Convening meetings, workshops, seminars, and public programs is a key part of the mission at the Advanced Science Research Center at the CUNY Graduate Center promoting collaboration between campus-based faculty, ASRC faculty, theorists, and experimentalists across New York City.

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Challenges Facing Women in Science: Group-Led Discussion & Lunch

In honor of Women's History Month, we invite you to a group-led discussion and lunch highlighting Baruch professor and author, Julie Des Jardins, and her book, "The Madame Curie Complex: The Hidden History of Women in Science," on March 31st at 1:30pm!

Communicating Your Science: Turn Your Complex Science Into Compelling Soundbites

 Join us on March 31, 2023, at 2 p.m. for a special "Communicating Your Science" event with Sean Patrick Farrell, a video producer who has worked for WIRED, The New York Times and others. During this workshop, Patrick will:  Explain how he works with scientists to explain complex research findings into simple soundbites and explanations. 

Earth Week 2023: NanoBioNYC Launch

All CUNY STEM graduate students and faculty interested in Bio-inspired Nanoscience are invited to attend and hear talks from current NanoBioNYC mentors and fellows, and learn how to participate in future programming such as industry internship opportunities, technical training certificates, science outreach, and more.

Earth Week 2023: 2nd Annual Sensor CAT Symposium

Join us for the 2nd Annual Sensor CAT Symposium, showcasing CUNY-wide academic-industry research and workforce development partnerships that further innovation and entrepreneurship in New York State.

Meet the Reporter: Shaping STEM Research for the General Media

Join us on Friday, April 21, 2023 at 2 p.m. for a media-skills building session that includes an opportunity to talk about your research with working science reporters from Scientific American, Science Friday, PBS and more. Now more than ever it’s critical for science to be accessible and understandable to the public. In this Communicating

Semat Public Lecture: Luis Alvarez-Gaume

  It is with great pleasure that we announce the upcoming Henry Semat Lecture, which will be given by renowned physicist  Professor Luis Alvarez Gaume. The lecture is scheduled for April 26 at 4PM in the ASRC Auditorium, located at 85 St. Nicholas Terrace, New York, NY 10031. Prof. Alvarez Gaume currently serves as the Director of the

ASRC Undergrad Open Programming Schedule: Summer 2023

This undergraduate programming series has been specifically developed for undergraduates participating in research during the summer of 2023. Undergraduates are also welcome to attend any additional open programming advertised on the ASRC website.

CUNY Student SciComs Symposium: Communicating Your Science

Join us on Friday, June 9 at 10 a.m. for the third annual "Communicating Your Science Symposium." The symposium, created by the CUNY Graduate Center's Ph.D. student-led organization, CUNYSciCom, aims to use peer-to-peer training and engagement to challenge and reshape the way scientists discuss scientific research with each other and the general public. The symposium

ASRC Structural Biology Initiative Special Seminar

Juliette Fedry Structural Biochemistry Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular Research Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands Molecular visualization of cellular processes in mammalian cells New insights into mRNA translation and the dynamics of the Nuclear Envelope under stress Abstract    To understand cellular processes, it is important to visualize the proteins catalyzing the corresponding biochemical reactions. Over the

ASRC Pride Open Mic + Art Showcase

Dear ASRC Community, We are excited to announce the ASRC Pride Open Mic and Art Showcase to celebrate self-expression, identity, art and have a joyous time with our colleagues! The event will take place on Thursday, June 15th 2023, 4-7pm in the ASRC Cafe. All are invited to share art projects and talents of any

EHOS Training Schedule August 2023

EHOS Training Schedule August 2023 These are Zoom trainings.  The login and Pass Code information are located on the schedule and registration is not required.  After training, the instructor will then send you a certificate and our training records will be updated to show that you have completed all requirements before working in the labs

End of Summer Events at CCNY/ASRC

This year we’ve had the amazing opportunity to host over 90 high school and undergraduate summer students conducting research with mentors at the ASRC. Below are a number of events that will be taking place to  celebrate and present the work of the students and the rest of the ASRC community. All are welcome to join and we looking forward to seeing you!

