Michael Menaker (May 19, 1934 – February 14, 2021), was an American chronobiology researcher, and was Commonwealth Professor of Biology at University of Virginia. His research focused on circadian rhythmicity of vertebrates, including contributing to an understanding of light input pathways on extra-retinal photoreceptors of non-mammalian vertebrates, discovering a mammalian mutation for circadian rhythmicity (tau mutation in golden hamsters), and locating a circadian oscillator in the pineal gland of bird. He wrote almost 200 scientific publications.