Global Dimensions

News and notes from across NYU's Campuses and Sites

Student–Artists Thrive in Berlin

Posted on November 19, 2024 by Kristin Law

Take a peek at the work of students who took advantage of Berlin’s flourishing arts scene while studying away at NYU Berlin.

Each year, many students at NYU Berlin unleash their most creative selves. “Berlin has a really long history of serving as home to artists and artistic creation, stretching all the way back to the 17th century,” says Jennifer Porto, arts coordinator at NYU Berlin. After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the city blossomed as “an unparalleled canvas for artistic expression,” where artists could work without financial strain. And even though it’s not as inexpensive as it once was, “Berlin is still known as a place that fosters and fuels creativity,” Porto adds.

Every student at NYU Berlin has the chance to exhibit their talents while there—whether through an open studio, a performance, or a showing. “Many of our students also investigate other opportunities, and we’ve had students perform in clubs, appear on local radio stations, or even create their own events,” Porto explains “I think that’s the biggest standout opportunity: if you’re the kind of person who wants to give something a go, chances are pretty good that there’s a venue in Berlin that will let you showcase what you do.”

Dyllan Gabriel Larmond, Class of 2025

Journal Entries II (and the goddamn dog)

“I used this painting as a way to work through difficult identity- and family-related struggles whilst bringing my fullest self into the process,” Dyllan explains. “I am so proud of this painting and how much I have grown both as an individual and as an artist.”

According to Dyllan, Berlin itself was a big part of that. “Studying abroad gave me the distance and the space I needed to bring myself back into my work in a fun and exciting environment. I felt so supported by NYU Berlin faculty, and I was shocked at how at home I felt in Berlin. I realized that a lot of my artistic practice relies on getting out of my comfort zone and exploring.”

A painting by Dyllan featuring a hand holding a pair of scissors

Journal Entries II (and the goddamn dog)

Eli Kan, Class of 2025
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“The internet has become one of the most accessible ways for young queer people to find their community,” Eli explains, noting that representation of queer people in pop culture was virtually nonexistent until recently, except in the form of queer-coded villains. “But what makes something (or someone) monstrous? Is it simply a matter of unfamiliarity?”

Eli wanted to explore that question by inviting the viewer “to become an active participant in attempting to communicate with the unknown.” An iPad—placed among fabric, cow bones, fishing line, nuts, and LED lights—serves as this piece’s “window into the soul.”

Eli says NYU Berlin spurred new projects in unexpected ways: “I really enjoyed the experimental music and theatre scene there. It definitely inspired me to do more performance-based works.”

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Bingyi Zhang, Class of 2024

The Secret Language
“When creating this piece, I was doing research on Nüshu, the women’s script that was used in a small village in Hunan province, China, where women were denied a formal education,” Bingyi explains. “So, they developed a ‘secret language’ to express their feelings, to write poems and lyrics. I found it very beautiful and powerful.”

In her work, Bingyi focused on the patterns found on the surface of water, which change under different lighting and circumstances. Berlin was an integral part of shaping this piece: “I enjoyed going to Museum Island and taking a walk along the river. I took a lot of pictures of the water surface, which later became the inspiration and material for this work.”

A column featuring a collage of images by Zhang

The Secret Language

Evan Clausen, Class of 2025
Still from Eating Andrea

Still from Eating Andrea

Evan (right) performed, wrote, and directed this play, along with classmates Xander Candib (left) and Andrea Cañas. “We had intended a message about greedy corporations taking and taking and taking from the environment with little regard for the restoration or sustainability of the planet they take from,” he notes.

Then, the group decided to really lean into the absurd. “If we could confront the audience with the grotesque sight of eating meat and lettuce straight off someone’s body for a long period of time, they would be forced to reckon with the discomfort inherent in the situation…once in this state, what they take from the piece is up to them,” he says.

Evan was inspired by experimentation in German theatre. “German theatre is so dynamic and out there, and you get to experience theatrical situations that are so unusual, yet so thought-provoking,” he says.

