Morningside-Lamont | Administrative and Support Staff
This election is to one seat on the University Senate.
This election is open to the following affiliates hired before April 5, 2026:
- All full-time and regular part-time administrative employees in grades 7 to 16 (including support staff)
- Please note that, following the Elections Commission decision of February 24, 2026 [attached], libraries’ support staff (grades 7 through 9A), are included in this constituency and are therefore eligible to participate in this election. Admin staff in the libraries are included in the libraries’ constituency.
In this election of one member of the Morningside and Lamont Administrative Officers and Support Staff to the University Senate, the nomination period has now closed and there are 20 candidates. You can find their statements here.
For more information, please contact [email protected].
In this election of one member of the Administrative and Support Staff to the University Senate from Morningside-Lamont, the following candidate was elected:
- Melinda Aquino | Associate Dean for Multicultural Affairs in the Office of Columbia College/School of Engineering and Applied Science Undergraduate Student Life
CUIMC | Administrative and Support Staff
This election is to one seat on the University Senate.
This election is open to full-time and regular part-time CUIMC Administrative and Support Staff employees in the following grades, hired before April 5, 2026:
- Administrative officers in grades 103 to 108
- Supporting staff in grades 5 and above (clerical, technical, or libraries), which include:
- Clerical 5
- Clerical 6
- Library 5
- Library 6
- Technical 5
- Technical 6
- Technical 7
- Technical 8
- Technical 8a
- Technical 8b
- Please note that higher-ranking officers are not included in this constituency.
In this election of one member of the CUIMC Administrative Officers and Support Staff to the University Senate, the nomination period has now closed and there are 9 candidates. You will find their statements here.
For more information, please contact [email protected].
In this election of one member of the Administrative and Support Staff to the University Senate from CUIMC, the following candidate was elected:
- Michelle Rivera-Lopez | Departmental Administrator in the Department of Sociomedical Sciences
Research Officers Committee | Professional Research Officers
This election is to one seat on the University Senate.
This election is open to all researchers with the following titles hired before January 22, 2026:
- 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 August 31st, 2027, and will participate in monthly meetings of the Research Officers Committee and the full University Senate.
There are 5 candidates in this election, listed in alphabetical order:
Tarun Kaniganti
Associate Research Scientist
Department of Pediatrics and Clinical Genetics
I am an Associate Research Scientist at Columbia University Irving Medical Center working at the interface of translational neuroscience, gene editing, and rare genetic disease modeling. Over the course of my training and current role, I have developed a deep appreciation for the essential contributions Professional Research Officers make to Columbia’s scientific mission often as principal drivers of innovation, mentorship, and grant productivity.
At a time of reduced federal funding and increasing structural pressures on research careers, it is critical that the Senate advocate clearly and constructively for research officer stability, equitable career pathways, and transparent title advancement. Issues such as protection of postdoctoral positions, pathways to Research Professor titles for independent investigators, and safeguards against power-based harassment require thoughtful, data-driven engagement with University leadership.
I believe governance works best when it is collaborative, evidence based, and forward outlook. If elected, I will prioritize protecting research career sustainability, improving institutional clarity around advancement, and strengthening dialogue between research officers and central administration. Columbia’s research enterprise depends not only on scientific excellence, but also on institutional structures that enable researchers to thrive.
Paul Kreitman
Associate Research Scholar
Weatherhead East Asian Institute
I am seeking election to the Senate as a Professional Research Officer committed to strengthening both the working conditions of research officers and the governance structures that shape them. I will prioritize the core concerns identified by the Research Officers Committee: protecting postdoctoral positions amid reduced federal funding, addressing power-based bullying and harassment, securing Research Professor titles for PROs serving as PIs, and continuing work on salary equity and research infrastructure. Research officers play an essential role at Columbia and their interests must be represented in the Senate.
I also share broader concerns raised by the AAUP Columbia chapter regarding Board of Trustees governance. Recent controversies have intensified perceptions that the University is vulnerable to political pressure and lacks accountability at the highest level. The Board’s small size, homogeneous composition and insular selection process have contributed to this crisis of trust. The Board’s decisions directly affect research funding priorities, institutional risk posture, academic freedom, and Columbia’s long-term stability, so if elected I will work within the Senate to support the AAUP’s call for transparency, open nominations, and competitive direct elections for a portion of Board seats. Strengthening shared governance is essential to safeguarding the University’s long-term mission.
