Students
Milton Baquedano and Biology Professor Raffaella Diotti
As of spring 2025, a Biology major taking all necessary courses for Pre-Med, with a focus on Neuroscience, Milton Baquedano juggles classes while working as a real estate broker in the Bronx and in Westchester to assist with family finances and is starting his own non-profit organization. He is laser-focused on helping others who may be going through challenging times.
Milton has participated in several on-campus research projects and presented his work at various conferences and symposiums on and off campus. Last year, he was a key student presenter at the STEM Symposium held in Gould Memorial Library at Bronx Community College and will be back again this May when he presents his Biodiversity study that he has built out on a deeper level. He also presented his STEM work at the recent Middle States (MSCHE) conference in Philadelphia and has been a frequent participant at the Harvey Lectures at Rockefeller University, which led him to apply to and get selected for The Becoming a Scientist program. He also presented at the 57th Metropolitan Association of College and University Biologists Conference (MACUB) at Bronx Community College. Read more about Milton following this link.
Mohammed Abdul was one of the four Bronx Community College students who have participated in the CUNY Research Scholars program led on campus by Director Katherine Acevedo Coppa. They attended and presented at the Middle States Commission on Higher Education’s (MSCHE) “Protecting the Future: Champions for Higher Education” conference in Philadelphia on December 2024. Mohammed presented a poster on “DNA Profiling Using Polymorphic Alu Insertions”, mentored by Dr. Rujin Tian. Mohammed has been playing with the Broncos Men’s Soccer Team since 2023, and as of 2025 he is a nursing student at BCC.
Frankie Davila
Frankie Davila is a dedicated MLT major with a strong interest in research. Under the mentorship of Dr. Diane Banks in the 2023 CRSP Program, Frankie collaborated on a significant research project aimed at investigating the effectiveness of medicinal and recreational cannabis in alleviating various medical symptoms, including pain, insomnia, and anxiety. To gather data, they developed and distributed a comprehensive survey across CUNY campuses, seeking insights that would contribute to a broader understanding of cannabis’s benefits.
Their findings were presented at the CRSP Symposium, highlighting the importance of their research in informing medical professionals, research institutions, and the patient community about the potential advantages of cannabis. As the research continues, Frankie remains committed to advancing knowledge in this evolving field.
Frankie’s experience in the CRSP Program has opened new avenues for exploration, leading to a position in the Reducetarian Fellowship. Here, Frankie is gaining valuable insights into the environmental impacts of factory farming, further broadening their research interests and commitment to addressing critical issues facing society.
With an eagerness to continue their research journey, Frankie Davila is poised to make meaningful contributions to both the medical and environmental fields, driven by a quest for knowledge and a desire to effect positive change.
For more information about the CRSP Program, please contact Katherine Acevedo-Coppa, CRSP Director.
Muhammed Bajo
Former bio student participated in the Bronx Community College 2020 Math and Science Fair, where he showcased his impressive genetic research project (Bronx Community College 2020 Math and Science Fair – Muhammad Bajo & Fernando Fernandez & Abigail Teye & Nathaniel Boadi Donkor (digication.com) mentored by Dr. Rujin Tian under CRSP.
Dr. Tian said about Muhammad’s research: “Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, Muhammed continued his genetic research journey with me under the PTS3 program while pursuing his biology degree at Lehman College. His dedication and passion for genetics have been truly inspiring. After numerous discussions with me about his passion, he has decided to continue his path in genetics by becoming a genetic counselor. I am thrilled to share with you that Muhammed has been admitted to the prestigious Human Genetics program for his master’s degree at Sarah Lawrence. What’s even more remarkable is that he has been awarded a full scholarship, which is exceptional for a master’s program as they typically do not offer scholarships.”
Faculty and Staff
Dr. Abass Abdullahi is a Professor of Biological Sciences at Bronx Community College of the City University of New York. He has a background in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, where he has mainly worked on carbohydrate metabolism and related gene expression under changing environmental conditions using various models like diatoms, bacteria and recently yeasts (Pichia pastoris). He has successfully received CUNY Collaborative as well as PSC CUNY grants and a US patent number 10851360 through CUNY’s research foundation. This was on collaborative work with City College related to the “Purification of Recombinant Human α-Galactosidase A with C-terminal Truncation with Increased Activity”. Dr. Abdullahi has also helped design Bronx Community College of CUNY’s Biotechnology program, which he coordinated in the early stages and taught severally in the program on a course in Cell and Molecular Biology.
