Research Faculty Profiles
NJCU STEM Research Faculty Profiles
Biology Department
Email: carrigo@njcu.edu
Phone: 201-200-2341
Department: Biology
Do you take undergraduates as research students/interns? Contact professor for this information.
Do you have minimum requirements (course/skills/and or experience) for your research students?
Contact professor for this information.
Research Description: Contact professor for this information.
Email: mbendaoud@njcu.edu
Phone: 201-200-3310
Department: Biology
Do you take undergraduates as research students/interns?
Yes - Volunteers, Research Course, Summer Interns
Do you have minimum requirements (course/skills/and or experience) for your research students?
I prefer having students who already took the Micro class
Research Description: The main focus of my research is the study of bacterial biofilms and the development of new biofilm-specific pharmacologic strategies. Biofilm formation for many microorganisms is an important virulence factor and a crucial step in the pathogenesis of bacterial infection. Bacteria growing attached to a biotic and abiotic surface are protected and resistant to antibiotic treatment and antimicrobial agents, which makes them difficult to eradicate with conventional treatments. The need for new therapeutic approaches is critical as the number of infections caused by biofilm forming bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis has increased. My lab is mostly interested in studying bacterial competitive interactions in in-vitro biofilms and antibiotic-induced biofilm formation as well as identifying and characterizing novel natural compounds, which inhibit biofilm formation of pathogenic bacteria. Additional research projects in the summer, may include working on environmental studies such as studying the impact of combined sewer overflows on water quality and isolation and characterization of unknown bacteria from the environment.
Email: rcarroll@njcu.edu
Phone: 201-200-3314
Department: Biology
Do you take undergraduates as research students/interns?
Yes - Volunteers, Research Course, Summer Interns
Do you have minimum requirements (course/skills/and or experience) for your research students?
Cell Biology or strong background in Biology or research
Research Description:
Our research investigates cellular processes in the brain that are believed to be important for neuronal development, learning, and memory formation. Studies specifically focus on understanding how changes in neuron activity cause long-lasting modifications in the strength of synaptic communications by altering the properties and localization of neurotransmitter receptors and other signaling proteins at synapses. In order to develop a complete picture of the events involved in these changes, called synaptic plasticity, the lab employs a combination of techniques including microscopy, biochemistry and molecular biology. Continuing research aims to better understand processes central to the development, plasticity, and pathology of the brain.
Email: ncoleman@njcu.edu
Phone: 201-200-2382
Department: Biology
Do you take undergraduates as research students/interns?
Yes - Research Course
Do you have minimum requirements (course/skills/and or experience) for your research students?
Cell Biology course
Research Description:
Our team is comprised of undergraduate students, led by Dr. Coleman. This is a cell biology lab. We investigate cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for lead toxicity; new therapeutic targets to treat lung, skin, prostate and ovarian cancer; cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for learning disabilities in children with cancer predisposition (neurofibromatosis type 1). Lead poisoning has presented a problem for a long time, especially in urban areas such as Jersey City. The deterioration of the blood brain barrier (BBB) makes it more permeable, causing the brain to be susceptible to a number of harmful agents. We are interested in the cellular mechanism that leads to the deterioration of the endothelial cells in the BBB. Despite intensive research efforts and promising discoveries, cancer remains the leading cause of death in the US. There is growing evidence of the importance of glutamate signal transduction in cancer. We investigate the role of NMDA receptors in cancer. Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is the most common genetic disorder affecting 1 in 3000 individuals (mostly children age 1-6 years old). Over 65% of children with NF1 have learning disabilities. There is no specific treatment for neurofibromatosis. We use mouse embryonic stem cell-derived neurons to determine whether targeting the NMDARs is a valid therapeutic strategy towards the treatment of the learning disabilities associated with NF1. If you have any questions, you can contact Dr. Coleman at ncoleman@njcu.edu.
Email: aesposito@njcu.edu
Phone: 201-200-2350
Department: Biology
Do you take undergraduates as research students/interns?
Yes - Volunteers, Research Course, Summer Interns
Do you have minimum requirements (course/skills/and or experience) for your research students?
Recommended completion of BIOL304 (Genetics)
Research Description:
Our research focuses on viruses such as HIV and the development of assays to identify potential antiviral drugs. We use a variety of molecular biology techniques to develop such assays and optimize their efficiency. Side projects include the study of host factors (such as purinergic receptors) that are involved in virus replication as well as projects related to SARS-CoV-2.
Email: afitzgerald@njcu.edu
Phone: 201-200-3452
Department: Biology
Do you take undergraduates as research students/interns?
