Ruben Savizky Page 3
Ruben Savizky
Department of Chemistry, The Cooper Union, 41 Cooper Square, New York, NY | 212-353-4372 |
EDUCATION
Yale University, New Haven, CT
Ph.D., Biophysical Chemistry 2005
Dissertation: “Synthetic and Biophysical Efforts Toward an Understanding of RNA Structure”
Advisors: Profs. Donald M. Crothers and David J. Austin
Yale University, New Haven, CT
M.S., Chemistry 2000
The Cooper Union, New York, NY
B.E., Chemical Engineering 1998
GPA: 3.8/4.0
Summa Cum Laude Graduate
AWARDS
Student’s List Teaching Award, The Cooper Union 2008, 2009
Benjamin Menschel Fellowship, The Cooper Union 2009
Henry Bradford Loomis Fellowship, Yale University 2002
Lars Onsager Fellowship, Yale University 1998-2002
NIH Biophysical Training Grant 1998, 2000
NSF Minority Graduate Fellowship Competition, Honorable Mention 1998
Full-Tuition Scholarship, The Cooper Union 1994-1998
National Dean’s List 1994-1998
AIChE Regional Student Paper Competition, 2nd Place 1998
Lewis Gleekman Memorial Prize for Materials Science/Engineering, The Cooper Union 1998
United Federation of Teachers Scholarship 1994-1998
Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship 1994-1998
Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers Scholarship 1994-1998
National Hispanic Scholarship Fund Scholarship 1994, 1996-1998
National Society of Professional Engineers Scholarship 1994
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
The Cooper Union, New York, NY
Associate Professor of Chemistry 2011-present
Taught courses in general chemistry (Ch110-General Chemistry), physical chemistry (Ch160-Physical Principles of Chemistry), organic chemistry (Ch231-Organic Chemistry I, Ch232-Organic Chemistry II, Ch233-Organic Chemistry Laboratory), analytical chemistry (Ch251-Instrumental Analysis Laboratory) and biochemistry (Ch340-Biochemistry and Ch440-Advanced Biochemistry).
Assistant Professor of Chemistry 2005-2011
Taught courses in general chemistry (Ch110-General Chemistry), physical chemistry (Ch160-Physical Principles of Chemistry and Ch261-Physical Chemistry I), organic chemistry (Ch232-Organic Chemistry II and Ch233-Organic Chemistry Laboratory), analytical chemistry (Ch251-Instrumental Analysis Laboratory) and biochemistry (Ch340-Biochemistry and Ch380-Selected Topics in Chemistry (Medicinal Chemistry)).
Adjunct Professor of Chemistry 2005
Taught courses in physical chemistry (Ch160-Physical Principles of Chemistry) and organic chemistry (Ch233-Organic Chemistry Laboratory).
Bnai Zion, New York, NY
Instructor 2011-present
Taught courses in principles of instrumental analysis and quality control, using spectroscopic and chromatographic techniques.
Columbia University, New York, NY
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Lecturer 2009-present
Taught courses in general chemistry (W1403-General Chemistry I) and organic chemistry (S3443-Organic Chemistry I and S3444-Organic Chemistry II).
Polytechnic Institute of New York University (NYU-Poly), New York, NY
Adjunct Professor of Chemistry 2008-present
Taught courses in biochemistry (CM3314-Biochemistry I, CM3324-Biochemistry II, CM8213-Bioanalytical Chemistry and BT7011-Special Topics in Biochemistry (Cell Signaling)).
New York University, New York, NY
Adjunct Professor of Chemistry 2008
Taught summer courses in organic chemistry (V25.0243-Organic Chemistry I and V25.0245-Organic Chemistry Laboratory).
The Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY
Adjunct Professor 2007-present
Taught summer courses in organic chemistry (Organic Chemistry) and biochemistry (Biological and Medicinal Chemistry).
Yale University, New Haven, CT
Teaching Assistant 1999-2000, 2001-2002
Assisted Profs. Gary Brudvig and Peter Moore with Ch330-Physical Chemistry with Applications to the Biological Sciences.