Climate Stress Across the Biosphere: From Molecules to Organisms to Earth and Social Systems

TO VIEW THE FULL AGENDA: ASRC Climate Stress Conference Agenda   Join us for an exciting event exploring the impact of climate stress on our planet, from the tiniest molecules to complex organisms, we will delve into the challenges faced by Earth and its social systems. This in-person event will be held at the CUNY Advanced

Meet the Librarian: An Introduction to The Graduate Center Library’s Science Resources

Join us on September 29, 2023, at 2 p.m. for our annual session with CUNY Graduate Center Science Librarian Mason Brown, who will be discussing how to access and use STEM research source materials on and off campus. Conducting science research on-campus or remotely can be done successfully with a few simple but critical tools.

8th Annual Sharon Cosloy – Edward Blank Family Distinguished Scientist Lecture

Please join the CCNY Division of Science for the 8th Annual Sharon Cosloy - Edward Blank Family Distinguished Scientist Lecture to be held in the ASRC Auditorium. Guest speaker and further details, including reservation link, to be announced.  About Dr. Sharon Cosloy: Dr. Sharon Cosloy was a member of the City College Biology faculty for

New York City Integrative Structural Biology Symposium

Integrative structural biology is a powerful approach to understand biological macromolecular systems. By combining computational methods with structural science disciplines, spatial and temporal models of macromolecular targets in their in-situ context can be determined. The focus of this symposium is to introduce integrative structural biology to our structural sciences community. The fields of light microscopy,

The Science Op-Ed Writing

Join us on October 27, 2023, at 2 p.m. for the Science of Op-Ed writing with Deb Stead, a former New York Times op-ed editor and CUNY Journalism School writing coach. Scientists endeavor to reach conclusions that are objective, but science exists in a world driven as much by opinion and perception as fact. Additionally, funding agencies

ASRC-CCNY Seminar Series in Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biodesign: Julien Orts, University of Vienna

Join us for the fall semester ASRC-CCNY Seminar Series in Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biodesign every Wednesday at noon! This week's speaker, Julien Orts, Assistant Professor in the Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry at the University of Vienna, Austria, will be presenting a talk titled, “Lead Generation without an X-Ray Crystal Structure: An NMR Method to Probe

Same Science/New Look: Refreshing Your Science Visuals for Different Audiences

Join us on Friday December 1, 2023, at 2 p.m. for Same Science/New Look: Refreshing Your Science Visuals for Different Audiences with CUNYSciCom co-founder and Graduate Center Ph.D. candidate Katherine Anderson who will share how she repurposes, refreshes and revises images and graphics for various audiences. Whether you’re in the field or in a lab, scientists conduct

ASRC Community Night Series: Neuroscience

Join us for an evening to learn about what’s happening in the neuroscience initiative with Director Dr. Patrizia Casaccia. Participants can also try out our new EEG headset experience, in our immersive visitor center, which visualizes electrical activity in the brain in real-time!

From Journal Paper to Book Author

Join us on Jan. 26 at 2 p.m. for our next Communicating Your Science webinar, "From Journal Paper to Book Author." From memoirs such as "The Disordered Cosmos" to scientific narratives such as "The Sixth Extinction," scientists and journalists around the world offer up gripping stories that illuminate human nature, the cultural landscape and the STEM

ASRC Community Science Night

Join us for another interactive evening in the ASRC’s Illumination Space to learn about upcoming opportunities at the ASRC and greater Harlem, including events open to the community!

ASRC-CCNY Seminar Series in Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biodesign: Thomas Kurtzman, Lehman College, City University of New York

Join the ASRC Structural Biology Initiative in welcoming Professor Thomas Kurtzman, Lehman College, City University of New York, as the first guest speaker in this Spring 2024 Biochem Seminar Series! This series takes place every Wednesday, with refreshments in the cafe at 11:30 and the seminar to follow in the auditorium at 12pm.

