A man in a suit speaks into a microphone during a conference, with a Bristol Myers Squibb logo visible in the background.

Seminar Series

The Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Stevens Institute of Technology hosts a dynamic seminar series that brings together leading voices in the chemical sciences. These seminars provide a platform for sharing innovative research, fostering collaboration and enriching the academic experience for students and faculty alike.

The Stivala Lectures in Chemistry

A highlight of the seminar series, the Stivala Lectures in Chemistry invites an outstanding scientist for a day of lectures and discussions on timely topics in chemistry. This distinguished lecture series was established by Dr. James Cooper in memory of his father, Charles Cooper, a close friend of Professor Salvatore Stivala, a longtime professor of chemistry and chemical engineering at Stevens.

Attendance at seminars is required of all graduate students enrolled full-time in degree programs and all doctoral students.

Schedule of Upcoming Seminars

Explore this semester's lineup. Click on a seminar title to view details and register.

Fall 2025

September 26

Shang Wang, Ph.D. | Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stevens Institute of Technology

Uncovering dynamics and process in mammalian reproduction and development: imaging, visualization, and insights

October 24

Scott Walker, Ph.D. | Drug Discovery Scientist, retired Senior Principal Scientist, Merck & Co. Inc.

Combatting Antimicrobial Resistance

November 21

Warner Chen, Ph.D. | Director of Clinical Science Biomarkers, Johnson & Johnson

From Challenges to Choices

View All Academic Events

For a complete overview of upcoming seminars, lectures, and academic events across all departments, please visit the Schaefer School's full event calendar.

Past Seminar Series Speakers

Explore the distinguished speakers and thought-provoking topics featured in our previous seminar series.

Over the years, the department has welcomed a remarkable roster of scientists, including renowned chemists and Nobel Laureates: Kenneth Pitzer, Herman Mark, William Lipscomb, Sir Derek Barton, Ilya Prigogine, Arthur Kornberg, Rosalyn Yalow, Sidney Altman, George Palade and more.

Spring 2025 Seminar Series

Genoa Warner, PhD, New Jersey Institute of Technology
Phthalate Replacements: Safer Alternatives or Regrettable Replacements?

Laura Sepp-Lorenzino, PhD, Intellia Therapeutics
2025 STIVALA LECTURE: Realizing the Promise of CRISPR Therapeutics

Alisha 'Jonesy' Jones, PhD, New York University
In Vitro Characterization of the CHROMR lncRNA IRF2BP2 Protein Interaction

Fall 2024 Seminar Series

Stephen Previs, Merck & Co. Inc
Elucidating Mechanism of Action in Drug Invention: Using Stable Isotope Tracers to Unravel Biochemical Kinetics

Aleksandra Karolak, Moffitt Cancer Center
Utilizing Artificial Intelligence in Drug Discovery: Instances from a Cancer Research Center

Bifeng Lu, Center for Discovery & Innovation, Hackensack Meridian Health
Cytokines in Tumor Immunology and Cancer Immunotherapy

Spring 2024 Seminar Series

Xiaowei Song, PhD, Stanford University
Ambient Ionization Mass Spectrometry in Spatial Pharmaco-Metabolomics and Microdroplet Chemistry

Chip Nataro, PhD, Lafayette College
A Historical (and Current) Perspective on Ferrocene

Aoshu Zhong, PhD, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)/NIH
Toxic Antiphage Defense Proteins Inhibited by Intragenic Antitoxin Proteins

Christian Traba, PhD, Fairleigh Dickinson University
Plasma-Initiated Graft Polymerization of Carbon Nanoparticles as Nano-Based Drug Delivery Systems

Michael Milone '93 MD, PhD, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine
Stivala Lecture: Engineered T cell Immunity: A World of Opportunities and Challenges

Fall 2023 Seminar Series

Alvin Makohon-Moore, PhD, Center for Discovery and Innovation, Hackensack Meridian Health, Nutley, NJ
Quantifying Past, Present, and Future Cancer Evolution

Douglas G. Johns, PhD, Clinical Director, Translational Medicine/Clinical Pharmacology, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ
Discovery and Development of MK-0616, the First Oral Inhibitor of PCSK9 for LDL-Cholesterol Reduction

H. Rachel Lagiakos, PhD, Senior Principal Scientist, Medicinal Chemistry, Schrödinger Therapeutics Group, Schrödinger Inc., NYC
Drug Discovery at the Interface of Computation and Medicinal Chemistry: the In Silico Enabled Discovery of KAI-11101, a Potent, Selective, and Brain-Penetrant DLK Inhibitor for the Treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases

Laura Andres-Martin, PhD, Senior Research Investigator, The New York Stem Cell Foundation Research Institute, NYC
Advancing Precision Therapeutics and Natural Killer Cell-Based Immunotherapies for Ovarian Cancer Using Patient-Derived Organoids

Spring 2023 Seminar Series

John A. McCauley, Ph.D., Senior Director, Medicinal Chemistry, Merck
Dual Plasmepsin IX/X Inhibitors: An Antimalarial Drug Discovery Collaboration

Hong Li, Director, Center for Advanced Proteomics, Department of Microbiology & Biochemistry, Rutgers Biomedical & Health Sciences
How to Partner with Proteomics/MS Cores to Advance your Basic and Translational Research Goals?

Silvana Andreescu, Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Science, Clarkson University
Pushing the Boundaries of Biomolecular Sensing: Concept, Design and Applications in Biology and Medicine

Ambika Bhagi-Damodaran, Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Engineering Iron Enzymes to Reprogram Biological Signaling and Chemical Catalysis

Fall 2022 Seminar Series

Dr. Rumin Zhang, VP, Head of Biochemistry, Volastra Therapeutics
Evolution of the HIV Treatment Landscape

Dr. Mikołaj Zaborowski, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
Circles in a Bubble – Exploring the Diagnostic Potential of CircRNAs from Extracellular Vesicles in Ovarian Cancer

Dr. Rick Monsma, Senior Vice President, Scientific Operations, New York Stem Cell Foundation Research Institute, New York, NY
The New York Stem Cell Foundation: Leveraging Stem Cell Technologies to Advance Disease Treatments, Regenerative Medicine and Bioengineering

Dr. Rudi Fasan, Department of Chemistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
Biocatalysts for New-to-Nature Reactions: Engineered Carbene Transferases for Selective Carbon-Carbon Bond Formation

Spring 2022 Seminar Series

Dr. Simarna Kaur, Associate Director, World Without Disease Accelerator, Janssen, Johnson & Johnson
Inflamm-Aging in Skin: Evaluating the Mechanisms of Action and Functional Impact

Dr. Sunny Choe, Sr. Medical Scientist, HIV Medical Affairs, Gilead Sciences, Inc
Evolution of the HIV Treatment Landscape

Dr. Jinrui Xu, Associate Research Scientist, Dept. of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Yale University
Using Genomic Data to Discover Gene Pathogenicity Guided by Evolutionary Analyses

Dr. Adam Weinglass, Executive Director, Screening & Compound Profiling/Quantitative Biosciences, Merck & Co., and Dr. Andrea Peier, Senior Director, Screening & Compound Profiling/Quantitative Biosciences, Merck & Co.
Accelerating Early Drug Discovery with High-Throughput Screening (HTS) & Hit-to-Lead Using a Refreshed Biochemical & Cellular Toolbox

Dr. Shibiao Wan, Research Scientist, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
Machine Learning for Processing Large-Scale Biological Data

Dr. Shenglong Zhang, Associate Professor, Department of Biological & Chemical Sciences, New York Institute of Technology
Development of Next Generation Mass Spectrometry-Based De Novo RNA Sequencing For All Modifications

Fall 2021 Seminar Series

Dr. Isra Hassan, Senior Scientist, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research
Asymmetric Lactam Synthesis with a Monomeric Streptavidin Artificial Metalloenzyme

Dr. Yana Bromberg, Senior Scientist, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research
Microbiome Functionality as a Signature of the Environmental Conditions

Dr. Yingkai Zhang, Professor, Department of Chemistry, New York University
Integrating Machine Learning and Molecular Modeling for Drug Design

Professor Gary Martin, Adjunct Faculty, Stevens Institute of Technology
Getting Published: The View from an Editor’s Perspective

Spring 2021 Seminar Series

Dr. Michael P. Vergi, Associate Professor of Genetics, Rutgers University
Epigenomic Approaches to Deciphering Gastrointestinal Health and SARS-CoV-2-Related Gene Regulation

Dr. Ibarrola Recalde, Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Department of Chemical Engineering and Material Science
The Effects of Implementing Evidence-Based Pedagogies on Student Performance in a General Chemistry Course

Dr. Benjamin Tycko, HMH Center for Discovery and Innovation & School of Medicine at Seton Hall University
Cancer-Focused Applications Of Epigenome Mapping And Epigenetically Acting Drugs

Dr. Jounghyun Helen Lee, Associate Research Scientist in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Columbia University
Emulating Early Atherosclerosis in a Vascular Microphysiological System Using Branched Tissue-Engineered Blood Vessels