Aaron Frederick Severson (Aaron), Ph. D
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 Title: Associate Professor
Associate Chair, BIO Undergraduate Program Director
 Dept: Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences
 Office: SR 280C
 Phone: 216-687-4864
 Email: A.SEVERSON@csuohio.edu
 Web: http://www.csuohio.edu/grhd/faculty/aaron-severson
 Address: 2121 Euclid Ave. SR 280C, Cleveland, OH 44115

Courses Taught

Publications


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Research Keywords:
Caenorhabditis elegans, chromosomal biology, chromosome segregation, cohesin, chromosome segregation, DNA repair, genomic instability, meiosis, reproductive health, sister chromatid cohesion
 
Education:
Ph.D., Biology, University of Oregon, 2001
B.S., Biology, University of Wisconsin, 1994
 
Brief Bio:
2019-Present  Associate Chair, Cleveland State University, BGES Department
2018-Present  Associate Professor, Cleveland State University, BGES Department
2013-Present  Member, Center for Gene Regulation in Health and Disease (GRHD)
2012-2018  Assistant Professor, Cleveland State University, BGES Department
2006-2012  Associate Specialist, University of California, MCB Department
2002-2006  Postdoctoral Researcher, University of California, MCB Department
2001-2002  Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Oregon, Department of Biology
1995-2001  Graduate Research Assistant, University of Oregon, Department of Biology
1994-1995  Research Specialist, University of Wisconsin, Department of Biology
1993-1993  Undergraduate Researcher, University of Wisconsin, Department of Biology
 
Honors and Awards:
2018 McNair Scholars Program Discipline Faculty Mentor of the Year
2016 CSU Alumni Association Golden Apple Award for outstanding impact on student life
2016-2018 CSU Faculty Merit Recognition Award
2003-2006 Helen Hay Whitney Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship
 
Research Interests:
In all organisms, accurate transmission of the genome during cell division is essential to prevent genetic instability. This is especially true during meiosis, the process that reduces genome copy number, or ploidy, from two in diploid germline stem cells to one in each haploid gamete. Defects in meiosis affect all cells of an embryo and profoundly impact health: it is estimated that over 30% of human zygotes have abnormal chromosomal content at conception, and such aneuploidies are the leading known cause of miscarriages and birth defects. The best known viable aneuploidy, trisomy 21, causes Down syndrome. I use Caenorhabditis elegans to study how gametes inherit exactly one copy of every chromosome. Because the process of meiosis is widely conserved among eukaryotes, the meiotic mechanisms we identify in the lowly worm are relevant to understanding gametogenesis in humans.
 
Teaching Areas:
Genetics, Developmental Biology
 
Professional Affiliations:
American Society for Cell Biology
Genetics Society of America
Ohio Academy of Science
 
Professional Experience:
2019-Present Associate Chair, Cleveland State University, BGES Department
2018-Present Associate Professor, Cleveland State University, BGES Department
2015-Present Adjunct Staff, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic
2013-Present Member, Cleveland State University Graduate Faculty
2013-Present Member, Center for Gene Regulation in Health and Disease (GRHD)
2013-2015 Adjunct Staff, Department of Molecular Genetics, Cleveland Clinic
2012-2018 Assistant Professor, Cleveland State University, BGES Department
2006-2012 Associate Specialist, University of California, MCB Department
2002-2006 Postdoctoral Researcher, University of California, MCB Department
 
University Service:
2022-Present  University Curriculum Committee
2022-Present  Faculty Senate Academic Steering Committee
2021-Present, 2018-2020  Faculty Senate; A&S Caucus Co-chair 2022-23
2021-Present  CSU 2.0 Arts and Sciences Workload Working Group
2021-Present  COSHP Steering Committee (at-large)
2021-Present  CSU Institutional Animal Use and Care Committee
2020-Present  College of Graduate Studies Petitions Committee
2019-Present  CSU Institutional Biosafety Committee, Chair
2018-Present  Graduate Committee on Curriculum and Academic Standards
2016-Present  BGES Undergraduate Program Director
2015-Present  BGES Undergraduate Committee on Curriculum and Academic Standards, Chair 2016-Present
2020  CSU 2.0 Academic Task Force, Instructional Efficiency Working Group
2019-2021  CSU Ski Club Faculty Advisor
2019-2021, 2015-2017  COSHP Budget and Planning Committee
2018-2020  COSHP Nominating Committee
2018-2020  College of Graduate Studies Grade Dispute Committee
2013-2015  BGES Departmental Secretary
 
Professional Service:
Ad hoc scientific journal reviewer: Biomolecules, Cancers, eLife, EMBO J, EMBO Reports, G3, International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Nature Communications
Ad hoc grant reviewer: Wellcome Trust
Ad-hoc textbook reviewer: Macmillan
 
Community Service:
2017-Present  American Society for Cell Biology Ambassador
2012-Present  Case Western Reserve University, Institutional Biosafety Committee
2015-Present  Case Western Reserve University, Institutional Review Entity
2016  Abstract Reviewer, The Ohio Academy of Science
2015  Session Chair, EMBO Workshop, SMC proteins: Chromosomal organizers from bacteria to human
2015  Co-organizer, Midwest Meiosis Meeting
2014  Special Judge, NEOSEF Science Fair
 
Research Grants:
Active:
NIH 1R15GM143731-01 (2021-2024): Severson, AF PI
"Positive and negative regulation of REC-8 cohesin during meiosis"

Completed:
NIH 1R15GM117548-01 (2016-2020): Severson, AF PI
"Specification of meiotic cohesin function by divergent alpha-kleisin subunits"