Dr. Abdullahi also has interests in pedagogical research including distance learning, assessment, teaching with technology and other innovative teaching strategies that help us to better understand student needs and/or improve student outcomes. He has been involved in departmental assessment for one of the largest courses, Anatomy and Physiology I and II since 2007 and still serves as one of the coordinators for A&P. Dr. Abdullahi has presented at major conferences as well as published in several peer reviewed journals. Some of these journals include PLoS One, Current Topics in Plant Biology, In Vivo, American Journal of Health Sciences, HAPS Educator, Journal of Online Learning and Teaching and Hispanic Educational Technology Services among others.
https://patents.justia.com/inventor/abass-abdullahi
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0118341
http://researchtrends.net/tia/abstract.asp?in=0&vn=12&tid=37&aid=3176&pub=2011&type=3
https://jolt.merlot.org/vol7no4/abdullahi_1211.htm
https://hets.org/ejournal/category/volume-x/fall-issue-november-2019/
Mervan Agovic M.S., Ph.D.; Ph.D. CUNY Graduate School; M.S. College of Staten Island
Dr. Agovic has been an associate professor with the Department of Biological Sciences since 2014. He was formerly a researcher with the Department of Neuroscience at the Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education. He is the Department representative to the College Senate and Biology Tutoring Lab coordinator. Dr. Agovic has been published in the Brain Research Bulletin, the European Journal of Pharmacology, and the Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology. His primary research interests are self-regulated active learning and electronic assessment of performance.
Dr. Shylaja Akkaraju is a Professor of Biology at Bronx Community College. She specializes in pedagogy with a focus on threshold concept, cognitive load, growth mindset, and mastery learning theories as they apply to students learning biology. She was a contributing author of a major Human Anatomy & Physiology textbook, published by McGraw Hill publishers in 2008. Her work appears in the Journal of Effective Teaching, the Journal of Online Learning and Teaching, The Double Helix, and Assess@CUNY. She has served as an assessment fellow for BCC since 2010. Dr. Akkaraju has also co-run a year-long faculty development workshop for new faculty in which she stresses the importance of assessment for student-centered learning at the classroom level. Currently she is working on two projects: examining the role of online oral exams as benchmark and summative assessments and the importance of low stakes writing in empowering learners to adopt healthy food habits.
https://uncw.edu/jet/articles/vol14_2/wolf.pdf
https://assessatcuny.commons.gc.cuny.edu/2020/09/pedagogical-love-during-the-age-of-the-pandemic-formative-assessments-to-the-rescue/
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/bx_pubs/63/
https://jethe.org/index.php/jethe/article/view/14/5
https://jethe.org/index.php/jethe/article/view/51/21
https://uncw.edu/jet/articles/vol16_3/akkaraju.pdf
https://wac.colostate.edu/docs/double-helix/v3/akkaraju.pdf
https://youtu.be/Yvma56yBL-8
About Me:
I am a Chilean-American biologist, born and raised in the Bronx, with a lifelong passion for understanding the natural world and supporting students in their academic and professional journeys.
I attended the Fiorello LaGuardia High School of Music and Art and majored in choral singing. I have a Master’s degree in Biological Anthropology from New York University, where I focused my graduate studies on New World primates and their behavioral ecology. My work has deepened my appreciation for evolutionary biology, animal behavioral ecology, and the intricate connections between biology and culture. I have conducted primatological field work in Venezuela, Costa Rica and Nicaragua and have done both biological lab and mitochondrial genetics lab research at New York University.
Courses I Teach:
Introduction to Biology (Bio 11 and Bio 12)
Human Anatomy & Physiology (Bio 23 and Bio 24)
Medical Terminology (Bio 22)
Zoology (Bio 15)
Goals:
I strive to create an inclusive and engaging learning environment where students feel empowered to explore, question, and connect with the subject matter. My approach blends scientific rigor with curiosity and compassion, emphasizing hands-on learning, critical thinking, and real-world application. I am especially committed to making biology accessible to all students, regardless of their background or prior experience.
Research Interests:
My academic interests include animal behavior and evolution, and the intersection of biology with culture and society. I am also passionate about supporting underrepresented students in STEM.
Dr. Seher Atamturktur received her Ph.D. from Rutgers University, Newark, in 2005. Her research focused on neuroscience, specifically the effects of neuromodulators on synaptic plasticity.
