Elections to the University Senate | Spring 2025

This election is open to all researchers with the following titles hired before May 1st, 2025

• Postdoctoral Research Fellow
• Postdoctoral Research Scholar
• Postdoctoral Research Scientist 

The elected University Senator will serve a two-year term, beginning immediately and running until May 2027.

There are four candidates in this election (listed in alphabetical order):

Zahra Ansari |  Postdoctoral Research Scientist, Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons

As a postdoctoral research scientist at Columbia University, I am passionate about strengthening the postdoctoral community and advocating for equity, transparency, and support across all research positions. My background includes experience in both basic and translational biomedical research, with prior work in lung injury and current work focused on in vivo gene delivery for wound healing and cancer therapy. 

Having navigated the challenges of funding uncertainty, visa constraints, and career transitions firsthand, I understand the vulnerabilities many postdocs face—especially in times of reduced federal support. I believe it is essential to protect research positions, ensure fair titles and compensation, and confront power-based bullying and harassment directly. 

If elected, I will work to elevate the voices of postdocs in university-wide decisions and push for practical improvements in research infrastructure, institutional support, and long-term career development. I would be honored to serve as a strong and thoughtful advocate on behalf of my peers.

Zohar A. Arnon | Postdoctoral Research Scientist, Department of Chemical Engineering, Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Sciences

As a postdoctoral research scientist in Chemical Engineering, I am running for the Postdoctoral Research Officer seat on the Columbia University Senate because I believe it is time to return our attention to Columbia’s core mission: research and teaching.

Across all disciplines, postdocs contribute deeply to the intellectual life of the university. Yet too often, the challenges we face—whether securing research support, navigating career development, or finding stability in our roles—are overshadowed by institutional priorities that don’t serve the core academic mission. I want to advocate for a university that puts scholarship first, and that recognizes postdocs as central to its success.

If elected, I will work to amplify the voices of postdocs from all departments and backgrounds. I will push for policies that prioritize the advancement of research, excellence in teaching, and a more supportive academic environment. I believe postdocs deserve meaningful representation, transparency from university leadership, and a stronger commitment to the work we came here to do.

Let’s make Columbia a place where research and teaching are not just celebrated—but actually supported.

Thank you for your consideration.

Isatis M. Cintron Rodriguez | Postdoctoral Research Scientist, Climate School

As a postdoctoral research scientist engaged in interdisciplinary climate justice research, I understand the vital role postdocs play in Columbia’s research excellence and fourth purpose. I am committed to ensuring our voices are heard and our rights are protected—especially at a time when reduced research funding and structural inequities threaten our professional and personal well-being.

My experience includes serving on past university committees, leading international collaborations, and advocating for community-driven science. I will bring this dedication to the Research Officers Committee. My priorities will include promoting transparent hiring and grant practices, advancing equitable access to opportunities, ensuring fair compensation, strengthening career development and advancement pathways, and bolstering protections against bullying, harassment, and discrimination. I will also work to improve research conditions, ensure equitable access to facilities, and advocate for the needs of international and underrepresented scholars.

As your representative, I will foster strong communication between postdocs and university leadership and ensure our concerns are central to institutional decisions. Together, we can build a more inclusive, just, and supportive research environment at Columbia. I respectfully ask for your support to represent the postdoctoral.

Giovanni Oliveros | Postdoctoral Research Scientist, Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons

As a postdoctoral research scientist in the Department of Pathology and Cell Biology for the past two years, I have worked tirelessly to advance not only my research career but also my lab’s scientific objectives. My experience, coupled with prior teaching and mentoring experience outside Columbia, has prepared me to represent postdoctoral researchers at a time when research needs are at an all-time high and funding is in limbo. 

Through both my laboratory and mentoring / teaching experience, I have seen how funding shifts can impact the research and mentoring experience - even a small cut has drastic impacts on a trainee’s stability, growth, and future success. With drastic funding cuts and the future of postdocs uncertain, it is imperative that our voices are heard, particularly on issues such as job security, professional development, and salary equity, for all the hard work we contribute to the Columbia community. 

