Editing CUNY Graduate Center (section)

=== Advanced Science Research Center ===
The [https://asrc.gc.cuny.edu/ Advanced Science Research Center at the Graduate Center] (CUNY ASRC) is an interdisciplinary [[Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics|STEM]] center for research and education. It covers five related fields: nanoscience, [[photonics]], [[structural biology]], [[neuroscience]], and [[environmental science]]. The CUNY ASRC is located in a {{Convert|200,000|ft2|m2|adj=on}} building on the southern edge of [[City College of New York|City College]]'s campus in [[Upper Manhattan]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.architectmagazine.com/project-gallery/cuny-advanced-science-research-center-at-the-graduate-center-amp-the-city-college-center-for-discovery-and-innovation|title=CUNY Advanced Science Research Center at the Graduate Center & The City College Center for Discovery and Innovation|access-date=2021-11-05|website=www.architectmagazine.com|date=August 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=City University of New York (CUNY) {{!}} DASNY|url=https://www.dasny.org/our-clients/success-stories/city-university-new-york-cuny-0|access-date=2021-11-05|website=www.dasny.org}}</ref> The CUNY ASRC, which opened in September 2014, is an outgrowth of CUNY's "Decade of Science" initiative, a multibillion-dollar project to elevating science research and education.<ref>{{Cite web|title=At ASRC, It's All About the Science of Collaboration|url=https://www1.cuny.edu/mu/forum/2015/05/04/at-asrc-its-all-about-the-science-of-collaboration/|access-date=2021-11-05|website=CUNY Newswire|language=en}}</ref>

The CUNY ASRC formally joined the CUNY Graduate Center in spring 2017.<ref name="Spring-2017-Announcements"/> Today, the CUNY ASRC is one of the major pieces of CUNY's citywide research network. Five years after the center opened, over 200 graduate, undergraduate, and high school students had been mentored by CUNY ASRC scientists.<ref name="asrc.gc.cuny.edu">{{Cite web|title=5×5 Anniversary – The Advanced Science Research Center|url=https://asrc.gc.cuny.edu/5x5/|access-date=2021-11-05|website=asrc.gc.cuny.edu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Newsletter: Interdisciplinary Insights – The Advanced Science Research Center|url=https://asrc.gc.cuny.edu/news/newsletter/#1634328265222-0a0e5506-fc90|access-date=2021-11-05|website=asrc.gc.cuny.edu}}</ref> In that time, the center also hosted over 400 conferences, seminars, and workshops and awarded over $600,000 in seed grants to CUNY faculty.<ref name="asrc.gc.cuny.edu"/>

==== Research initiatives ====
The CUNY ASRC was founded on the principle that researchers across different disciplines would collaborate to make scientific advancements. Thus, it consists of five related fields:

* Nanoscience: Exploring on the tiniest scale, using the living world for inspiration to create new materials and devices that advance fields ranging from biomedicine to energy production
* Photonics: Discovering new ways to control light, heat, radio waves, and sound for future optical computers, ultrasensitive cameras, and cell phone technology
* Structural biology: Combining physics and chemistry to explore biology at the molecular and cellular levels, with the intention of identifying new ways to treat diseases
* Neuroscience: Investigating how the brain senses and responds to environmental and social experiences, with a focus on neural networks, metabolic changes, and molecular signals occurring in brain cells, with the goal of developing biosensors and innovative solutions to promote mental health
* Environmental sciences: Developing high-tech, interdisciplinary solutions to urgent environmental challenges, including air and water issues, climate change, and disease transmission

Each research initiative occupies one floor of the CUNY ASRC building that hosts four faculty laboratories and between two and four core facilities.

==== Core facilities ====
The CUNY ASRC has 15 core facilities with a variety of equipment.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Facilities – The Advanced Science Research Center|url=https://asrc.gc.cuny.edu/facilities/|access-date=2021-11-05|website=asrc.gc.cuny.edu}}</ref> These facilities are open to researchers from CUNY, other academic institutions, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit companies from around the world.

The facilities include:

* Advanced Laboratory for Chemical and Isotopic Signatures (ALCIS) Facility
* Biomolecular Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Facility
* Comparative Medicine Unit (CMU)
* Epigenetics Facilities
* Imaging Facility
* Live Imaging & Bioenergetics Facility
* MALDI Imaging Joint Facility
* Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Facility
* Macromolecular Crystallization Facility
* Mass Spectrometry Core Facility
* Nanofabrication Facility
* Next Generation Environmental Sensor (NGENS) Lab
* Photonics Core Facility
* Radio Frequency and mm-Wave Facility
* Surface Science Facility

====Education and outreach====

The CUNY ASRC has various scientific education programs. Students from CUNY's community and senior colleges participate in research during the academic year and over the summer through programs such as the CUNY Summer Undergraduate Research Program.<ref>{{Cite web|title=CUNY Summer Undergraduate Research Program (CSURP)|url=https://www.cuny.edu/research/research-development-programs/student-programs/undergraduate-programs/cuny-summer-undergraduate-research-program/|access-date=2021-11-05|website=The City University of New York|language=en}}</ref> Graduate students from master's and doctoral programs at the Graduate Center and from the [[Grove School of Engineering]] are members of CUNY ASRC research teams.