Scene from Faith, Hope, and Charity

A man and woman in bedclothes stand near a kitchen table

Scene from Faith, Hope, and Charity

Evan (as a policeman, left) and Ava Monroe (as Elisabeth, right) perform in Faith, Hope, and Charity, written by Ödön von Horváth and directed by Rikki Henry, in February 2024 in Berlin. In the scene, Elisabeth discovers the policeman she’s falling for isn’t who she thought he was.

Written by Marti Trgovich

Fast Facts of the NYU Global Network

Posted on November 11, 2024 by Maxine P

While it is impossible to fully capture the breadth of the NYU global network, we rounded up some fast facts about the academic sites and cities where NYU students can study away. Whether they land at one of our three degree-granting campuses in New York City, Abu Dhabi, and Shanghai or at our sites in Accra, Berlin, Buenos Aires, Florence, London, Los Angeles, Madrid, Paris, Prague, Sydney, Tel Aviv, and Washington, DC, NYU students will have a rich academic experience supported by the University. Our newest site, NYU Tulsa, will officially open in spring 2025. Select students went to NYU Tulsa in spring 2024 for Alternative Breaks as well as during the summer for internship experiences.

The following information is accurate at the time of publication in fall 2024, but it is representative of a moment in time, so some information may change.

NYU Abu Dhabi

Average number of students studying away here each semester: 123*
Average class size: 16*
Number of courses available: 600+*
Number of residence halls: 3°
Average cost of a cup of coffee: $4.90†
City population: ~600,000‡

NYU Accra

Average number of students studying away here each semester: 14*
Average class size: 5*
Number of courses available: 12*
Number of residence halls: 1°
Average cost of a cup of coffee: $1.90†
City population: ~1.9 million‡

NYU Berlin

Average number of students studying away here each semester: 77*
Average class size: 11*
Number of courses available: 30*
Number of residence halls: 2°
Average cost of a cup of coffee: $3.06†
City population: ~3.5 million‡

NYU Buenos Aires

Average number of students studying away here each semester: 47*
Average class size: 7*
Number of courses available: 27*
Number of residence halls: 1, however, most students live in a homestay°
Average cost of a cup of coffee: $1.76†
City population: ~13.1 million‡

NYU Florence

Average number of students studying away here each semester: 351*
Average class size: 24*
Number of courses available: 60*
Number of residence halls: 4, plus the option to live in a homestay°
Average cost of a cup of coffee: $1.54†
City population: ~350,000‡

NYU Londonˣ

Average number of students studying away here each semester: 495*
Average class size: 22*
Number of courses available: 97*
Number of residence halls: 5°
Average cost of a cup of coffee: $3.36†
City population: ~8.9 million‡

NYU Los Angeles

Average number of students studying away here each semester: 35*
Average class size: 11*
Number of courses available: 13*
Number of residence halls: 1°
Average cost of a cup of coffee: $4.69†
City population: ~3.8 million§

NYU Madrid

Average number of students studying away here each semester: 284*
Average class size: 23*
Number of courses available: 51*
Number of residence halls: 3°
Average cost of a cup of coffee: $1.92†
City population: ~3.2 million‡

NYU in New York City

Average number of students studying away here each semester: 535*
Average class size: <30*
Number of courses available: 2,500+*
Number of residence halls: 11°
Average cost of a cup of coffee: $4.69†
City population: ~8.3 million§

NYU Paris

Average number of students studying away here each semester: 257*
Average class size: 15*
Number of courses available: 68*
Number of residence halls: 3, plus the option to live in a homestay°
Average cost of a cup of coffee: $3.13†
City population: ~2.1 million‡

NYU Prague

Average number of students studying away here each semester: 88*
Average class size: 8*
Number of courses available: 50*
Number of residence halls: 2°
Average cost of a cup of coffee: $2.46†
City population: ~1.1 million‡

NYU Shanghai

Average number of students studying away here each semester: 95*
Average class size: 7*
Number of courses available: 250+*
Number of residence halls: 1°
Average cost of a cup of coffee: $3.95†
City population: ~22.3 million‡