Yes - Volunteers, Research Course, Summer Interns, Other
Do you have minimum requirements (course/skills/and or experience) for your research students?
PB2 or equal course
Research Description:
Urban Marine Ecology, including oyster restoration, living shorelines, Microplastic pollution, invertebrates living in the estuary, impacts of urbanization on estuaries, water quality, and other local environmental and ecological topics.
Email: lgiovanetto@njcu.edu
Phone: 201-200-3296
Department: Biology
Do you take undergraduates as research students/interns?
Contact professor for this information.
Do you have minimum requirements (course/skills/and or experience) for your research students?
Contact professor for this information.
Research Description: Contact professor for this information.
Email: eprosen@njcu.edu
Phone: 201-200-2364
Department: Biology
Do you take undergraduates as research students/interns?
Contact professor for this information.
Do you have minimum requirements (course/skills/and or experience) for your research students?
Contact professor for this information.
Research Description: Contact professor for this information.
Chemistry Department
Email: hhaouari@njcu.edu
Phone: 201-200-3068
Department: Chemistry
Do you take undergraduates as research students/interns?
Yes - Research Course, Summer Interns
Do you have minimum requirements (course/skills/and or experience) for your research students?
Students should have completed organic chemistry courses
Research Description: Our research interest is on the area of computational chemistry. The area of computational chemistry involves the following topics: quantum mechanics, molecular mechanics, minimization, simulations, conformational analysis and other computer-based methods for understanding and most importantly predicting the behavior of molecular system. We are investigating different type of compounds, one of them is curcumin. Curcumin, is an anti-inflammatory molecule in the turmeric root. Turmeric contains an average of 5-10% of curcumin. Studies found that consumption of curcumin might reduce Alzheimer’s disease. We are investigating the properties and reactivity of curcumin through different theoretical calculations. We are carrying a series of calculations necessary to predict the reactivity of curcumin in different environment and through forming complexes with different transition metals. There are several papers published in the literature on the synthesis of complexes of curcumin with transition metals like Fe3+, Mn2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Pb2+, Cd2+, Ru3+, Re3+ and many others. We are interested in investigating the stability and reactivity of these curcumin complexes using different theoretical methods. The theoretical methods that we are using may be divided into four distinct classes: ab initio Hartree Fock methods, ab initio correlated methods, density functional methods, and semiempirical methods. Within each method used, many variations may occur, for instance, variations in basis set, method and level of inclusions of electrons correlations for ab initio methods, choice of functional and basis set for density functional methods, and for semi-empirical models, details.
Email: bkim1@njcu.edu
Phone: 201-200-3581
Department: Chemistry
Do you take undergraduates as research students/interns?
Contact professor for this information.
Do you have minimum requirements (course/skills/and or experience) for your research students?
Contact professor for this information.
Research Description: Trained as a materials scientist, Dr. Kim is interested in new materials in cutting-edge science and nanotechnology. In particular, he is interested in organic electronics, which use organic materials in electronic devices. In his studies, various organic semiconductor compounds and 2-D nanomaterials, such as graphene, are used to fabricate field-effect transistors (FETs), and their properties are studied. The solid-state structures of each material are also investigated to further understand the effect of morphology effect on the device performance. At NJCU, he continues his research projects with local high school students as well as NJCU students.
Email: ywei@njcu.edu
Phone: 201-200-2309
Department: Chemistry
Do you take undergraduates as research students/interns?
Contact professor for this information.
Do you have minimum requirements (course/skills/and or experience) for your research students?
Contact professor for this information.
Research Description: Teaching: Creating a vibrant and inclusive active learning environment for diverse students using case studies, course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE), and civic engagement. Exploring protein-protein interactions in mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, apoptosis and death-inducing signaling complex (DISC), and inflammasome and pyroptosis using combined cellular and molecular, biophysical, and computational techniques. Grant support: NIH R21DA046223 (current, 09/15/2018 - 08/31/2020, PI) NIH R15CA179410 (recently finished, 07/16/2013 - 06/30/2017, PI) Leadership: Association of American Colleges & Universities Project Kaleidoscope STEM Leadership Institute, 2019. For a full list of publications, follow the link below.
Email: kyamaguchi@njcu.edu
Phone: 201-200-xxxx
Department: Chemistry
Do you take undergraduates as research students/interns?
Yes - Volunteers, Research Course
Do you have minimum requirements (course/skills/and or experience) for your research students?
Must have completed a minimum of Chem 106
Research Description: Contact professor for this information.
Computer Science Department
Email: jcao@njcu.edu
Phone: 201-200-3436
Department: Computer Science
Do you take undergraduates as research students/interns?
