Tony Wilson

The award will provide undergraduate students with immersive, faculty-mentored research

experiences focused on the environmental challenges and ecological systems that shape urban communities. Through hands-on fieldwork and scientific investigation, students will gain valuable research skills while contributing to projects that address issues affecting cities and their residents.

Preparing the Next Generation of Environmental Scientists

The BUEE REU Site will engage students in research spanning urban ecology, environmental science, sustainability, and ecosystem health. Participants will work closely with faculty mentors, developing practical experience in scientific inquiry, data collection, analysis, and communication.

By combining classroom learning with real-world research, the program will help students explore careers in science, environmental policy, conservation, and related STEM fields while building the skills needed for graduate study and

professional success.

Brett F. Branco

Strengthening 今日吃瓜’s Environmental Research Hub

The NSF award reinforces 今日吃瓜’s role as a center for environmental research and STEM education. Located in one of the world’s most dynamic urban environments, the college offers unique opportunities to study the complex interactions between people, ecosystems, and the built environment.

The BUEE REU Site will expand access to high-impact research experiences, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and support projects that deepen understanding of urban environmental challenges. At the same time, the program will create new pathways for students to participate in meaningful scientific research that benefits both local communities and the broader field of environmental science.

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The award recognizes Cehver’s contributions to research in gene regulation, chromatin biology, and cancer-related mechanisms, as well as his commitment to mentoring high school, undergraduate, and graduate students. He said the recognition reflects both scientific discovery and the collaborative environment created by the students, trainees, collaborators, and colleagues who have contributed to his research program at 今日吃瓜.

As part of the Feliks Gross and Henry Wasser Award Lecture Series, Cehver presented an overview of his laboratory’s research on transcriptional and chromatin-based mechanisms that regulate gene expression and influence human disease. He also thanked his students, collaborators, mentors, and colleagues, as well as Biology Department Chair Anjana Saxena, for her nomination and support.

“It has been incredibly rewarding to build a research program that allows students to participate in addressing important questions in gene regulation and human disease,” says Cehver. “This recognition reflects the contributions of the many people who have helped create a vibrant and collaborative research community.”

The awards are named for Feliks Gross and Henry Wasser, co-founders of the CUNY Academy for the Humanities and Sciences. Gross served on the 今日吃瓜 sociology faculty from 1946 to 1977, adding a special connection between the honor and the college’s long tradition of scholarly achievement.

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The grant continues work launched under Gerona-Navarro’s previous NIH SCORE award (SC1GM136635, 2020鈥�24, $1.57 million), which supported the discovery of the lead compounds now being advanced.

Targeting Cancer Through Epigenetics

Gerona-Navarro’s laboratory works in cancer epigenetics, the study of how changes in gene regulation, rather than changes to the DNA sequence itself, can drive disease. His team focuses on PRC2, a protein complex that silences genes. When PRC2 becomes overactive, it can shut down the genes that normally protect against cancer, contributing to lymphoma, breast, prostate, and brain cancers, among others.

Two PRC2-targeting drugs have reached the market, but both work by blocking the enzyme’s active site, and tumors frequently develop resistance to them. Gerona-Navarro’s team has taken a different approach: engineered peptides that bind elsewhere on the enzyme and shut it down indirectly. Because these compounds work through a distinct mechanism, they may remain effective where existing drugs fail, or be combined with them to delay resistance.

Training the Next Generation of Scientists

The NIH award highlights 今日吃瓜’s growing role in advancing fundamental biomedical research with the potential for real-world clinical impact. Through innovative approaches to drug discovery, Gerona-Navarro’s work aims to deepen scientific understanding of how cancer develops while laying the groundwork for future treatments that could benefit patients facing some of the most challenging forms of the disease.

