Faculty Research Colloquium
Since 2007 the Faculty research Colloquium has provided faculty with an opportunity to discuss their works in progress and to receive feedback from their colleagues on their research. In addition to supporting and encouraging faculty scholarship, the colloquium promotes an interdisciplinary dialogue at the college among the members of different departments.
Past Presentations
April 25, 2012
Dr. Howard K. Motoike (Natural Science)
“Exploring the Structure and Function of the Large Conductance Calcium Activated Potassium Channel”
The large conductance calcium activated potassium channel has a broad role in physiological mechanisms such as hearing, neurosecretion and smooth muscle tone. It has a novel structure among mammalian ion channels in that it has seven transmembrane helical spanning regions (S0-S6) and associates with a unique family of tissue specific accessory beta subunits. Cysteine is an amino acid that contains a sulfhydryl functional group. In proteins cysteines may couple to other cysteines to form a disulfide bond that covalently links the two peptides together. We are interested in studying the molecular interactions of the channel by engineering pairs of cysteine residues into strategic areas of the protein sequence and transiently expressing them in human embryonic kidney cells to produce disulfide bonds within the channel or with accessory beta subunits. Those regions with the highest degree of disulfide bond formation may suggest these are sites that are structurally close in proximity within the native channel. Whole cell patch clamp studies provide functional measurements for mutations in these areas of the channel. Our data suggests that transmembrane domains S0 is adjacent to S3 and S4 but not to S1 and S2. The ultimate goal for these studies is to create a molecular model of how these associations are translated into the complete channel complex that will provide potential sites for the development of drugs that might regulate the channel in pathological conditions.
***
Mr. Thomas Hagerty (Nursing)
“Improving the quality of patient care by increasing understanding of patient-centered experiences in a large urban teaching hospital in the Northeast”
What were the perceptions of patients about their nursing care and how well their needs for nursing care were met in fifteen general medical surgical units and five intensive care units (ICUs) in a large urban teaching hospital in the Northeast over the six year period from January 1st 2005 through December 31st, 2010? The long term goal of this research is to increase quality of care by increasing understanding of patient-centered experiences and to better understand the key concepts and themes of nursing care that meet patients' needs or expectations. The proposed aims of this study are: (a) to explore patient satisfaction with nursing care as stated on Press Ganey (patient satisfaction) surveys; (b) to determine patients' perceptions of care from their hospitalized experience; and (c) to identify parameters associated with patient satisfaction to increase quality of care by providing a patient-centered experience. This qualitative content analysis will analyze existing deidentified data from patients who were discharged from fifteen general medical surgical units and five ICUs at NYPH Columbia for the period January 1st 2005 through December 31st, 2010.
May 10, 2012
Dr. Joan Schwartz (Humanities)
“Findings of a two year phenomenological study of four STEM Undergraduate Research faculty/student relationships”
This presentation will discuss the findings of a two year phenomenological study which examined four STEM Undergraduate Research faculty/student relationships and specifically looked at young men of color and engagement at CUNY. The research project was conducted through one of the CUNY Black Male Initiative programs. The presenter is interested in eliciting feedback from the colloquium participants on the feasibility and efficacy of furthering this work as a longitudinal study in the future. Articles published in Science Education and International Journal of Science in Society on this study will be made available at the conclusion of the presentation.
***
Dr. Reem Jaafar & Dr.Yelena Baishanski (MEC)
“Promoting Quantitative Reasoning through Argument in Introductory Mathematics Courses”
Students of Mathematics, Science or Humanities must draw on established facts, theories or other results to defend a thesis. But how does one teach students to analyze evidence and use it to establish and support a position? Launched at LaGuardia to help students learn math through compelling socio-cultural contexts, Project Quantum Leap (PQL) has yielded many faculty-developed projects that integrate online research, critical reading, math exercises, and analysis of quantitative results into student reflections. We present some examples of PQL projects, examining how they enable students to make meaning of their math knowledge through its constructive use in an argument. In particular, we analyze student work and survey responses to a project on factors affecting food prices, to illustrate how an argument-based approach to introductory mathematics courses can deepen students' problem-solving skills along with their ability to use mathematical arguments in a variety of contexts. Finally, we draw on the results of our analysis to suggest concrete techniques to promote students’ use of math in critical argument, in both math and non-mathematics courses.