BIOLOGYCURRENTS

2016 | THE QUEENS COLLEGE BIOLOGY ALUMNI NEWSLETTER | VOLUME 19, NO. 1

Student Highlights We are pleased to report some of what the Biology Department’s amazing students have been doing and the honors earned.

ELLIOT AGUILAR (Lahti mentor) successfully defended his doctoral thesis “Models and Methods in Cultural and Social Evolution,” and was awarded the PhD from the Doctoral From left to right: Vincent Cali; Anna McPherran shown doing fieldwork on mongooses and wearing a Program in Biology–Subprogram in Eco- tee shirt advertising her long-standing position at the New York Hall of Science; and Aaron Owen. logy, Evolution, and Behavior of CUNY. Zoonotic, Influenza and Vector-Borne ANNA McPHERRAN, a Queens College MARKO BALOH (Dennehy lab) was accepted Disease Unit of the Bureau of Com- undergraduate scholar in the William E. into the Biology Doctoral Program at Texas municable Disease at the New York City Macaulay Honors College and researcher A&M University. Marko joined Dr. Joseph Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. in the Lahti lab, had an exceptional senior Sorg’s lab and is researching Clostridium year. She defended her honors thesis, difficile physiology and virulence with the NATASZA FONTAINE, a master’s student in “Possible effects of anthropogenic noise end goal of developing novel antimicrobials the Lahti lab, had a photograph used for and land use on house finch songs in to combat this pathogen. the September cover of Saving Land, a publication of the Land Trust Alliance. California.” She received the Biology VINCENT CALI (Dennehy lab) presented his Department’s Muriel and Philip Feigelson research, “Effects of mutations in transla- FRANNY GELLER (Lahti mentor) pre- Award that recognizes “outstanding tional regulation of bacteriophage lambda S sented at the CUNY Evolution, Ecology, achievement in research.” Anna was a gene on bacterial lysis time,” at the Annual Behavior symposium at the Graduate recipient of the Queens College Kenneth Biomedical Research Conference for Center on “Cultural evolution and function Kupferberg Memorial Scholarship, which Minority Students (ABRCMS) meeting in in the house finch.” is awarded to high-achieving students in Tampa, FL. SANDY (HARSANGEET) GILL, an undergradu- the Division of Mathematics and Natural Doctoral student JAMES CLARK (Savage-Dunn ate in the Lahti lab, was awarded Queens Sciences. She graduated with high honors mentor) was chosen for an oral presenta- College’s Kenneth Kupferberg Memorial in Biology and is a member of the Phi Beta tion at the Northeast Regional Society for Scholarship for students majoring in the Kappa Society. As if that were not enough, Developmental Biology meeting at Marine natural sciences with an outstanding aca- Anna received the Top of the Ladder Biology Laboratory in Woods Hole, MA. demic record. Award from the New York Hall of Science, where she had volunteered since 2013 as GIULIETTA COPPOLA AMANDA ARYEH GOLD (Meléndez lab) presented and a Design Lab Experience Coordinator, GOLDSTEIN, undergraduates in the Lahti his research at the annual Undergraduate Thesis in Neuroscience presentations. His Program Explainer, and Explainer Intern. lab, presented at the CUNY Service Corps What an incredible young woman! Poster Session describing their work at thesis was entitled, “Crosstalk between the Queens Zoo, “Wildlife Conservation endocytosis and autophagy: ATG-9 local- AARON OWEN (Lahti mentor) gave invited Society City Zoos: Queens Zoo.” izes to late endosomes.” talks at both Yale University and Fordham University, speaking on his doctoral thesis DAYSE DA CUNHA (co-mentored by Alicia JONATHAN GOODMAN (Lahti lab) published two pieces in Aeon: “If culture is too research, “Rapid evolution by sexual Meléndez and Hannes Buelow of Albert selection following introduction in the Einstein Medical School) presented her doc- expensive for most, everyone pays a price” small Indian mongoose.” toral thesis research, “Distinct heparan sul- and “How statistics are twisted to obscure fate modification patterns control germline public understanding.” NICHOLAS PALMISANO (Meléndez lab) stem cell proliferation,” at the Universidade UDAY MADAAN (Savage-Dunn mentor) spoke on his doctoral thesis research, “The Federal de São Paolo, São Paolo, Brazil. was awarded a CUNY Graduate Center small GTPase, RAB-10, is required for autophagy in C. elegans” at the New York LAUREN ESPOSITO Dissertation Year Fellowship. (Dennehy lab) received Graduate Student Symposium on Cell and a master of arts degree in Biology from CHARLES MANIEGO (Lahti lab) presented Cancer Biology, Memorial Sloan Kettering QC and is now in the master of public his undergraduate honors research at Cancer Center. He also spoke at the CUNY health program at Mount Sinai College of the Sigma Xi Research Day at Queens Worm Talks held at Brooklyn College on Medicine. She is also employed as a Health College: “Cultural variation in house finch “RAB-10 acts in autophagy flux” and at Research Training Program Intern for the (Haemorhous mexicanus) song.” continued on page 2 Letter from the Editor the CUNY-wide C. elegans Meeting at Biology Currents 2016 Professionals on Campus program. City College on “The GTPase, RAB-10, is published! Putting Dr. Salick is a nationally and internation- regulates the dynamics of autophagy.” together this issue was ally recognized pioneer in the develop- ELSA ROSARIO (Dennehy lab) presented especially enjoyable ment of outpatient healthcare centers for her research, “Determining function of because so many of the treatment and maintenance of chronic two unidentified ORFs in bacteriophage the articles highlight diseases. His presentation attracted col- φ6,” at the Annual Biomedical Research alumni both old and legewide attendance. Our article expands Conference for Minority Students newly minted. If you on Dr. Salick’s career, describing how he are receiving Biology transitioned from a physician specializing (ABRCMS) meeting in Tampa, FL. Corinne A. Michels Currents for the first in kidney disease to the CEO of Salick NATALIE ROSARIO and MATEUSZ Health Care to an outspoken advocate for WYSOCKI—both undergraduates work- time, we welcome you to the Biology ing in the Meléndez lab—presented a Department’s alumni newsletter. To con- innovative programs in healthcare delivery. poster at the Mount Sinai Undergraduate tinue to receive Biology Currents in the To accomplish this, he brought together the Symposium on “The role of RAB-10 and years to come, please keep your informa- members of the medical community, the RME-1 in C. elegans autophagy.” tion up to date with the Alumni Office. business community, and academia. Biology Currents applauds the accom- Undergraduate MIN KYUNG SHIN (Savage- We also draw your attention to the plishments of the Biology Department Dunn lab) was awarded a Kenneth Kup- ALUMNI UPDATE section, which includes community: students, faculty, and alumni. ferberg Memorial Scholarship to fund her write-ups on five alums going back to the This is particularly true in this issue. summer research. class of 1961! It was a pleasure to receive The STUDENT HIGHLIGHTS section their emailed messages and to engage MELISSA SILVESTRINI (Meléndez lab) singles out a few of the department’s cur- in back-and-forth conversations that spoke on her doctoral thesis research, rent students whose achievements are expanded on their comments and obtained “Autophagy deficiency triggers cytosolic impressive. Additional examples of their photos. I hope you enjoy reading these lipolysis via adipose triglyceride lipase-1 work can be found in the FACULTY updates and give serious consideration to in a PKA-dependent manner,” at the SCHOLARSHIP section that indicates sending us your story. CUNY-wide C. elegans meeting held at which authors were Biology Department Anyone inspired to contribute to the City College. students. It is not unusual to see under- department’s Alumni Fund is encouraged CARMEN URGILES (Dennehy lab) present- graduates listed as authors of a research to do so at any time during the year, ed her research, “Does cell growth rate article in a peer-reviewed journal. Even not just during the college’s fall fund- affect event timing in Escherichia coli?” more often, students present their research raising drive. at the Annual Biomedical Research at scientific conferences’ poster sessions Conference for Minority Students (see FACULTY NOTES section). A num- Here’s how: (ABRCMS) meeting in Tampa, FL. ber of these venues are for undergraduate BY MAIL: Make your check payable to NINA UZOIGWE, a high school student researchers, especially minority students, Queens College Foundation and write working in Dr. Meléndez’s lab in col- and our students are consistently active “Biology Department” in the memo line. laboration with her doctoral students, participants. Faculty grants and alumni Send to: Queens College Foundation, presented a poster at Stuyvesant High funds support undergraduate travel to Kiely Hall 906, 65-30 Kissena Boulevard, School’s 1st Annual Research Night on conference venues. Queens, NY 11367-1597. “Endocytosis aids lipophagy, paving the Dr. Bernard Salick ’60 spoke on ONLINE: Use the link (https://qccommunity. way for therapeutic interventions against “Entrepreneurial innovations in health- qc.cuny.edu/QueensCollege/DonateNow). human metabolic disorders and cardio- care services” as part of the college’s In the section labeled “Donation vascular diseases.” Information,” use the pull-down menu under the title “Designation” and select “Other.” A new line will open in which you can enter “Biology Department.” The link is a fast and secure method of donating. Either way, you will receive a letter from the foundation acknowledging your donation, which is tax deductible. Thank you for your support. Regards, Nicholas Palmisano at his Dr. Savage-Dunn and students James Clark,D Gehan Ranepura,U D M Dr. Corinne A. Michels ’63 microscope. Uday Madaan, and Michael Meade enjoying some time off. Distinguished Professor Emerita