Kara Lamb
Associate Research Scientist
Department of Earth and Environmental Engineering
I am writing to express my interest in running for the Professional Research Officer seat on the University Senate. I am currently an Associate Research Scientist in the Department of Earth and Environmental Engineering, where my research focuses on improving understanding of atmospheric processes and the application of AI to the physical sciences.
Professional Research Officers are central to Columbia’s research enterprise, yet many of the structural issues affecting our community have not been adequately addressed. I would like to ensure that the perspectives of research faculty are clearly represented and translated into meaningful institutional action during this challenging period. My priorities include advancing research professor titles for researchers serving as PI's on externally funded grants, improving office space and institutional support for Officers of Research, and promoting greater transparency and consistency in the implementation of university policies.
Beyond my home department, I collaborate with the LEAP Center and with colleagues at CCSR/NASA GISS. These cross-campus partnerships have given me a broad view of the challenges facing Professional Research Officers across disciplines and units. I would bring this perspective along with a strong commitment to advocate for constructive solutions to my service on the Senate.
Nancy Lolacono
Research Scientist
Department of Environmental Health Sciences
I have worked at Columbia University for more than 45 years—25 of those as a Research Officer—conducting public health research. Never has there been a more challenging time for the important work we do. Over the course of my career, I have developed a deep understanding of what works—and what does not—for Research Officers at Columbia, and I am keenly aware of the unique challenges our community faces.
Since 2015, when I began serving on the University Senate’s Research Officers Committee, I have been committed to advocating for meaningful improvements that strengthen our work environment. I also serve on the University Senate’s IT and Alumni Committees and the Commission on the Status of Health Sciences. Previously, I served on the Libraries and Digital Resources Committee and the Commission on the Status of Women, consistently working to address issues that matter to Research Officers.
I have been actively engaged in the defense of our research enterprise, support of our students, and protection of academic freedom in the face of federal attacks. If elected, I will continue to advocate for fair treatment, equitable compensation, and the institutional support and respect that Columbia’s Research Officers deserve.
Sanket Rane
Associate Research Scientist
Herbert and Florence Irving Institute for Cancer Dynamics
I am committed to championing the rights of Columbia’s research community. My platform addresses the following critical areas:
- Securing Postdoctoral Positions: With federal research funding facing significant uncertainty and proposed cuts, I will advocate for institutional "bridge funding" and fight for a more robust "Research Stabilization Fund." We must ensure that postdoctoral researchers are not sacrificed to budget volatility or external political pressures.
- Elevating Research Titles: Researchers serving as Principal Investigators deserve titles reflecting their true responsibilities. I will advocate for the automatic adoption of "Research Professor" titles to bolster grant competitiveness and professional recognition.
- Eradicating Power-Based Bullying: Academic excellence cannot thrive in a toxic environment. I will fight for transparent, enforceable grievance procedures to protect members from harassment, ensuring Columbia’s Anti-Bullying Initiative has real teeth.
- Advocating for Equal Housing: Columbia is a dominant NYC landowner, yet affordable housing remains a barrier. I will champion fair housing initiatives to ensure all researchers, particularly international colleagues, have access to stable, non-discriminatory accommodations.
- Contract Negotiations: I will mobilize our membership to secure a strong successor contract that guarantees competitive compensation, improved benefits, and ironclad job security for every researcher.
Together, we can build a resilient, equitable, and professional research environment at Columbia.
For more information, please contact [email protected].
In this election of one Professional Research Officer (PRO) to the University Senate, following candidate was elected:
- Kara Lamb | Associate Research Scientist in the Department of Earth and Environmental Engineering
Locally-Administered Elections | Completed
The following are completed elections to the University Senate that were administered by local Elections Commissioners.
Those who are newly-elected University Senators will take their seats beginning on September 1st, 2026. All currently-serving University Senators will remain in their seats until that date.
Locally Administered Elections | In Progress
The following are in-progress elections to the University Senate that are administered by local Elections Commissioners.
To submit a nomination, vote, or get any additional information, please contact your local elections commissioner, who is the final authority on election administration. If you need help contacting them, reach out to [email protected].
Completed elections must be certified by Divisional Elections Commissioners. Once voting has closed, Divisional Elections Commissioners should send a completed Election Certification form to [email protected]. Following receipt, we will welcome new members to the University Senate and begin orientation for terms beginning on August 1st, 2026.