She joined Bronx Community College (BCC) in 2004 and has taught Anatomy and Physiology I and II, Medical Terminology, and Introduction to Behavioral Neuroscience. She co-developed the Introduction to Neuroscience course—the first interdisciplinary course offered at BCC. Over the years, her work at BCC has centered on pedagogical research, growth mindset, and assessment, resulting in several peer-reviewed publications. With more than 30 years of experience in academia, her teaching philosophy emphasizes active learning, flipped classrooms, game-based learning, and cultivating a growth mindset in students to promote resilience and academic success.
Dr. Atamturktur recently completed her tenure as Principal Investigator (PI) and Director of the $5 million NSF S-STEM Grant, Developing a Growth Mindset Model to Build Resiliency in STEM Students (Award #1833852), which concluded on September 30, 2025. The program significantly improved retention and graduation rates of high-achieving, low-income STEM students. She also serves as PI and Director of the CSTEP Grant, funded at $400K for the 2021–2025 period and renewed for $1.25 million for 2025–2030, supporting the academic and professional development of underrepresented students in STEM and health fields. In addition, she served as Co-PI of the $200K NYC Graduate Grant, Developing an AS in Health Sciences Degree, which established a new interdisciplinary program expanding student career pathways in health-related disciplines.
At BCC, Dr. Atamturktur serves as the STEM Director and Academic Assessment Manager, as well as co-founder and chair of the STEM Advisory Board. In her role as Academic Assessment Manager, she is the Co-Chair of the Assessment Council, where she leads efforts to strengthen learning outcomes assessment, promote data-driven improvement, and support institutional accreditation. She also serves as the Co-Chair of the MSCHE Steering Committee, guiding the college’s self-study and accreditation processes in preparation for the Middle States site visit scheduled for 2027. In addition, she contributes to systemwide research advancement as a member of the CUNY Council of Administrators for Research Success (CARS) Committee, helping to shape collaborative strategies that enhance research leadership and external funding across CUNY campuses.
In addition to her STEM and assessment leadership, Dr. Atamturktur is a co-leader of the BCC Teaching and AI initiative, where she helps faculty integrate artificial intelligence tools into pedagogy responsibly and effectively. She is also an active member of the CUNY “Don’t AI Alone” Faculty Learning Community and the NY Responsible AI initiative, collaborating with educators and researchers across institutions to promote ethical AI use, transparency, and academic innovation in higher education.
Dedicated to expanding access and opportunity, Dr. Atamturktur has a proven record of accomplishment in policy, procedure, programs, and practices that drive institutional growth and student success. She possesses exceptional interpersonal skills and an excellent record of fundraising, strategic planning, and developing new revenue-generating programs. Her experience includes assessing learning outcomes, supporting re-accreditation processes, and managing crises with sound judgment and composure. She is also recognized for her substantial expertise in team building, supervision, and mentoring faculty and staff to achieve high performance and professional fulfillment. Known for her outstanding listening skills and consistent follow-through, Dr. Atamturktur fosters a culture of collaboration, innovation, and integrity in all areas of her leadership.
Laura Broughton is an Associate Professor of Biological Sciences at Bronx Community College (BCC), one of the campuses of the City University of New York. She teaches general biology and is leading the effort to develop an implement a biology major. Before coming to BCC, Dr. Broughton was an NSF-funded post-doc at the Ecosystems Center at the Marine Biological Laboratory. She holds a PhD in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavioral Biology from Michigan State University and BAs in Anthropology and Ecological & Environmental Biology from Dartmouth College. Her academic interests include the teaching of science, online education, faculty mentorship, and community ecology.
Dr. Ge Li earned a Ph.D. in Genetics at Fudan University in 2010, followed by post-doctoral research at Baylor College of Medicine and Weill Cornell Medical College.
Dr. Li joined the Bronx Community College family in 2023 to teach Anatomy & Physiology and other courses. Before joining BCC, he taught General Biology, Anatomy & Physiology, and Human Biology at LaGuardia Community College for six years as an adjunct assistant professor. With a genuine passion for teaching, he enjoyed interacting with students to discuss the fundamental principles and latest progress in biological sciences.