2 DR. BERNARD SALICK CLASS OF 1960 DR. BERNARD SALICK SPEAKS ON “ENTREPRENEURIAL INNOVATIONS IN HEALTHCARE SERVICES”

In Sept- his personal funds in a chain of kidney academic nonprofit hospitals, using their ember the dialysis centers. He decided to keep the outstanding medical staff and providing college was centers open 24 hours per day, seven the extensive outpatient care available at extremely days per week, for the convenience of the Salick Health Care centers. Drawing pleased to patients and their families. The concept from the family’s personal experience, welcome was extremely successful, and a public Dr. Salick made certain that the center’s one of healthcare company bought the dialysis architectural design was outstanding, and our most business, although he continued to be that the surroundings were cheerful and renowned involved in its management. By 1983 and comfortable. Valet parking, meals, and graduates to with private backing, Dr. Salick took back psychosocial services were provided at no DR. BERNARD SALICK campus, Dr. control of the dialysis centers. He founded cost to the patient. Every effort was made Bernard Salick. His talk, which attracted Salick Health Care, Inc., and was soon to ease the heavy burden placed on the a collegewide audience, was presented in awarded a contract from CSMC to operate patient and the family by this devastating the Professionals on Campus program. their acute and chronic dialysis programs. illness.

Dr. Salick is widely recognized as a A family medical crisis intervened As part of this effort, Dr. Salick created visionary pioneer who has had a major when Dr. Salick’s six-year-old daughter a managed-care subsidiary, the first ever impact nationally and internationally in was diagnosed with an aggressive and to offer fixed-price insurance products for the development of new clinical programs deadly bone cancer, osteogenic sarcoma. the treatment of catastrophic diseases such for the diagnosis and treatment of patients Dr. Salick put his medical practice on as cancer and ESRD. He established a in many areas of medicine, including hold, and he and his wife, Gloria, were series of practice guidelines and outcome end-stage renal disease (ESRD), cancer, intensely involved with the care and measurements for the treatment of cancer organ transplant, cardiovascular disease, treatment of their daughter. She had her patients that were instituted nationwide at AIDS, and personalized medicine. His initial chemotherapy at a Los Angeles the eleven Comprehensive Cancer Centers lecture, based on his personal history hospital, under the direct supervision and and the eight Comprehensive Breast and his practice of medicine, focused on input from a world-renowned expert at Cancer Centers operated by Salick Health how enlightened partnerships between Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Care, Inc. the medical community and the private Dr. Gerald Rosen. Chemotherapy was sector can bring novel ideas to the In 1997 Dr. Salick sold Salick Health followed by surgery. Dr. Salick’s daughter treatment and maintenance of patients Care, Inc. to Astra-Zeneca, but contin- recovered, but the traumatic experience suffering from serious and catastrophic ued to advance healthcare management of providing her round-the-clock care left illnesses. Additionally, he discussed through innovative and unique solutions a profound emotional mark on the Salick health insurance mechanisms designed to to patients, physicians, and insurance pro- family. There were midnight trips to help people cover the costs of catastrophic viders with quality care and cost-effective, emergency rooms, and nights sleeping in care, an area quite relevant to patient care disease-specific programs. Based on hospital hallways because no provisions in today’s world. the disease-specific paradigm that he for the patient’s family were available had previously pioneered, in 2006 Dr. Dr. Salick received his BS degree from in the hospital. With this experience in Salick announced the formation of Salick Queens College in 1960 and his MD from mind, Dr. Salick set about to expand his Comprehensive Cardiovascular Centers, the University of Southern California in business to include comprehensive cancer Inc., which would provide a broad range 1964. He completed his internship and care, providing diagnosis and treatment of state-of-the-art procedures and tech- residency in internal medicine at Cedars– that would be available 24/7 in an niques for the treatment and diagnosis of Sinai Medical Center (CSMC), and environment supporting the needs of both cardiovascular disease on an outpatient completed a National Institutes of Health the patient and the family. basis. The centers would be available Postdoctoral Fellowship in nephrology at The first in a series of outpatient cancer 24/7 to provide high-quality, user-friendly CSMC in Los Angeles and the University centers run by Salick Health Care, Inc. (a patient care in a cost-efficient environ- of California, Los Angeles. Following this publicly held company) opened at CSMC ment. According to Dr. Salick, “One in extensive training, Dr. Salick established in 1985. This business model continued four Americans today has some form of a practice in Beverly Hills, specializing as the number of centers expanded. cardiovascular disease, and the numbers in kidney disease. His entrepreneurial The cancer centers partnered with are increasing. Among the significant spirit emerged in 1972 when he invested continued on page 4