NYU Sydney

Students in front of the Sydney Opera House

Average number of students studying away here each semester: 38*
Average class size: 7*
Number of courses available: 13* (Access to dozens of University of Sydney courses also available through direct enrollment.)
Number of residence halls: 1°
Average cost of a cup of coffee: $3.24†
City population: ~4.6 million‡

NYU Tel Aviv

Average number of students studying away here each semester: 16*
Average class size: 7*
Number of courses available: 14*
Number of residence halls: 1°
Average cost of a cup of coffee: $3.82†
City population: ~430,000‡

NYU Washington, DC

Average number of students studying away here each semester: 68*
Average class size: 17*
Number of courses available: 17*
Number of residence halls: 1°
Average cost of a cup of coffee: $4.69†
City population: ~680,000‡

°Additional student housing facilities are obtained as enrollment demands.

†Based on coffee prices in each country as of February 6, 2024 (Coffeestics.com)

‡Based on city population numbers (PopulationStat.com)

United States Census Bureau

ˣNYU London’s average number of students is anticipated to grow next semester due to the global site’s move to a larger academic center in the fall 2024 semester.

Repurposed with permission from NYU Global Notebook

NYU Washington, DC, Program Director Kari Miller Leads Students on a Journey Through Time and Space

Posted on November 5, 2024 by Katie L

Kari Miller

When Kari Miller, program director for NYU Washington, DC, and affiliated faculty with NYU’s Department of Social and Cultural Analysis, sees the city, she finds a reservoir of public memory sites that speak to African American history and an unfinished story chronicling resilience over time. These observations are what she aims to share with NYU students from near and far in her class Black Lives Writing Washington, DC.

Each spring semester Miller begins the course with an exploration of the abolitionist movement. She then moves in chronological order through two other major movements in African American history: the Civil Rights Movement and Black Lives Matter.

“Through novels, poetry, visual arts, and in-person site visits to a variety of sites in Washington, DC, the course explores the connections between these three historical movements that have all been shaped by Washington, DC,” Miller says. “We explore the complexity of American and Washington, DC, history through the eyes of writers who, at some point in their lives, have called the city home.”

City Connections

To Miller, making real-world connections with topics discussed in the classroom is a vital part of learning—and of studying away at NYU Washington, DC. “We visit sites around the city in order to connect directly with historical neighborhoods and areas that relate back to the books that we read,” she explains.

After reading Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, the first site visit is the National Park Service site of the abolitionist’s home. They visit Georgetown University as they read Rachel Swarns’ The 272: The Families Who Were Enslaved to Build the American Catholic Church. They visit the city’s Shaw neighborhood, home to Howard University, when they read Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Between the World and Me. They even visit the mansions of Logan Circle, a few blocks from the site’s academic center after reading Dinaw Mengestu’s The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears, a novel that focuses on the Ethiopian-American community in Washington, DC.

“Excursions are very immersive, and student responses have been overwhelmingly positive,” Miller reflects. “Everyone especially enjoys our visit to the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial during the National Cherry Blossom Festival.”

: Students from Miller’s Black Lives Writing Washington, DC, course visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture

: Black Lives Writing Washington, DC, students visit the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial

A Work in Progress

The course site visits, readings, and assignments don’t just encourage students to reflect on the past, but they celebrate the present as well. “I enjoy using all of the city’s art galleries and museums to make connections to our work through the visual arts,” she explains. “There is always a nearby or local exhibit in Washington, DC, that our students are able to go to, not only to appreciate Harlem Renaissance artists, but to learn about expressions of contemporary artists who are creating great works of art today.” Regardless of where in space and time Miller leads her students, the continuing story of African Americans and their impact on our nation remains at the center.

“In comparison to other nations that are thousands of years old, the United States is relatively very, very young. It is truly a work in progress,” Miller adds. “Through the history shaped and created in Washington, DC, I hope our students take away inspiration, motivation, and the desire to continue to build a better world, based on what we’ve learned and what we know is possible through movements, people, and progress.”