My passion for building a more responsible, transparent, supportive research environment is what drives me to serve. If elected, I will work to make sure the postdoc community at Columbia is well represented and our needs are met. I am ready to represent you and am the right choice for the job.

This election is open to all researchers with the following titles hired before May 1st, 2025

• Senior Research Scientist or Senior Research Scholar
• Research Scientist or Research Scholar
• Associate Research Scientist or Associate Research Scholar
• Lamont Research Professor
• Lamont Associate Research Professor
• Lamont Assistant Research Professor
• Named Lamont Research Professor

The elected University Senator will serve a two-year term, beginning immediately and running until May 2027

There are six candidates in this election, listed in alphabetical order:

Benjamin Bostick | Lamont Research Professor, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory

I am a geochemistry professor at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory who studies environmental systems. I have been a professor at Columbia for 15 years and worked with collaborators across Columbia’s campuses. Research officers are key parts of the university. As one of your University Senators, I will work to implement the changes needed to bridge the boundary between instructional and research faculty. I will strengthen interactions across academic units and ranks to support the Columbia community that is the essence of the University. I value stronger interactions between research faculty and the students. I also want to support the research staff that are critical to our success in research endeavors. I also want to engage the wider New York City community in university research and life.

Azzurra Cottarelli | Associate Research Scientist, Department of Medicine in Hematology and Oncology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons

I’m  Associate Research Scientist (ARS) in the Department of Medicine and have held ARS roles since 2020 across three different departments. Like many of you, I have navigated the professional limbo that often accompanies our positions - too senior for postdoctoral fellowships, yet without the formal title to serve as Principal Investigator (PI) on many funding opportunities, despite effectively performing PI-level work. This structural ambiguity can be both professionally frustrating and limiting to our potential impact.

I’m running for the University Senate because I believe Professional Research Officers need a stronger,  voice in university governance - especially now, when funding uncertainty makes us particularly vulnerable to cuts. For international researchers like myself, job insecurity has even broader consequences, impacting not just our careers, but our ability to remain in the country with our families.

If elected, I will advocate for greater recognition, clearer pathways to independence, and stronger institutional support for research professionals. I want to help build a culture that values and empowers those of us who drive research forward every day.

Thank you for your consideration, I would be honored to represent you.

Nancy LoIacono |  Research Scientist, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health

I am a research scientist in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences at the Mailman School of Public Health and have worked at Columbia University for over 44 years—25 of those as a research officer. Throughout this time, I’ve developed a deep insight about what works—and what doesn’t—for research officers at Columbia and I am fully aware of the unique challenges our constituency faces. I am committed to advocating for meaningful improvements that will enhance our work environments and have been doing so since 2015, when I first began serving on the University Senate’s Research Officers Committee. I am also a member of the University Senate’s IT Committee and Libraries and Digital Resources Committee. Previously, I served on the Commission on the Status of Women, always working to address issues important to research officers. I’m also actively involved in CUIMC Stands Up!, a grassroots coalition of CUIMC researchers, staff and students dedicated to defending our research, students, and academic freedom and fighting back against the federal attacks. If elected, I will continue to fight for fair treatment, equitable compensation, and the institutional support and respect that Columbia’s Research Officers deserve—while standing firm in defense of our University.

Yasir H. Qureshi | Associate Research Scientist, Taub Institute, College of Physicians and Surgeons

Dear Colleagues,

I am Associate Research Scientist in the Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease at Columbia University. I submit my candidacy for this election as Professional Research Officer Senator. Over 14 years at Columbia, I have led translational neuroscience initiatives—from securing, managing NIH, foundation, and industry grants as principal and co-investigator, to developing gene-therapy strategies with multidisciplinary teams. My research has elucidated endo-lysosomal dysfunction mechanisms in neurodegeneration and advanced our therapeutic innovation pipeline. 

As University Senator, I will champion two priorities: 

1. Researcher Title Reform.

I will advocate adopting Research Professor, Research Associate Professor or Research Assistant Professor designations that reflects our leadership responsibilities and PI authority. This change will mitigate internal and external biases against research scientist roles, facilitate cross-campus collaborations, and strengthen competitiveness for funding and grant applications. 

2. Funding Stability and Workplace Integrity

I will work to establish sustainable funding pathways and bridge support for postdoctoral and staff research officers impacted by federal budget constraints. I will promote policies to prevent power-based bullying and foster a safe, inclusive research environment. 

I look forward to contributing my expertise, collaborative experience, and commitment to shared governance on the Research Officers Committee.

Thank you for your consideration. 

Daniel Wolf Savin | Senior Research Scientist, Columbia Astrophysics Laboratory, Arts and Sciences

We are under attack by a federal government that is destroying the research infrastructure of this nation.  Our positions are threatened by the current and anticipated loss of federal funding.  Long-term survival of research at Columbia will require support from the University to compensate for this loss.  As one of your University Senators, I have and will continue to advocate to the University President, Provost, and Board of Trustees about the importance of this support.  These direct channels of communication are a result of my long-time leadership as Chair of the Research Officers Committee and success this year in achieving research officer representation on the University Senate Executive Committee, whose members include the President and Provost and which regularly meets with members of the Board of Trustees.  Some of the other issues I will work toward are establishing Research Professor titles for all professional research officers serving as principle investigators (PIs), increasing administrative and legal support from the International Students and Scholars Office, and developing a stronger University policy that protects all who report bullying and PI misconduct.  I ask for your vote so we can protect research and our positions and can continue to improve research conditions at Columbia.

Marco Tedesco | Lamont Research Professor, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory

Dear colleagues, 

Please accept my nomination to the University Senate, where I served two terms on the Research Officers, External Relations and Research Policy, and Honors and Prizes committees. These experiences have only strengthened my conviction regarding the value of shared governance and the University Senate’s essential role in the formation of Columbia's academic community. I have supported efforts aimed at enhancing the scholarly lives of our students, researchers, and faculty members, including standing for postdoctoral jobs and research professorships but also fighting for policies that deal with workplace bullying, maternity leave, as well as rehiring policies for Associate Research Scientists.

After COVID, we had all hoped for recovery and stability. Instead, Columbia—like so many institutions—now has financial concerns that put even greater pressure on research officers. I believe the times call for passionate, principled representation to protect the most vulnerable among us and to preserve the integrity of our academic environment.

I look forward to continued service in the University Senate and cooperation with my colleagues toward an inclusive and resilient Columbia and to continue encouraging fairness, equity, and excellence in all phases of University life for the colleagues who will decide to vote for me.

This election is open to all researchers with the following titles hired before May 1st, 2025

• Staff Associate, including Staff Associate I, Staff Associate II, and Staff Associate III.
• Senior Staff Associate, including Senior Staff Associate I, Senior Staff Associate II, and Senior Staff Associate III.

The elected University Senator will serve a two-year term, beginning immediately and running until May 2027

There are 4 candidates in this election, listed in alphabetical order:

Youry Borisenkov | Senior Staff Associate II, Columbia Nano Initiative (CNI)

As a dedicated member of the Columbia community, I am committed to fostering an inclusive and responsive Staff Research Associate representation. If elected to the University Senate, I aim to bridge the gap between students, Principal Investigators and Administration by advocating for transparent communication, equitable resource allocation, and policies that prioritize student well-being.

My platform focuses on three key areas: enhancing mental health support, promoting sustainability initiatives, and ensuring diverse representation in university decision-making processes. I believe that by actively listening to the concerns of our peers and collaborating with various campus organizations, we can create a more vibrant and supportive campus environment.

I bring to this role a strong background in student advocacy, leadership experience in various off-campus organizations, and a deep passion for making Columbia a place where every student and member of staff feels heard and valued. Together, we can build a stronger, more unified Columbia.

William Hunnicutt | Senior Staff Associate I, Department of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Sciences

Dr. William Hunnicutt is the Manager of the Carleton Laboratory in the Department of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics (Senior Staff Associate I) and the incumbent Staff Research Officer Senator. As Manager of the Carleton Laboratory, Dr. Hunnicutt supports the teaching and research efforts of faculty in the School of Engineering and Applied Science and oversees laboratory safety for one of the largest shared laboratory facilities on campus with over 200 users. Dr. Hunnicutt frequently collaborates with research officers, postdocs, students, and faculty working in the Carleton Laboratory and other shared facilities, such as the Columbia Nano Initiative. 

As a University Senator, Dr. Hunnicutt serves on the Research Officers Committee, where he has devoted time to the reclassification of research officer titles and issues of equity in parental leave for research officers on grant funding. Dr. Hunnicutt also serves as Co-Chair of the Committee on the Rules of University Conduct and has contributed to the revisions to the Guidelines for the Rules of University Conduct. If reelected, Dr. Hunnicutt will continue to advocate for equity and a safe and healthy environment for research officers across the University.

Rohan Munoth | Staff Associate II, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons

Hi, I’m Rohan Munoth, Staff Associate II at Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center (HICCC) and a computational biologist trained at Carnegie Mellon. Every day, I work on high-impact genomics projects, building pipelines, managing cloud infrastructure, and collaborating with research teams to turn complex data into discovery. But I’ve also seen the systemic issues we face as researchers: lack of recognition, limited career pathways, and institutional silence around power dynamics. 

I’m running for the University Senate because I believe it’s time to change that. We need stronger representation, voices that not only understand the science, but also the daily realities of working in research at Columbia. Whether it's pushing for formal Principal Investigator (PI) recognition, confronting salary inequities, or demanding real action on bullying and harassment, I want to be a clear, persistent voice at the table. 

I’ve led international teams, contributed to open science efforts, and trained researchers across disciplines. I’ll bring that same energy, empathy, and accountability to the University Senate. If you’ve ever felt invisible or unheard as a research officer, this seat is for you. And I’d be honored to represent you.

Danurys Sanchez | Senior Staff Associate III in the Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center; Associate II in Professional Studies, The Gertrude H. Sergiesvsky Center, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons

Danurys L. Sanchez, MS in Bioethics, is Senior Staff Associate III at Columbia University’s Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center and a powerful advocate for community-rooted ethics in healthcare. A two-time recipient of the Martha A. Hooven Award for Excellence, Danurys has spent over 20 years advancing culturally responsive research and care through her work on the Washington Heights-Hamilton Heights-Inwood Columbia Aging Project. Her leadership bridges academic research and community wisdom, connecting participants with vital services and fostering trust across diverse populations.

As a member of the NYP Adult Clinical Ethics Committee and founder of Communities for Responsible Bioethics, Danurys challenges traditional boundaries of bioethics. She argues that ethical decision-making lives not only in institutions but in living rooms, church basements, and shared meals—where communities often act as de facto ethics committees. Her work uplifts these grassroots frameworks, calling for institutions to recognize and partner with the moral authority of those most impacted by systemic inequities.

Danurys’s vision is clear: ethical care must be co-created with the communities it serves. Her work continues to shape a more inclusive, just, and human-centered model of healthcare ethics.

For more information, please contact [email protected].

1. All faculty with tenure or tenure of title as of April 7, 2025, holding rank of Professor or Associate Professor 

2. Election to a two-year term, starting immediately till May 2027

For more information, please e-mail Susan Young at [email protected].

1. All faculty with tenure or tenure of title as of April 7, 2025, holding rank of Professor or Associate Professor 

2. Election to a two-year term, starting immediately till May 2027

For more information, please e-mail Susan Young at [email protected].

1. All faculty with tenure or tenure of title as of April 7, 2025, holding rank of Professor or Associate Professor 

2. Election to a two-year term, starting immediately till May 2027

For more information, please e-mail Susan Young at [email protected].

1. All faculty with tenure or tenure of title as of April 7, 2025, holding rank of Professor or Associate Professor 

2. Election to a two-year term, starting immediately till May 2027

For more information, please e-mail Susan Young at [email protected].

1. All faculty with tenure or tenure of title as of April 7, 2025, holding rank of Professor or Associate Professor 

2. Election to a two-year term, starting immediately till May 2027

For more information, please e-mail Susan Young at [email protected].

Turnout in this election was 73 percent, with 80 votes cast from a possible 109 votes. The result is as follows:

• Henning G. Schulzrinne: 66 votes
• 14 abstentions

Henning G. Schulzrinne has, therefore, been elected to a term ending on August 31, 2025. The election results are available to view here.

Turnout in this election was 74 percent, with 81 votes cast from a possible 109 votes. The result is as follows:

• Holger A. Klein: 67 votes
• 14 abstentions

Holger A. Klein has, therefore, been elected to a term beginning on September 1, 2025. The election results are available to view here.

Eligible Voters

• A person is eligible to vote if and only if they are elected or appointed as a Senator as of April 20, 2025.  A person is eligible to sign a petition if and only if they are an eligible voter.

Eligible Candidates

• A person is eligible to be a candidate if they are a member of the Tenured Caucus at the time of their nomination.  In addition, they must have served on the Senate at least two years since April 20, 2021, and must meet all other requirements of the Senate By-Laws

Nominations

• Any Senator may nominate herself or himself or another Senator to be a candidate for any of the three offices by email to the Elections Commission, at [email protected] during the nomination period. 

The Elections Commission will post on the Senate website the names of all candidates for whom it has received petitions and the office for which each has been nominated on or about March 25, 2025, before petitions have been validated.

A candidate must also be supported by a petition signed by at least six current members of the Senate, at least 3 of whom shall be members of the Tenured Caucus and at least 2 of whom shall not be members of the Tenured Caucus.  (Tenured faculty who serve in the Senate by virtue of holding a position named in the University Statutes or by virtue of presidential appointment are not members of the Tenured Caucus.) 

A Senator may sign a petition by emailing the Elections Commission at [email protected] using their Columbia email.  The subject of the email must include the name of the candidate whose nomination they are supporting and the office for which they are nominating the person.  The body of the email should state whether or not the sender is a member of the Tenured Caucus. 

All emails supporting the nomination of a candidate must be received during the nomination period.

Challenges to Petitions

Because this election is being conducted virtually, physical examination of the petitions will not be permitted.  Any Senator wishing to challenge the petition of a candidate must request a pdf of the emails received from [email protected] by date specified in the election timetable. Any challenge to the validity of the petition must be filed by email to the Elections Commission at [email protected] by the date specified in the timetable.  

If a challenge is filed against a petition, the Elections Commission will schedule a zoom hearing at which the challenger and the subject of the challenge shall each present their position and answers questions from the Commission.  If the Elections Commission believes a petition is invalid, it shall also hold a zoom hearing in which the subject of the petition shall be entitled to make a case for their candidacy.  The Elections Commission shall schedule these hearings unilaterally and a challenger or candidate may designate a proxy in writing.   

The Elections Commission will rule on any challenge no later than April 3, 2025.

If the Elections Commission determines that a petition contains minor deficiencies, it may permit a candidate to cure the deficiencies by a prescribed time.  All deficiencies must be cured no later than the date specified in the timeline.

Withdrawls: Any person nominated to be a candidate may decline or withdraw by email to the Elections Commission at [email protected] before the date specified in the timetable.

