UAlbany Biology: A Year of Building on a Legacy of Discovery and Achievement

The 2025–2026 academic year brought new discoveries, achievements and opportunities for the Department of Biological Sciences, the College of Arts and Sciences and UAlbany. The faculty, staff, students, and alumni contributed to another successful year of research, innovation, education, student success, and community outreach. The Department of Biological Sciences 2025–2026 Newsletter/Annual Review showcases many of these accomplishments and the collaborations across UAlbany and beyond that helped make them possible.

Among this past year’s highlights, the department welcomed Dr. Kristyn Lizbinski whose neuroscience research examines how the brain processes odors and how neural activity relates to learning and behavior. The department also celebrated the career of Dr. Richard “Rick” Cunningham who is retiring after more than four decades at UAlbany. Since joining the University in 1982, Dr. Cunningham has made lasting contributions to molecular genetics and DNA repair while serving as a teacher, advisor, mentor, and Chair of Biological Sciences.

During the year, faculty earned numerous honors for excellence in research, teaching, and service. Dr. Cheryl Andam received the President’s Excellence Award in Research and Creative Activities and renewed NIH funding to support her research on bacterial evolution while also named Scientific Director of UAlbany’s Life Sciences Research Initiative. Dr. Melinda Larsen was promoted to Distinguished Professor, received The RNA Institute’s Research and Service Award, and was named one of the Capital Region’s 20 Outstanding Women of 2026. Dr. Andrew Berglund, Distinguished Professor and Director of The RNA Institute was awarded UAlbany’s 2025 Academic Laureate for his contributions to RNA science, education, and mentorship. Dr. Ryan Thurman received the College of Arts and Sciences’ Dean’s Award for Outstanding Achievement in Teaching Excellence while Dr. Christine Gervasi was recognized as a Distinguished Nominee for the Ember Award. Drs. Annalisa Scimemi, Alex Valm, and Ing-Nang Wang were also recognized among the world’s top 2% of scientists in their fields based on the 2025 Stanford University Global Citation Impact Database.

Throughout 2025-2026, faculty, staff and students contributed to new discoveries in infectious diseases and RNA biology to neuroscience, development, tissue biology and viruses. Dr. Cheryl Andam’s laboratory published research on antimicrobial resistance and bacterial evolution while Dr. Cara Pager and her students investigated cellular responses to flavivirus infections and viral adaptation. Dr. Melinda Larsen and collaborators published on new approaches to screening for Sjögren’s disease and biomaterial scaffolds for salivary tissue engineering while Dr. Thomas Begley and collaborators advanced research on aging, cancer, environmental exposures and neurodegenerative disease.

Our students were also recognized for their excellence in research, scholarships, teaching, and service. Joey Tavarez was named a 2026 Graduate Pathway for Scholars Fellow while Dylan Ehrbar and Asmer Aliyeva received Honorable Mention. Maurice Petroccione whose doctoral research was conducted in Dr. Scimemi’s laboratory was named a finalist for the SUNY Chancellor’s Distinguished PhD Dissertation Award. Undergraduate Parmesh Thakoordial earned several national honors including the Obama-Chesky Scholarship for Public Service, selection to the inaugural Howard Hughes Medical Institute Cech Fellows Program and recognition as a 2026 Phi Beta Kappa Key into Public Service Scholar.

The department continued to offer events addressing important scientific and social issues. In June, nearly 300 high school students participated in a program organized by Biological Sciences and UAlbany’s School of Criminal Justice examining the Central Park Five case through forensic science, psychology, and criminal justice. Students heard from Steven Lopez, who was wrongfully implicated in the case as a teenager and his attorney Eric Shapiro Renfroe. Dr. Ryan Thurman provided an overview of the forensic evidence from the Central Park Five case while Visiting Assistant Professor Stephen Hogan discussed cognitive dissonance and its potential influence on how people interpret information and make decisions.

The department also brought internationally recognized scientists to the Capital Region through seminars and special events. The Life at the Interface of Science and Engineering (LISE) lecture series featured Nobel Laureate Venki Ramakrishnan of the University of Cambridge. The series promotes collaboration between life sciences and engineering and is supported by a generous endowment from UAlbany Distinguished Professor Marlene Belfort and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Professor Georges Belfort.

The accomplishments of our alumni featured in our 2025-2026 Newsletter demonstrate the many career paths that are possible with a degree in the Biological Sciences. For example, this year’s alumni stories featured graduates with careers in medicine, healthcare, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, public health, education and conservation. Among them, Holly Ahern is advancing Lyme disease testing, Armend Cobovic works with artificial intelligence and healthcare, Justin Camacho is training as a resident physician at Harvard, and Guy Young is a leader in pediatric hematology and clinical research. Their stories show how the education, training, research experiences, and mentorship they received in UAlbany’s Biology Department helped prepare them for their very successful careers.

This past year was also a time to remember two former faculty members whose contributions left a lasting impact on UAlbany and the Department of Biological Sciences. Dr. Jon W. Jacklet, who joined UAlbany in 1969, spent nearly four decades advancing our understanding of the nervous system and served three terms as department chair whereas Dr. Colin S. Izzard joined UAlbany in 1967 and made important contributions to understanding cell adhesion and motility while helping develop UAlbany’s Biological Imaging Facilities (BIF).

Looking ahead, the department continues to provide opportunities for students through the development of new undergraduate Bachelor of Science programs in Neuroscience and Forensic Science. These programs support the shared commitment of the University, College of Arts and Sciences and Department of Biological Sciences in providing students with job-focused education and training.

As we begin the new academic year, we look forward to the next set of discoveries, achievements, contributions and partnerships in science, education, and the community. The Department of Biological Sciences invites you to learn more about our year in the 2025–2026 Department Newsletter/Annual Review and stay connected as we continue to celebrate the accomplishments of our students, faculty, staff, and alumni.