Written by Sarah Bender

Crossroads of History and Culture: A Conversation with Inaugural NYU Tulsa Director Lindsey Claire Smith

Posted on October 28, 2024, modified on November 8, 2024 by Kristin Law

Meet Dr. Lindsey Claire Smith, the inaugural site director at NYU Tulsa. A professor of English at Oklahoma State University (OSU) with affiliated appointments in OSU’s American Indian Studies and American Studies programs, Lindsey brings a wealth of knowledge to NYU Tulsa. She was drawn to the global site in 2024 for the opportunity it presents students to learn about Oklahoma’s unique history and growing opportunities for research and professional development.

As a sixth-generation Oklahoman and Tulsa native who has spent her career researching and teaching in Native American studies, Smith is eager to introduce NYU students to the many ways that Oklahoma represents a crossroads of American history and culture.

Dr. Lindsey Claire Smith

You’re still new to your role, but could you share any highlights from your time as director of NYU Tulsa so far?

It’s been a pleasure to get to know my colleagues at NYU—and in the Office of Global Programs specifically—and interact with leadership at other global sites. I just took a trip to Los Angeles and saw the NYU Los Angeles team lead the student orientation to get a firsthand look at how that process goes. I’m so inspired by how people approach the idea of learning with curiosity and humility. I’m eager to keep that focus and those value-driven practices in mind as we put our program in place in Tulsa.

Last summer I got to meet our cohort of interns from NYU who were here in Tulsa. I love working with students, and a passion of mine in my work as a professor is scholar development and community engagement. Meeting this great group and hearing what they’re interested in for their learning and professional journeys was very helpful as NYU Tulsa moves forward. It was also so much fun!

What are some of the ways you’ve witnessed growth and development in Tulsa in recent years?

The most obvious change is in the infrastructure and development around downtown Tulsa. When I was a kid, we would go to late-night dance parties and small indie concerts at Cain’s Ballroom. There was hardly anyone around. Now, it’s so full of people. There’s so much going on you couldn’t possibly take advantage of all that’s available, which is a huge and exciting change.

People standing in an exhibit with photos and text on the wall. The wall largely reads, "Building Black Wall Street."

NYU students read about Black Wall Street at the Greenwood Rising history center.

There are so many new opportunities in Tulsa, and we’re lucky to be in this moment. At the same time, this is a key moment for learning. The challenge for us is to make sure that the development is in sync with community needs. I’m happy that people are finally noticing the profound contributions of Oklahomans to arts and cultural history—that is so important. But making sure that this growth benefits communities and that Tulsa remains affordable, accessible, and more equitable is just as important.

From STEM to performing arts (and everything in between), can students from all different academic backgrounds thrive at NYU Tulsa?

Yes! The courses and internships offered at NYU Tulsa speak to the diversity of opportunity here. Students who are curious about many areas are going to find this experience highly rewarding. There will be a lot of overlap and connection across courses that may be unexpected. For example, there are a lot of really important ways in which the clean energy transition connects with Native American studies here in Oklahoma. Additionally, there are some ways that a sociological approach to urban development needs to connect with the history of the Greenwood neighborhood and the histories of North Tulsa. So studying in Tulsa is going to be a “wraparound” experience.

Written by Olivia Richter

NYU London Opens New Academic Center

Posted on October 21, 2024 by Katie L

Front desk with computers, chairs, and a sign reading 265 Strand

Large room with couches, tables, and chairs

This fall NYU London moved to its new location at 265 Strand. About a mile southeast from its former location and a short distance from the Temple London Underground Station, the new center offers students studying away an experience unique from other sites in the NYU global network.

The Best Location in London

The new building, in the heart of central London, is “truly one of the best locations in London,” says Mojtaba Moatamedi, executive director of the site. “We’re about 10 minutes away from Downing Street and the Houses of Parliament and just down the street from the Royal Courts of Justice. It’s also a central location for music and the arts, with numerous theatres and art galleries within walking distance.”

Additionally, the new site shares a courtyard with the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), which offers NYU students ample opportunity to socialize with LSE students and students from other schools in the area, including King’s College London. “This should enhance the NYU student experience and offer them a real community of students studying in the UK,” says Moatamedi.