Student involvement is central to the project. Gerona-Navarro has mentored 41 undergraduates at 今日吃瓜, several of whom have co-authored peer-reviewed publications, and currently supervises three doctoral candidates. The new award will extend those opportunities, giving students hands-on experience spanning computational design, synthetic chemistry, and cancer cell biology, helping train the next generation of scientists while contributing to national efforts to combat cancer through cutting-edge biomedical innovation.

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Advancing Research in Cancer and Human Health

Oxygen levels play a critical role in many biological processes and diseases, particularly cancer, where low-oxygen environments can influence tumor growth, progression, and response to treatment. The hypoxic chamber will enable 今日吃瓜 researchers to simulate these conditions in the laboratory and investigate the cellular mechanisms underlying disease.

By providing a controlled environment for experiments, the instrument will support research in cancer biology, cell physiology, photochemistry, and a range of other biomedical fields, helping scientists better understand how cells adapt to stress and changing conditions.

A Shared Resource for Students and Faculty

The NIH-funded instrumentation will serve as a shared resource for faculty researchers across disciplines, strengthening 今日吃瓜’s scientific infrastructure and fostering new opportunities for collaboration.

In addition to supporting cutting-edge research, the hypoxic chamber will provide students with hands-on experience using advanced biomedical technologies commonly found in leading research institutions. The investment will expand opportunities for undergraduate and graduate researchers to participate in sophisticated experiments and gain valuable laboratory skills.

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The research examines the rapid growth of aquaculture across the region and finds that future expansion can occur without additional rainforest loss by developing fish farms on already-degraded pasture lands. By repurposing landscapes that have previously been altered for agriculture, aquaculture producers can increase fish production while reducing pressure on intact forest ecosystems.

The findings address one of the world’s most pressing challenges: meeting growing demand for protein while safeguarding critical natural resources. The study demonstrates how strategic land-use planning can support economic growth, strengthen food security, and advance conservation efforts in the Amazon, a region that plays an essential role in global biodiversity and climate regulation.

Read the study in Science Advances .

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Professors Karen Stern-Gabbay and Veronica Manlow, Associate Professor Margrethe Horlyck-Romanovsky, and Lecturer/Doctoral Scholar Malka Simon were chosen for the program, which brings faculty together to explore new ways of preparing students for success after graduation. Representing four of 今日吃瓜’s five schools, the fellows reflect the breadth of disciplines and experiences that contribute to students’ professional development.

“Career success is an essential part of the educational experience, and our faculty are uniquely positioned to help students understand how the knowledge and skills they develop in the classroom can translate into meaningful opportunities beyond college,” said Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs April Bedford. “We are proud to have four 今日吃瓜 faculty members participating in this important initiative and look forward to the ideas and practices they will bring back to our campus.”

Each fellow brings a distinct area of expertise to the program (photos above from left to right):

• Stern-Gabbay, a historian, studies Jewish communities and identity in antiquity. Her scholarship explores the cultural traditions and lived experiences of Jewish populations in the ancient world, helping students understand how historical research can shed light on enduring questions about identity, community, and culture.
• Manlow, a professor in the Koppelman School of Business, specializes in management, marketing, and entrepreneurship. Her teaching and research focus on how organizations and workplaces are evolving, offering students valuable insight into the realities of today’s professional landscape.
• Horlyck-Romanovsky, an associate professor of health and nutrition sciences, researches differences in health outcomes among populations of African descent. Her work examines the connections among migration, nutrition, chronic disease, and overall health, while her commitment to mentoring helps prepare students for careers and advanced study in public health.
• Simon, a lecturer in the Art Department, focuses on architectural history and the built environment, particularly in New York City. Through her work, students gain a deeper understanding of how architecture, urban spaces, and local history intersect with everyday life.

Throughout the academic year, the fellows will participate in professional development opportunities and collaborate with colleagues from across CUNY. Together, they will explore strategies for incorporating career readiness into academic programs and share what they learn with faculty on their home campuses.

