Faculty Profile
Dr. Matthew Kreitzer is Professor of Biology and Dean of the School of Science, Engineering, and Education at Indiana Wesleyan University. Since joining the university in 2003, following the completion of his Ph.D. in Biological Sciences with a specialization in Neurobiology from University of Illinois, Dr. Kreitzer has combined academic leadership with a deep commitment to Christ-centered undergraduate education, scientific discovery, and student mentorship. He is passionate about integrating faith and learning while equipping students to pursue excellence in science, healthcare, research, and service.
Dr. Kreitzer teaches courses spanning introductory biology, anatomy and physiology, and advanced neuroscience, providing students with both strong scientific foundations and meaningful hands-on research experiences.
Mentoring the Next Generation of STEM Leaders
Dr. Kreitzer is deeply committed to mentoring undergraduate students through research and student-centered STEM initiatives that cultivate curiosity, confidence, community, and belonging. His work has helped students develop as scientists, scholars, and servant leaders prepared to make a meaningful impact in their professions and communities.
Over the course of his career, Dr. Kreitzer has contributed to five grants awarded by the National Science Foundation to Indiana Wesleyan University. Two of these grants supported undergraduate neuroscience research investigating communication between neurons and glial cells within the central nervous system. More than 70 undergraduate students have participated in this research program, serving as co-authors on numerous scientific presentations—including presentations at the annual Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting and meetings of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology—as well as undergraduate co-authors on peer-reviewed publications in respected journals such as PLOS ONE, Journal of General Physiology, Journal of Neurophysiology, European Journal of Neuroscience, and Visual Neuroscience.
In addition to advancing undergraduate research, Dr. Kreitzer has helped lead NSF-funded initiatives that provide scholarships and support systems for STEM students, with a particular focus on fostering student success, engagement, and belonging throughout their academic journey.
University of Illinois at Chicago , 2003
Olivet Nazarene University , 1999
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Kreitzer, M. A., Vredeveld, M., Tinner, K., Powell, A. M., Schantz, A. W., Leininger, R., Merillat, R., Gongwer, M. W., Tchernookova, B. K., & Malchow, R. P. (2024). ATP-mediated increase in H+ efflux from retinal Müller cells of the axolotl. Journal of Neurophysiology. Advance online publication; final volume and pages assigned in 2024. https://doi.org/10.1152/jn.00321.2023
Malchow, R. P., Tchernookova, B. K., Choi, J. V., Smith, P. J. S., Kramer, R. H., & Kreitzer, M. A. (2021). Review and hypothesis: A potential common link between glial cells, calcium changes, modulation of synaptic transmission, spreading depression, migraine, and epilepsy—H+. Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience, 15, 693095. https://doi.org/10.3389/fncel.2021.693095
Choi, J. V., Tchernookova, B. K., Hou, X. Y., Kreitzer, M. A., Smith, P. J. S., & Malchow, R. P. (2021). Extracellular ATP-induced alterations in extracellular H+ fluxes from cultured cortical and hippocampal astrocytes. Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience, 15.
Hu, S., Anastassov, I. A., Kreitzer, M. A., Slaughter, M. M., & Chappell, R. L. (2021). A dark decrement for enhanced dynamic sensitivity of retinal photoreceptors. Vision Research, 180, 80–86. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.visres.2020.12.005
Kreitzer, M. A., Swygart, D., Osborn, M., Skinner, B., Heer, C., Kaufman, R., Williams, B., Shepherd, L., Caringal, H., Gongwer, M., Tchernookova, B. K., & Malchow, R. P. (2017). Extracellular H+ fluxes from tiger salamander Müller (glial) cells measured using self-referencing H+-selective microelectrodes. Journal of Neurophysiology, 118(6), 3132–3143. https://doi.org/10.1152/jn.00409.2017
Kreitzer, M. A., & Malchow, R. P. (2013). Engaging undergraduates in a unique neuroscience research opportunity: A collaborative research experience between a primarily undergraduate institution (PUI) and a major research institution. Journal of Undergraduate Neuroscience Education, 12(1), A85–A92.
Runyan, J. D., & Kreitzer, M. A. (2010). The neuroscience of religious experience—A review essay. Christian Scholar’s Review. Peer-reviewed journal published by Christian Scholar’s Review; article and authorship confirmed on the journal site.
Kreitzer, M. A., & Malchow, R. P. (2007). Modulation of extracellular proton fluxes from retinal horizontal cells of the catfish by depolarization and glutamate. Journal of General Physiology, 130(2), 169–182.
Kreitzer, M. A., Birnbaum, A. D., Qian, H., & Malchow, R. P. (2009). Pharmacological characterization, localization, and regulation of ionotropic glutamate receptors in skate horizontal cells. Visual Neuroscience, 26(4), 221–234.
Suen, P. C., Wu, K., Xu, J. L., Lin, S. Y., Levine, E. S., & Kreitzer, M. A. et al. (2001). The postsynaptic density protein PSD95 differentially regulates insulin and Src-mediated current modulation of mouse NMDA receptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes. Journal of Neurochemistry, 75(1), 282–287. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1471-4159.2000.0750282.x
Kreitzer, M. A., Swygart, D., Osborn, M., Skinner, B., Heer, C., Kaufman, R., Williams, B., Shepherd, L., Caringal, H., Gongwer, M., Tchernookova, B. K., & Malchow, R. P. “Extracellular H⁺ fluxes from tiger salamander Müller (glial) cells measured using self-referencing H⁺-selective microelectrodes.” Journal of Neurophysiology, 118(6), 3132-3143 (2017). doi:10.1152/jn.00409.2017.
Kreitzer, M. A., Tchernookova, B., Gongwer, M., George, A., Goeglein, B., Vredeveld, M., Tinner, K., Powell, A., & Malchow, R. P. (2021). “ATP-mediated increase in H⁺ efflux from retinal Müller (glial) cells: a role for Na⁺/H⁺ exchange.” Journal of Neurophysiology, 125(2), 552-564. doi:10.1152/jn.00546.2020
“Extracellular pH dynamics of retinal horizontal cells examined using electrochemical and fluorometric methods.” Journal of Neurophysiology 107(3): 868–879. doi:10.1152/jn.00878.2011.
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