2008 Woodie Awards
Chemistry Department Brings Research Back to Uptown Campus
Michael Rosman & Jacob White
Issue date: 12/6/04 Section: Features
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Over the past few years, hiring in the Yeshiva College (YC) Chemistry department has brought sweeping changes to the way chemistry is taught, with a renewed emphasis on research. Specifically, Dr. Lance Silverman, professor of General Chemistry, and Dr. Bruce Hrnjez, professor of Organic Chemistry, who both worked primarily in research before moving to academia, devote a substantial amount of their outside of class time to their labs.
An emphasis on research at Yeshiva has been a part of the academic culture already for four decades. Belfer Hall, built in the 1960's originally to house the Belfer Graduate School of Sciences - Yeshiva's graduate programs in math, physics, and chemistry - closed in 1978 after energy costs rose and government spending dropped. For two decades, Yeshiva slowly drifted away from the research standard it set when the graduate school housed Ph.D. programs, led by renowned researchers such as Roger Penrose, co-creator of the famous Penrose staircase and the impossible triangle known as the tribar.
The empty building, as well as laboratories and office space, was eventually inherited by the undergraduate science program. Sciences at Yeshiva were never the same. But slowly, with help facilitated by newly appointed Vice President of Academic Affairs, Morton Lowengrub, a boost was given to the undergraduate sciences. A mathematician by training, Dr. Lowengrub has shown an affinity for the sciences. Aside from recruiting professors with prominent research records, he allocated, more than before, resources for research. Since government grants are difficult to obtain, Dr. Lowengrub instituted a startup plan to help researchers begin research initiatives and proposals. And Dr. Lowengrub worked to build a sciences department of faculty who show strong experience with research.
Dr. Lance Silverman recently joined the chemistry department faculty in a non-tenure track position. He received a B.A. from New York University and went on to earn his M.S. and Ph.D. from Polytechnic University of New York. After completing post-doctoral studies at Columbia University, he worked as an industrial research chemist for several leading companies. Dr. Silverman has publications and patents in a variety of technical fields, including organometallic synthesis, petroleum refining, technical ceramics, analytical instrumentation, and environmental science.
An emphasis on research at Yeshiva has been a part of the academic culture already for four decades. Belfer Hall, built in the 1960's originally to house the Belfer Graduate School of Sciences - Yeshiva's graduate programs in math, physics, and chemistry - closed in 1978 after energy costs rose and government spending dropped. For two decades, Yeshiva slowly drifted away from the research standard it set when the graduate school housed Ph.D. programs, led by renowned researchers such as Roger Penrose, co-creator of the famous Penrose staircase and the impossible triangle known as the tribar.
The empty building, as well as laboratories and office space, was eventually inherited by the undergraduate science program. Sciences at Yeshiva were never the same. But slowly, with help facilitated by newly appointed Vice President of Academic Affairs, Morton Lowengrub, a boost was given to the undergraduate sciences. A mathematician by training, Dr. Lowengrub has shown an affinity for the sciences. Aside from recruiting professors with prominent research records, he allocated, more than before, resources for research. Since government grants are difficult to obtain, Dr. Lowengrub instituted a startup plan to help researchers begin research initiatives and proposals. And Dr. Lowengrub worked to build a sciences department of faculty who show strong experience with research.
Dr. Lance Silverman recently joined the chemistry department faculty in a non-tenure track position. He received a B.A. from New York University and went on to earn his M.S. and Ph.D. from Polytechnic University of New York. After completing post-doctoral studies at Columbia University, he worked as an industrial research chemist for several leading companies. Dr. Silverman has publications and patents in a variety of technical fields, including organometallic synthesis, petroleum refining, technical ceramics, analytical instrumentation, and environmental science.