3 ALUMNI UPDATE 2016

We are very excited to include updates on Medicine, and then a fifth year as a straight five Biology alumni in our 2016 issue. All medical intern at the University of Chicago contacted the editor-in-chief, Dr. Michels, Hospitals. After marrying in 1962, Diana via email ([email protected]) joined me and the mathematics department and sent the paragraphs below. If you enjoy at the University of Chicago, where she reading these, we heartily encourage you to do the same. Put “Biology alum” in the received her PhD in 1966 at just the same subject line, indicate the year you graduated, time I completed my internship. We then and write a paragraph updating your fellow joined the Peace Corps, where I served as alums on your personal and professional life. a staff physician for two years and Diana Be brief, or not—your choice. If you have a taught on the mathematics faculty at the photo you would like to include, please send Universidad del Valle in Cali, Colombia. DRS. HARRIS AND DIANA TAYLOR it as a jpeg attachment. We will not publish On returning to the states in 1968, we During this time and later, I had the good your email address, but anyone interested had our son Brian and daughter Rebecca in fortune to carry on a program of clinical in getting in touch with an alum who ap- pretty rapid succession while I began my research, resulting ultimately in the author- pears in Alumni Update should contact Dr. residency and chief residency at Cleveland Michels by email, as above. She will forward ship or co-authorship of some four dozen Metropolitan General Hospital and Case your message as appropriate. peer-reviewed papers with over 1,100 cita- Western Reserve University, followed by an tions, as well as five chapters. In 2003 I endocrinology fellowship at the Cleveland DR. HARRIS TAYLOR, MD ’61 closed my private practice and moved to the Clinic. This was followed by a long asso- I retired completely from medical practice in CWRU Medical School and the Cleveland ciation with Lutheran Medical Center and June 2013 as Clinical Professor of Medicine VA hospital, where I continued to teach and Fairview General Hospital, now part of the in the Division of Clinical and Molecular serve as the site’s principal investigator on Cleveland Clinic Health System. While Endocrinology at the Case Western the NIH-sponsored ACCORD study. This there, I began my private practice of endo- Reserve University School of Medicine. landmark investigation, involving multiple crinology, established the Endocrinology- Unfortunately, my wife, Diana ’62, died this institutions in the U.S. and Canada, dem- Radioimmunoassay Laboratory, and actively past June 13. onstrated conclusively that tight glucose taught in the Internal Medicine Residency After graduating Phi Beta Kappa from control in patients with Type-2 diabetes program. I subsequently directed the pro- Queens in 1961, I spent the next four years mellitus and coronary artery disease failed gram from 1985 to 1994. at the University of Chicago School of continued on page 5

DR. SALICK School and Harvard Medical School fac- on the Harvard Business School panels for continued from page 3 ulty to develop plans for a Personalized Healthcare Innovation and Opportunities in factors influencing this are skyrocketing Medicine, Molecular Biology entity led by Southeast Asia and, in 2005, was a guest rates of Type II diabetes and obesity as Dr. Raju Kucherlapati, head of Genetics at speaker at the Harvard Business School for well as an aging population.” This pro- Harvard Medical School. the India and Its Neighbors Conference. He gram would be merged into his Salick served on the Board of Directors of Nephros, Dr. Salick’s service to the education and Comprehensive Diabetes Centers, Inc. Inc. from 2005 to 2007, and was a mem- medical communities is varied and exten- ber of the Board of Trustees for the United In 2010 Harvard University’s Joslin sive. He served on the Board of Trustees States Equestrian Team Foundation from Diabetes Center and its Board of Trustees of the Queens College Foundation and 1991 to 2011. Dr. Salick has provided funds offered Dr. Salick the position of Chief Crossroads School for Arts and Sciences in for fellowships and scholarships at Yeshiva Executive Officer of the Joslin Diabetes Santa Monica, and has been a member of University, Harvard School of Public Health, Clinic. Although he declined the offer, he the Visiting Committee and the Leadership Queens College, and Stuyvesant High began to plan a nationwide program of Council of the Harvard School of Public School. Comprehensive Diabetes Centers using his Health. He is a regular visiting lecturer, and approach to comprehensive disease man- is a member of the Healthcare Initiative Dr. Salick and his wife reside in Los Angeles agement. He has been intensively involved Advisory Board and the Centennial and New York. They have three daughters, in developing these centers with academic Committee of the Harvard Business School. who have each completed graduate and post- medical centers and governmental agencies In 2004 Dr. Salick established a fellowship graduate school in New York and Washing- throughout the United States, the United at the Harvard School of Public Health to ton, DC. Dr. Salick and Mrs. Salick presently Kingdom, Europe, Israel, Southeast Asia, provide annual scholarships for selected stu- have five grandchildren and are expecting and China. In addition, Dr. Salick worked dents pursuing studies related to cancer and/ their sixth grandchild soon. with members of the Harvard Business or cardiovascular disease. Dr. Salick served

4 ALUMNI UPDATE 2016

to improve the cardiovascular outcomes in Darkness, My Old Friend: Biological Sciences. Lon led the team that the patients studied. Embracing Anger to Heal was responsible for the development and Since the untimely death of Diana, I Your Life continues to launch of UIC College Prep, arguably the continue to attend various medical confer- sell well and is frequently most successful open-enrollment public ences at CWRU as well as a host of other cited. charter school in Chicago. He continues his cultural and intellectual activities. Perhaps My wife and I are deep commitment to public urban education the best, however, is the time I spend with celebrating our 40th anni- at Hunter College. my children and grandchildren. Indeed, versary and are incredibly Zena is the Vice President of Quality at there is life after medicine. proud of our three daughters. Our eldest Roivant Sciences. In this role she leads the followed me into psychiatry, won the Prite Corporate Quality function over the life- DR. ISAAC STEVEN HERSCHKOPF, MD ’71 Fellowship as one of the top two psychiat- cycle of the business. Roivant delivers R&D In view of the fact that ric residents in the country, and currently solutions to the biopharmaceutical industry I just celebrated my works at Harvard, where she had gone to and academic institutions through partner- 39th birthday (okay, for medical school. Prior to that she earned ships designed to realize the full potential the 28th time), I find it a master’s degree at the Queen’s College of promising biomedical research. Prior hard to believe that it of Oxford. She maintains, implausibly, to joining Roivant, Zena was President of has been a half-century that she was accepted there because she ZGK Quality Consulting, working on a vari- since I entered Queens had graduated valedictorian from Yale. I ety of quality and compliance projects. College. explained to her that she only was accepted Prior to that, she was the Senior Vice Thank God I graduated Phi Beta Kappa as a legacy because I had graduated from President of Quality at Hospira Inc., because it was at the height of the Vietnam Queens College. a leading pharmaceutical and device War, and I was therefore able to gain Several years ago I was cited in a manufacturer of sterile injectable products acceptance to several outstanding medical New York Times article, together with and medical devices. She joined Hospira schools. I had never lived away from home Jerry Seinfeld, Simon and Garfunkel, and from Abbott, where she was Divisional and went to NYU because Bellevue was Marvin Hamlisch, as well-known Queens Vice President of Quality Systems in its teaching hospital. I had little time for College alumni. I, however, was the only Global Pharmaceutical Operations. extracurricular activities at Queens College, one to refer to our alma mater as “The While at Abbott, Zena had the honor but I made up for it in medical school. I Harvard of Flushing.” of participating in the Expert Working graduated valedictorian, president of my Group on ICH Q10, Pharma-ceutical class, editor of the yearbook, and captain DR. LON S. KAUFMAN ’77 and Quality Systems, was chair of the Technical of the basketball team. I was selected to ZENA GOLD KAUFMAN ’77 Leadership Committee at PhRMA, and be valedictorian of the entire university Lon and Zena met in Invertebrate served on the board of the Parenteral Drug and spoke at the university graduation in Zoology! Both graduated in 1977 and Association. Madison Square Garden. It was the only married in 1978. Zena received a BS degree in Biology way I would ever get to play the Garden. Lon joined Hunter College in July 2015 from Queens College and an MS in Marine I skipped my internship, trained in psy- as the Acting Provost and Vice President for Environmental Sciences from the State chiatry at Mount Sinai Hospital in New Academic Affairs. He attended Stuyvesant University of New York at Stony Brook. York, and returned to NYU, where I have High School and Brooklyn College, but She lives in Manhattan with her husband, remained on the faculty ever since. I have graduated from Queens College with a BA and often can be seen running the loop at received several awards, including the in Biology. Lon earned a PhD in Cell and Central Park. Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society Developmental Biology from SUNY, Stony Great Teacher Award. I have served as pres- Brook. Prior to Hunter College, Lon was a LINDA HALPERN ’86 ident of the medical school alumni as well member of the faculty at the University of I graduated with a major in Biology and a as chairman of the medical school’s ses- Illinois, Chicago (UIC) for 30 years, serving minor in Philosophy, and remember having quicentennial. I am the founding president as an assistant, associate, and full professor Dr. Michels for the Genetics Laboratory of the NYU Bellevue Psychiatric Alumni in the Department of Biological Sciences. class, which I enjoyed. I can still remember Association and remain in that position. In 1994 he was named the Richard G. those giant red Drosophila compound eyes I have maintained a full-time private and Carole J. Cline University Scholar. In staring back at me through the microscope! practice in psychiatry since 1978, in addi- addition to his scholarship, Lon also served I received an MLS from Queens College in tion to consulting with businesses, writers, in a variety of administrative positions, 2003, and have been working for the past directors, actors, movie studios, professional including Vice Chancellor for Academic 17 years as a librarian for Queens Library. athletic teams, and the Secret Service. I’m a Affairs and Provost, Vice Provost for Thanks to you, to the Biology regular columnist for some local newspapers Planning and Programs, Vice Provost for Department, and to CUNY for providing and have been published in medical, news, Undergraduate Affairs, Dean of the Honors me with an outstanding education at such a and literary periodicals. My book Hello College, and Head of the Department of reasonable cost.

