Phyllis C. Zee is the Benjamin and Virginia T. Boshes Professor in Neurology and Director of the Sleep Disorders Center at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, Illinois, where she is also Director of the Center for Circadian and Sleep Medicine.

Dr. Zee directs an interdisciplinary clinical and research program in sleep and circadian rhythms. Research topics in this program range from basic animal studies to therapeutic clinical trials. Basic and clinical studies from her laboratory paved the way to novel treatments for disorders associated with sleep and circadian clock dysfunction. Her research has focused on the effects of age on sleep and circadian rhythms, genetic regulation of circadian sleep disorders, impact of circadian dysregulation on metabolism, and behavioral interventions to improve sleep and performance. In addition, current NIH sponsored research include studies that examine the relationship between sleep and sleep disorders with metabolic and cardiovascular risk in populations at risk, such as older adults, and the effects of sleep disturbance on adverse pregnancy outcomes. Dr. Zee also has authored more than 150 peer reviewed original articles and over 50 chapters and reviews on the topics of sleep, circadian rhythms, and sleep/wake disorders.

A fellow of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, fellow of the American Academy of Neurology and member of the American Neurological Association, Dr. Zee has served on numerous national and international committees, NIH scientific review panels, and advisory boards. She is past President of the Sleep Research Society, past President of the Sleep Research Society Foundation, past Chair of the NIH Sleep Disorders Research Advisory Board, a current Member of the NHBLI Council, and a Deputy Editor for the journal SLEEP. Dr. Zee is the recipient of the 2011 American Academy of Neurology Sleep Science Award and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine 2014 William C. Dement Academic Achievement Award.