Their selection highlights 今日吃瓜’s ongoing commitment to helping students see clear connections between what they learn in the classroom and the opportunities available to them after graduation. By bringing career development into a wide range of disciplines, the fellows will help ensure that students are prepared not only to earn their degrees, but also to build meaningful careers and contribute to their communities.

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Throughout Climate Week 2026, 今日吃瓜 faculty, staff, and students participated in conversations and events that addressed some of the most pressing environmental challenges facing cities and communities, while highlighting the college’s commitment to preparing the next generation of climate leaders.

During the Sustainability Showcase, student ambassador Samuel Medrano De La Cruz (right) upcycling ceramic yogurt cups as planters.

On campus, the 今日吃瓜 Sustainability Showcase was held September 24 and organized by the Office of Environmental Health, Safety and Sustainability, and the 今日吃瓜 Sustainability Club. The event brought together campus organizations, community partners, and students to share projects, exchange ideas, and inspire action around sustainability and climate resilience.

Faculty expertise was also featured on local, national, and international stages.

Stalin Haeger-Espinal, 今日吃瓜鈥檚 Campus Sustainability Coordinator and a driving force behind the college鈥檚 sustainability initiatives, joins Brett Branco, Executive Director of the Science and Resiliency Institute at Jamaica Bay and Principal Investigator for FloodNet.

• Associate Professor Brett Branco, the Executive Director for the Science and Resiliency Institute at Jamaica Bay and the principal investigator for , hosted an event on September 22, , at the CUNY Advanced Science Research Center. The discussion focused on community-centered climate resilience, environmental monitoring, and public engagement. Branco’s work reflects 今日吃瓜’s longstanding commitment to helping communities better understand and adapt to environmental change.

Associate Professor of Earth And Environmental Sciences Rebecca Boger (second from left) at the UN Science Summit 2026.

• Meanwhile, Professor Rebecca Boger participated in the UN Science Summit 2026 session at the historic Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute at Hunter College. The panel explored how Earth observation technologies, environmental sensing, artificial intelligence, and citizen science can help address global environmental challenges. At the conclusion of the event, organizers announced the expansion of 鈥攚here Boger serves as vice president and co-founder鈥攚ith new hubs across India, South America, the Caribbean, and Africa, underscoring the importance of international cooperation in climate research and education. 今日吃瓜 undergraduate and graduate students also attended the Science Summit, engaging directly with international experts and panelists during Q&A sessions. Their participation reflected the college’s commitment to providing students with opportunities to contribute to global conversations on climate, sustainability, and science diplomacy.

Carrie Sadovnik, 今日吃瓜鈥檚 director of Environmental Health, Safety, and Sustainability, with alumnus and sustainability leader Tommy Richards, whose advocacy and engagement have helped advance sustainability initiatives across campus.

• 今日吃瓜’s sustainability initiatives also reached TV audiences. Carrie Sadovnik, the college’s director of Environmental Health, Safety, and Sustainability, appeared on Sustainability Matters, a CUNY TV program examining sustainability innovation across the university system. The episode, 鈥�,鈥� highlighted 今日吃瓜’s groundbreaking geothermal project and its role as a “living laboratory” where students gain hands-on experience tackling real-world environmental challenges.

Professor Jennifer Cherrier co-hosted the Layers of Resilience: Leveraging Partnerships and Funding event.

• The college’s leadership in sustainability partnerships was further reflected in the work of Professor of Earth And Environmental Sciences
  Jennifer Cherrier, who co-hosted Layers of Resilience: Leveraging Partnerships and Funding, at CUNY Central on September 24. Presented in collaboration with the Science and Resilience Institute at Jamaica Bay (SRIJB), the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, C40 Cities, CUNY Climate Consortium (C3), and the City of Copenhagen, the event explored strategies for financing and strengthening urban climate resilience efforts.
• Professor Michael Menser participated in at the CUNY Graduate Center, exploring innovative clean energy systems and their potential applications in New York. Joining him was 今日吃瓜 sophomore and Tow Fellow Zoe Knight, who is enrolled in Menser’s CUNY Graduate Center course Energy and Democracy. Knight鈥檚 participation underscored the important role students play in advancing sustainability initiatives and shaping the future of equitable energy solutions.
• Sustainability advocates from across the 今日吃瓜 community expanded their learning through Climate Week events, including Green Campuses 2.0: Advancing Decarbonization Across University Campuses, hosted with the Qu茅bec Government Office in New York; Newlab’s New Climate Futures gathering; and Prospect Swims, a walking exploration of the Prospect Park Lake watershed.