Yes
Do you have minimum requirements (course/skills/and or experience) for your research students?
Contact professor for this information.
Research Description: Web Programing
Email: mchatterjee@njcu.edu
Phone: 201-200-3387
Department: Computer Science
Do you take undergraduates as research students/interns?
Yes - Research Course, Summer Interns
Do you have minimum requirements (course/skills/and or experience) for your research students?
CS101
Research Description: Data driven cybersecurity
Email: tliu@njcu.edu
Phone: 201-200-3140
Department: Computer Science
Do you take undergraduates as research students/interns?
Yes - Summer Interns
Do you have minimum requirements (course/skills/and or experience) for your research students?
Participants need to have experience in programming of Java, Python and Data Structure.
Research Description: The Training of AWS DeepRacer for Convolutional Neural Networks With free open source “Gradients” in the Cloud and Local Server.
Mathematics Department
Email: jcamacho@njcu.edu
Phone: 201-200-2267
Department: Mathematics
Do you take undergraduates as research students/interns?
No
Do you have minimum requirements (course/skills/and or experience) for your research students?
Normally Math 295, but case by case can apply
Research Description: Topological measure theory
Email: dchakraborty@njcu.edu
Phone: 201-200-3297
Department: Mathematics
Do you take undergraduates as research students/interns?
Contact professor for this information.
Do you have minimum requirements (course/skills/and or experience) for your research students?
Contact professor for this information.
Research Description: Dr. Chakraborty's research interests are in applied mathematics, partial differential equations, computational mathematics, stochastic methods, nonlinear optics, financial mathematics, high performance computing. His research aims to develop stable and efficient numerical methods for solving discontinuous problems and apply them to various physical and engineering problems. He has worked on problems in a broad range of fields including nonlinear dynamics, linear and nonlinear waves, pattern formation, population dynamics models, and waves in random media. Fields of applications include optical communication systems (in optical fibers and in the atmosphere), optical wave guide devices, and materials science.
Email: zchen@njcu.edu
Phone: 201-200-3201
Department: Mathematics
Do you take undergraduates as research students/interns?
Yes
Do you have minimum requirements (course/skills/and or experience) for your research students? Calc II or above
Research Description: Applied Mathematics, Ordinary Differential Equations, Partial Differential Equations, Mathematical Modeling
Email: yding@njcu.edu
Phone: 201-200-3318
Department: Mathematics
Do you take undergraduates as research students/interns?
Yes
Do you have minimum requirements (course/skills/and or experience) for your research students? Completed Math 193 Calculus II and Math 311 Differential Equations
Research Description: Applied Mathematics, Ordinary Differential Equations, and Partial Differential Equations
Email: weby@njcu.edu
Phone: 201-200-3202
Department: Mathematics
Do you take undergraduates as research students/interns?
Yes - Volunteers, Research Course, Summer Interns
Do you have minimum requirements (course/skills/and or experience) for your research students?
Must have completed Survey of Moden Mathematics , Calculus II or Above
Research Description: Complex Analysis, Harmonic Analysis, Integral Geometry, Mathematical Modelling
Email: fmynard@njcu.edu
Phone: 201-200-3283
Department: Mathematics
Do you take undergraduates as research students/interns?
Yes - Volunteers, Summer Interns
Do you have minimum requirements (course/skills/and or experience) for your research students?
Normally Math 295, but case by case can apply
Research Description: Topology; categorical methods in topology; convergence theory and applications to Analysis
Email: bteclezghi@njcu.edu
Phone: 201-200-3139
Department: Mathematics
Do you take undergraduates as research students/interns?
Yes - Research Course, Summer Interns
Do you have minimum requirements (course/skills/and or experience) for your research students?
Must have completed Survey of Moden Mathematics , Calculus II or Above
Research Description:
- Real-life application of Abstract Algebra and
- Application of Abstract Algebra in Teaching high school mathematics
Psychology Department
Email: pyuksel@njcu.edu
Phone: 201-200-2142
Department: Psychology
Do you take undergraduates as research students/interns?
Yes - Volunteers,Summer Interns
Do you have minimum requirements (course/skills/and or experience) for your research students?
No
Research Description: My research concerns cross-cultural differences and changes in language/cognitive development, and parent child interactions, as well as designing and examining effective teaching and learning environments that facilitate student success.
Email: wzhang@njcu.edu
Phone: 201-200-3063
Department: Psychology
Do you take undergraduates as research students/interns?
No
Do you have minimum requirements (course/skills/and or experience) for your research students?
No
Research Description: Neurobiological correlates of stress and health; Social media data analysis of health related topics.