4 5 BIOLOGY HONOR SOCIETY SOMETHING NEW FOR 2016

Biology Alumni Fund Provides Sweatshirts to the Biology Honor Society

This year the Biology Honor Society Josh Yaminian, current secretary of Biology Honor Society sporting their stepped up its game. With support the Biology Honor Society, feels that sweatshirts. Starting from the top left to from the Biology Alumni Fund, society the sweatshirts make other students right: Joshua Yaminian, Nathaniel Schwartz, members were able to design and “more comfortable to ask us questions.” Dov Bitterman, Ari Bitterman, David Lee purchase sweatshirts that they use to Because of the sweatshirts, “students Bitterman, Professor Dr. John Dennehy. advertise and popularize the society’s recognize us and [feel more free] to ask us On the bottom, from left to right: Freda tutoring program. Members are now questions even outside of recitation.” Josh Ishakova, Elizabeth Yakubova, Leora “walking billboards,” making it far loves teaching and gets a great deal of Margolovitch, Ben Musheyev, Yakubmier easier for students in need of academic satisfaction from tutoring. “When students Borukhov, Mordechai Sternman. assistance to identify providers. understand my explanations behind For years the members have been complicated ideas, I feel that the time I providing free tutoring to students taking put in is all worth it.” such as Biology 105 and Chemistry 113: Biology Department courses, especially With Prof. John Dennehy at the helm, the first semester of science major-level Introductory Biology. Their service takes the society is moving to formalize tutoring Introductory Biology and Introductory place in the form of recitations for biology agreements with the college’s Academic Chemistry, respectively. Part of the plan is classes and individualized tutoring. The Advising Office and to coordinate with to hire peer tutors for students at risk, and department supports the society’s tutoring a U.S. Department of Education grant the Biology Honor Society will be a vital activities by providing a large office received by Queens College. The goal of source of highly qualified tutors. Society space in Colwin Hall— outfitted with the award is to improve graduation rates members are also considering becoming computers, texts, microscopes, and other in STEM fields by improving student a chapter of TriBeta, a national biological supplies—exclusively for their use. performance in “bottleneck” courses honor society.

6 7 FACULTY IN THE NEWS 2016

PROF. DAVID LAHTI wrote a letter to press on all things native plant and the editor of the magazine Inference: forest related. International Review of Science, entitled “An ambivalent amphibian.” DR. ESTHER MUEHLBAUER participated Dr. Lahti’s letter was in response to in the Tidal Exchange Jamaica Bay: an article by Bret Weinstein, “On Crossroads of Resilience Bike Tour in Being a Fish,” discussing taxonomic September 2016. This was the second classification of organisms based on Tidal Exchanges biking tour, hosted evolutionary “relationship” to other by the NY–NJ Harbor & Estuary organisms. Dr. Lahti makes several Program and the Science and Resiliency points in his article, as follows. “We Institute @Jamaica Bay. The goal was run into this problem in any pursuit to highlight “the unique challenges of of naming and grouping things in and solutions for an area in which rich ignorance of their causes. We don’t habitat and communities lie adjacent David Lahti and Cesar Castillo doing know the causes of most mental to each other in an area vulnerable fieldwork on Long Island Sound’s disorders and conditions, for instance, to sea level rise and coastal storms.” beaches. and so we name them for their The bike tour started at a meeting symptoms instead. If we knew the point in Howard Beach and continued causes, we would have an empirical dark car effect,” was featured in several through Broad Channel along Cross basis on which to construct a real media outlets, including the BBC, Forbes, Bay Boulevard to Rockaway Beach, psychiatric taxonomy. Likewise, now Science Daily, Science News, and Cornell with stops at West Pond Breach, that we know what process actually University’s All About Birds. Sunset Cove Park, and Spring Creek, causes new living things—evolution— ending at the Rockaway Brewing we have a solid basis for naming and JOAN GRALLA, reporter for Long Island Company. Representatives of several grouping organisms.” Newsday, interviewed Professor environmental societies and NYC Dr. Lahti’s article (see FACULTY Emeritus Andrew Greller for her commissions gave presentations at each SCHOLARSHIP) in American article entitled “Controlled burn aims to of the rest stops. The long-term goal is Naturalist on why birds lay blue eggs, protect rare wildflower,” which appeared the restoration of the Jamaica Bay tidal entitled “Shedding light on bird egg on October 30, 2016. Dr. Greller is estuary. color: pigment as parasol and the considered the “go-to” authority by local

