Our Faculty | Natural Sciences Department | Fall 2020

Our Faculty

Natural Sciences Department

Our Mission The mission of the Natural Sciences Department is to provide high quality educational programs in science and engineering and to offer courses for the Liberal Arts programs and the Associate in Applied Sciences programs. The Department assists students in developing the skills required to analyze the mechanics of the natural and physical environment, learn to think critically, communicate effectively, cultivate an understanding of basic scientific and its ethical values, and to become responsible citizens.

The faculty of the Natural Sciences Department consist of a diverse group of talented researchers and scholars with expertise in different areas of the biological, chemical, and physical sciences. They provide guidance to students of multicultural backgrounds to empower and inspire them in their pursuit of higher education degrees in science and engineering. They offer research opportunities and engage in teaching activities designed to provide advanced knowledge and research skills.

Chairperson and Coordinators Dr. Francisco Fernandez, Chairperson Dr. Fernandez is Professor of Chemistry and chairman of the Natural Sciences Department at Hostos Community College. Dr. Fernandez is a specialist in the area of Molecular Spectroscopy He is currently working in the use of DFT methods for the study of reaction mechanisms and its application to solution of environmental issues. Dr. Fernandez teaches courses of General Chemistry and Environmental Sciences.

Dr. Julie Trachman, Coordinator of the Biology Unit Dr. Trachman has her Ph.D. in Microbiology. One of her research foci has been on the regulation of expression of heat-labile enterotoxin produced by enterotoxinogenic E. coli. More recently, she has collaborated on a research project exploring the use of lichens as bioindicators of air pollution. Dr. Trachman teaches Microbiology, Anatomy and Physiology I and occasionally, Principles of Biology.

Dr. Mohammad Sohel, Coordinator of the Physical Sciences Unit Dr. Sohel has a Ph.D. in Chemistry- Nanotechnology and Materials Sciences. He teaches General Chemistry courses to science and engineering majors. His current research interests are the synthesis and characterization of semiconductor nanomaterials, such as quantum dots for applications in developing optoelectronic devices such as solar cells, light emitting diodes, sensors, and biological imaging.

Biology Unit……………………………

Dr. Amanda Bernal-Carlo Dr. Bernal-Carlo is a scholar of Biogeography and Ecology. As the President of the Great Balance Inc, she works with different Colombian indigenous tribes: Wayuu in Guajira and Venezuela and from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta: Wiwa, Kogui.

Kuankuamo and Arhuaco, on a variety of sustainable projects. She is also co-founder of the Brazilian Mata Atlântica Ecological Institute. Dr. Bernal-Carlo teaches General Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, and Genetics.

Dr. Soheli Chowdhury Dr. Chowdhury is a professor of Biology. She is a UK Commonwealth Scholar. She received her Ph.D. from Newcastle University, England, and Postdoctoral training from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, USA. She published in the areas of insulin resistance, enzyme kinetics, and stem cell used in treating neurodegenerative diseases and ethnomedicine. Dr. Chowdhury teaches Principles of Biology, Microbiology, and Anatomy and Physiology.

Kathleen Delgado, MS, RDN, CDN Kathleen Delgado is a professor of Food Studies and is a Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist. She is currently a graduate student at the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, and is interested in food justice, food policy, and nutrition education. Her research involves food advocacy and support for college students’ basic needs. She teaches courses in the Food Studies program.

Dr. Vyacheslav Dushenkov Dr. Dushenkov is an Associate Professor of Biology. He also is a managing director at the Global Institute for BioExploration (GIBEX) and a visiting research professor at SEBS, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.

Dr. Dushenkov’s broad research interest covers the areas of Botanical Therapeutics, Phytoremediation, Ecology, Evolutionary Biology and STEM education. He teaches BIO230 Anatomy and Physiology.

Dr. John Gillen Dr. Gillen is an Assistant Professor of Biology. He is also a member of the Council of Directors of the Torrey Botanical Society (founded in 1867.) Dr. Gillen’s biological research interests include plant physiology and tissue culture, the ecology of Brazil’s Mata Atlântica, and the medicinal plants of the Colombian Sierra Nevada. Dr. Gillen usually teaches Anatomy & Physiology II.

Dr. Flor Henderson, Coordinator of the Food Studies Program Dr. Henderson is a plant scientist. Her primary research interest are plant anatomy and ethnobotany; one is focused on the phylogenetic study of the Arecaceae (=Palmae) and the other on uses of medicinal plants in urban settings. In addition, she is interested in food culture and urban agricultural practices. Dr. Henderson teaches Principles of Biology, General Biology, Plants and Society, Botany of Food, and Urban Agricultural Systems.

Dr. Carmen Inda Dr. Inda is a Neuroscientist. She has developed projects on Neuroanatomy of the Cerebral Cortex and on memory mechanisms. She is currently focused on translational research that involves amelioration of memory loss associated with Alzheimer’s disease, in particular on Hsp90 inhibitor as a potential therapeutic treatment for this pathology. Dr. Inda teaches Anatomy and Physiology and General Biology I.

