A Soirée for Ph.D.s and Postdocs Past and Present
What better place for Ph.D. alumni, students, postdoctoral fellows, and faculty to connect than Einstein’s state-of the-art research building, set against the iconic double-helix stairway? On Thursday, September 19, the inaugural Ph.D. and Postdoctoral Fellow Alumni Soirée was held at the Michael F. Price Center / Harold and Muriel Block Research Pavilion, gathering over 50 attendees in an atmosphere of camaraderie and shared purpose.
Hosted by the Office of Alumni Relations and the Graduate Division, led by Victoria H. Freedman, Ph.D., associate dean for graduate programs in biomedical sciences, and Anne R. Bresnick, Ph.D., associate dean for postdoctoral affairs, the event marked a new tradition of fostering connections within Einstein’s basic science community. “Ph.D. and postdoc alumni play a vital role in mentoring, networking, and building a robust scientific community,” said Dr. Freedman.
Excellence in Research as a Core Pillar
Yaron Tomer, M.D., Einstein’s Marilyn and Stanley M. Katz Dean, addressed the attendees, emphasizing Einstein’s distinctive role as a leading institution for basic science research. “Discovery is at the core of our new Strategic Plan,” he said, identifying it as the first of four guiding pillars. Dr. Tomer shared how an anonymous $100 million gift has transformed opportunities for Einstein’s Ph.D. students. One student, he recounted, had been on the verge of abandoning his dream lab due to funding limitations. “This gift made it possible for him to join the lab—it was life-changing,” Dr. Tomer said.
Continued Mentorship & Start of a New Tradition
The soirée showcased Einstein’s enduring impact on research and mentorship. Jayanta Chaudhuri, Ph.D. ’97, a tenured professor at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Cornell University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, was among the notable alumni. A recipient of this year’s Distinguished Ph.D. Alum Award, Dr. Chaudhuri investigates B cells, which produce antibodies to protect against pathogens. Reflecting on his formative years at Einstein, he shared, “We had fantastic role models,” and acknowledged mentors like E. Richard Stanley, Ph.D. and Sankar Ghosh, Ph.D. ’88 in the room.
Dr. Stanley has been a significant figure in the field of developmental and molecular biology at Einstein, focusing particularly on the colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF-1) and its role in macrophage function and development. His wife Pamela Stanley, Ph.D who is also highly respected for her work in glycobiology, particularly in the study of how sugar chains affect cell behavior.
Dr. Ghosh went on to become chair and professor of microbiology & immunology at Columbia University Irving Medical Center and a member of the National Academy of Sciences.
Other bright scientific investigators present included Alexandra Quezada, Ph.D. ’23, lead scientist at BE Therapeutics; Ryan White, Ph.D. ’16, a principal scientist at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Reniqua House, Ph.D. ’11, group leader at Boehringer Ingelheim; and former Einstein postdoc Dee Dao, Ph.D., a venture associate at NYU Entrepreneurial Institute.
Min Um-Mandhyan, senior director of alumni relations, expressed her excitement, saying, “We are proud to have started a new tradition of bringing our alumni from the basic science community together on campus. The inaugural Ph.D. Alumni and Postdoctoral Fellows Soirée was a tremendous success!”
The evening was filled with camaraderie and inspiration—a promising start to what is sure to become a cherished tradition.
