Lehman and Hostos Receive Joint Grant for State-of The-Art Biology Equipment

Lehman College and Hostos Community College of the City University of New York will share in a new $238,000 federal grant to support programs that prepare students for careers in the expanding field of plant biotechnology. The grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

At Lehman, the funds will purchase sophisticated instruments, such as a fluorescence microscope and a high-performance liquid chromatograph, that will enhance courses in biochemistry, molecular biology and plant biology.

“The New York area has a growing job market in biotechnology,” noted Dr. Joseph Rachlin, Dean of Lehman's Division of Natural and Social Sciences. “Mastering this new equipment will advance students’ research skills and give them a competitive edge in that market.” The College offers bachelor’s and master’s-level programs in biology as well as a doctoral program in plant sciences in association with the New York Botanical Garden through the CUNY Graduate Center. At Hostos, the grant will expand the college's offerings in general biology courses and plant biology. A joint series of guest lectures is also planned.

Developing the proposal were Dr. Eleanore Wurtzel, associate professor of biological sciences at Lehman; Dr. Edward J. Kennelly and Dr. Hai-ping Cheng, assistant professors of biological sciences at Lehman; and Dr. John Gillen and Dr. Miguel Cervantes-Cervantes, assistant professors of natural sciences at Hostos.
The grant was one of 12 awarded to Hispanic-serving colleges and universities throughout the U.S.