NJCU Hosts MACUB 50th Annual Conference

Mosquitos as Vectors: Zika and Malaria: Theme of  Metropolitan Association of College and University Biologists Conference

Renowned Researchers Share Insights

New Jersey City University (NJCU) hosted the 50th Annual Conference of the Metropolitan Association of College and University Biologists (MACUB) on Saturday, October 28.

More than 300 biologists and graduate and undergraduate biology students from 39 public and private institutions of higher education in New Jersey and New York attended the conference, which was held in the Michael B. Gilligan Student Union Building on the NJCU campus at 2039 Kennedy Boulevard in Jersey City.

The theme of this year’s conference, Mosquitos as Vectors: Zika and Malaria, brought into focus a critical issue that has global consequence. Two keynote speakers, both renowned researchers – Vincent Racaniello, Ph.D. of Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, and Ana Rodriguez, Ph.D. of New York University Medical Center – shared information respectively about Zika and Malaria.

More than 100 research presentations were made by students and faculty throughout the day. Student research poster judging was held. Publishers and software and microscopy vendors had exhibits on display. The Association’s golden anniversary was celebrated with a special cake at the close of the event.

John Grew, Ph.D., professor and chair of NJCU’s Biological Sciences Department, was Conference Chair. NJCU faculty involved in presenting the Conference were: Reed Carroll, Ph.D. and Allison Fitzgerald, Ph.D., co- Program Chairs; Meriem Bendaoud, Ph.D. and Laura Pannaman, Ph.D., co-directors of the event planning committee; Ethan Prosen, Ph.D., chair of poster judging; and Cindy Arrigo, Ph.D., Natalia Coleman, Ph.D., Laine Giovanetto, Ph.D., and Vanashri Nargund-Joshi, Ph.D., NJCU Biology faculty participants.

Host sponsors of the event were the NJCU Offices of the President, the Provost, the Dean of Arts and Sciences, and the Biological Sciences Department.

For more information visit https://macub.org.