City College will transition into a new era of research and academic leadership with the appointment of Dr. Ishita Mukerji as the new associate provost for research.
Mukerji will be bringing 30 years of experience as a professor of molecular biology and biochemistry at Wesleyan University, starting in January.
Mukerji with some students at a summer poster session. Courtesy of Dr. Mukerji.
After preparing for her first day over the past three months, she is gradually learning the lay of the land. Mukerji’s responsibilities will cover the research end of everything happening at CCNY, including: working with the Grants and Sponsored Programs office, making sure the college is in compliance with all federal rules and regulations, making sure that faculty get the information they need about upcoming grants and helping them put proposals together — and much more.
“I want to help grow the research enterprise at City College and support everyone in pursuing research that they’re interested in,” Mukerji told The RICC.
The RICC interviewed Mukerji as part of our November issue, spotlighting some of the administrators and staff who work behind the scenes to make research at CCNY possible.
In her current role at Wesleyan University, Mukerji research lab explores protein-DNA interactions, with a particular focus on DNA repair and recombination processes.
“Our lab has been interested in how proteins recognize different types of DNA, especially in processes that are not sequence-dependent,” she said. These studies have significant implications, particularly in understanding genetic disorders and cancers associated with DNA replication errors.
Her work on mismatch repair proteins, which play a crucial role in correcting DNA replication errors, brings the real-world applications of her research to the fore. “If this protein doesn’t work, you’re in trouble,” she noted, emphasizing the link between protein function and conditions like Lynch syndrome, which can lead to colorectal and other cancers.
Leaving Wesleyan after three decades was no small decision for Mukerji. But the opportunity at CCNY looked like a perfect fit. She was also drawn to CCNY and CUNY’s diverse student body.
“When I looked at the position description, it seemed like it was something right up my alley,” she said.
Mukerji got her Bachelor’s degree from Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania in chemistry before working for a year and half at the famous Nokia Bell Labs. Originally founded by Alexander Graham Bell, the lab is credited with the development of radio astronomy, the transistor and the laser. She then got her PhD in biophysical chemistry at the University of California in Berkeley in 1990 before her post-doctoral studies at Princeton University. Then, she began teaching and researching at Wesleyan.
For aspiring researchers, Mukerji offers sage advice: “Research is incredibly rewarding, but it can also be tedious and frustrating at times,” she said. “The key is persistence.”
She encourages students to immerse themselves in hands-on research, where the real excitement of discovery lies. “Sitting in a lecture isn’t what science is about. Get in the lab, experience the process, and see if it’s something you love,” she said.
Judah is a senior at CUNY Baruch College, pursuing a major in journalism and minors in computer science and environmental sustainability. He is also the business editor for Baruch’s independent student newspaper, The Ticker, and co-managing editor for the Baruch Journalism Department’s magazine Dollars & Sense.