Dean Martin G. Klotz – Leaving Queens College by Uldis Roze

When Martin G. Klotz arrived at Queens Biosciences. Dean Klotz gives the reasons College in fall 2015 as Professor of for moving as medical: “a healthy wife is Biology and Dean of Mathematics and a happy life.” Natural Sciences, the 2015 issue of Biology Currents promised a fuller article Martin recalls his scientific career in the following issue. Unfortunately, starting on the rug of his father’s study this article must also serve as a farewell. in the East German city of Jena. Both After two years at Queens College, Dean his parents were biologists, and they Klotz is moving to Washington State owned the complete 30-volume set of the University Tri-Cities to become the Vice Encyclopedia Brockhaus. Once young Chancellor for Academic Affairs while Martin had become engrossed in a story serving as Professor of Microbiology at of science or the natural world, the Dean Martin G. Klotz Washington State’s School of Molecular evening was spoken for. continued on page 8

7 FACULTY IN THE NEWS 2016

Martin’s father was also the director of Biology, Utah State University, in Yet scientists are still in the process of of the Jena Botanical Garden (where a research position funded by his NSF discovering how the intricate microbial Goethe had studied botany and written grant, and from 1995 to 1998 he served processes of the nitrogen cycle work. a number of his poems) and keeper of as Assistant Professor at the University It appears that the intermediates of its extensive herbarium. The family of Colorado, Denver. From 1998 to 2011 the nitrogen cycle don’t necessarily was able to travel widely, exploring the he rose through the ranks to Professor at follow the cyclic path described in mountains, forests, and natural areas on the Department of Biology, University texts of general biology, but form a the east side of the Iron Curtain. of Louisville, Kentucky. There he was web with transformations mediated also active as a university senator, a by microorganisms whose genomes Martin earned his BS from the foretaste of his later involvement in encode cassettes of the required protein University of Rostock (1980), faculty governance. From 2011 to 2015 machinery. Martin describes it as the graduating with the highest honors and a he served as Director of the Biology Nitrification Network, and he is the federal scholarship to the University of PhD Program at the University of North founder and member of the steering Jena. Though growing up in a biological Carolina–Charlotte, and Professor and committee of an organization established environment, he had majored in physics, Chair of the department. to coordinate research in the area the science that underlies all others. (Nitrificationnetwork.org) To date, Martin has generated some 105 At the University of Jena, Martin earned scientific papers, books, and patents, In addition, since 2010 he has an MS in Biophysics (1982) and a PhD which Google Scholar credits with 6,039 been editor-in-chief of Frontiers in Biology (1986). For his thesis project, citations in the scientific literature. in Microbiology, a periodical with he studied the transport of fungal Typically, an article citation rate of 20 a growing and enviable three-year secondary metabolites across artificial to 50 indicates a significant contribution. citation rate of 4.2 per article. He also membranes. His research focus over the past twenty sits on the editorial boards of Applied years has been the nitrogen cycle. and Environmental Microbiology and The student years were followed by (For an overview, see L.Y. Stein and Environmental Microbiology, and is the a series of widely scattered postdoc M.G. Klotz 2016, The Nitrogen Cycle. co-editor of Nitrification. positions. At the Hungarian Academy Current Biology 26: R94-98.) of Sciences in Szeged, he studied Since finishing his PhD thirty years ago, transport processes in plants, and Respiratory ammonification of nitrogen Martin has moved nine times, living in published ten papers on the topic. oxides (NOx) as well as nitrogen four language zones on two continents. 2 Though Hungary in 1986–1987 still fixation (N ->NH3) are key steps of the Is there something constant that he found itself behind the Iron Curtain, cycle that provides the most reduced carries with him? Indeed there is. To his the language of communication was form of nitrogen, ammonium, which new home, he is carrying a packet of English. The postdoctoral year at is needed to form amino acids and seeds of the common garden hollyhock. Szeged was followed by several returns nucleotides, the building blocks of But these are seeds derived from plants to collaborate at the bench with his proteins and nucleic acids, respectively, tended by Martin Luther at Wittenberg, Hungarian colleagues as well as three and other small molecules of life. While a location not far from Jena. He is also months at the University of Lund, historically speaking, nearly all fixation carrying his scientific horizon, which Sweden (1988), where Martin learned of nitrogen into the biosphere was sees the world as an interlinking of the techniques for isolation and handling accomplished by bacteria and archaea, biological networks invisible to the eye of subcellular organelles. today it is the Haber-Bosch process that but essential to the web of life. We wish generates the reduced nitrogen needed him success in his new scientific home. The American years began in 1989, to feed an estimated 48 percent of the as Visiting Assistant Professor at the human population. With continued Department of Plant Pathology at the population growth and heavy fertilizer University of Missouri, Columbia. use, the global nitrogen cycle is out In 1990–1991 he was a Faculty of control. NO3 pollution is creating Research Associate at the University dead zones in lakes and coastal areas, of Maryland–College Park. From 1991 and N2O is on track to become a key to 1995 he worked at the Department greenhouse gas of the 21st century.

8 FACULTY NOTES 2016

This section reviews the highlights KARL FATH was invited to speak at DAVID LAHTI spoke at Oxford of Biology Department faculty LaGuardia Community College’s Biology University, Lady members and staff, and students’ Department about his research on the Margaret Hall, extracurricular scholarly activities in “Use of nanotechnology in drug delivery Oxford, UK, on 2016. The diversity of these activities and tissue formation.” “Can moral values survive evolutionary is a clear indication of the national ANDREW GRELLER presented a talk analysis?” He was and international recognition of our on “Mayan natural also invited to speak dedicated faculty. You should note history in Belize” to in the Department the extent to which undergraduate the membership of the of Biology seminar series of Fordham students are integrated into their Long Island Botanical University, NY. His topic was the Society, Muttontown “Interplay of nature and nurture research programs. Preserve, Nassau Co., in the evolution of bird song.” Dr. NY. He also spoke on Lahti gave invited lectures in the JOHN DENNEHY spoke at the the “Birds of Taiwan” Cambridge University, Faraday Institute European Conference to the membership of the Queens County Summer Course, Cambridge, UK, and for Mathematical and Bird Club, Douglaston, NY. participated in the panel discussions Theoretical Biology in Dr. Greller led a field trip at the Alley that followed. His topics were Nottingham, UK, on Pond Environmental Center, Douglaston, “Evolution and moral freedom” and research carried on with NY, on the “Flora and vegetation of Alley “Biology and personhood.” University of Delaware Pond Park.” The trip was a three-hour Dr. Lahti was awarded a John doctoral students Khem tour of the forested uplands of Alley Pond Templeton Foundation Grant: Ghusinga, Cesar Vargas, Park designed for Field Biology Interns “Towards a new synthesis for cultural and Associate Professor Abhyudai Singh (high school). evolution.” He also received a small entitled, “First-passage time approach grant from Wildlife Acoustics to study to modeling timing phenomena in NATHALIA HOLTZMAN was invited sunbirds in West Africa. Dr. Lahti single cells.” He also presented a poster to speak in the Biology served on an NSF panel for Graduate on “The benefits of sticking together: Seminar Series of Research Fellowships. He was also cellular aggregation and fitness in Manhattan College, NY. elected to the Board of Directors of Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes” at the Her topic was “How Thinking Animals United. Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society cardiac contractions Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA, with shape the heart.” ALICIA MELÉNDEZ was invited to doctoral students Emily Lin, Brian Ford, Dr. Holtzman speak on her research Amanda Larracuente, Glennon Bythroe, was an author of a on “Autophagy in C. undergraduate students Marko Baloh and poster presented at the Biophysical elegans development David Toubiyan, and Hunter College Society’s 61st Annual Meeting held in and aging” at CUNY Professor Weigang Qiu. New Orleans, LA, entitled “A gain-of- the II UNIFESP Dr. Dennehy was invited to speak function TRPP2 ion channel created by International at the CUNY Research in the Classroom mutating single amino acid in the S5 Worm Meeting, Workshop held at John Jay College, transmembrane domain.” With doctoral Universidade Federal CUNY. His talk was entitled, “Assessing student Corinna Singleman, Dr. Holtzman de São Paolo, São Paulo, Brazil, and at impacts of integrating research did poster presentations on “Using the Keystone Symposia on Autophagy: experiences into the curricula.” He also zebrafish to model toxin-induced cardiac Molecular and Physiological spoke at the Department of Biology, defects in Atlantic sturgeon and exploring Mechanisms held in Whistler, British Lehman College, CUNY on “Event a novel mechanism of AhR function in Columbia, Canada. She also gave a talk timing in single cells.” Dr. Dennehy PCB exposed fish” at the Society for at St. John’s University’s Department presented his research on “Codon usage Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry of Biology’s seminar series on bias and bacteriophage genomics” at North America Annual Conference in “Autophagy in C. elegans.” the American Chemical Society Middle Orlando, FL, and on “Understanding Dr. Meléndez presented research Atlantic Annual Meeting. how PCB toxins cause heart defects early on “Non-autonomous BEC-1/Beclin1- in fish development” at the Northeast mediated autophagy is required for Regional Society for Developmental the G2/M transition during germline Biology Conference in Woods Hole, MA. proliferation in C. elegans” at the New