A Building Specially Suited for NYU London

Staff and faculty at NYU London worked closely with a team of architects to ensure the new center would meet student needs for space and technology. The spirit of NYU London’s previous intimate classrooms remains at the heart of the design, allowing students and faculty to build connections in small classes. However, doubling the building’s square footage means there is now room for much-needed community spaces. On-site student spaces include a cafeteria, student lounges, and an office space for the student affairs team. This means that student life is nested in the academic building, seamlessly integrating two aspects of the student experience. Moreover, 265 Strand contains larger lecture halls, allowing the site to invite renowned academics from across the United Kingdom for discussions and events.

Students Get Inspired at NYU Washington, DC

Posted on October 14, 2024 by Katie L

Learn from students who were transformed by their experience at NYU Washington, DC, as they share the inspiration they drew from their proximity to history in the nation’s capital as well as the opportunities they seized to get involved in real-time politics.

Research and Service at NYU Accra and NYU Sydney

Posted on October 8, 2024 by Kristin Law

Even though NYU Accra and NYU Sydney are nearly 10,000 miles apart, NYU students at both sites often find themselves having similar experiences as they create opportunities to contribute to their new communities, go beyond the typical learning experience, and immerse themselves in the local culture.

For recent graduates Jesiah Matthews, College of Arts and Science Class of 2023, and Ericka Kamanou-Tenta, College of Arts and Science Class of 2023, NYU Accra attracted their attention early in the process of deciding to study away. For Jesiah, who majored in Sociology, Ghana was an opportunity to “connect with my heritage.” Ericka, who majored in Global Public Health and Anthropology, was raised in Cameroon. “I was excited to step into my purpose,” she reflects. They both minored in Social Entrepreneurship.

Jesiah and Ericka standing in front of students seated at a table

Jesiah Matthews and Ericka Kamanou-Tenta teaching young adults in Ghana

Once in Accra, Jesiah and Ericka volunteered at the nonprofit B.A.S.I.C.S International and connected through their common passion for the city, service, and entrepreneurship. Together, they decided to empower local high school students in the Chorkor community, “to see themselves as change-makers,” the duo explains. As such, they worked with the young adults to identify regional problems, then built workable business models for each of them. “Being in Accra provided an invaluable immersive environment that allowed us to gain deeper insights into the local entrepreneurial ecosystem,” they share. “This on-the-ground experience not only enriched the project by offering a nuanced perspective but also facilitated a more empathic and culturally sensitive approach.”

In the end, Jesiah and Ericka partnered with various NYU staff to transition from interns to founders, starting a new venture: IVG (Identify, Validate, Grow) Ghana. They aim to empower young African adults through entrepreneurship, while also bridging financial independence, social development, business interests, and community needs. “The overall experience was transformative,” they say. “We’ve had the opportunity to have a sense of purpose through giving back to a small group of young adults. And we’ve gotten a taste of what happens when passion, purpose, and impact come together. It benefits everyone.”

Similarly, when Michaela Greenlee, a Global Public Health and Sociology major, studied away, she also took her strengths in service to provide a positive impact in Sydney, Australia. Having previously served as an NYU service ambassador, leading service events and promoting social justice, Michaela wanted to develop a service project that reflected Australia’s unique social justice issues–most notably, environmental sustainability.

A group of students wearing gloves pose for a photo outside

Michaela Greenlee and the NYU Sydney Clean Up Australia volunteers

“It can be very rewarding to do service abroad,” she says. “You learn about a different culture’s social justice issues and understand their means of combating them.”

Australia produces 2.5 million tons of plastic waste each year, so Michaela, who’s also minoring in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Studies, partnered with the nonprofit Clean Up Australia to host a daylong cleanup event for NYU students. The organization sent her all the necessary materials, and she marketed the event and recruited volunteers. “My goal was to raise awareness of Clean Up Australia and their impact on the environment, particularly their work with eliminating plastics,” she explains.

