INFORMATION FOR
William Paterson University’s College of Science and Health provides outstanding undergraduate and graduate programs and state-of-the-art facilities that place the University at the forefront of science education in New Jersey.
The College encompasses our School of Nursing, which was established in 2023 and has grown to become the largest in Northern New Jersey and among public regional universities in the state. The College also includes the departments of biology, chemistry, computer science, speech language pathology, environmental science, kinesiology, mathematical sciences, and public health.
Our more than 100 full-time faculty are accomplished teachers, researchers, and grant winners. They foster an environment that combines intellectual inquiry with the learning of practical skills, while nurturing and guiding students toward success in their future roles as knowledgeable and responsible employees and citizens.
When you enroll in the College of Science and Health, you will benefit from a wide range of hands-on learning opportunities in our advanced facilities, including our Science Complex, which features smart classrooms and sophisticated research laboratories designed to encourage an interactive learning environment; 3D Anatomy and Virtual Dissection lab; and a cybersecurity lab, among others. Biological and environmental studies students utilize woods, ponds, streams, and a waterfall, all accessible from the campus.
Students in health-related subjects receive valuable experience in the many health facilities in northern New Jersey. In addition, nursing students benefit from the Nel Bolger, RN, Nursing Laboratory, a high-tech patient simulation laboratory suite that enables them to enhance proficiency with decision-making and procedures in a sophisticated, clinical facility. Students in our kinesiology programs have access to resources including a Human Performance Lab, Phlebotomy Lab, and Human Motion Lab, among others. In addition, our on-campus Speech and Hearing Clinic also offers clinical experience opportunities to graduate students in our speech-language pathology program.
The mission of the College of Science and Health is threefold:
Goals of the College of Science and Health:
Dean, College of Science and Health
EMAIL: sharmav@wpunj.edu
PHONE: 973-720-2194
OFFICE: Science Hall East #3019
Associate Dean, College of Science and Health
EMAIL: zelekem@wpunj.edu
PHONE: 973-720-3415
OFFICE: Science Hall East #3017
Associate Dean, School of Nursing
EMAIL: guttmanm@wpunj.edu
PHONE: 973-720-3491
OFFICE: University Hall #342
Emmanuel Onaivi, professor of biology at William Paterson University, has been recognized as a “Highly Ranked Scholar” by ScholarGPS, placing him among the top 0.5 percent of scholars worldwide for his lifetime body of research. In addition to his overall ranking, Professor Onaivi is ranked No. 27 worldwide for his work on cannabinoid receptor research.
The ScholarGPS rankings are derived from public data on close to 30 million scholars and 120,000 institutions worldwide. Scholars are evaluated across 14 broad fields, 177 disciplines, and more than 350,000 specialties.
“This honor highlights Dr. Onaivi’s pioneering contributions to advancing knowledge in the field of neuropharmacology, cannabinoid science, and drug discovery,” says WP College of Science and Health Dean Venkat Sharma. “This is an extraordinary achievement reflecting his research productivity, impact, and scholarly quality.”
Onaivi has published more than 120 research articles (journal papers and book chapters) since 1987, with citations of his work in others’ academic studies estimated to be at over 9,600, per ScholarGPS. He also edited three books on the biology of marijuana and cannabinoid research methods.
His work has led to breakthroughs on numerous topics such as the potential role of cannabinoid receptors in neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders; dopamine dysregulation and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; the regulation of neural systems underlying addiction; and the comorbidity of medical and psychiatric disorders with addiction. He has presented his work before the United States Congress on Capitol Hill and has received research grants from the National Institutes of Health and National Institute on Drug Abuse, among others.
Onaivi has mentored dozens of students in his on-campus laboratory – postdoctoral fellows, doctoral, master’s, undergraduate, and even high school students –who have gone on to successful careers as medical doctors, pharmacists, and scientists.
He is particularly fond of mentoring younger students, as he gets to watch more of their academic journeys unfold. Also, he often finds their contributions to his work to be the most valuable.
“These students have the distinct advantages of having minds free from pre-cut answers that we all acquire in our twenties,” Onaivi says of high school and undergraduate students. “They are willing to ask the kind of naïve questions that drive change and new direction.”
Onaivi proudly displays a photo of one of his former WP undergraduate research students, Monika Chung ’17, at her graduation from medical school last year. She went on to a research fellowship at the National Institutes of Health, studying the metastasis of breast cancer to the brain, and is currently a resident in Combined Anatomic and Clinical Pathology at Johns Hopkins Medical Center.
A Fulbright Scholar, guest scientist at the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and editor-in-chief for the journal Drug and Alcohol Research, Professor Onaivi has been a member of the William Paterson faculty since 2000. He received the University’s Award for Excellence in Scholarship in 2007, 2015, and 2021.
" From the time I started at William Paterson, I’ve been able to connect with my professors, including doing research over the summer, working in a biology lab."
Francisco Perez Ramos Biology/Pre-medical professions major | Class of 2025
"Majoring in Exercise Physiology here at William Paterson University has enriched my educational journey and my personal growth. This program provides in-depth hands-on experience, allows you to develop a great relationship with our amazing professors, and offers excellent internship opportunities; the professors give you many options and really want to find the perfect fit for you. Overall, this major equips students with all the knowledge and skills they need to be successful: It empowers individuals to make a big impact on the well-being of others."
Diana Zuta Exercise physiology major | Class of 2025
“Since I stepped foot into William Paterson, I’ve continuously been guided with support every step of the way. Thank you to the amazing Dr. Martin, who has invited me to partake in his research … to the ASPIRE STEM program, who have always been by my side offering me support … and to William Paterson’s professors in the College of Science and Health for continuously pushing me and supporting my dreams of becoming a physician.”
Jerline Nathaly Sanchez Biology/Premedical professions| Class of 2027
