Iona University Undergraduate Research Team Lands Article in American Chemical Society Publication
10 undergraduate coauthors participated in research under the guidance of Dr. Sunghee Lee, endowed professor
Members of the undergraduate research team, Project Symphony, at Iona Scholars Day 2023.
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – Iona University’s undergraduate research team, led by endowed professor Dr. Sunghee Lee, published an article titled, Aspirin Interacts with Cholesterol-Containing Membranes in a pH-Dependent Manner, which appears in Langmuir, an American Chemical Society publication.
The study's results suggest that aspirin, in the presence of cholesterol, increases water permeability, but is contingent upon how much cholesterol is in the body and the pH.
A fusion of data from varying research techniques such as calorimetry, confocal Raman microspectrophotometry, and interfacial tensiometric measurements demonstrated that aspirin has greater effects in a neutral state.
These results communicate a deeper comprehension of the varying effects of aspirin on cell membranes. It also provides further insight into the understanding of the gastrointestinal issues induced by the long-term use of this important nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory molecule.
This is a culmination of three years’ worth of research from the following 10 undergraduate co-authors.
- Michael Krmic ’22, Biochemistry
- Escarlin Perez ’22, Biochemistry
- Patrick Scollan ’21, Chemistry
- Katherine Ivanchenko ’23, Biochemistry
- Alondra Gamez Hernandez ’23, Biochemistry
- Joseph Giancaspro ’21, Biochemistry
- Juan Rosario ’21, Biochemistry
- Jasmin Ceja-Vega ’23, Biochemistry
- Jamie Gudyka ’24, Biochemistry
- Riley Porteus ’24, ACS Chemistry
Students work alongside Dr. Lee through "Project Symphony,” a research group designed to conduct research at the interface of chemistry, biology, physics, and medicine with a highly dynamic group of interdisciplinary team members.
Dr. Lee created “Project Symphony” with the goal of inspiring students to work in unison to achieve shared goals. Undergraduate students have a unique and rewarding opportunity to get their work published – which is no easy feat.
“I am proud to share a great achievement with the undergraduate research team. Their diligence and hard work successfully paid off,” said Dr. Lee. “Congratulations!”
The work of Iona’s 10 undergraduate co-authors is open to the public and can be viewed here.
ABOUT IONA
Founded in 1940, Iona University is a master's-granting private, Catholic, coeducational institution of learning in the tradition of the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers. Iona's 45-acre New Rochelle campus and 28-acre Bronxville campus are just 20 miles north of Midtown Manhattan. With a total enrollment of nearly 4,000 students and an alumni base of more than 50,000 around the world, Iona is a diverse community of learners and scholars dedicated to academic excellence and the values of justice, peace and service. Iona is highly accredited, offering undergraduate degrees in liberal arts, science and business administration, as well as Master of Arts, Master of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees and numerous advanced certificate programs. Iona students enjoy small class sizes, engaged professors and a wide array of academic programs across the School of Arts & Science; LaPenta School of Business; NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences; and Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Iona is widely recognized in prestigious rankings, including The Princeton Review’s 2025 national list of “The Best 390 Colleges” and The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse’s “2024 Best Colleges in America,” which ranked Iona at #66 in the nation overall and #8 in the nation among Catholic schools. Iona’s LaPenta School of Business is also accredited by AACSB International, a recognition awarded to just six percent of business schools worldwide. In addition, The Princeton Review recognized Iona’s on-campus MBA program as a “Best Business School for 2023.” Iona also offers a fully online MBA program for even greater flexibility. In July 2021, Iona announced the establishment of the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences, which is now principally located on Iona’s Bronxville campus in collaboration with NewYork-Presbyterian. Connecting to its Irish heritage, the University also recently announced it is expanding abroad with a new campus in County Mayo, Ireland. A school on the rise, Iona officially changed its status from College to University on July 1, 2022, reflecting the growth of its academic programs and the prestige of an Iona education.