The event was a success, leading to clean streets in the local neighborhood and new skills for Michaela. “The overall experience of planning and executing this project in a different global location was eye-opening because I had the opportunity to collaborate with one of Australia’s most recognized, credible, and trusted nonprofit organizations,” she shares. Going forward, she plans to take the lessons she learned back to New York City, where she’ll seek out similar nonprofits. “I want to get other students excited about giving back to the global community by learning to become advocates and collaborating with like-minded organizations.”

Written by Dana Guterman, repurposed with permission from Global Notebook

Rogan Kersh Is the New Academic Director of NYU Florence

Posted on September 30, 2024 by Maxine P

For Professor Rogan Kersh, becoming the academic director of NYU Florence and the vice chancellor for Global Programs is the culmination of a lifelong interest in world cultures—and a full-circle moment in his history with NYU.

From 2006 to 2012, Kersh was the associate dean of the NYU Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. There, among his other responsibilities, he was involved in the early planning stages of NYU Abu Dhabi, which fueled his passion for enhancing students’ global outlooks. For the next decade, Kersh served as provost at his alma mater, Wake Forest University, where he helped expand overseas study programs and global cultural opportunities on campus. In the fall of 2022, he spent a semester at DIS Copenhagen, teaching a course and engaging closely with their leadership to better understand the changing state of global education.

Now that he’s back at NYU, Global Dimensions caught up with Kersh to discuss his return to the University and his goals for NYU Florence.

What drew you back to NYU and specifically to NYU Florence?

I’ve remained close to many cherished NYU colleagues, and it will be wonderful to renew those relationships. For an organization this large and multinational, it’s remarkable how important personal connections are. As for NYU Florence: if you’ve visited, you know.

In your new role, what are your key goals for the site?

NYU Florence is at once a first-class study away program and a convening site important to NYU and to the city of Florence. Sustaining that balance, attending both to academic excellence and community engagement, feels essential.

I plan on learning as fully as I can about existing curricula, courses, and programs, and hearing from faculty and staff about the opportunities they see to enhance this wonderful site. Then, I will focus on working with them to help realize those opportunities.

What do you recommend students studying away at NYU Florence take advantage of while they are there?

I’ve always been impressed with how well Florence wears its extraordinary history—so many remarkable figures and movements and moments, most superbly preserved—while remaining a dynamic modern ecosystem that is a global leader in sustainability and has developed a thriving start-up culture.

Students can exercise their passion in virtually any direction and take advantage of so much: superb dining, from haute cuisine to street food; natural beauty in an urban setting; engagement with local public service organizations; and cultural treasures both ancient and newly imagined. And of course there are architectural gems everywhere you wander.

Many NYU Florence students find themselves spending fewer weekends city-hopping and more immersed in their fascinating immediate surroundings, which speaks to the power of the experience they have.

Written by Kristin Maffei

NYU Faculty Conduct Research in 107 Countries and Counting

Posted on September 23, 2024 by Katie L

At NYU, research thrives across 15 schools and campuses and dozens of centers and programs—in New York and around the world. In fact, University faculty conducted research in 107 countries, as well as in Greenland and Antarctica, during the 2023–2024 academic year alone. From sustainability to inequality and human health to artificial intelligence, research at NYU spans disciplines and crosses borders—and the University’s profile is rapidly rising. Today, NYU ranks 15th among all universities on the National Science Foundation’s annual Higher Education Research and Development survey, with the biggest year-over-year surge in rankings of any top 50 school (as measured by research expenditures).

“NYU’s ascent as a leading research university helps set the stage for President Mills’ visionary strategic pathways, which includes a focus on global science and technology that will enable NYU to continue to thrive and drive impact,” affirms Stacie Bloom, chief research officer, vice chancellor, and vice provost for global research and innovation. “By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, expanding global education opportunities, and investing in innovative research, President Mills has positioned NYU to be at the forefront of academic excellence and discovery. This holistic approach not only enhances NYU’s research capabilities but also cultivates a diverse and inclusive academic community that reflects the University’s values.”

Here are just a few of the projects positioning NYU to lead the world in global education and research.