9 FACULTY NOTES 2016

York Area Worm Meeting in January. The work was carried out by doctoral students Kristina Ames and Dayse PSC-CUNY Research Award Recipients DaCunha; undergraduate students Brenda PSC-CUNY Research Awards were received by: Gonzalez, Feng Lin, and Sara Wong; and in collaboration with Dr. Hannes JOSÉ ANADÓN DAVID LAHTI Buelow of Albert Einstein College of “Impact of urbanization on soil “The ecology of cultural evolution: Medicine. This work was also presented microbial communities” a test using bird song” as a poster by the same authors at the KARL FATH Germ Cell CSHL Meeting, held at Cold ALICIA MELÉNDEZ Spring Harbor Labs, NY. Dr. Meléndez, “Determination of the utility of a novel “Role of recycling endosome doctoral student Nicholas Palmisano, and cell–permeant cathepsin L inhibitor in RAB-10 in autophagy” undergraduate students Natalie Rosario understanding cathepsin L function” JOHN WALDMAN and Mateusz Wysocki presented a poster NATHALIA HOLTZMAN “Anadromous fish restoration in on their research entitled, “The recycling “Defining the role of hemodynamic East Coast rivers: Does scale matter?” endosome protein RAB-10 promotes forces on cardiac morphogenesis” autophagic flux in C. elegans” at the American Society of Cell Biology Annual Meeting held in San Francisco, CA. This work was done in collaboration with Dr. interplay of DBL-1/ “Restoring Atlantic diadromous fishes: Barth Grant of Rutgers University. BMP and DAF-2/ Why it comes down to dams (and why Dr. Meléndez was awarded a three-year Insulin signaling more dams should come down).” National Institutes of Health AREA grant in C. elegans” was Dr. Waldman was invited to speak on entitled, “Role of autophagy and retromer presented. Dr. Savage- his book Heartbeats in the Muck: The genes in GLP-1/Notch signaling.” Dunn presented at the History, Sea Life, and Environment of She also served on an NIH Special 11th International Bone New York Harbor at the Hudson River Emphasis Panel grant review panel. Morphogenic Protein Museum, Yonkers, NY, and at the Billion (BMP) Conference Oysters Project of the New York Harbor CORINNE MICHELS reviewed (with in Boston, MA, on “Regulation of fat School, NY. He gave a talk on “Impact publisher’s credit) accumulation by DBL-1/BMP signaling evaluation of projected DO deficits in the the first edition of in C. elegans.” She also attended the NY–NJ harbor estuary” at the New York– Molecular Biology: Allied Genetics Conference in Orlando, New Jersey Harbor Estuary Program Structure and FL, where she gave a poster on her Water Quality Subcommittee in New Dynamics of Genomes research with doctoral student Uday York. He also spoke on his book Running and Proteomes by Madaan entitled “Caenorhabditis elegans Silver in the Public Lecture Series of the Jordanka Zlatanova and BMP transcriptional program implicates Cary Institute for Ecosystem Studies in Kensal E. van Holde, collagen remodeling in body size Millbrook, NY. published by Garland regulation.” Science, New York, 2016. Pp. 624. (ISBN: ZAHRA ZAKERI was co-organizer 978-0-8153-4504-6) JOHN WALDMAN participated in of the International the Dam Removal Cell Death Society ESTHER MUEHLBAUER’s recently Workshop at Hofstra meeting on “Cell death published book Plato to Darwin to University, where he and its translational DNA: A Brief History was reprinted with discussed “Diadromous ramification” held in revisions. ISBN: 978-1-5249-0820-1 fish restoration: Why it Cork, Ireland. She comes down to dams.” also serves on the CATHY SAVAGE-DUNN attended He was the keynote Advisory Board of the the Northeast Regional Meeting of the speaker at Fish Passage “Autophagy and Cell Society for Developmental Biology, 2016: International Conference on River Death” section of the journal Oncotarget Woods Hole, MA, where her work with Connectivity held at UMass Amherst. (http://www.impactjournals.com/ doctoral student James Clark on “The The topic of Dr. Waldman’s talk was oncotarget/index.php?journal=oncotarget).

