Marc, why did you choose CCNY over other schools?

I chose City College as a place to get a high quality education for free. It was free at the time. It should still be free.

Why did you choose chemistry as your major?

I chose chemistry as a major while in the process of satisfying the prerequisites for the study of medicine. It occurred to me during the process of coursework that I had an affinity for the subject. In biology classes my interests were focused, whenever possible, on the molecular details of metabolism and structure. Subsequently I decided that I was more interested in chemistry than in medicine. Currently, there are wonderful opportunities in chemistry. I am particularly interested in nanotechnology. We can obtain images of molecules with scanning tunneling microscopy and atomic force microscopy. In my own lab we have synthesized silica nanoparticles which we have surface-derivatized with organic molecules for drug delivery. We are currently collaborating with a professor in physics to synthesize and study nanoscale molecular magnets.

What is most satisfying or least satisfying about your present career?

Chemistry continues to hold a great fascination for me. The process of discovery is a large part of how I derive my appreciation of the world in which I live. It has been a wonderful opportunity to experience not only my own awareness, the love and companionship of my family and friends, but also to uncover beauty in the submicroscopic world. As a bonus I have had numerous opportunities to share my enjoyment of chemistry with colleagues at other universities and at conferences. Sharing ideas in such venues has allowed me to travel, both domestically and abroad far more often than I would have were I not involved in research.