Chemistry Faculty

Teaching Faculty

Rakhi Agarwal, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
Coordinator of Biochemistry (CHE260), General Chemistry II (CHE152), Introduction to Chemical Technology, and Chemistry Club Advisor.

Contact:
516.572.7850, Ext. 26212
Rakhi.Agarwal@ncc.edu

Professor’s Bio:

• Degree: Ph.D. in Chemistry (Biochemistry) Pune University, India  
• Research: Ph.D. Thesis: Mutational studies on Rhodopsin gene of Retinitis Pigmentosa patients, Postdoctoral Research Associate followed by Assistant - & Associate-Biophysicist Brookhaven National Laboratory, NY. Research: Structural and functional analysis of Clostridium botulinum neurotoxins and Drug Discovery (2002-2013).
• Expertise: Biochemistry, Protein X-ray Crystallography, and Drug Discovery Research.
• Courses: General Chemistry I & II (CHE151/152), College Chemistry I & II (CHE131/132), Introduction of Chemistry (CHE107), and Biochemistry (CHE 260).
• Interests: Structure and function of proteins, Protein-protein interactions, Infectious diseases, Drug discovery, COVID-19, Botulinum neurotoxins

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Terrence Black, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
Coordinator of CHE 106, 107, 109 & 135 

Contact:
516.572.7850, Ext. 26223
Terrence.Black@ncc.edu

Professor’s Bio: 

• Degree: PhD in Chemistry (Analytical Chemistry) Northeastern University 
• Research: Characterization of Post Translational Modifications by Liquid Chromatography - Mass Spectrometry. Detection of DNA Modifications with Differential Ion Mobility. Characterization of Biomarkers for Radiation Exposure. Completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center at Georgetown University Medical Center 2008-2010
• Expertise: Liquid Chromatography, Mass Spectrometry, Differential Ion Mobility
• Courses: Introduction to Chemistry (CHE 107), Contemporary Topics (CHE 109), Chemistry for Applied Sciences (CHE 135)
• Interests: High throughput systems, Ion Mobility, Proteomics

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Charles Hicks, Ph.D.

Professor
Coordinator of College Chemistry I and II

Contact:
516.572.7850, Ext. 26224
Charles.Hicks@ncc.edu

Professor’s Bio

• Degree: PhD in Chemistry (Physical Chemistry) Graduate Center CUNY
• Research: Excited State Coordination Chemistry. Post-Doctoral appointments at University of Minnesota St. Paul: Time-Resolved FTIR Studies of Photosystems and Brookhaven National Lab: Fluorescent Labeling Methods for Detection of DNA Damage due to Ionizing Radiation Experienced in Space.
• Expertise: Modelling complex kinetic schemes, laser kinetics, spectroscopy
• Courses: Introduction to Chemistry (CHE 107), College Chemistry I &II (CHE 131/132), General Chemistry I&II (CHE 151/152), Clinical Chemistry (AHS 231 formerly CHE 221)
• Interests: Chemical Origins of Life, Next Generation Sequencing, Whole Genome Sequencing, Bioinformatics, Microbial Communities, Chemistry of Exercise, Scientific Theories of Consciousness, Astrobiology, and the Science of Nutrition

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Alfredo Mellace, Ph.D.

Professor
Coordinator of CHE 201 and CHE 202

Contact:
516.572.7850, Ext. 26210
Alfredo.Mellace@ncc.edu

Professor’s Bio: 

• Degree: PhD in Chemistry (Organic Chemistry) Seton Hall University
• Research: Synthetic and Physical Organic Chemistry, Dendritic and Hyperbranched Polymers.  Post-Doctoral appointment Poly Tech Brooklyn NY: Synthesis of Fluorinated Monomer and Materials. 
• Expertise: Synthetic and Physical Organic Chemistry, Hyperbranched and Dendritic Polymer Synthesis. 
• Courses: Organic Chemistry I/II (CHE 201/CHE202), Intro to Organic Chemistry (CHE 200), General Chemistry I (CHE 151), College Chemistry (CHE 131), Introduction to Chemistry (CHE 107) 
• Interests: Diels-Alder Reactions of Bicyclic Compounds, Cyclization Reactions, Stereochemistry of Reactions and Experimental Archaeology of First Century AD Roman Armor (chemistry, metallurgy, science, and technology in the manufacture of Roman Military equipment)

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Daniel Resch, Ph.D.

Associate Professor 
Coordinator of CHE 151 and CHE 200

Contact:
516.572.7850, Ext. 26213
Daniel.resch@ncc.edu

Professor’s Bio: 

• Degree: PhD in Chemistry (Organic Chemistry) Stony Brook University 
• Research: Organic Materials: reactivity and properties of conductive organic polymers with potential applications in OLED devices, dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), and model systems for studying carbon-rich materials.
• Expertise: Organic Materials Chemistry and Cheminformatics
• Courses: Organic Chemistry I/II (CHE 201/CHE202), Intro to Organic Chemistry (CHE 200), General Chemistry I (CHE 151), College Chemistry (CHE 131), Introduction to Chemistry (CHE 107) 
• Interests: Studying the properties of new materials for application in engineering and using computers to solve information problems in chemistry.

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Qi Wang, Ph.D.

Instructor
Chem Tech Program Coordinator, Analytical Chemistry Course Coordinator.

Contact:
516.572.7850, Ext. 26209
Qi.Wang@ncc.edu

Professor’s Bio: 

• Degree: PhD in Chemistry (Analytical Chemistry) University of North Texas
• Research: Electrochemical synthesis of CeO2 and CeO2/montmorillonite nanocomposites. Understanding metal accumulation and protein misfolding in neurodegenerative diseases using synchrotron-based infrared and x-ray imaging. Understanding physical-chemical properties of nanomaterials.
• Expertise: Analytical techniques and Material Characterizations, FTIR/Raman Spectroscopy, X-ray Spectroscopy, X-ray Fluorescence Imaging, X-ray Diffraction, LC-MS, Electrochemical Techniques, etc. 
• Courses: General Chemistry I & II (CHE151/152), College Chemistry I (CHE131), Introduction of Chemistry (CHE107), Analytical Chemistry I & II (CHE251 & 252)
• Interests: Nanoscience: studying physical-chemical properties and the applications of nanostructured materials; Bioanalytical and Biophysical Chemistry: studying chemical makeup and mechanistic properties of structures or molecules in biological systems.

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