REsearch EXPERIENCE
The Cooper Union, New York, NY
Supervisor 2005-present
Oversaw the research of approximately 50 undergraduate students and 10 graduate students on a number of projects in such fields as pharmaceutical and medicinal chemistry (synthesis of cholesterol lowering drugs, synthesis of HIV-1 inhibitors, synthesis of asymmetric epoxides, pharmacokinetic profiles of NSAIDs), biochemistry and biophysics (thermodynamic studies of RNA and protein folding, kinetics of enzyme-catalyzed hydrolysis), polymer and material science (synthesis and characterization of novel polymers), spectroscopy (development and commercialization of a pattern recognition algorithm for chemical analysis, quantum computing), and even art (analysis of encaustic paint samples).
The Cooper Union, New York, NY
Researcher 2005-present
Participated in a number of collaborations within academia (chemical analysis of encaustic art with Profs. John Bové and Pedro Cuní of Cooper Union, synthesis of acetyl CoA analogs with Prof. Jin Kim Montclare of NYU-Poly) as well as the private sector (pattern analysis of chemophysical properties and spectroscopic data with Prof. Sam Keene of Cooper Union and Dr. John Edwards of Process NMR Associates, and a study of the effects of radiofrequency waves on sperm cells with Prof. Sam Keene of Cooper Union and Dr. Alan Copperman of Reproductive Medicine Associates of New York).
Yale University, New Haven, CT
Graduate Student 1999-2004
Conducted research on the design of small molecules to specifically target and recognize RNA molecules, particularly those involved in RNA/protein interactions critical for HIV replication. Conducted under the guidance of Profs. David J. Austin and Donald M. Crothers.
PUBLICATIONS AND PAPERS
Katlowitz, K., Weinberg, J. and Savizky, R. M. “Theoretical and Experimental Investigations of RNA Unfolding Thermodynamics” (manuscript in preparation)
Cuní, J., Cuní, P., Eisen, B., Savizky, R. M. and Bové, J. L. “Characterization of the Binding Medium Used in Roman Encaustic Paintings on Wall and Wood”, Anal. Methods, 4 (2012), 659-669
Suh, J. and Savizky, R. M. “Intrinsic Fluorescence Studies of Metal Ion Binding Effects on the Thermodynamic Stability of Human alpha-Lacatalbumin” Int. J. Biophysics, 1 (2011), 1-6
Leung, W. W. and Savizky, R. M. “Kinetic Analysis of Chalcone Epoxidation in a Biphasic System”, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 49 (2010), 12327-12330
Savizky, R. M. and Austin, D. J. “Rhodium(II) Catalyzed 1,3-Dipolar Cycloadditions”, in Modern Rhodium-Catalyzed Organic Reactions, Evans, P. A. Ed., Wiley Interscience, Cambridge 2005
Lee, Y., Yeo, H., Liu, S. H., Jiang, Z., Savizky, R. M., Austin, D. J. and Cheng, Y. C., “Increased Anti-P-glycoprotein Activity of Baicalein by Alkylation on the A Ring” J. Med. Chem., 47 (2004), 5555-5566
Savizky, R. M., Suzuki, N. and Bové, J. L. “The Use of Sonochemistry in the Asymmetric Epoxidation of Substituted Chalcones with Sodium Perborate Tetrahydrate”, Tetrahedron:Asymmetry, 9 (1998), 3967-3969
Master’s Theses
Robert Spataro, “Synthesis and Characterization of Benzyl Guanidines”, May 2012
Brielle Eisen, “A Chemical Investigation of Ancient Art Using Modern Analytical Techniques: Characterization of Roman Wall Paintings”, May 2011
Chonghag Kim, “Fluorescence Quenching Study of the Human Serum Albumin-Quercetin Complex by Cu(II), Ni(II) and Mn(II) Addition”, May 2011
Wai Wing Leung, “Kinetic Analysis of Chalcone Epoxidation in a Biphasic System”, May 2010
Doo Won (Derek) Kim, “Effect of Cationic Surfactant (N-Alkyl Trimethylammonium Bromide, CnTAB) Hydrophobicity on Cellulase Intrinsic Fluorescence”, May 2010
Ji Suk (James) Suh, “Metal Ion Binding Effects on the Thermodynamic Stability of Human alpha-Lactalbumin: Intrinsic Fluorescence Studies”, May 2010
Reviews
Neer, R. M. “Napalm, An American Biography” (manuscript in preparation)
Bhattacharya, S., Drews, A., Lyagin, E., Kraume, M. and Ansorge-Schumacher, M. B., “Efficient Chemo-Enzymatic Epoxidation Using silcoat-Novozym®435: Characterizing the Multiphase System”, Chem. Eng. Technol., 35(8), 2012, 1448-1455
The College Board, AP® Chemistry Guided-Inquiry Laboratory Experiments: Applying the Science Practices Student Manual and AP® Chemistry Guided-Inquiry Laboratory Experiments: Applying the Science Practices Student Manual Teacher Manual (manuscripts in preparation)
Koenig, S. (Ed.), “Challenges Faced and Future Directions” in Scalable Green Chemistry: Case Studies from the Pharmaceutical Industry, Pan Stanford Publishing, 2013
Datta, S., Bucks, M. E., Koley, D., Lim, P. X. and Savinov, S. N., “Functional Profiling of p53-Binding Sites in Hdm2 and Hdmx Using a Genetic Selection System”, Bioorg. Med. Chem., 18(16), 2010, 6099-6108
McMurry, J. and Fay, R. C., Chemistry, 5th Ed., Pearson Hall, 2007
Goldhaber-Gordon, I. and Solomon, D., Thinking Like a Biochemist, University Science Books, 2006 (unpublished manuscript)
Presentations
Poster Presentation (with K. Katlowitz and J. Weinberg), “RUST: RNA Unfolding using Statistical Thermodynamics”, End of Year Show, The Cooper Union, 2012
Invited Speaker, AIChE Alumni Night, The Cooper Union, 2012
Organizer, New York American Chemical Society Younger Chemists Committee Research Symposium, The Cooper Union, 2011
Poster Presentation (with B. Eisen), “Chemical Analysis of Encaustic Art”, New York American Chemical Society Younger Chemists Committee Research Symposium, The Cooper Union, 2011
Invited Speaker, “Careers in Chemistry”, CUNY Careers for Chemists Symposium, City University of New York, 2010
Organizer, Encaustic Art Symposium, The Cooper Union, 2010
Invited Speaker, “A Taste of Chocolate”, Chocolatefest Part II, Science House (New York), 2010
Organizer, Chocolatefest, The Cooper Union, 2010 (including media coverage on ABC News With Diane Sawyer and Metro NY)
Invited Speaker, New York American Chemical Society Younger Chemists Committee Career Panel, Columbia University, 2010
Poster Presentation (with C. Schwalen and H. Nikolayevskiy), “Synthesis of Substituted Guanidines – Application of HIV-1 TAR RNA Inhibition”, End of Year Show, The Cooper Union, 2010
Organizer, “Architecture in Nanospace”, a presentation by Sir Harold Kroto, Polytechnic Institute of NYU, 2010
Poster Presentation (with J. L. Bové and R. Schlake), “The Use of Supercritical CO2 in the Analysis of Encaustic Art”, Pittcon, Orlando, 2010
Invited Speaker, AIChE Alumni Night, The Cooper Union, 2010
Poster Presentation (with A. Gerofsky and E. Buckland), “The Use of Chiral Ionic Liquids for the Asymmetric Epoxidation of Chalcones”, End of Year Show, The Cooper Union, 2009
Invited Speaker, AIChE Alumni Night, The Cooper Union, 2009
Oral Presentation (with J. Lee and J. L. Bové), “The Use of Modern Spectroscopic Techniques in Search of Encaustic Art”, 48th Eastern Analytical Symposium, Somerset, 2007
Oral Presentation, “Pattern Analysis Using NMR Spectroscopy (PANSY)”, 47th Eastern Analytical Symposium, Somerset, 2007
Poster Presentation, “Pattern Analysis Using NMR Spectroscopy (PANSY): Applications to organic and pharmaceutical chemistry”, 232nd American Chemical Society National Meeting, San Francisco, 2006
Poster Presentation, “Pattern Analysis Using NMR Spectroscopy (PANSY): Applications to organic and pharmaceutical chemistry”, 47th Annual Experimental NMR Conference, Asilomar, 2006
Poster Presentation, “Novel guanidine containing heterobicyclic [2.2.1] scaffold molecules: Application to HIV-1 TAR RNA”, 6th Annual Bristol-Myers-Squibb Symposium, Yale University, 2003
Poster Presentation, “Novel guanidine containing heterobicyclic [2.2.1] scaffold molecules: Application to HIV-1 TAR RNA”, 226th American Chemical Society National Meeting, New York, 2003
