Alumna Rebecca Panko Earns Ph.D. in Biology and American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellowship at EPA

Rebecca Panko recalls an unfortunate, yet eye opening, job interview that led her to enroll in 2009 at the Borough of Manhattan College (BMCC/CUNY) and eventually go on to earn a Ph.D. in Biology.

“That random job interview made me realize I wasn’t living up to my potential,” said Dr. Panko, who also says the interview took place near Chambers St. in lower Manhattan.

Just minutes after the interview, Panko passed an advertisement for BMCC. In that moment something clicked.

In 2011, Panko earned her Associate of Science at BMCC and in 2014, a Bachelor of Science in Biology summa cum laude from the City College of New York (CCNY/CUNY).

At CCNY, Panko participated in a community-based research programs through the Colin Powell Center for Leadership and Service.

Through her undergraduate research experience, Panko bypassed earning a master’s degree and instead applied directly to a Ph.D. program. She earned her Ph.D. in Biology at the Federated Department of Biological Sciences (jointly located at The New Jersey Institute of Technology and Rutgers University-Newark) in 2020.

The path to conducting research in the science of urban ecosystems

Today, Dr. Panko is an evolutionary plant biologist who conducts research in the science of urban ecosystems. In 2022, she was chosen as a Science and Technology Policy Fellow with the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), and is currently hosted at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Research and Development, Integrated Climate Sciences Division in Washington D.C.

In this role, she co-leads projects that assess the potential of urban forests and greenspaces for alleviating climate, pollution, and environmental justice co-stressors.

Her key areas of focus include best practices for incorporating green infrastructure and nature-based solutions to mitigate the impacts of climate change to help inform future policy and land management practices.

Panko, who has ecological and botanical expertise, was born to two national park rangers who lived in Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. When she was around two years old, her father was transferred to the Statue of Liberty National Monument in New York City.

“We lived on Liberty Island in government housing,” said Panko. “Then, when I was around five years old, my dad was transferred to Biscayne National Park, so the family moved to Homestead Florida.”

Eventually, both parents got jobs at the Everglades National Park headquarters, also in Homestead, which is just south of Miami.

Growing up, Panko says she was always a “science-y-kid.” She loved being outdoors, climbing trees, but also had a deep fascination with plants.

“I would spend hours just picking up leaves or looking at flowers,” said Panko. “Later on, in high school, I participated in regional, state and international science fairs.”

Ultimately, though, “high school really wasn’t for me,” she says, “so I left early with a G.E.D and tried photography, which is something I still love doing.”

From south Florida to New York City

In 2004, Panko made the decision to move from south Florida back to New York City to pursue a career in fashion photography, but soon realized it wasn’t for her. She then started working at whatever jobs she could land including sales at a music store, dog walker, and at a plant store.

It was a job interview during this time that led her to make the life-changing decision to enroll at BMCC.

After earning a 4.0 grade point average during her first two semesters, Panko met with BMCC Scholarship and Special Services Manager Sussie Gyamfi who connected her to a scholarship workshop that stressed the importance of becoming involved in the academic community by tutoring and participating in student clubs. Her advice inspired Panko to take on many extracurricular roles at BMCC, including biology and genetics tutor, math coach, peer achievement leader, peer mentor, and laboratory aide.

Panko reached out to her BMCC Science professors and explained her goal to pursue a doctorate degree, and asked if she could participate in any research projects. Two of them said yes.

As part of a Biology honors project, Panko worked with Science Professor Nanette van Loon to design a project studying omega-3 fatty acids of plants using FTIR Spectroscopy. In another project, this time led by Science Professor David Krauss, she focused on measuring plant biodiversity in New York City parks.

“Due to my high grades, research projects, and many extracurricular roles at BMCC, I earned both the Abner B. Rosenfield Scholarship and the BMCC Foundation Scholarship,” said Panko, who was also the featured student speaker of the foundation’s 23^rd annual gala.

Fast forward to today, and Panko says that she has refined her own skill set through her position as an AAAS fellow, and has also learned about the vital role government policy plays in resolving critical climate issues.

“I plan to stay in government work moving forward and to be part of a community of problem solvers who are trying to resolve incredibly complex global issues,” said Panko. “There are so many issues I’m passionate about that need an all-hands-on-deck approach, such as climate change impacts, environmental justice, urban greenspace equity, and pollution.”

And she says it was BMCC that helped set her on the path to her current place at the table.

“I wouldn’t be where I am today without my education at BMCC, and the support from all the staff and all the professors I met there,” said Panko. “It truly was a life-changing move.”