Colorado Sleep and Circadian Summer School
6th Annual University of Colorado
Sleep and Circadian Summer School
Aug 3-9, 2025
Supported by NIH/NHLBI T32 “Transdisciplinary Training in Sleep and Circadian Rhythms”, NIH/NINDS R25 "Multi-Institutional Summer Undergraduate Research Program to Promote Sleep and Circadian Research Careers", College of Arts and Sciences and the Vice Chancellor for Research, and the Department of Integrative Physiology at the University of Colorado Boulder
Organizing committee: Sidney Aki, Nathan Anderson, Dr. Erin Kishman, Andrea Lugo, Grissy Sime Mora, Jhair Torres, Dr. Dana Withrow, Prof. Ken Wright
The 6th Annual Colorado Sleep and Circadian Summer School will be hybrid. Approximately 50 trainees will be selected to attend the summer school in person and have access to the full program. Some educational offerings will also be made available virtual.
The 6th Annual Colorado Sleep and Circadian Summer School is free (i.e., there is no registration fee). Trainees and/or their mentors are responsible for travel to and from Boulder as well as hotel and food.
The educational program will include morning lectures, afternoon workshops, networking sessions, and professional development sessions.
The educational program is provided by Colorado faculty and visiting faculty.
In Person Visiting Professors
- Prof. Till Roenneberg, PhD - University of Munich
- Prof. Elizabeth Klerman, MD, PhD - Harvard Medical School
- Prof. Paul Shaw, PhD - Washington University St. Louis
- Danny Forger, PhD - University of Michigan
Including educational and professional development sessions provided by some of the faculty from the Colorado T32 program
Summer School Program
All times are Mountain (MDT, UTC/GMT - 6 hours)
Sessions with a * will be provided in hybrid format via webinar
Sunday 3rd Aug – Registration and welcome – University of Colorado Boulder
| 1800 – 1930 | Registration for students, welcome and networking session University of Colorado Boulder Campus Clare Small 111 |
Monday 4th Aug – University of Colorado Boulder
| Morning session | Introductory lectures University of Colorado Boulder Campus Atlas 100 |
0845–0900
0900–1015 | *Ken Wright, PhD - Introduction to the summer school Plenary *Mark Opp, PhD - Historical aspects sleep and immune function |
| 1015–1045 | Coffee break |
1045–1200
| Plenary *Till Roenneberg, PhD - History of circadian science from neurospora to humans |
| 1200–1230 | Data blitz session 1 |
| 1230–1345 | Lunch |
| Afternoon session | University of Colorado Boulder Campus Atlas 100 |
| 1345–1500 | Plenary *Elizabeth Klerman, MD, PhD – Adding sleep and circadian rhythms to medicine |
| 1500–1530 | Coffee break |
| 1530–1610 | *Ken Wright, PhD – Circadian biomarkers |
| 1615–1745 | Poster session 1 – University of Colorado Boulder Campus Clare Small 111 |
Tuesday 5th Aug – University of Colorado Boulder
| Morning session | Lectures - University of Colorado Boulder Campus Atlas 100 |
| 0900-1015 | Plenary *Daniel Forger, PhD – Wearable technologies for sleep and circadian science in real life |
| 1015-1045 | Coffee break |
| 1045-1200 | *Brice McConnell, PhD – Sleep EEG and cognitive decline |
| 1200-1230 | Data blitz session 2 |
| 1230-1345 | Lunch |
| Afternoon session | Afternoon workshops University of Colorado Boulder Campus Atlas 100 |
1345 – 1445
| Chronobiology – Fundamental Concepts and Methods Till Roenneberg PhD, Elizabeth Klerman, MD, PhD and Ken Wright, PhD |
| 1445 – 1515 | Coffee break |
| 1515-1630 | Wearable technologies and analytical tools Danny Forger, PhD and Elizabeth Klerman. MD, PhD |
| 1645–1815 | Poster session 2 – University of Colorado Boulder Campus Clare Small 111 |
Wednesday 6th Aug
| Morning session | Lectures University of Colorado Boulder Campus Atlas 100 |
| 0900-1015 | Plenary *Paul Shaw, PhD – Genetics of sleep in animals and humans |
| 1015-1045 | Coffee break |
| 1045-1200 | *Robert Thompson, PhD – Microbiome countermeasures to improve sleep and circadian rhythms |
| Afternoon session | Free afternoon - Hike/other activities |
| Morning session | Lectures University of Colorado Boulder Campus Atlas 100 |
| 0900-1015 | *Zoe Panchal, MD – State of the science on sleep and cannabis |
| 1015-1045 | Coffee break |
| 1045-1200 | *Stephen Duntley, MD Clinical sleepiness and fatigue |
| 1200-1330 | Lunch |
| Afternoon session | Afternoon workshops University of Colorado Boulder Campus Atlas 100 |
| *Advocacy of sleep and circadian science |
| Allan Pack, PhD and Fred Turek, PhD | |
| 1445-1515 | Coffee break |
1515-1630
| Sleep and wakefulness – Fundamental concepts and methods Rachel Rowe PhD, Paul Shaw PhD, Mark Opp PhD and Ken Wright PhD |
Friday Aug 8th
| Morning session | Lecture University of Colorado Boulder Campus Atlas 100 |
| 0845-1000 | *Rachel Rowe, PhD – Sleep and traumatic brain injury |
| 1000-1000 | Coffee break |
| 1000-1145 | Workshop Future opportunities in Sleep and Circadian Science
Mark Opp PhD, Paul Shaw, PhD, Till Roenneberg, PhD Elizabeth Klerman, MD PhD, Rachel Rowe, PhD, and Ken Wright, PhD |
| 1145-1300 | Lunch |
| Afternoon session | University of Colorado Boulder Campus Atlas 100 |
1300-1715
| *R25 Sleep and Circadian Scholar Presentations |
15 min break
| |
| 1715 | Closing remarks and poster prizes |
Application for the in-person summer school is open and trainees will be admitted on a rolling basis. Please send a request for application to kenneth.wright@colorado.edu
Registration for the virtual summer school now open