About
Leader in Higher Education, 2018, NJ
2018 Honor Roll (NJBiz) for cancer research
U.S. Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) Councilor in the Biology Division (2018-2021)
National Academies Education Fellow in Sciences (2015-2016)
Scientific Reviewer, U.S. Department of Defense (since 2012)
Founder and President of Charity “A Generation Without Cancer” (since 2019)
Founding Director of Scientific Undergraduate Research Institute (SURI) (since 2014)
“Poster on the Hill”, Washington, DC, US Congress (2019)
Patent: Open-Ended: A Talk Show (2018)
Dr. Natalia Coleman is an Associate Professor of Biology. She is also Founder and Director of the acclaimed Scientific Undergraduate Research Institute.
Dr. Natalia Coleman holds a PhD in Genetics from the Genetics and Biotechnology Department, Agricultural University, St. Petersburg, Russia. She received training in “Teaching sustainable use of animal genetics resources”, Uppsala, Sweden; in Stem Cells biology, from NIH (National Institutes of Health), Bethesda, USA. Dr. Coleman is currently studying Immunology and Human Physiology in Harvard Medical School.
Dr. Coleman’s research focuses on cancer and stem cell biology. Her Lab is currently working on the following research projects:
The molecular and cellular mechanisms responsible for learning disabilities associated with Neurofibromatosis type I (NFI).
NMDA receptors as a new therapeutic target in cancers (breast, prostate, lung, melanoma)
The cellular and molecular mechanisms of heavy metal toxicity in the blood brain barrier.
The role of oxygen and noise in stem cell differentiation into neurons.
She received several grants from pharmaceutical companies to study novel compounds in possible cancer treatments. Additionally, she investigates the implementation of technology-enhanced, learner-centered practices in STEM curriculum. Dr Coleman’s educational research is predominately funded by the MSEIP grant ($714,000), US Department of Education. She has supervised more than 40 research students during the past 10 years. To build up the research program within the Biology Department at NJCU, she established the following initiatives: Departmental research coordinator position; biology research forum, biology student research orientation, standing research committee. At the university level she created the successful NJCU Summer STEM Undergraduate Students Exchange Program and cross-disciplinary NJCU Student Research Symposium. During the last five years these initiatives have directly impacted more than 800 students. She published numerous book chapters, books, peer-reviewed articles, as well as presented her work at more than 50 conferences.
Dr. Coleman is an U.S. Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) Councilor in the Biology Division.
Dr. Coleman received several significant awards for her scientific research and the training of undergraduate students: