Leri Research Group

Students in Prof. Leri’s research group work on a variety of topics relating to environmental chemistry. Here are the Senior Honors Theses she has supervised:

Iris Parke ’23, Honors in Biomedical Sciences, “The World’s Least Understood Carbon Sink: 
Spectroscopic Analysis of Peat’s Sequestered Organic Matter”

Marjan Khan ’20, Honors in Biology, “Quantification of Fecal Indicator Bacteria on New York City Sidewalks and Evaluation of Transfer to the Indoor Environment”

Emma Kamen ’18, Honors in Biomedical Sciences, “The Urban Ecosystem: A First-Year Course to Boost Cohort Formation and STEM Retention”

Rosie Wenrich ’17, Honors in Biology, “Oxidation-Induced Changes in Marine Biomass: From Phytoplankton to Sedimentary Organic Matter”

Marisa Dunigan ’15, Honors in Biology, “Antioxidant Activity in Edible Brown Seaweed”

Katherine Ness ’15, Honors in Biomedical Sciences, “Organochlorine By-Product Formation in Ozone Bleaching and Afterclearing Proccesses”

Here are some photos of students in the group through the years, and below you can find some of their research presentations and awards.

Leri Research Group 2018. From left to right: Coleman Spence, Emma Kamen, Ashley Pavia, Marjan Khan. Leri Research Group Summer 2017. Left to right: Rosie Wenrich, Marjan Khan, Coleman Spence. Leri Research Group 2015-17. Left to right: Emma Kamen, Rosie Wenrich, Prof. Leri. Leri Research Group 2014-15. Left to right: Katie Ness, Beatriz Morocho, Rosie Wenrich, Marisa Dunigan. Not pictured: Austin Gellis. Leri Research Group 2013-14. Left to right: Marisa Dunigan, Alessandra Leri, Iris Platt, Katie Ness. Leri Research Group 2012-13. Kelsey Villafuerte and Ashley Pirovano.
Leri Research Group 2011-12. Left to right: Chrissy Galifianakis, Ashley Pirovano, Olivia Miller. Leri Research Group Summer 2011: A. Leri, A. Pirovano, G. Iliopoulos, L. Herren, C. Galifianakis Leri Research Group 2010-11. Left to right: Laura Herren, Laura Anthony, Chrissy Galifianakis, Alessandra Leri. Leri Research Group 2009-2010. Clockwise from top left: A. Leri, L. Herren, L. Anthony, C. Galifianakis.

Recent Student Presentations

• I. Parke* and A. Leri, “The World’s Least Understood Carbon Sink: Spectroscopic Analysis of Peat’s Sequestered Organic Matter” (2023; poster), Undergraduate Research Symposium in the Biological and Chemical Sciences (URS-BCS), William Paterson University. 1 ^st -place winner in Biochemistry category. Also presented at MMC in 2023 for Honors in Biomedical Sciences.
• E. Fassihi* and A. Leri, “Fecal Indicator Bacteria in New York City Playgrounds” (2023; poster), URS-BCS, William Paterson University. 1 ^st -place winner in Microbiology category.
• E. Fassihi* and A. Leri, “Fecal Indicator Bacteria in New York City Playgrounds” (2023; talk), Honors Day, Marymount Manhattan College. Winner of Student-Faculty Collaboration Award.
• I. Parke* and A. Leri, “Enrichment of Aromatic Carbon in Peat over Millennia by ATR-FTIR Spectroscopy” (2022; poster), URS-BCS, William Paterson University. 1 ^st -place winner in Organic Chemistry category.
• I. Parke* and A. Leri, “Enrichment of Aromatic Carbon in Peat over Millennia by ATR-FTIR Spectroscopy” (2022; talk), Honors Day, Marymount Manhattan College. Winner of Student-Faculty Collaboration Award.
• G. O’Connor* and A. Leri, “Quantitative Correlations of Severe Covid-19 Effects and Markers of Environmental Racism by New York City Neighborhood” (2021; poster), Council on Undergraduate Research: Posters on the Hill. Selected as one of 60 undergraduate presenters out of 300 applicants.
• G. O’Connor* and A. Leri, “Quantitative Correlations of Severe Covid-19 Effects and Markers of Environmental Racism by New York City Neighborhood” (2021; poster), Honors Day, Marymount Manhattan College. Winner of Dean’s Award for Excellence, Honorable Mention.
• M. Khan* and A. Leri, “Quantification of Fecal Indicator Bacteria on NYC Sidewalks and Evaluation of Transfer to the Indoor Environment” (2021; talk), Honors Day, Marymount Manhattan College. Winner of Student-Faculty Collaboration Award. Also presented at MMC in 2020 for Honors in Biology.
• M. Khan* and A. Leri, “Quantification of Pathogenic Fecal Bacteria on New York City Sidewalks” (2019; talk), Eastern Colleges Science Conference, Manhattan College. Winner of Top Prize for Platform Talk in Animal Biology.