Robert Prezant

"We're also developing programs that will induce growth, including an undergraduate program in bioinformatics."

Robert Prezant says people often call him a biological gadfly because he's all over the scientific map. A marine biologist, Prezant conducts biomineralization studies on molluscs, in particular on shell formations. He also does a lot of ecological work, work on reproductive behavior in molluscs, antipredation behavior in marine annelids and recently has been very active in biodiversity studies.

"I'm trying to commingle my areas of expertise to best fit Montclair State," said Prezant, who joined the University in April. One of Prezant's goals is to tighten the links among the sciences, mathematics and education. "We want to make sure we're hitting areas that are keeping pace with national and international trends," he said.

Prezant recently discussed plans to help the College to keep pace, including a new major in bioinformatics, a new Ph.D. program in environmental management, a visiting professors program and Pharmfest.

INSIGHT: What do you think of the quality and depth of research in the CSAM?

Prezant: So far I've garnered an appreciation for what I already knew -- that is the excellence of the faculty and the excitement of the programs, both ongoing and in development. The faculty are involved in some exciting areas of research, which is not always easy to do in a state institution because of our appropriate commitment to teaching. But we have several programs in the College that make sure our students are involved in research. It's a synergy between formal teaching, laboratory and/or field research, and bringing our students into play so they're doing research side by side with a practicing scientist or mathematician.

INSIGHT: How do you plan to increase enrollment?

Prezant: CSAM enrollment is approximately 1,400. There are certain areas, such as computer science, that will grow naturally. Molecular biology and chemistry are other areas of natural growth because the pharmaceutical industry in northern New Jersey is huge. We're also developing programs that will induce growth, including an undergraduate program in bioinformatics.

INSIGHT: What is bioinformatics?

Prezant: Basically the fusing of areas that have worked closely in the past into a mutualistic discipline. Our program will initially involve three concentration areas -- chemistry and biochemistry, biology and molecular biology, and computer science. The junctions of these areas are emerging disciplines where industry and academe are looking to hire people. Dorothy Deremer [of Computer Science] and Ken Wolf [of Mathematics] are spearheading the project.

INSIGHT: Tell us about Pharmfest.

Prezant: CSAM is working with the School of Business and HealthCare Institute of New Jersey on this initiative. It is in part a job fair that will be held in the spring where we will offer a little bit of a lot of things related to the pharmaceutical industry. We also hope to have a panel of experts for a roundtable discussion that will be open to the public but targeted to students to give them a better understanding of how they can break into the pharmaceutical area, where the active areas of research are and where the jobs are hot. In addition, we will be inviting an important member of the pharmaceutical industry to offer a keynote address.

INSIGHT: Explain the visiting professors program.

Prezant: It's a volunteer program in which more than a dozen CSAM faculty volunteer to visit pre-k through 12 schools to share their expertise. We have a wide array of programs that we try to fit into the schools' curriculum. This is not a recruitment tactic per se. We're simply bringing the excitement of what we do into the schools.

INSIGHT: Why a Ph.D. program in environmental management?

Prezant: It's an exciting program we believe fills a national need. Per capita, New Jersey offers fewer environmental-based programs in university settings than any other state in the northeast sector. Students enrolled in this program are going to conduct important research in environmental areas but will also have a working conceptual understanding of what it means to society, to the economy and to the political world. William Solecki [of Earth and Environmental Studies] is deeply enmeshed in development of this project.

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