===== IlluminationSpace =====
The CUNY ASRC's IlluminationSpace is an interactive education center, which accommodates high school field trips and provides free community hours.<ref>{{Cite web|title=IlluminationSpace Field Trip Program – The Advanced Science Research Center|url=https://asrc.gc.cuny.edu/outreach/illuminationspace-field-trip-program/|access-date=2021-11-05|website=asrc.gc.cuny.edu}}</ref> It has numerous virtual programs and resources.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Virtual Programs and Resources – The Advanced Science Research Center|url=https://asrc.gc.cuny.edu/outreach/virtual-programs-and-resources/|access-date=2021-11-05|website=asrc.gc.cuny.edu}}</ref>

The CUNY ASRC received a Public Interest Technology University Network 2021 Challenge Grant to establish the IlluminationSpace, [[Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics|STEM]] pathways, and science communications and outreach at CUNY.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Network Challenge|url=http://newamerica.org/pit-un/about/network-challenge/|access-date=2021-11-05|website=New America|language=en}}</ref> The funding is being used to increase participation of underrepresented demographic groups in STEM fields.

===== Community Sensor Lab =====
The CUNY ASRC Community Sensor Lab teaches high school students and community members how to build inexpensive, homemade [[sensor]]s that can monitor aspects of the environment from the level of carbon dioxide and pollutants in the air to acidity in the soil and water.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Empowering New Yorkers to Scientifically Monitor Our Environment – The Advanced Science Research Center|url=https://asrc.gc.cuny.edu/headlines/2020/09/empowering-new-yorkers-to-scientifically-monitor-our-environment/|access-date=2021-11-05|website=asrc.gc.cuny.edu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Community Sensor Lab – The Advanced Science Research Center|url=https://asrc.gc.cuny.edu/outreach/community-sensor-lab/|access-date=2021-11-05|website=asrc.gc.cuny.edu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=The Community Sensor Lab|url=https://www.centerforthehumanities.org/programming/the-community-sensor-lab|access-date=2021-11-05|website=The Center for the Humanities|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|title=How New Yorkers Can Fight for a Cleaner City: Community Sensor Lab Founders on The Thought Project|date=2021-04-01|url=https://open.spotify.com/episode/5l2jTekokuEKfNkuiVHtwn|language=en|access-date=2021-11-05}}</ref>

==== Faculty opportunities ====
The CUNY ASRC offers a seed grant program to fund collaborative research that supports tenured and tenure-track faculty at CUNY colleges.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Seed Grant Program – The Advanced Science Research Center|url=https://asrc.gc.cuny.edu/research-opportunities/faculty-opportunities/seed-program/|access-date=2021-11-05|website=asrc.gc.cuny.edu}}</ref> The program started in 2015 and currently awards six one-year, $20,000 grants annually.

In addition, the center's [[National Science Foundation CAREER Awards|National Science Foundation CAREER]] Bootcamp Program,<ref>{{Cite web|title=NSF CAREER Bootcamp – The Advanced Science Research Center|url=https://asrc.gc.cuny.edu/research-opportunities/faculty-opportunities/bootcamps/nsf-career-bootcamp/|access-date=2021-11-05|website=asrc.gc.cuny.edu}}</ref> which guides tenure-track faculty through the proposal writing process, have helped CUNY researchers secure substantial NSF CAREER grants.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Graduate Center Psychology Professor Awarded Five-Year CAREER Award by National Science Foundation for Research on Relationships|url=https://www.gc.cuny.edu/Page-Elements/News/2020/May/Graduate-Center-Psychology-Professor-Awarded-Five-Year-CAREER-Award-by-National-Science-Foundation-f|access-date=2021-11-05|website=www.gc.cuny.edu}}</ref>