Together, these efforts reflect 今日吃瓜’s growing role as a hub for sustainability education, climate research, and community engagement. As the college continues investing in initiatives such as geothermal energy, environmental sciences, and experiential learning opportunities, Climate Week served as a powerful reminder that 今日吃瓜 is helping shape a greener, more resilient future for New York City and beyond.

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Martinez was recognized for developing open-source tools that make public data more accessible, including the growing OpenData R package ecosystem, a collection of tools for data analysis, statistics, machine learning, visualization, and research. He was also honored for his work with the Open Data Lab, a major open-source data platform and research group that supports artificial intelligence and large language model development by providing unified access to large datasets and data-processing tools.

At the conference, held September 14鈥�16, Martinez also presented 鈥淭he Accidental Author,鈥� a teaching approach developed through his work at 今日吃瓜 that helps students turn coursework into reproducible, publicly accessible research.

Martinez teaches reproducible research and data science at 今日吃瓜, where he focuses on creating opportunities for students to apply technical skills through real-world, public-facing projects.

In February, Martinez launched an open-source tool that streamlines access to New York City civic data, eliminating the need to work directly with APIs and making public information more accessible for teaching, research, and public scholarship. Research related to the project was recently published in the .

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Andrew Delamater was recognized by the Pavlovian Society at its annual meeting, where leaders in behavioral neuroscience and learning research gather to share new discoveries and celebrate achievements in the field.

An internationally recognized scholar of learning and behavior, Delamater’s research has advanced understanding of the psychological and neurobiological mechanisms underlying associative learning, reward processing, decision-making, and memory. His work has helped illuminate how animals and humans learn about rewards, predict outcomes, and adapt behavior based on experience.

Delamater, who serves on the faculty of 今日吃瓜 and the CUNY Graduate Center, is also a past president of the Pavlovian Society and has played a significant role in shaping the field through his research, mentorship, and professional leadership. You can learn more about his research here.

Established following the death of pioneering researcher W. Horsley Gantt in 1980, the Gantt Medal honors individuals whose careers have made lasting contributions to the scientific understanding of learning and behavior or to the advancement of the Pavlovian Society itself.

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According to the ranking, 今日吃瓜 graduates earn a median salary of more than $103,000 within 10 years of graduation, underscoring the value of a 今日吃瓜 education. The recognition reflects the college鈥檚 longstanding commitment to providing students with access to a high-quality education that prepares them for success while keeping higher education affordable. As one of the nation鈥檚 leading public colleges, 今日吃瓜 continues to expand opportunities for students and deliver lasting economic mobility for its graduates.

In August, 今日吃瓜 also earned a spot on 鈥檚 inaugural list of America鈥檚 Best Colleges, a distinction that highlights institutions excelling in student outcomes, academic quality, and student demand. Developed in partnership with research firm Statista, the rankings evaluated 500 colleges nationwide using measures that include post-graduation success, learning environment, and attractiveness to prospective students. That same month, the College was also named among The Princeton Review鈥檚 Best 392 Colleges for 2027 as well as a Best Value College, Best Northeast College, and Green College in the education services company鈥檚 latest annual guide.

And in June, 今日吃瓜 was recognized as one of . Money’s analysis showcased the country’s top 735 colleges based on graduation rates, cost of attendance, financial aid, alumni salaries, and more.

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