Poster Presentation, “Novel guanidine containing heterobicyclic [2.2.1] scaffold molecules: Application to HIV-1 TAR RNA”, 6th Annual Chemical Biology Symposium, Yale University, 2003
Poster Presentation, “Novel guanidine containing heterobicyclic [2.2.1] scaffold molecules: Application to HIV-1 TAR RNA”, Greater Metropolitan Area 2003 Chemistry Graduate Student Poster Session, New York University, 2003
Oral Presentation, “Design, synthesis and evaluation of small molecule inhibitors for RNA-protein interactions”, 224th American Chemical Society National Meeting, Boston, 2002
Oral Presentation, “Design, synthesis and evaluation of small molecule inhibitors for RNA-protein interactions”, 5th Annual Bristol-Myers-Squibb Symposium, Yale University, 2002
Poster Presentation, “Design, synthesis and evaluation of small molecule inhibitors for RNA-protein interactions”4th Annual Chemical Biology Symposium, Yale University, 2001
Alumni Speaker, The Cooper Union, 2001
Poster Presentation, “Design, synthesis and evaluation of small molecule inhibitors for RNA-protein interactions”, Northeast Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, University of Connecticut, Storrs, 2000
Oral Presentation, “The Use of Sonochemistry in the Asymmetric Epoxidation of Substituted Chalcones with Sodium Perborate Tetrahydrate”, New York City American Chemical Society 46th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium, New York University, 1998
LANGUAGES
English and Spanish – native languages
MEMBERSHIPS
Order of the Engineer, 1998-present
Tau Beta Pi (Engineering Honor Society), 1997-present
American Chemical Society, 1995-present
Yale University Biotechnology Special Interest Group, 2002-2005
Biophysical Society, 2001-2004
American Institute of Chemical Engineers, 1994-1998
National Society of Professional Engineers, 1994-1998
Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, 1994-1998
Service
American Chemical Society
Director-At-Large 2013 (expected)
Member of Younger Chemists Committee (President since 2012) 2009-present
Helped organize events throughout New York City, such as our inaugural Research Symposium, which was attended by almost 100 high school students, undergraduates, graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, professors, industry and government employees throughout the New York City area.
Member of Board of Directors for Brooklyn Sub-section 2009-present
Helped organize events throughout New York City, such as our annual Brooklyn Frontiers lecture, which was attended by almost 100 high school students, undergraduates, graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, professors, industry and government employees throughout the New York City area.
NASA Motivating Undergraduates in Science and Technology (MUST) Program
Mentor 2011-present
Serve as mentor and advisor to chemistry majors from underrepresented groups at other colleges and universities.
Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers
Cooper Union Student Chapter 1994-1998, 2010-present
Served as Treasurer (1996-1998) and as Faculty Adviser (2010-present)
American Institute of Chemical Engineers
Cooper Union Student Chapter 1994-1998
Served as President (1996-1997) and Vice-President (1995-1996)
The Cooper Union, New York, NY
BSE/IDE Committee 2009-present
Serve as faculty advisor for students in the bachelor of science in engineering/interdisciplinary engineering major. Help organize curricula and concentrations for students in this program.
Summer Internship Program 2005-2007
Served as faculty mentor and led high school summer research programs in chemistry. Involved broadening the participation of underrepresented groups in NYC.
Middle States Institutional Resources Committee 2008
Assisted other university committees and engineering faculty with the preparation of a final report for the Middle States accreditation process.