===== Grants and research =====
Between 2014 and 2019, CUNY ASRC researchers secured 126 grants totaling $61 million.<ref name="asrc.gc.cuny.edu"/> Several recent grants have set records for CUNY and the CUNY Graduate Center.<ref>{{Cite web|title=ASRC Neuroscience Initiative Director Patrizia Casaccia Receives the Prestigious NINDS R35 Award from the National Institutes of Health – The Advanced Science Research Center|url=https://asrc.gc.cuny.edu/headlines/2019/05/asrc-neuroscience-initiative-director-patrizia-casaccia-receives-the-prestigious-ninds-r35-award-from-the-national-institutes-of-health/|access-date=2021-11-05|website=asrc.gc.cuny.edu}}</ref><ref name="gc.cuny.edu">{{Cite web |title=Professor Andrea Alù Receives Simons Foundation Grant of Up to $16 Million for Photonics Research |url=https://www.gc.cuny.edu/news/professor-andrea-alu-receives-simons-foundation-grant-16-million-photonics-research |access-date=2021-11-05 |website=www.gc.cuny.edu}}</ref><ref name="ReferenceA">{{Cite web|title=Multi-Million Dollar Grants Go to Two Graduate Center Professors|url=https://www.gc.cuny.edu/Page-Elements/News/2019/May/Multi-Million-Dollar-Grants-Go-to-Two-Graduate-Center-Professors|access-date=2021-11-05|website=www.gc.cuny.edu}}</ref> Faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students at the CUNY ASRC also hold several patents.<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Self-assembling peptide polymer|url=https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1824014|access-date=2021-11-09|website=www.osti.gov|date=June 2021|osti=1824014|last1=Ulijn|first1=Rein Vincent}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Water-responsive materials and uses therefore|url=https://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=10961988.PN.&OS=PN/10961988&RS=PN/10961988|access-date=2021-11-09|website=atft.uspto.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Carbohydrate-binding small molecules with antiviral activity|url=https://patents.justia.com/patent/11091468|access-date=2021-11-09|website=patents.justia.com}}</ref> Professor Kevin Gardner, director of the CUNY ASRC Structural Biology Initiative, was instrumental in the identification of hypoxia-inducible factor 2-alpha (HIF-2α) as a druggable target and the drug development efforts that led to the FDA-approved first-in-kind kidney cancer drug from Merck, belzutifan.<ref>{{Cite web|title=FDA approval of belzutifan culminates 25-year journey at UTSW from gene discovery to a first-in-class drug|url=https://www.utsouthwestern.edu/newsroom/articles/year-2021/fda-approval-belzutifan.html|access-date=2021-11-09|website=www.utsouthwestern.edu|date=21 August 2021 }}</ref>

The CUNY ASRC is home to one of 15 Centers for Advanced Technology (CATs)<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-04-28|title=Centers for Advanced Technology {{!}} Empire State Development|url=https://esd.ny.gov/centers-advanced-technology|access-date=2021-11-05|website=esd.ny.gov|language=en}}</ref> designated by Empire State Development NYSTAR. Funded by a nearly $8.8 million grant,<ref name="ReferenceB">{{Cite web|title=Empire State Development Awards Center For Advanced Technology Designation To The City University Of New York – The Advanced Science Research Center|url=https://asrc.gc.cuny.edu/headlines/2019/06/empire-state-development-awards-center-for-advanced-technology-designation-to-the-city-university-of-new-york/|access-date=2021-11-05|website=asrc.gc.cuny.edu}}</ref> the CUNY ASRC Sensor CAT spurs academic-industry partnerships to develop sensor-based technology. Developing biomedical and environmental sensors is a particular focus, as is finding new approaches to sensing through photonics, materials, and nanoscience research.<ref name="ReferenceB"/>

Supported by a 2020 grant of up to $16 million from the Simons Foundation, a team of scientists led by Professor [[Andrea Alù]], director of the CUNY ASRC Photonics Initiative, is studying wave transport in metamaterials.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Simons Collaboration: Harnessing Universal Symmetry Concepts for Extreme Wave Phenomena – Photonics Initiative|url=https://asrc.gc.cuny.edu/photonics/research/universal-symmetry-concepts/|access-date=2021-11-05|website=asrc.gc.cuny.edu}}</ref> The team's work could lead to greater sensing capabilities for the [[Internet of things|Internet of Things]], improvements in biomedical applications, and extreme control of sound waves for medical imaging and wireless technology.<ref name="gc.cuny.edu"/>

Professors Rein Ulijn and Andrea Al], the directors of the CUNY ASRC Nanoscience Initiative and the CUNY ASRC Photonics Initiative, each won a prestigious Vannevar Bush Faculty Fellowship from the [[United States Department of Defense|U.S. Department of Defense]], the agency's highest-ranking single-investigator award.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Vannevar Bush Faculty Fellowship|url=https://basicresearch.defense.gov/Programs/Vannevar-Bush-Faculty-Fellowship/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190309093113/https://basicresearch.defense.gov/Programs/Vannevar-Bush-Faculty-Fellowship/|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 9, 2019|access-date=2021-11-05|website=basicresearch.defense.gov}}</ref> Alù's $3 million fellowship, awarded in 2019, allowed him to develop new materials that enable extreme wave manipulation in the context of [[thermal radiation]] and heat management.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> Alù was also named the 2021 Blavatnik National Awards Laureate in Physical Sciences and Engineering.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Andrea Alù {{!}} Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists|url=http://blavatnikawards.org/honorees/profile/andrea-alu/|access-date=2021-11-05|website=blavatnikawards.org|language=en}}</ref> Ulijn's $3 million fellowship, awarded in 2021, allowed him to research how complex mixtures of molecules acquire functionality and to repurpose this understanding to create new [[nanotechnology]] that is inspired by living systems.