General Biology Courses Receive New Technology with Pfizer Grant

As a small, liberal arts university, Centenary is not known for being a research university, where experiments are conducted to directly impact scientific advancements. Students have traditionally gained those skills and knowledge needed to complete their post-grad at research universities and work in biomedical research facilities. 

However, this is starting to change as of this semester when Dr. Yeon Lang Cha, assistant professor of biology, was awarded Pfizer Undergraduate Research Endeavors (PURE) Grant of $4,500 through the Independent Colleges and Universities of New Jersey (ICU NJ). This affords Centenary students to work with technology in their General Biology II courses that allows them to separate and analyze fish proteins at their molecular level. This process is known as proteomics, the study of complex proteins. 

According to Centenary University's website, “Dr. Cha earned a Master of Science in Immunology and Allergy from the University of Nottingham, UK, and a Doctor of Medicine and Ophthalmology from the National University of Singapore.” Cha also developed eye drops for children in Singapore who are developing myopia. 

She worked in universities and research facilities across Asia, Europe, and the United States, teaching classes of 200 to 300 students. Three years ago, she joined the Centenary community and loved teaching small class sizes because it gave her a chance to get to know the students, build relationships, and provide care and attention over four years. She knows each of her students and watches them grow from freshman to senior year. 

Her teaching styles change based on course level. With freshmen, Cha is strict with deadlines. By the second semester, she sees tremendous growth in their work and time management skills. When she sees them again as juniors and seniors, almost all the students already know to submit their work on time in her classes without having to be told. 

Her classes study species and evolution, which is seen through their genetically diverse proteins at their molecular weight. The students use the protein from salmon and cod and run it on a special gel. 

This technology does not just help students study evolution. It’s being used in medical research to study cancer and find the difference between the normal and cancerous cells. “[Clinicians] will crush up the cells and, then, run it on the gel. Then, they can see what kind of protein is there, and the profile can be compared to a normal cell profile,” said Cha. The clinicians can analyze the abnormal protein cells and study the gene responsible, according to Cha. Undergraduates at Centenary are learning to use this technology early in their academic career to prepare them for the work they will do later. 

Annually, these students present their findings at both the ICU NJ conference and the undergraduate symposium on campus, with topics ranging from animal behavior to water pollution prevention. This work guides them in learning the skills they will need to conduct proper scientific research after Centenary. 

Cha hopes this will open doors for Centenary to grow its biology lab and science program, limiting restrictions and increasing funding. 

If you are interested in learning more about Centenary’s biology program or taking these courses, contact your advisor or Dr. Yeon Lang Cha at yeonlang.cha@centenaryuniversity.edu, and see how Centenary University is teaching the scientists of tomorrow.