10 FACULTY SCHOLARSHIP 2016

D = Doctoral student M = Master’s student U = Undergraduate student

BOOKS Johnstone and John Silke, Editors, Cold Dennehy, J.J., 2016. Evolutionary ecology Chabora, Peter C. 2016. Biology I and II: Spring Harbor Press, NY. Pp. 459–467. of virus emergence. Annals of the New Laboratory Explorations. A Laboratory and York Academy of Sciences: The Year in Palmisano,D N. J. and A. Meléndez, 2016. Lecture Synthesis. 2nd Edition. Hayden- Evolutionary Biology 1387: 1–23. Protocol 4: RNAi-Mediated Inactivation McNeil, MacMillan, Plymouth, MI. Pp. 570. of Autophagy Genes in Caenorhabditis ISBN 978-0-7380-7807-6 Esposito,M L.A., S. Gupta,U A. Prasad,U elegans. In Cell Death Techniques: A F. Streiter,U and J.J. Dennehy, Sanderson, E.W., W.E. Solecki, J.R. Laboratory Manual, Ricky Johnstone and 2016. Evolutionary interpretations of Waldman, and A.S. Parris, Editors, 2016. John Silke, Editors, Cold Spring Harbor mycobacteriophage biodiversity and host- Prospects for Resilience: Insights from Press, NY. Pp. 468–475. range through the analysis of codon usage New York City’s Jamaica Bay. Island Michels, H.T. and C.A. Michels, 2016. bias. Microbial Genomics 2: doi: 10.1099/ Press, Washington, DC. Pp. 304. ISBN: The new “old” weapon in the fight mgen.0.000079. 9781610917322 against infectious disease. Current Trends Ahmadi,D M., M.A.K. Torshizi, S. Rahimi, Microbiology 10: 23–45. and J.J. Dennehy, 2016. Prophylactic BOOK CHAPTERS, REVIEW bacteriophage administration more effective ARTICLES Branco, B. and J.R. Waldman, 2016. Resilience practice in urban watersheds. In than post-infection administration in Greller, A.M., D.S.A. Wijesundara, and Prospects for Resilience: Insights from New reducing Salmonella enteritidis shedding in A.H.M. Jayasuriya, 2016. Classification York City’s Jamaica Bay, E.W. Sanderson, quails. Frontiers in Microbiology 7: 1253. of Lower Montane Evergreen Forests in W.D. Solecki, J.R. Waldman, and A.S. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2016.01253 Southern India and Sri Lanka. In Vegetation Parris, Editors, Island Press, Washington, Structure and Function at Multiple Spatial, Conway, J.E., J.J. Dennehy, and A. Singh, DC. Pp. 21-42. Temporal and Conceptual Scales, E.O. Box, 2016. Optimizing phage λ survival in a Editor, Springer Publishing Co., New York. Handel, S.N., J. Marra, C.M.K. Kaunzinger, changing environment: stochastic model Pp. 169–213. V. Monica Bricelj, J. Burger, R.L. Burke, predictions. IEEE Conference on Decision M. Camhi, C.P. Colon, O.P. Jensen, J. and Control, Las Vegas, NV. doi: 10.1109/ D Palmisano, N. J. and A. Meléndez, 2016. LaBelle, H.C. Rosenbaum, E.W. Sanderson, CDC.2016.7799174. Detection of Autophagy in Caenorhabditis M.D. Schlesinger, J.R. Waldman, and C.B. Holtzman, N.G., M.K. Iovine, J.O. Liang, elegans: Introduction. In Cell Death Zarnoch, 2016. Ecology of Jamaica Bay: and J. Morris, 2016. Learning to fish with Techniques: A Laboratory Manual, Ricky history, status, and resilience. In Prospects genetics: a primer on the vertebrate model Johnstone and John Silke, Editors, Cold for Resilience: Insights from New York Danio rerio. Genetics 203(3): 1069-1089. Spring Harbor Press, NY. Pp. 437–446. City’s Jamaica Bay, E.W. Sanderson, W.D. Solecki, J.R. Waldman, and A.S. Parris, Pavel, M.A., C. Lv, C. Ng, L. Yang, P. Palmisano,D N. J. and A. Meléndez, 2016. Editors, Island Press, Washington, DC. Pp. Kashyap, C. Lam, V. Valentino, H. Fung, T. Protocol 1: Detection of Autophagy in 91–116. Campbell, S.G. Moller, D. Zenisek, N. G. Caenorhabditis elegans Using GFP::LGG-1 Holtzman, and Y. Yu, 2016. Function and as an Autophagy Marker. In Cell Death PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS regulation of TRPP2 ion channel revealed Techniques: A Laboratory Manual, Ricky by a gain-of-function mutation. Proc. Natl. Freilich, X., J.D. Anadón, J. Bukala, O. Johnstone and John Silke, Editors, Cold Acad. Sci.113: E2363–2372. Spring Harbor Press, NY. Pp. 447–453. Calderon, R. Chakraborty, and S. Boissinot, 2016. Comparative phylogeography of Prabhudesai, S., F.Z. Bensabeur, R. D Palmisano, N. J. and A. Meléndez, Ethiopian anurans: impact of the Great Rift Abdullah, I. Basak, S. Baez, G. Alves, N.G. 2016. Protocol 2: Detecting Autophagy in Valley and Pleistocene climate change. Holtzman, J.P. Larsen, and S.G. Møller, Caenorhabditis elegans Embryos Using BMC Evolutionary Biology 16(1): 206. 2016. LRRK2 knockdown in zebrafish Markers of P Granule Degradation. In Cell causes developmental defects, neuronal Death Techniques: A Laboratory Manual, Rodríguez-Caro, R.C., M. Lima, J.D. loss, and synuclein aggregation. Journal of Ricky Johnstone and John Silke, Editors, Anadón, E. Graciá, and A. Giménez, Neuroscience Research 94(8): 717–735. Cold Spring Harbor Press, NY. Pp. 454-458. 2016. Density dependence, climate and fires determine population fluctuations of Stein, L.Y. and M.G. Klotz, 2016. Palmisano,D N. J. and A. Meléndez, the spur-thighed tortoise Testudo graeca. The Nitrogen Cycle. Current Biology 26: 2016. Protocol 3: Detection of Autophagy Journal of Zoology 300(4): 265–273. R94–98. in Caenorhabditis elegans by Western Kozlowski, J.A., M. Stieglmeier, C. Blotting Analysis of LGG-1. In Cell Death Schleper, M.G. Klotz, and L.Y. Stein, 2016. Techniques: A Laboratory Manual, Ricky Pathways and key intermediates required for continued on page 12

11 QUEENS COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT 2016 FACULTY SCHOLARSHIP 2015

D = Doctoral student M = Master’s student U = Undergraduate student

continued from page 11 obligate aerobic ammonia-dependent chemolithotrophy in bacteria and Thaumarchaeota. ISME Journal 10: 1836–1845. doi:10.1038/ismej.2016.2

Podos, J., D. L. Moseley, S.E. Goodwin, J. McClure, B.N. Taft, A.V.H. Strauss, C. Rega-Brodsky, President Félix Matos Rodríguez addresses the graduates and their families. and D.C. Lahti, 2016. A fine-scale, broadly-applicable index of vocal performance: frequency excursion. Animal Behaviour 116: 203–212.

Lahti, D.C. and D.R. Ardia, 2016. Shedding light on bird egg color: pigment as parasol and the dark car effect. American Naturalist 187: 547–563.

Klionsky, D.J. et al. (A. Meléndez, among 2,465 other authors), 2016. Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (3rd Edition). Autophagy 12(1): 1–222.

Waldman, J., K.A. Wilson, M. Mather, and N.P. Snyder, 2016. A resilience approach can improve anadromous fish restoration. Fisheries 41: 116–126. Happy and grateful graduates celebrate their accomplishments. Klionsky, D.J. et. al. (Z. Zakeri, among 2,465 other authors), 2016. Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (3rd Edition). Autophagy 12(1): 1–222.