Determination: The Elections Commission shall examine whether each person who has been nominated to an office is an eligible candidate for that office.  The Elections Commissions shall also determine whether each candidate has been supported by a petition meeting the requirements.  The Elections Commission shall place the name of a potential nominee on the ballot if and only the person is qualified and has been supported by a petition meeting the requirements.

Any candidate may submit a statement of no more than 200 words, or a photograph, or both as e-mail attachments to [email protected] before the date specified in the timeline.  

These statements and photographs will be made available to all Senators on or before 5:30 pm EDT on April 5, 2025, by transmission to each Senator’s CU e-mail. Candidates are encouraged to submit statements and photographs but are not required to do so.

For more information, please contact [email protected] 

I am a theoretical astrophysicist. I came to Columbia in 1984 and have a long record of service to Columbia. I have chaired the Department of Astronomy. I chaired the Columbia College Committee on Admissions and Financial Aid and, as a member of the Strategic Planning Commission, played a key role in the maintenance of need-blind admissions in the early 1990s.

I have served on the Senate since the late 1990s and have been involved in a number of controversial issues, most notably sexual misconduct policy, freedom of speech, and the return of Naval ROTC to Columbia. I co-chair the Senate Education Committee and serve on the Faculty Affairs and Executive committees. Universities are about what happens between faculty and students in classrooms, laboratories, and libraries. Faculty have a unique perspective on what it takes to make this happen, and my job is to bring that insight and experience to the senior administration and Board of Trustees.

As Chair of the Executive Committee, I will work to guarantee that all opinions are heard and carefully considered in the Senate, and I will faithfully represent the Senate to the senior administration, the Board Of Trustees, and to the world beyond Columbia.

Having been a faculty member at CUIMC since 1998, my experience as a Senator and Chair of the Executive Committee has greatly enriched my life and deepened my understanding of academic community. I take pride in the work the Senate has accomplished during a time of changing leadership, consistently collaborating with faculty colleagues, students, staff, and administration to ensure that every voice is heard. The Senate has worked diligently to uphold processes and procedures, including the creation of policies within our shared governance structure enshrined in the University Statutes. I have advocated for building broad consensus among all community members as we deliberate critical issues.

If re-elected, I will continue to promote efforts across caucuses and committees to uphold our principles, protect academic freedom, and safeguard our voice within the University’s shared governance structure. Columbia’s role as a national leader in higher education is more important than ever; I will strive to expand cross-campus coalitions that defend the integrity of our great institution. The chief objective for my next and last term will be to train the next generation of Senate leadership; and I will ensure we find a President who fully understands and respects the principles of shared governance.

1. All faculty with tenure or tenure of title as of April 7, 2025, holding rank of Professor or Associate Professor 

2. Election to a two-year term, starting immediately till May 2027

For more information, please contact Jamilette Gaton at [email protected]

In this election, turnout was 60 percent, with 180 ballots cast from 301 eligible voters, and 2 abstentions. The following faculty were elected:

• Jeanine D’Armiento, MD, PhD, Professor of Medicine (in Anesthesiology and Physiology and Cellular Biophysics)    
• Anil Lalwani, MD, Professor of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery
• Melissa S Stockwell, MD, MPH, Felice K. Shea Professor of Pediatrics and Professor of Population and Family Health
• Howard J. Worman, MD, Professor of Medicine and Pathology and Cell Biology

The voting system was Single Transferable Vote (multiple vacancies). 

1. All faculty with tenure or tenure of title as of April 7, 2025, holding rank of Professor or Associate Professor 

2. Election to a two-year term, starting immediately till May 2027

For more information, please contact Jamilette Gaton at [email protected]

In this election, turnout was 26 percent, with 601 ballots cast from 2310 eligible voters.  The successful candidate is:

• David Kessler, MD, MSc

The voting system was Preferential Voting, also known as Instand Runoff Voting.