Students & Alumni – Chemistry and Biochemistry

Student Awarded for Poster at Theobald Smith Society Fall 2025 Symposium

wiesea — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 16:48:00 +0000

Alexandra Everson (Pharmaceutical Biochemistry MS student researcher and NSF OPEN.NJ scholar) won a poster award at the , local branch of the held on November 13 at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University for her poster titled: Effects of E47D and E157D mutants on IGP synthase catalytic activity from hyperthermophilic bacteria, Thermatoga maritima.

From the Lab to Life-Saving Medicine

wiesea — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 17:11:22 +0000

When Huma Booter was finishing her graduate degree in Chemistry at ��Ʒ��˸�� University, she could have never predicted the profound impact her research would have—not just on her career, but on the lives of patients suffering from rare diseases. Today, as a Bioanalytical Specialist at Kyowa Kirin, Huma is part of a team that is developing treatments for conditions with no other hope of cure. Her story is one of how a graduate degree, the support of dedicated professors, and the opportunity provided by the OPEN-NJ scholarship allowed her to turn a passion for science into a career that is saving lives.

For Huma, the decision to pursue a Master’s in Chemistry with a focus on Biochemistry was both an academic and personal one. After completing her undergraduate degree in Biology, she knew she wanted to continue her studies in a program that would allow her to explore her fascination with biochemistry. “Montclair was the only place that offered exactly what I was looking for—a program that focused on biochemistry within a chemistry framework,” Huma explains. “But more than that, it was the support I received from the faculty that made Montclair the right choice for me.”

A pivotal moment in Huma’s decision to enroll at Montclair came when she learned about the OPEN-NJ scholarship, a financial award for New Jersey residents in science graduate programs. This scholarship not only alleviated the financial stress of tuition but also allowed Huma to fully immerse herself in her studies without the distraction of needing a part-time job. “The scholarship helped me focus entirely on my coursework and research. It gave me the freedom to dive into my studies and really excel,” she says. “That peace of mind made a huge difference in my experience and my academic success.” During her time at Montclair, Huma excelled in both her coursework and research. One of the highlights of her graduate experience was her work in a lab, which ultimately resulted in the publication of her research in the ACS Bio & Med Chem Au journal. “Getting our research published was such a rewarding experience,” Huma says. “It was a recognition of all the hard work we put in, and it really helped establish my credibility as a scientist.”

Today, she works at Kyowa Kirin, where she helps analyze data to support the development of treatments for rare, often terminal diseases. “What I do now has a direct impact on patients. Many of the people we are working to help have no other treatment options,” she says. “Being part of a team that develops these life-saving treatments is incredibly fulfilling. It’s the kind of work that reminds you why you got into science in the first place.”

Although Huma’s role now focuses on bioanalytical research rather than hands-on lab work, she credits her time at Montclair with shaping the analytical and problem-solving skills she uses daily in her job. “Even though I’m not in the lab anymore, the skills I learned in graduate school—like being detail-oriented, disciplined, and able to analyze data critically— are essential to my work today,” she explains.

Looking back on her time at Montclair, Huma is grateful for the mentorship and support she received from her professors. “The professors at Montclair didn’t just teach us—they cared about our success,” she says. “They made sure we had everything we needed to thrive, both academically and personally. I always felt like I was part of a community that truly wanted to see me succeed.”

For anyone considering a graduate program, Huma’s advice is clear: “Montclair is a place where you can thrive—if you want a program that challenges you while also providing the support you need to succeed, it’s a great place to be.”

Huma’s journey—from her time at ��Ʒ��˸�� to her current role in the pharmaceutical industry—serves as a powerful reminder that the right combination of education, opportunity, and support can lead to a career that not only fulfills personal aspirations but has the potential to make a lasting, positive impact on the world.

Targeting Parasitic DHFR: ��Ʒ��˸�� Students Advance Antifolate Drug Discovery for Lymphatic Filariasis

wiesea — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 17:05:21 +0000

At the 2025 , graduate students David Otu-Aboagye and Salma Kwarteng presented an engaging talk on their research into novel drug targets for lymphatic filariasis—a neglected tropical disease that affects hundreds of millions globally.

The parasite responsible for most cases of lymphatic filariasis is Wuchereria bancrofti, a mosquito-transmitted nematode that causes severe swelling of limbs and tissue (elephantiasis) by invading the lymphatic system. Despite its enormous global health burden, treatment remains reliant on long-term preventive chemotherapy, which has significant compliance and efficacy challenges.

Otu-Aboagye and Kwarteng’s research focuses on W. bancrofti dihydrofolate reductase (Wb DHFR), an essential enzyme for DNA synthesis and cell division, and a known drug target in other organisms. The goal is to identify antifolate compounds that selectively inhibit Wb DHFR without affecting the human version of the enzyme.

The team expressed a His₆-tagged Wb DHFR construct in E. coli LOBSTR cells, optimized for purifying histidine-tagged proteins. Following IPTG induction, they used a two-step purification process—first with methotrexate-agarose resin, then with Ni-NTA affinity chromatography. Protein yield and purity were confirmed via Nanodrop and Bradford assays.

Watch David and Salma’s Presentation

NJ-ACS Recognizes Montclair’s Student Chapter

wiesea — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 19:25:23 +0000

In the 2022-23 academic year, four of the Student Chapters were active and received recognition by the ACS Education Office. The ��Ʒ��˸�� Chapter has 40+ active members, an executive board of five students and two faculty co-advisors, Professors Jaclyn Catalano and Eli Lee.