J. Lawrence Aber, the Willner Family Professor of Psychology and Public Policy at the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, and Hirokazu Yoshikawa, the Courtney Sale Ross Professor of Globalization and Education at NYU Steinhardt, co-led and co-found the Global TIES for Children Center at NYU, stewarding the center’s research for a decade. Their team conducts research in 14 conflict-affected countries, including Colombia, Peru, Lebanon, Jordan, Niger, and Bangladesh, to improve program and policy action that promotes children’s holistic learning and development. Effective this fall, Florencia Lopez Boo, has taken over duties as the director. Prior to her role at NYU, Lopez Boo spent 15 years evaluating, designing, and implementing early childhood development, social protection, and health programs with the Inter-American Development Bank.

Meredith Dank, a clinical associate professor and director of the Human Exploitation and Resilience program at the NYU Marron Institute of Urban Management, has led nearly two dozen human trafficking studies. Recently, she ran a randomized controlled trial in two regions of India to address the high risk of human trafficking among the country’s Denotified Tribes. The research aims to reduce trafficking by developing economic alternatives and new livelihoods for the tribal communities.

Donna Shelley conducts research on tobacco use treatment and tobacco control policies in public healthcare networks for underserved populations. The professor of public health policy and management, vice dean for research in the Department of Public Health Policy and Management, and founding codirector of the Global Center for Implementation Science at the NYU School of Global Public Health recently studied high smoking rates among people living with HIV/AIDS in Vietnam. Her research seeks to develop a scalable, culturally appropriate model for implementing evidence-based treatment for tobacco users in outpatient HIV clinics in Vietnam.

Joo H. Kim is an associate professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and affiliated faculty of NYU’s Center for Urban Science and Progress and the NYU-KAIST Global Innovation and Research Institute. In collaboration with Korea University, his research in South Korea uses advanced 3D fall-threshold algorithms and intelligent surrogate models to develop wearable robotic devices to prevent falls and enhance safety.

Written by Dana Guterman

NYU Shanghai Student Hones Research Skills as an Amgen Scholar

Posted on September 18, 2024 by Kristin Law

NYU Shanghai junior Yolanda Huang spent eight weeks in the Amgen Scholars Program this summer, a prestigious undergraduate research program at the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Tsinghua University in Beijing, China.

Tsinghua University in Beijing, China

Amgen Scholars join a faculty member’s lab to contribute to a biomedical research project as well as participate in a series of academic activities, including weekly lab meetings, group discussions, presentation training, and campus-wide seminars. A faculty member guides them through the program, while a technician or graduate student offers an additional perspective.

Yolanda’s research focused on red-light activated photocatalysis for protein proximity labeling. In other words, her project aimed to develop and test a method to label proteins within their natural surroundings with the help of photocatalysts that set off a chemical reaction. “Participating in the program meant that I could dive into pharmaceutical studies, which relies heavily on biochemistry,” Yolanda says. “I’ve found biochemistry harder than other fields of natural sciences, so being admitted to the program was a challenge but also an opportunity to improve myself in my weakest area.” In addition to enhancing her research skills, the program has helped Yolanda improve her scientific communication abilities. She plans to pursue a doctorate after graduation, continuing in academia as a researcher and scholar. These crucial skills will help her excel in addition to connections made with a new network of scientists-in-training.

“Even though NYU Shanghai also has students from different parts of Asia, we all attend an American school and people are more or less influenced by American culture,” Yolanda explains. “The diverse educational and cultural experiences of other Amgen Scholars are fascinating. After the program concludes, I hope to continue to contact them and meet with them again in the future.”

Huang performing oboe at the end-of-semester show in Fall 2022.

While the cultural immersion and practical experience at Tsinghua University have helped Yolanda grow as a researcher and student, she’s excited to return to NYU this fall. She’s also looking forward to once again experiencing the state-of-the-art lab equipment, world-class faculty, and uplifting atmosphere at NYU. “For students who enjoy scientific research, NYU can provide them with unmatched opportunities, guidance, and support,” Yolanda says. “And now, I feel even more prepared to conduct research at NYU Shanghai due to my improved research skills from the Amgen Scholars Program.”

Repurposed from NYU Shanghai News