ASRC-CCNY Seminar Series in Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biodesign: Christiane Riedel, École Normale, Supérieure de Lyon, France

Join the ASRC Structural Biology Initiative in welcoming Professor Christiane Riedel, École Normale, Supérieure de Lyon, as this week's guest speaker in the Spring 2024 Biochem Seminar Series! This series takes place every Wednesday, with refreshments in the cafe at 11:30am and the seminar to follow in the auditorium at 12pm.

ASRC-CCNY Seminar Series in Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biodesign: Amy L. Kenter, Univ. of Illinois, College of Medicine at Chicago

Join the ASRC Structural Biology Initiative in welcoming Professor Amy L. Kenter, Univ. of Illinois, College of Medicine at Chicago, as this week's guest speaker in the Spring 2024 Biochem Seminar Series! This series takes place every Wednesday, with refreshments in the cafe at 11:30am and the seminar to follow in the auditorium at 12pm.

ASRC-CCNY Seminar Series in Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biodesign: Brian Kelch, Univ. of Massachusetts, Chan Medical School

Join the ASRC Structural Biology Initiative in welcoming Professor Brian Kelch, Univ. of Massachusetts, Chan Medical School, as this week's guest speaker in the Spring 2024 Biochem Seminar Series! This series takes place every Wednesday, with refreshments in the cafe at 11:30am and the seminar to follow in the auditorium at 12pm.

ASRC Spring Luncheon: Networking Across ASRC/CCNY

RSVP now to join us for a networking lunch on the terrace! Enjoy the fresh air with friends from around the ASRC, as well as CCNY Engineering and Architecture faculty, on March 28th from 12PM- 2PM on the North Terrace. Lunch provided, with vegetarian options available. This event is open to all ASRC members; please contact

ASRC Brain Awareness Community Science Night

Join us for another interactive evening in the ASRC’s Illumination Space to learn about upcoming opportunities at the ASRC and greater Harlem- this month it's all about Neuroscience!

ASRC-CCNY Seminar Series in Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biodesign: Special Seminar by Varda Shoshan-Barmatz, Ben-Gurion University in Israel

In this special seminar, we are joined online by Dr. Varda Shoshan-Barmatz, Professor of Molecular Physiology at Ben-Gurion University in Israel, presenting a talk titled, "Mitochondrial gatekeeper VDAC1 overexpression and oligomerization lies at the intersection of programmed cell death, inflammation and disease."

Bring Your Friends/Family to Work Day

All visitors must be added to the building access list by noon April 24th. Along with registering for activities, please ensure all non-ASRC members names have been provided to your initiative's admin coordinator or Genevieve Nieson  at <GENEVIEVE.NIESON94@LOGIN.CUNY.EDU>  

ASRC Earth Week Community Science Night

Join us for another interactive evening in the ASRC’s Illumination Space to learn about upcoming opportunities at the ASRC and greater Harlem, including events open to the community!

CUNY Student SciCom Symposium: Communicating Your Science

Wrap up the academic year with CUNYSciCom’s annual Communicating Your Science Symposium where students can win prizes for the best science presentations. The annual symposium challenges student scientists to present and explain their research to two different audiences—their peers and the general public—in short, contained presentations that include contextual descriptions of the work, visual aids,

Seminar in Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Biodesign

The SBI Initiative of the ASRC presents Benjamin S. Schuster, Assistant Professor of the Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, speaking on "Negative noodles, and positive ones too: Engineering intrinsically disordered proteins".