Datan,U E., S.G. Roy, G. Germain, N. Zali, J.E. McLean,D G. Golshan, S. Harbajan, R.A. Lockshin, and Z. Zakeri, 2016. Dengue-induced autophagy, virus replication and protection from cell death require ER stress (PERK) pathway activation. Cell Death and Disease 7: e2127. Doi:10.1038/cddis.2015.409

12 GRADUATION AWARD HONOREES & DEGREE RECIPIENTS 2015–2016

BIOLOGY GRADUATION HONOREES Laura H. and Arthur L. Colwin Prize—Anthony D. Ramnauth Darwin Prize—Eun Jung Shin and George Titomihelakis Muriel and Philip Feigelson Award—Anna McPherran Donald E. Lancefield Award—Hanna B. Garber and Nicole A. Segal

LIST OF GRADUATES HH—with High Honors; H—with Honors; ΦΒΚ—Phi Beta Kappa, the national honor society; ΒΔΦ—Beta Delta Phi, the national Biology Honor Society

Pankaj Aggarwal Estefania Gallego Carlos Pareja Mostaque Ahmed Cheyenne Ganesh Dhara Patel Syeda Ali Hanna Garber—HH, ΦΒΚ, Hephzibah Penumaka Alon Aminov ΒΔΦ Allan Powell Sarah Aminov—H Eva Garcia Navneet Puar Liana Aslanyan—H Harsangeet Kaur Gill— Anthony Ramnauth Daniel Avezov—H HH Natalie Rosario—HH Raihana Azad—H Lisa Giovinazzo—H Kaung Myat San Kadlif-Rashid Bactowal Cindy Gomez Lissie Sanluis Navdeep Bains—H Qi Ling Gu Francesca Scaturro Boryana Baric—HH Esma Gutic Nicole Segal—HH William Barrientos Jonathan Itzhakov—H Eun Jung Shin—HH Rahab Basher Hamza Jaber Yohana Shum—HH Sallyanna Bazelais Marielle Jallorina Aman Deep Singh—H Shabina Beer Daniel Janash Annan Singh Jennifer Behbodikhah— Mohamed Jivraj Jag Deep Singh HH, ΦΒΚ Haroon Karabay—HH Jordan Singh Christian Benavides—H Jaspreet Kaur Taranvir Singh Juan Benavides Manmit Kaur Fraida Streiter Alexandra Berry Royce Kim Mohammad Tahir Jacqueline Bilan Ryan Kistow Chosum Tashi Anna Bordi Elizabeth Ann Knox Samantha Thein Manuel Cabrera Ilianna Kohen Su Mya Mya Thinn Li Yonng Cao Rada-Mayya Kostadinova George Titomihelakis— Gabriel Carberry Julia Landsberg—HH, HH Riddhi Chauhan—HH ΦΒΚ David Toubiyan Ryan Chen Rebecca Laporte Oded Tzur Nafiur R. Chowdhury—H Stephen Lee Joudi Al Haj Joumaa Vilar Giulietta Coppola Jiaxin Lin Deborah Watman Josef Davidov Paola Lozada Johnathan Whitfield Krystal Deluca Steffi Matadial Anna Wilga—H Krishnam Dixit Anna McPherran—HH, Ellis Wright—H Shi Gen Dong ΦΒΚ Konrad Wysocki—H Maciej Dzikowski—H Hadiya Morris—H Raghda Eishafey—H Habib Muhtaseb—HH Master’s Degree Recipients Stephanie Esquivel Timothy Naing Myegenet Faris Teag Min Nam Lauren A. Esposito Michail Fazylov—H Beatriz Nunez Dina Manaa Emmad Gabbar Malika Nurbekova Curt V. Sankar Mary-Ann Gallagher Meredith Nussbaum—H Kyle R. Smith BIOLOGY ALUMNI FUND DONATIONS FY2016

In fiscal year 2016, 45 of our alumni donated $8,182.50. We are pleased to see the names of many who have faithfully donated in past years as well as several new names.

Your gifts are a valued source of discretionary funds that are used to enhance the activities of the department, including presentations by visiting scientists, faculty recruitment, support of student and faculty research and travel to scientific conferences, as a supplement to student graduation awards, and for special events.

If you do not already contribute, please tell us what we can do to inspire you to donate. Send emails to [email protected] or snail mail to Dr. Esther Muehlbauer, Biology Department, Queens College, CUNY, 65-30 Kissena Boulevard, Queens, NY 11367-1597.

DONORS LIST FY2016

$501–1,000 $100–199 $10–99 Kenneth H. Jones Barry D. Bass Marc D. Citrin Jeffrey M. Behar Robert A. Dubin Jay M. Berman Keith M. Dworkin $500 Neil P. Dreyer Brenda J. Jahn Allen I. Berliner Domenick J. Falcone Marian Kasdan Raziel S. Hakim Mary E. Feick David J. Prince Kenneth L. Kobliner Marie I. George Barbara Soloway Judith S. Steinman Robert Gillary Harris C. Taylor Merritt D. Halem Victor R. Klein $201–499 Stewart B. Levine Corinne A. Michels Robert Madden Jeffrey R. Mollin Lynn G. Mark Francine Reff Ralph F. Rashbaum Eva R. Rifkin Eric S. Treiber Peter Sacks Gilbert R. Scalone $200 Joel Schiffenbauer Jack A. Schmetterling Howard J. Edenberg Marian G. Schwartz Paul Shaman Kenneth L. Stoler Carol Strahler Marie V. Tangredi Andrew A. Wallman Gary R. Weine Anne S. Zeger

14 WRITE THE EDITOR

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Do you want to tell your fellow alums what you Do you have a comment about what you have have been doing since graduation? been reading in Biology Currents? Send an email to Prof. Michels at Corinne.Michels@ Send an email to Prof. Michels at Corinne.Michels qc.cuny.edu and include “Biology Alumni Update” @qc.cuny.edu and include “Biology Alumni in the Subject line of your message. Comments” in the Subject line of your message.

ALUMNI UPDATE ALUMNI SPEAK OUT Be as brief or lengthy as you want. Dr. Michels will Send an email to Prof. Michels at Corinne.Michels@ maintain a listing of your email address and any other qc.cuny.edu and include “Biology Alumni Comments” contact information that you provide in your message. If in the Subject line of your message. We are considering any of our readers wish to contact you, they should ask starting a new section entitled “ALUMNI SPEAK OUT.” Dr. Michels in an email and she will forward their message We want to know your thoughts about Biology Currents to you. You can respond to them as you like. Please or what is happening in the Biology Department. Please let Dr. Michels know whether you want your message let Dr. Michels know whether you want your message to to appear in ALUMNI UPDATE. Include the following appear in ALUMNI SPEAK OUT. Include the following information: information: ■ Year of graduation ■ Year of graduation ■ Your message edited by you as you wish it to ■ Your message edited by you as you wish it to appear in print appear in print ■ Any photos as jpeg files

INSPIRED TO DONATE! If you like what you are seeing in Biology Currents and would like to contribute $ to the Department’s Alumni Fund, you can do so at any time during the year, not just during the College’s fall fund-raising drive. Here’s how:

BY MAIL: Make your check payable to QUEENS COLLEGE FOUNDATION and write “Biology Department” in the Memo line. Send to: Queens College Foundation, Kiely Hall 906, 65-30 Kissena Boulevard, Flushing, NY 11367. Please DO NOT send checks directly to Prof. Michels or Dr. Esther Muehlbauer. ONLINE: Use the link (https://qccommunity.qc.cuny.edu/QueensCollege/DonateNow). In the section labeled Donation Information use the pull-down menu under the title Designation and select Other. A new line will open in which you can enter Biology Department. The link is a fast and secure method of donating. Either way, you will receive a letter from the Foundation acknowledging your donation, which is tax deductible.

Thank you for your support.

15 Biology NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID FLUSHING, NY 65-30 Kissena Boulevard Queens, New York 11367-1597 PERMIT NO. 48