For Huma, the decision to pursue a Master’s in Chemistry with a focus on Biochemistry was both an academic and personal one. After completing her undergraduate degree in Biology, she knew she wanted to continue her studies in a program that would allow her to explore her fascination with biochemistry. “Montclair was the only place that offered exactly what I was looking for—a program that focused on biochemistry within a chemistry framework,” Huma explains. “But more than that, it was the support I received from the faculty that made Montclair the right choice for me.”

A pivotal moment in Huma’s decision to enroll at Montclair came when she learned about the OPEN-NJ scholarship, a financial award for New Jersey residents in science graduate programs. This scholarship not only alleviated the financial stress of tuition but also allowed Huma to fully immerse herself in her studies without the distraction of needing a part-time job. “The scholarship helped me focus entirely on my coursework and research. It gave me the freedom to dive into my studies and really excel,” she says. “That peace of mind made a huge difference in my experience and my academic success.” During her time at Montclair, Huma excelled in both her coursework and research. One of the highlights of her graduate experience was her work in a lab, which ultimately resulted in the publication of her research in the ACS Bio & Med Chem Au journal. “Getting our research published was such a rewarding experience,” Huma says. “It was a recognition of all the hard work we put in, and it really helped establish my credibility as a scientist.”

Today, she works at Kyowa Kirin, where she helps analyze data to support the development of treatments for rare, often terminal diseases. “What I do now has a direct impact on patients. Many of the people we are working to help have no other treatment options,” she says. “Being part of a team that develops these life-saving treatments is incredibly fulfilling. It’s the kind of work that reminds you why you got into science in the first place.”

Although Huma’s role now focuses on bioanalytical research rather than hands-on lab work, she credits her time at Montclair with shaping the analytical and problem-solving skills she uses daily in her job. “Even though I’m not in the lab anymore, the skills I learned in graduate school—like being detail-oriented, disciplined, and able to analyze data critically— are essential to my work today,” she explains.

Looking back on her time at Montclair, Huma is grateful for the mentorship and support she received from her professors. “The professors at Montclair didn’t just teach us—they cared about our success,” she says. “They made sure we had everything we needed to thrive, both academically and personally. I always felt like I was part of a community that truly wanted to see me succeed.”

For anyone considering a graduate program, Huma’s advice is clear: “Montclair is a place where you can thrive—if you want a program that challenges you while also providing the support you need to succeed, it’s a great place to be.”

Huma’s journey—from her time at Montclair State to her current role in the pharmaceutical industry—serves as a powerful reminder that the right combination of education, opportunity, and support can lead to a career that not only fulfills personal aspirations but has the potential to make a lasting, positive impact on the world.

The parasite responsible for most cases of lymphatic filariasis is Wuchereria bancrofti, a mosquito-transmitted nematode that causes severe swelling of limbs and tissue (elephantiasis) by invading the lymphatic system. Despite its enormous global health burden, treatment remains reliant on long-term preventive chemotherapy, which has significant compliance and efficacy challenges.

Otu-Aboagye and Kwarteng’s research focuses on W. bancrofti dihydrofolate reductase (Wb DHFR), an essential enzyme for DNA synthesis and cell division, and a known drug target in other organisms. The goal is to identify antifolate compounds that selectively inhibit Wb DHFR without affecting the human version of the enzyme.

The team expressed a His₆-tagged Wb DHFR construct in E. coli LOBSTR cells, optimized for purifying histidine-tagged proteins. Following IPTG induction, they used a two-step purification process—first with methotrexate-agarose resin, then with Ni-NTA affinity chromatography. Protein yield and purity were confirmed via Nanodrop and Bradford assays.

Watch David and Salma’s Presentation

Professors know that you’re new and that you’re learning. They’re excited about being a part of your process, which makes it easy to have the vulnerability to try new things in the lab and be unafraid to ask the questions you need to ask to grow as a scientist.

The students’ research choices reflect what they care about and problems they want to solve. “That’s where the passion comes from,” observes College of Science and Mathematics Dean Lora Billings. “Our faculty are very good at keeping projects moving, at teaching students resilience and persistence, and when things don’t go as planned, that there’s always a silver lining in there somewhere.”

Read more about what CSAM students are researching this summer!

Students heard from a number of speakers, including Montclair’s Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Junius Gonzales, who served as the keynote speaker. He shared his circuitous route from “a vermin-infested tenement” in Hartford, Conn., to medical school and now higher education.

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The Barry Goldwater Scholarship is one of the most impressive national undergraduate scholarships in the natural sciences, engineering and mathematics, says Computer Science Professor Stefan Robila, the campus representative for the Goldwater Scholarship. It is awarded to students who plan to conduct research within their field after graduation, and eventually become experts in that field. Messina plans to pursue a doctorate in Medicinal Chemistry with a long-term goal of joining a pharmaceutical research team with potential to cure disease.

This extraordinary honor confirms the high quality of Marisa’s work. She demonstrates a clear plan for a research path strongly anchored in her previous work and personal experiences and a passion for discovery and innovation.

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Abstract

Protein cargos anchored on the lipid membrane can be segregated by fluidic domain phase separation. Lipid membranes at certain compositions may separate into lipid domains to segregate cargos, and protein cargos themselves may be involved in protein condensate domain formation with multivalent binding proteins to segregate cargos. Recent studies suggest that these two driving forces of phase separation closely interact on the lipid membranes to promote codomain formation. In this report, we studied the effect of cargo density on the outcome of the cargo phase separation on giant unilamellar vesicles. Proteins and lipids are connected only by the anchored cargos, so it was originally hypothesized that higher cargo density would increase the degree of interaction between the lipid and protein domains, promoting more phase separation. However, fluorescence image analysis on different cargo densities showed that the cooperative domain formation and steric pressure are at a tug of war opposing each other. Cooperative domain formation is dominant under lower anchor density conditions, and above a threshold density, steric pressure was dominant opposing the domain formation. The result suggests that the cargo density is a key parameter affecting the outcome of cargo organization on the lipid membranes by phase separation.