Communicating Your Science Series Open House Event

Join us for our rescheduled kickoff of our 2024/25 Communicating Your Science Series, which helps CUNY STEM students, postdocs and faculty bone up on their science communications skills. Sponsored by the CUNY ASRC IlluminationSpace Hub, CUNYSciCom, BRAINE and CUNY Women in STEM, this open house event will showcase the resources CUNY offers to help you

Boosting Your Academic Career Though Science Communications

Are you looking to elevate your STEM career? Effective science communication is key to standing out as a researcher, securing funding, fostering collaborations, and broadening the impact of your work. Join us on Friday, December 6, 2024, for an engaging panel discussion with Nerd Night Founder Ben Taylor, ASRC Photonics and CUNY Graduate Center Physics

Seminar in Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Biodesign: Jack Zhang, Assistant Professor of Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry

High-resolution in situ Structures within Mitochondria Mitochondria are essential for ATP production via oxidative phosphorylation, involving respiratory complexes within the inner membrane. Despite extensive in vitro studies, understanding their mechanisms in physiological environment is challenging due to loss of the native environment during purification. Here, we directly image porcine mitochondria by developing a high-resolution in-situ

Seminar in Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Biodesign: John McGeehan, Principal Scientist of Biochemical Engineering

Following the discovery in a Japanese recycling facility of a bacterium capable of breaking down the man-made plastic polyethylene terephthalate (PET), we turned our attention towards uncovering the detailed workings of enzymes that can perform this remarkable reaction. Found in single-use drinks bottles, packaging, and clothing, PET can take centuries to decompose and is accumulating

Seminar in Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Biodesign, featuring Professor Kim Orth

My lab is interested in elucidating the activity of virulence factors from pathogenic bacteria so that we can gain novel molecular insight into eukaryotic signaling systems. One of these factors encodes a Fic domain that exhibits diverse metazoans the Fic domain is used for AMPylation to maintain homeostasis in cells when under stress. Recently, we

Seminar in Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Biodesign: Stephen D. Fried, Assistant Professor Department of Chemistry

Abstract: Recent advances in artificial intelligence have addressed a long-standing question in protein biophysics: What is the relationship between a protein’s primary sequence and its native three-dimensional structure? On the other hand, the process by biosynthesis or following their denaturation is perilous, complex, and much less predictable. Many proteins misfold, a process which can sometimes

Seminar in Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Biodesign: Benjamin Schuster, Assistant Professor Department of Chemistry and Biochemical Engineering

Negative noodles, and positive ones too: Biophysics and bioengineering of intrinsically disordered proteins Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) do not fold into a fixed three-dimensional structure, yet they play important roles in biology. For instance, many IDPs phase separate into biomolecular condensates that function as membrane-less organelles in cells. If IDPs are somewhat like a cooked

CUNYSciCom’s 2025 Symposium

A panel of judges (a science professor, a trained public liaison, and an undergraduate student) will give feedback to all participants, and cash prizes of up to $500 will be awarded! Sponsored by the Doctoral and Graduate Student Council, the GC Biology Department, and external donor funding. Hosted By Biology Doctoral and Graduate Students' Council

Structural Biology Special Seminar

Mycobacteriophage structure reveals the molecular architecture for its host interaction and viral genome ejection Recent reports highlight the efficacy of engineered mycobacteriophages to treat non-tuberculosis mycobacterial disease. Molecular-level insights into mycobacteriophage architecture and host interactions could allow structure-guided phage engineering to increase efficacy and broaden host range, but such information is currently unavailable. We describe

Harlem Community Job Fair

Calling all Harlem Residents and students! Attend our job fair on Friday, July 18, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. to learn about local career opportunities and job training programs. RSVP at https://bit.ly/40jkjxe Join us at the CUNY ASRC to meet representatives from City and Government-related organizations, non-profits, educational programs, employment certification programs, and

Fall ’25 Biochem Seminar: Assistant Professor Enrique R. Rojas

Smart Bacterial Materials One of the most common cellular morphologies across nature is the cylinder, rod, or bacillus. To achieve this shape, cells usually reinforce the circumference of the cell to avoid cell widening while allowing elongation. However, it is not known - in any system - how cells homeostatically specify cell width. I will

