Jon S. Miller, Professor

Fields of Interest

  • Microbiology
  • Entomology
  • Human physiology
  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular biology

Lab Research Focus

  • Insect physiology
  • Eicosanoids - groups of biologically active metabolites of certain C20 polyunsaturated fatty acids.
  • Nodule formation, beginning with formation of microaggregates, which grow by successive hemocyte adhesions into large nodules.
  • Initial research was conducted on a single insect species, the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta.

Refereed Journal Articles

Research

  • Stanley, D., Haas, E., and Miller, J.S. (2012) Eicosanoids: Exploiting Insect Immunity to Improve Biological Control Programs.  Insects 3: 492-510; DOI 10.3390/insects3020492.
  • Stanley, D., Miller, J.S., and Hasan Tunaz. (2009) Eicosanoid Actions in Insect Immnunity. J. Innate Immun. 2009; 1:282-290; DOI 10.1159/000210371.
  • Merchant, D., Ertl, R.L., Rennard, S.I., Stanley, D.W., and Miller, J.S. (2008) Eicosanoids Mediate Insect Hemocyte Chemotaxis. Journal of Insect Physiology 54 (1): 215-221.
  • Kwon H.S., Stanley, D.W., and Miller, J.S. (2007) Bacterial Challenge and Eicosanoids Act in Plasmatocyte Spreading. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 124 (3): 285-292.
  • Stanley, DW and Miller, JS (2006) Eicosanoid Actions in Insect Cellular Immune Functions. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 119: 1-13. (Mini Review)
  • Miller, JS (2005) Eicosanoids Influence In Vitro Elongation of Plasmatocytes from the Tobacco Hornworm, Manduca sexta. Arch Insect Biochem Physiol. 59:42-51.

Teaching

  • Miller, J.S. and Windelborn, A.F. (2013) Investigating Diffusion with Technology.  Physics Education 48: 459-464.
  • Marcus, L., Plumeri, J., Baker, G.M. and Miller, J.S. (2013)  A Teacher-developed Inquiry Model to Teach the Molecular Basis of Hyperbolic Kinetics in Biological Membrane Transport.  Advances in Physiology Education 37:165-175.
  • Naples, V.L., Breed, D. and Miller, J.S. (2010). A Skeleton Tells Its Own Story: Forensic Anthropological Analysis for the Science Classroom Laboratory.  The American Biology Teacher, Vol. 72, 3: 162-171.
  • Naples, VL and Miller, JS (2009) Evolving the Concept of Homology. Bioscene: Vol. 35(1). pp 43-47.
  • Hubbard, C.J., Miller, J.S., and Olson, D. (2005) An Exciting Way to Teach An Old Topic: The Cadaver-Based Anatomy Short Course for High School Students. The Anatomical Record Part B: The New Anatomist, 284B: 6-11
  • Naples, V.L. and Miller, J.S. (2004) Making Tracks: The Forensic Analysis of Footprints and Footwear Impressions. The Anatomical Record Part B: The New Anatomist, 279B, 9-15.
  • Miller, J.S. (2004) Insects in the Classroom: A Study of Animal Behavior. Science Activities, 41, 24-31.
  • Miller, J.S. Sass, M., Wong, S.L., Nienhuis, J. (2004) Micropipetting: An Important Laboratory Skill for Molecular Biology. American Biology Teacher, 66, 291-296.

Contact

Jon S. Miller
Department of Biological Sciences
jsmiller@niu.edu
815-753-7828 
Office: MO 452
Lab: MO 329

Education

  • Ph.D., Entomology (Biochemical Physiology), University of Nebraska-Lincoln, August 1998.
  • M.S., Entomology (Biochemical Physiology), University of Nebraska-Lincoln, December 1994.
  • M.Ed., Curriculum and Instruction (Secondary Science Education), University of Nebraska-Lincoln, August, 1987.
  • B.S., Secondary Science Education University of Nebraska-Lincoln, May, 1976.