His research has focused on the pancreatic islets, the only type of tissue in the human body that secretes insulin in response to glucose. The abnormal function of islets plays a pivotal role in the development of diabetes, a disease that afflicts almost 10% of the U.S. population. In his previous research, Ge has used multiple disciplinary approaches to prevent islet dysfunction, stimulate islet regeneration, or even replace islet function. The figure shows the islets (white) that Ge transplanted under the skin, which were vascularized by blood vessels (green) and were fully functional to cure diabetes in mice. His future research aims to utilize the resources at BCC/CUNY to continue studying islets with BCC students. Let’s make our contribution to the efforts of finding a cure for diabetes.
Many students ask me about my last name, so I’ll start with that. The last name is eastern European (as my great grandfather was), but I am not. I am from Argentina (¡Si, hablo español!). I have been teaching at Bronx Community College for 15+ years, mostly Anatomy and Physiology, and General Biology. I’m a Biologist. I got a “Licenciado” degree from University of Buenos Aires at the end of the last millenium, and did grad studies in NY, at Fordham University and at SUNY Stony Brook at the beginning of this one. As a biologist, I started many years ago working with sea birds, but for the last 20 years or so, I have been dedicated to teaching and learning, and left the birds at the beach. As a learner and a teacher, I am interested in educational technology and open education resources. Particularly, how these two can improve students experience by allowing a more dynamic access to learning and by opening channels for communication and interaction. Here you can find some of my presentations and publications:
https://bcc-cuny.academia.edu/CarlosLiachovitzky
Idelza Lora is Administrative Assistant in the Biological Sciences department at Bronx Community College. She has being working in the Department for several years supporting and assisting students and faculty.
Dr. Enyuan Shang is an Assistant Professor of Biology at Bronx Community College. He specializes in Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Reproductive Biology, and Neurobiology. He has published his research in Journals like Development, Development Dynamics, PLoS One, and Genes, Brain, and Behavior.
Dr. Goldie L. Sherr is an Associate Professor of Biological Sciences at Bronx Community College. She received her BS in Biology from the College of Staten Island and obtained both her masters and doctoral degrees from CUNY’s Graduate Center. Her field of specialization is molecular genetics and her research involves studying the transcriptional regulation of genes, particularly those involved in fat metabolism. Her findings have been published in the Journal of Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. Additionally, Dr. Sherr’s passion for teaching has led her to become involved in pedagogical research as well. She constantly strives to implement new ideas in the classroom to enhance biology education. Her research has been presented at a number of educational conferences, both locally and internationally.
Dr. Chris Robinson is the current chairperson of the Biological Sciences department. He also teaches General Biology I and II (BIO 11 and 12) and is the coordinator of BIO 150, Biology, Bioethics, and the Law. In addition, Dr. Robinson is a Professor in the Ph.D. Program in Anthropology at the CUNY Graduate Center.
Dr. Robinson’s research is primarily focused on using a technique known as three dimensional geometric morphometrics to explore shape differences in the skull and teeth of fossil humans and living apes and humans. One of his projects examines how and why the lower jaw changed in shape over time in one of our earliest ancestors, Australopithecus. He also is currently working on helping understand why humans are the only primate that has a chin.
His other major research focus is working with US and Romanian colleagues at field sites in the Olteţ River Valley in Romania that are dated to about two million years ago where his team has found evidence of mammal bones being defleshed by early humans. This is the earliest evidence of human activity outside of Africa in the world. His team has identified several new localities with fossils, including wooly mammoth fossils, and has documented mammalian species in museum collections that have increased our understanding of the environmental conditions in Eastern Europe at approximately the time when the first human ancestors were dispersing out of Africa to the rest of the world. The team hopes to better understand the paths that our ancestors took when they left Africa for the first time and why they went along those paths.
Dr. Tian received her medical degree and worked as a neurologist for three years in Beijing, China before coming to US to pursue her PhD at Columbia University in 2000. After graduating with a PhD in pediatric hereditary neurological disorders , she started teaching at CUNY since 2008 until now. In addition to teaching allied health science courses (Bio 20, 22, 23,24, 28, 46, 47 etc), She has continued to collaborate with her former colleagues at Columbia Medical Center and mentor undergraduate research projects.
https://bcc-cuny.digication.com/bronx-community-college-2020-math-and-science-fair/mentor-rujin-tian
My research interests center on pedagogy, including understanding the barriers to acceptance of evolutionary theory and how to overcome those barriers. In addition, I study the implementation and benefits of flipped classroom and active learning modalities.