Fall ’25 Biochem Seminar: Associate Editor Antonio Cerullo

Publishing in Structural Biology, Biochemistry, and Biophysics Scientific progress and publishing are fundamentally intertwined. Therefore, scientists must master both the pipette and the pen. Antonio Cerullo (CUNY ASRC – Ph.D. in Biochemistry '23) shares his professional and personal experiences transitioning from bench science to an editorial career. Points of discussion include, but are not limited

Fall ’25 Biochem Seminar: Professor Tarun Kapoor

Chemical activators of VCP, an unfoldase required for proteostasis I will discuss our recent efforts to identify and characterize chemical activators of ATPase mechanoenzymes. The loss of function of AAA (ATPases associated with diverse cellular activities) mechanoenzymes has been linked to diseases, and chemical probes that activate these proteins can be powerful tools to probe

Fall ’25 Biochem Seminar: Associate Professor Kimberly Reynolds

Mapping and modeling the impact of protein biochemical variation on growth rate phenotype Individual proteins can be expressed, purified, and exquisitely characterized in terms of their biochemical and biophysical parameters in vitro. However, the quantitative relationship between these parameters and complex phenotypes like growth remains mysterious. For example, what values of protein abundance, thermal stability

Fall ’25 Biochem Seminar: Professor Michael Sattler

Dynamic RNA-protein interactions in A-to-I editing and biomolecular condensates in non- coding RNA pathways We employ integrative structural biology, combining solution NMR with complementary techniques and molecular dynamics to study the dynamics of RNAs and RNA-protein interactions in RNA processing pathways, including alternative splicing regulation and non- coding RNA pathways. The structural understanding is a

Family Science Night

Don't be afraid of science; join us for Family Science Night at the CUNY ASRC. We will have fun science activities for all ages, braaiiinns, crystals, lasers, and more! Plus, a tour with trick-or-treating on every floor. See you on October 28 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. RSVP today at https://bit.ly/4pWKPrD Download and share

Fall ’25 Biochem Seminar: Professor Lillian Chong

Catching Rare Events in Action with Weighted Ensemble MD Rare biological and chemical events often lie beyond the reach of conventional simulations. The weighted ensemble (WE) path sampling strategy overcomes this barrier, extending accessible timescales by orders of magnitude while maintaining rigorous kinetics. By directly simulating pathways and stepwise rates, WE reveals molecular mechanisms in

Fall ’25 Biochem Seminar: Professor Peter B. Moore

Structural Biology: Past, Present and Future Between ~1950 and ~2010, X-ray crystallography was the experimental technique of choice for determining the structures of biological macromolecules at atomic resolution. It is no longer. Around 2012, following a long gestation, electron microscopy emerged as a serious competitor, and about a decade later, AI-based computational methods were developed

The Brain and The Environment Family Night

Join us for The Brain and The Environment Family Night at the CUNY ASRC on Nov. 18 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. This fun and educational evening will explore how the environment affects the brain through hands-on science activities for all ages. Guests will have the opportunity to see live EEG demonstrations where you can

Fall ’25 Biochem Seminar: Professor Olga Boudker

Dynamics and Evolution of Glutamate Transporters Glutamate transporters in the human brain remove the neurotransmitter glutamate from the synaptic cleft, enabling repeated cycles of neurotransmission and preventing glutamate-induced excitotoxicity. These transporters are ancient proteins that, in prokaryotes, serve to import amino acids as nutrient sources from the environment. Across evolution, glutamate transporters have diversified to

Fall ’25 Biochem Seminar: Associate Professor Rupal Gupta

Structure, Dynamics and Assembly of Human Antimicrobial Protein Antimicrobial proteins in humans sequester zinc to curtail infection. Although well established as key components of the immune response, the mechanisms of action of these proteins, such as S100A12, in the inflammatory pathway is not well understood. In this talk, I will present our work on biophysical