants on multimicroelectrode plates" (Brain Research, 1997). His work has garnered over 1,600 citations.