Undergraduate Research and Outreach Activities

Situated in Queens, one of the most diverse and vibrant boroughs of the NYC metro area, Queens College is one of the premier undergraduate colleges of the City University of New York (CUNY). It offers an ACS-certified degree in Chemistry and Biochemistry disciplines. The undergraduate student population come from about a more than hundred countries and speak more than sixty native languages. Queens College is a popular choice for first generation college students (about 45% of the entering freshmen) who are usually highly motivated, hard-working and possess an intense desire to succeed at the college level and beyond. Nearly about 40% of students with the baccalaureate degree in the natural sciences either go on to graduate school in the Chemical and Biological Sciences, or to obtain professional degrees in health-related disciplines.

Undergraduate research is a very critical part of the mission of the Pathak's laboratory. Pathak strongly encourages early participation of undergraduates in his research and mentors them to spark their interests in chemistry and biology discipline. During their time in the PI’s laboratory, students learn and utilize a variety of scientific skills that include, but not limited to, organic synthesis (both classical solution phase and solid phase combinatorial synthesis), purification and characterization of small molecules and peptides employing NMR, UV, Flash chromatography, reverse-phase HPLC and mass spectrometry, enzyme assays, SDS-PAGE electrophoresis, Immunochemistry, high- and medium throughput screening, and structure-based in-silico ligand design and optimization. In the last 5 years alone (2015-2020), Pathak has mentored 37 undergraduate students in his laboratory, including several minority and women students. During their time in Pathak's laboratory, undergraduate students learn to: (a) Define a research problem and use the available scientific methodologies, and develop new ones if needed, to achieve their research objectives, (ii) Read and critically analyze scientific data, and finally (iii) Present their research at national/local conferences and meetings. He strongly believes that these exercises are anticipated to have a lasting impact on career path of undergraduate students, and thus will encourage them to choose a career in STEM discipline. Several undergraduate students from Pathak's laboratory have co-authored publications in peer-reviewed journals.

Every year during the summer and winter breaks, Pathak organizes Research Enhancements for Undergraduates and High School Students (REUHS), a program primarily aimed at promoting students’ early introduction to research in the chemical and biological sciences. In this program, motivated students from a few local academic campuses and non-profit organizations are invited to his laboratory to participate in a six weeks long research experience. In the recent years, students from Bard High School Early College (BHSEC), Queens Gateway to Health Sciences Secondary School, Townsend Harris High School, Barnard College, Harlem Children Society, and Cornell University College of Engineering, Bayside High School, Hunter College High School, Queens School of Inquiry, and Civic Academy Leadership have participated in the program. The PI also mentors neighboring high school student recruited through College Now STEM Research Academy Summer Internship program at Queens College.

Current Undergraduate Research Opportunities Link Here..