Katherine Saravia (President), Teuta Hida (Past President), Zoren Valmonte and Je Yumbla participating at the Montclair STEM Fest event

Members include chemistry, biochemistry and molecular biology majors. President Katherine Saravia’s primary goals for the Chapter are to increase student engagement and provide more opportunities for professional growth and development. Annual Social Events include a Back-to-School Make Your Own Ice Cream Social, Oozing Pumpkins, Thanksgiving Potluck, a Game/Trivia Event and Senior Appreciation Tea. The Chapter also focuses on meeting with invited seminar speakers to discuss career goals along with outreach events to the local community. Last year the Chapter conducted hands on experiments at the Montclair School District STEM festival that over 200 K-5 students attended. The Chapter is a consistently active part of Chemistry and Biochemistry Department and the surrounding Montclair Community.

Hot Summer Days Ignite Scientific Minds

wiesea — Mon, 17 Jul 2023 21:12:36 +0000

Faculty members play a key role in identifying and training undergraduates. “I encourage them to think on their own because that’s where the real creativity comes from,” says Chemistry and Biochemistry Professor David Rotella, director of the Sokol Institute for Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences.

Professors know that you’re new and that you’re learning. They’re excited about being a part of your process, which makes it easy to have the vulnerability to try new things in the lab and be unafraid to ask the questions you need to ask to grow as a scientist.

Rachel Gushikem, a junior Biochemistry major mentored by Dr. Rotella

The students’ research choices reflect what they care about and problems they want to solve. “That’s where the passion comes from,” observes College of Science and Mathematics Dean Lora Billings. “Our faculty are very good at keeping projects moving, at teaching students resilience and persistence, and when things don’t go as planned, that there’s always a silver lining in there somewhere.”

American Heart Association HSI Scholars Share Research Findings

wiesea — Thu, 04 May 2023 18:52:18 +0000

Six ��Ʒ��˸�� University students, along with two dozen others from across the country, recently presented their research findings and were honored with medals as part of the American Heart Association’s Hispanic Serving Institutions Scholars Program’s Spring Research Symposium at University Hall’s Conference Center.

Students heard from a number of speakers, including Montclair’s Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Junius Gonzales, who served as the keynote speaker. He shared his circuitous route from “a vermin-infested tenement” in Hartford, Conn., to medical school and now higher education.

Read the Full Article

Chemistry Student Wins Prestigious Goldwater Scholarship

wiesea — Thu, 04 May 2023 18:51:50 +0000

A ��Ʒ��˸�� University undergraduate was named a 2023 , becoming the first student in University history to earn this prestigious award. Junior Chemistry major Marisa Messina’s research focuses on an enzyme that could one day be used to target breast cancer treatments.

The Barry Goldwater Scholarship is one of the most impressive national undergraduate scholarships in the natural sciences, engineering and mathematics, says Computer Science Professor Stefan Robila, the campus representative for the Goldwater Scholarship. It is awarded to students who plan to conduct research within their field after graduation, and eventually become experts in that field. Messina plans to pursue a doctorate in Medicinal Chemistry with a long-term goal of joining a pharmaceutical research team with potential to cure disease.

This extraordinary honor confirms the high quality of Marisa’s work. She demonstrates a clear plan for a research path strongly anchored in her previous work and personal experiences and a passion for discovery and innovation.

Dr. Stefan Robila, Professor, School of Computing

Read the Full Article

Student runner-up Best Poster at ACS conference

wiesea — Mon, 06 Jun 2022 20:01:54 +0000

Ana Mendonca, a student conducting research with Dr. Amrita Sarkar, received the Runner Up Best Undergraduate Student Polymeric Material Science & Engineering (PMSE) poster at the held from June 1-4 2022. She presented her research titled, Silk Inspired Polymer: A Robust Chemical Synthesis Approach.

Professor and students’ publication supplemental cover of Langmuir

wiesea — Wed, 04 May 2022 18:35:53 +0000

The article, , delves into the molecular mechanism of cargo protein organization on the lipid membranes.

Abstract

Protein cargos anchored on the lipid membrane can be segregated by fluidic domain phase separation. Lipid membranes at certain compositions may separate into lipid domains to segregate cargos, and protein cargos themselves may be involved in protein condensate domain formation with multivalent binding proteins to segregate cargos. Recent studies suggest that these two driving forces of phase separation closely interact on the lipid membranes to promote codomain formation. In this report, we studied the effect of cargo density on the outcome of the cargo phase separation on giant unilamellar vesicles. Proteins and lipids are connected only by the anchored cargos, so it was originally hypothesized that higher cargo density would increase the degree of interaction between the lipid and protein domains, promoting more phase separation. However, fluorescence image analysis on different cargo densities showed that the cooperative domain formation and steric pressure are at a tug of war opposing each other. Cooperative domain formation is dominant under lower anchor density conditions, and above a threshold density, steric pressure was dominant opposing the domain formation. The result suggests that the cargo density is a key parameter affecting the outcome of cargo organization on the lipid membranes by phase separation.

Biochemistry Student Receives Research Scholarship from the Microscopy Society of America

wiesea — Wed, 16 Feb 2022 19:26:12 +0000

The scholarship will support Zoren’s study of the polymer-induced reduction mechanism of graphene via . Under the supervision of Dr. Amrita Sarkar, Zoren has a fantastic opportunity to learn an advanced imaging technique that will strengthen his interdisciplinary research effort in organic synthesis and material characterization.