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Impending Winter Storm

Due to the impending storm, all classes and activities at Kean’s main campus in Union, Kean Ocean and Kean Skylands will operate remotely on Sunday, January 25, and Monday, January 26. 

The University will observe a Winter Wellness Day on Tuesday, January 27, following the storm. Classes and activities will not run, and employees are not expected to work. 

Due to ongoing power problems at the Kean Ocean Gateway Building, all classes and activities at Kean Ocean will also be conducted remotely on Friday, January 23, and Saturday, January 24. This only applies to Kean Ocean. 

Only essential personnel should report to work as scheduled during the remote period or on Tuesday. Employees with questions about their status should consult their supervisor. 

Keanu’s Kitchen will remain open for residential students on the Union campus from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Tuesday. 

All vehicles parked on the Union campus must be relocated to the Vaughn-Eames overnight parking lot by 6 p.m. on Saturday to allow for storm cleanup. Vehicles parked elsewhere on campus are subject to relocation. 

Kean University Awarded National Science Foundation Grant to Explore Biological Insecticides Originating from Fungi 

Sep 08, 2025
Side by side headshots of a white female with short hair, white collared shirt and black sweater; brown male with checkered shirt and gray jacket.

Kean University continues to expand its research portfolio with a new $455,019 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to study a fungus found on aspen trees, which may lead to development of natural, eco-friendly insect repellents. 

The three-year project, funded through the NSF’s Plant-Biotic Interactions program, exemplifies Kean’s mission to produce impactful public research while offering hands-on opportunities for students. 

Principal Investigator, Kean University Associate Professor Maria Shumskaya, Ph.D., and co-Principal Investigator, Assistant Professor Supratik Kar, Ph.D., both of The Dorothy and George Hennings College of Science, Mathematics and Technology (CSMT), will lead a study of Phellinus tremulae, the fungus known as the aspen bracket. Notably avoided by insects in nature, this fungus – either alone or in partnership with the host aspen tree – may hold clues to developing safe, sustainable insect-repelling compounds for use in agriculture, forestry and public health. 

“This grant exemplifies the high-impact research taking place at Kean,” said George Chang, Ph.D., dean of CSMT. “Dr. Shumskaya and Dr. Kar’s project pushes the boundaries of discovery in biotechnology while directly involving students in hands-on, real-world science. This is the kind of innovative research that reflects Kean’s commitment to scientific excellence.” 

Using advanced techniques in metabolomics and computational modeling, including liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS), the researchers will isolate and analyze these compounds, test their effectiveness and safety, and model how they interact with insecticidal protein targets. 

“The continuous search for new insecticides is driven by environmental changes and prolonged use of synthetic insecticides, which has led to resistance in insects,” Shumskaya said. “Natural insecticides can provide an alternative to synthetic insecticides.” 

Kar’s role in the project focuses on the use of advanced computational approaches, such as molecular modeling, molecular dynamics, machine learning and artificial intelligence, to predict which compounds from the fungus are most likely to be effective as pesticides. 

“By combining these predictive tools with experimental studies performed by my colleague Dr. Shumskaya, we can speed up the discovery process and identify the most promising candidates for real-world use,” he said. “Our computational studies will help prioritize compounds with the best combination of efficacy, safety and stability, so they can move forward more quickly into potential applications.” 

Beyond its scientific goals, the project prioritizes student engagement. Kean undergraduate and local high school students will actively contribute to experiments, sample processing and data analysis. The experience will offer early exposure to careers in biology, chemistry, toxicology and computer modeling, while supporting broader efforts to increase participation in STEM fields.