Dr. Damaris Lang, Coordinator of Liberal Arts and Sciences Dr. Lang is a neuroscientist. Her research interest lies in the Neurobiology of Behavior. Her previous work was on factors influencing Paternal Care. Her current research is on Sensory Pathways and Learning focusing on factors influencing content understanding. Dr. Lang teaches Microbiology, General Biology, Principles of Biology, Human Biology and Anatomy & Physiology II.

Dr. Zvi Ostrin Dr. Ostrin is an Associate Professor of Biology. He teaches Anatomy and Physiology, and is currently involved in research examining the pedagogical value of digital technology in the biology laboratory. Dr. Ostrin has additional long-standing research interests in the areas of sociobiology, intellectual history, and the practical use of lichens as bio-indicators or pollution.

Dr. Vladimir Ovtcharenko Dr. Ovtcharenko is a Professor of Biology. He is a zoologist by training. His research focuses on morphology, anatomy, taxonomy, phylogeny and biodiversity of Invertebrate Animals: particularly the Ground spiders’ family. He also conducts research on the world revision of Ground spiders and travels to all continents collecting spiders. Dr. Ovtcharenko teaches Organismic Biology and Anatomy and Physiology II.

Dr. Olga Steinberg Neifach Dr. Steinberg Neifach is a Molecular Biologist. Her research is in the field of telomeres, which are the very end of chromosomes. Telomeres play an important role in aging and cancer development. Dr. Steinberg Neifach published several papers on telomere research and is a recipient of number of awards. Dr. Steinberg Neifach teaches Principles of Biology and Microbiology.

Physical Sciences Unit……………….

Dr. Alison Franzese Dr. Franzese is an Assistant Professor in the Physical Sciences Unit. She is also an Adjunct Research Scientist at Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory. Her research interests are geochemistry, paleoceanography, and paleoclimate. Dr. Franzese teaches Introduction to General Chemistry, General Chemistry I, Introduction to Earth and Atmospheric Science, and Environmental Science I courses.

Dr. Anna Ivanova Dr. Ivanova is an Assistant Professor in the Physical Sciences Unit. Her research background is in biophysics, biochemistry, molecular and cell biology. The research topics of interest include Bacteriophages, HIV research, Mechanisms of Cell Signaling. Dr. Ivanova teaches General Physics I, General Chemistry I, Introduction to General Chemistry, Principles of Organic Chemistry, Environmental Science I and II courses.

Dr. Biao Jiang Dr. Jiang is a computer scientist. His research focuses on computer communication, computer vision and simultaneous localization and mapping. He performs his research in collaboration with faculty at CCNY at CCNY Robotics Lab and the Center for Perceptual Robotics, Intelligent Sensors and Machine. Dr. Jiang teaches General Physics I, General Physics II and other courses for dual degree engineering program.

Dr. Anna Manukyan, Coordinator of Forensic Sciences Dr. Manukyan is an Assistant Professor of Chemistry.

She has extensive experience in algorithm and software development, computer simulation, data analysis and processing. In her research she uses computer simulations to investigate artificial nucleic acids and membrane proteins. Dr. Manukyan teaches General Chemistry, Introduction to General Chemistry, and Principles of Organic Chemistry.

Dr. Nelson Nunez-Rodriguez Dr. Nunez Rodriguez is a Professor of Chemistry and Unit Coordinator. He is a neuroscientist by training. He has developed his neuroscience research exploring neuronal cell death mechanisms underlying Parkinson, Alzheimer and Status Epilepticus diseases. His current research explores novel approaches to develop scientific skills in urban college students. Dr. Nunez Rodriguez teaches General Chemistry I for Science and Engineering majors.

Dr. Van Chahn Phan Dr. Phan is a Professor of Chemistry. His research interests are focused on developing and implementing techniques for solid state NMR to study the structural biology of amorphous plant materials. He performs his research in collaboration with faculty at CCNY at their Center for Discovery and Innovation. Dr. Phan teaches General Chemistry I and General Chemistry II.

Dr. Yoel Rodriguez, Director of the Engineering Program Dr. Rodríguez is a Professor of Physics and Chemistry and a Theoretical Biophysicist who studies protein-protein interactions and membrane proteins. His research interest is directed towards applying computational biophysics methods to better understanding of the molecular mechanisms in biological processes with implications in cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Dr. Rodríguez is equally captivated by STEM education. He teaches Physics and Chemistry.

Dr. Debasish Roy Dr. Roy is a cancer Biochemist and Molecular Biologist.

His research focuses on the differentially expressed genes associated with radiation and chemical induced bread carcinogenesis. He also conducts research on different Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) and study their anti-oncogenic potential due to structural alterations. He is part of the global initiative to prevent cancer, best known as ‘The Halifax Project’. He teaches Organic Chemistry and Environmental Chemistry.

Our Programs A.S. Liberal Arts and Sciences A.S. Forensic Sciences A.S. Food Studies A.S. Chemical Engineering A.S. Environmental Engineering A.S. Mechanical Engineering

Contact Us: Natural Sciences Department Building A- 507 475 Grand Concourse Bronx, New Yor, 10451 Telephone: 718 518 4128 and 718 518 4129