Research Centers and Institutes
The Science Division, one of the most active research centers in CUNY. Our faculty includes nearly 50 research-active scientists, with three members of the National Academy of Science and six University Distinguished Professors, bringing in $20 million annually in grant funding. Research can be conducted in four doctoral programs (Physics, Chemistry, Biochemistry & Biology), seven research institutes and in collaboration with the College’s Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education and Grove School of Engineering, and with the New York Structural Biology Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the American Museum of Natural History.

The Science faculty provides outstanding teaching and mentoring with a student-friendly style. Interdisciplinary faculty research explores new frontiers in cell biology, neuroscience, photonics, biophysical chemistry, nanomaterials and soft and hard condensed matter. The advanced research complex planned for City College’s south campus heralds an era of increased leadership in the sciences in the 21st century.

The Centers and Institutes described below are crucial in sustaining and promoting our research activity and enhancing the research infrastructure.

The Macromolecular Assemblies Institute (MMA)
A host of remarkable molecular machines ensure the functioning of all animal and plant life, impacting processes that range from taking a deep breath to reproducing the species to harnessing sunlight by photosynthesis. In order to maintain their physiological activity, biomolecules must adopt well-defined three-dimensional geometries, allowing for binding and release of their functional partners, insertion into cell membranes, and harvesting of energy.These naturally occurring molecular assemblies have also inspired the engineering of biomedical devices used in tissue replacement, diagnosis of vision and heart disorders, drug delivery, and wound healing. The scientific quest to understand these complex processes at the molecular level is driven by both deep intellectual curiosity and the search for practical enhancements to human health and nutrition. Positioned at the interface of chemistry, biology, physics, and engineering, the goal of the Macromolecular Assemblies Institute (MMA) based at The City College of New York is to build on current research and educational programs throughout the City University of New York (CUNY) to address fundamental and applied questions at the frontier of life sciences research.

Center for Algorithms & Interactive Scientific Software (CAISS)
CAISS is home to researchers from the Mathematics and Computer Science departments and supports a wide range of research projects. These include a number of open-source software projects in computational algebra, symbolic mathematics, statistics, computational biology and scientific computation.

Center for Analysis of Structures and Interfaces (CASI)
The Center's research focuses on the development, characterization and engineering of new materials and nanostructures using spectroscopic and surface sensitive techniques. It was founded with NSF funding and its mission is to expand the representation of minorities at the doctoral level in the sciences.

NOAA-Cooperative Remote Sensing Science & Technology Center
Established through a cooperative agreement with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the center’s mission is to conduct research in environmental assessment, prediction and environmental stewardship; in atmospheric remote sensing (RS) and air quality monitoring; in estuarine, and in coastal and marine RS and water quality monitoring.

Research Center in Minority Institutions (RCMI)
The CCNY Research Center for Minority Institutions has been in existence for over 15 years through funding from the NCRR section of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The research interests of the RCMI span four scientific areas:  structure and function of biomolecules; cancer research; study of molecular events in neural systems; and immunology-related research.

Center for Advanced Technology in Photonics Applications (CAT)
The CAT, a CUNY-wide research center, supports cutting edge photonics research, develops technological innovations and applications, facilitates product development and leverages its NYSTAR funding with industrial and federal funds to promote industrial development in the state of New York. It supports New York State industry through licensing of intellectual property, technology transfer, project collaboration and training of technicians and students.

Institute for Ultrafast Spectroscopy and Lasers (IUSL)
The IUSL was established 25 years ago to serve as a center of excellence for research and education in modern laser optics and spectroscopy. It attracts faculty members, graduate students and undergraduate students from the Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Chemical Engineering, Computer Science, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, and Electrical Engineering departments of CCNY, and senior research scientists, postdoctoral research associates, and visiting scholars from around the globe.

The City College of New York/ Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Partnership on Cancer Health Disparities
The CCNY/MSKCC Partnership Center promotes diversity in cancer research, scientific training, and community action in order to better understand mechanisms of disease, eliminate disparities in health care, and improve public health. The partnership also facilitates opportunities for student research and training. The Partnership is supported by a National Cancer Institute award of the National Institutes of Health.

HHMI Undergraduate Science Education Program at CCNY
The Pathways Bioinformatics Center was established with support of the NSF and Howard Hughes Medical Institute. It supports research preperation through summer workshops in Bioinformatics and provides support for undergraduate research participation. The Bioinformatics Center also conducts outreach courses for High School students in Bioinformatics and Art of Science courses.