MUA Faculty

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Experienced and passionate medical educators

MUA Professor Ann Aguanno

Ann Aguanno

Professor of Medical Genetics and Biochemistry, Director of the Genetics Course and Chair of the Molecular Sciences Department
Qualifications: PhD
School/Division: Molecular Sciences
Courses: Genetics Neuroscience and Neurology, System and Diseases II.

  • Professor of Biology and Chair, Department of Natural Sciences, Coordinator Biology Post Bac Program,  Marymount Manhattan College, NY, NY, 2002-2022
  • Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Rutgers University NJ 2000-2002
  • Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Stevens Institute of Technology, NJ  1996-2000
  • Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Molecular Biology and Neuroscience, Roche Institute of Molecular Biology, Hoffman LaRoche Pharmaceutical Co., NJ USA
  • PhD, Molecular Biology, Neuroscience and Development Biology Concentration, New York University, USA
  • MS, Molecular Biology, New York University, USA
  • BA, Physical Anthropology and Biology, SUNY Buffalo, NY, USA

  • Molecular biology
  • Developmental biology
  • Cell biology
  • Genetics
  • Cell culture
  • Pedagogical methods
  • Research

  • Outstanding Faculty Member Award (Division of Sciences) Marymount Manhattan College, 2017
  • National Research Biology Mentorship Award, Council on Undergraduate Research, Washington, DC, 2011
  • Outstanding Teaching Award, Society for Women in Engineering, Stevens Institute of Technology, 2000  

  • Lundquist, M and A. Aguanno (in press) “Here and there: A novel hybrid remote/in-person college-level science lab model at a small primarily undergraduate institution” J College Science Teaching 
  • Tran, B and A. Aguanno 2018 “Pilot implementation of a cell culture-based educational module in a gateway cellular and molecular biology course at a Liberal Arts PUI.” FASEB J April 32:925.16
  • Furnari, J., and A. Aguanno 2018 “Using a Laboratory Teaching Module to Train Undergraduate Students in Cell Culture Based Research” FASEB J. April 32:663.31
  • Mora, K., and A. Aguanno 2018 “CDK5: The Connection between Alzheimer’s Disease and Type 2 Diabetes? FASEB J April 32:805.26
  • Benore, M., Provost, J.,  Aguanno, A. and Vega, Q. 2016 “The Balance of a PUI Career. What is the tightrope you walk?” FASEB J April  30:883.3
  • Aguanno, A., Mertz, P., Martin, D., Bell, E. 2015 “A National Comparison of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Capstone Experiences.” BAMBED, 43 (4, July/August):223–232, (DOI 10.1002/bmb.20869)
  • Bell,  J., Aguanno,  A.,  Mertz,  P., Johnson,  M.,  and Fox, K. 2016 “RCN-UBE: Integrating Evolution and Homeostasis with the Core Concepts of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology” FASEB J April  29:559.2
  • McIlrath, V., Trye, A., Aguanno, A. 2015 “Using Mouse Mammary Tumor Cells to Teach Core Biology Concepts: A Simple Lab Module” JoVE, Issue 100 (DOI: doi:10.3791/52528) Read here.
  • Aguanno, A., Mertz, P., Martin, D. and Bell, E. 2014 “A national comparison of learning objectives and outcome assessment of the biochemistry and molecular biology capstone experience: building the ASBMB Concept Inventory”  FASEB J April 28:618.13
  • Trye, A. and Aguanno, A., 2014 “Elucidating the role of cyclin-dependent kinase 5 in insulin exocytosis: studies toward understanding a possible link between neurodegeneration and type II diabetes” FASEB J.  28:576.4
  • McIlrath,  V., Trye, A.,  and Aguanno, A. 2014 “Using breast cancer cells to teach students about cell division and signaling through cell culture techniques: a simple lab module” FASEB J., 28: 618.27.
  • Aguanno, A., Sumter, T.,  2013 “Innovation in Foundation Courses and Undergraduate Research Experiences: Training the Next Generation of Scientists”.” In Roberta V. Nata (Ed.). “Progress in Education, Volume 30” Nova Science Publishers, Inc., Hauppauge, NY, 11788
  • Trye, A and Aguanno, A., 2013,“The role of Cyclin Dependent Kinase 5 in insulin exocytosis”.  FASEB J., 27:1030.1 Khost, D.E. and Aguanno, A., 2013, “Cyclin dependent kinase 5’s role in the development of both insulin-positive and neuronal phenotypes” FASEB J., 27:1030.3

  • Molecular neurobiology
  • Neuronal development
  • Pedagogy methods

  • Furnari, J., and A. Aguanno 2019 “Investigating the role of cdk5 in Alzheimer’s Disease and type-2 diabetes” 73nd annual Eastern Colleges Science Conference (ECSC) Manhattan College, NY April 2019
  • Tran, B and A. Aguanno 2019 “Pilot implementation of a cell culture-based educational module in a gateway cellular and molecular biology course at a Liberal Arts PUI.”  Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium in the Biological Sciences, William Patterson University, NJ
  • Furnari, J., and A. Aguanno 2018 “Using a Laboratory Teaching Module to Train Undergraduate Students in Cell Culture Based Research” Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium in the Biological Sciences, William Patterson University, NJ
  • Mora, K., and A. Aguanno 2018 “CDK5: The Connection between Alzheimer’s Disease and Type 2 Diabetes?” Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium in the Biological Sciences, William Patterson University, NJ
  • Mora, K, Tran, B. , Furnari, F., Spence, C., and Aguanno, A. 2018 “The Marymount Manhattan College ASBMB Student Chapter” ASBMB Science Outreach Symposium, Experimental Biology Conference,  San Diego, CA
  • Tran, B and A. Aguanno 2018 “Pilot implementation of a cell culture-based educational module in a gateway cellular and molecular biology course at a Liberal Arts PUI.”  Experimental Biology Conference,  San Diego, CA
  • Furnari, J., and A. Aguanno 2018 “Using a Laboratory Teaching Module to Train Undergraduate Students in Cell Culture Based Research” Experimental Biology Conference,  San Diego, CA
  • Mora, K., and A. Aguanno 2018 “CDK5: The Connection between Alzheimer’s Disease and Type 2 Diabetes?” Experimental Biology Conference,  San Diego, CA
  • MMC Science Society and Aguanno , A. 2018 “The Marymount Manhattan College ASBMB Student Chapter” ASBMB Science Outreach Symposium, Experimental Biology Conference,  San Diego, CA
  • Aguanno, A., Baird, T., Baldwin, T., Bandarina, V., Carrol, M.  2017 “Tenure and Promotion across the STEM Academic Landscape”  Experimental Biology Conference, Chicago, IL
  • Student Chapters Steering Committee 2017 “Organizing a Successful ASBMB Student Chapter” Experimental Biology Conference, Chicago, IL
  • Benore, M.,  Provost, J., Aguanno, A., Vega, Q. 2016 “The Balance of a PUI Career. What is the tightrope you walk?” Experimental Biology Conference, San Diego, CA
  • Aguanno, A. 2016 “The value of undergraduate research: Gaining lab and life skills while advancing science.” Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium, Mount St. Mary’s College, NY
  • Aguanno, A., Mertz, P. 2016 “Developing and Sharing Best Practices: From Concepts to Classroom Symposium” Experimental Biology Conference, San Diego, CA
  • Aguanno, A., Mertz, P., Fox, K., Bell, E. 2015, “Integrating Evolution and Homeostasis with the Core Concepts of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.” Experimental Biology Conference, Boston, MA
  • McIlrath,  V., Trye, A.,  and Aguanno, A. 2015 “Using breast cancer cells to teach students about cell division and signaling through cell culture techniques: a simple lab module” Transforming Undergraduate Education in the Molecular Life Sciences, St Joseph, Missouri

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