Board Members

NNY-YCC is run by undergraduate and graduate students from Clarkson, SUNY Potsdam, SUNY Plattsburgh, and St. Lawrence universities.

Aida Gueye (Chair)

Undergraduate student at St. Lawrence University pursuing a B.S in Chemistry

Research: Fabrication of electrodes from functionalized petroleum coke aiming to electrochemically synthesize ammonia.

Lara Varden (Treasurer)

PhD candidate, and NSF Graduate Research Fellow in the Interdisciplinary Biosciences & Biotechnology Program

Clarkson University

Research: Intervertebral disc (IVD) regeneration using bovine explant organ culture model focusing on cartilage endplate porosity, intradiscal therapeutic injection retention, and stem cell and regenerative therapies in an engineered hydrogel carrier.

Fatime Abakar (Secretary)

Undergraduate student at Clarkson University. I am currently pursuing a Bachelors of Science in Chemical Engineering

Research: I Study the Green Polyurethane rate of reactions and conversion rate.

Alexandre Bernier (Outreach & Events Chair)

Undergraduate Student at SUNY Plattsburgh pursuing a Bachelors of Science in Biochemistry with a minor in Biodefense.

Research: I synthesize cellulose nanocrystals and examine the biocompatibility of these nanomaterials.

Tanner Tobias (Public Relations Chair)

Undergraduate student in Biochemistry; minor in Bioinformatics

SUNY Plattsburgh

Research: Investigating the NLRP3 inflammasome and organelle stress caused by cellulose nanocrystals.

Prof. Richard Partch (Liaison)

Associate, Full, Senior University and now Emeritus Professor

Clarkson University (since 1965)

Research areas:

• Research productivity reflected in successful achievements in several areas of chemistry including ceramics, composites, electronics including abrasives for CMP, imaging, lighting, medical and polymer industries.

• Numerous publications and patents dealing with organic and medicinal chemistry, polymer chemistry, vapor nucleation and aerosol reactions, nano-micro particle coating and surface functionalization, composites, and waste conversion to fuel oil.