We are here to help
General Inquiries: [email protected]
Roles and Responsibilities
Roger is the Assistant Director for Research Integrity and Compliance. His work focuses on promoting research and data integrity through various workshops and trainings, research group consultations and development of resources to aid in the conduct of research. He also works on matters concerning conflict-of-interest and research misconduct.
Biography
Before joining the Office of Research Compliance and Training, Roger was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology and Cell Biology at Columbia University Irving Medical Center for 6 years, where his research focused on the molecular mechanism of neurodegeneration and synaptic dysfunction in neurological diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease and Angelman syndrome. Dr. Lefort received his PhD in Molecular Medicine from Columbia University Irving Medical Center in 2011. He also has a strong interest in Data Science and Data Visualization and is an avid python programmer.
Roles and Responsibilities
Natalie supports the Office of Research Compliance and Training on issues related to export controls, international research and conflicts of interest in research.
Biography
Natalie received a B.S. in Public Health from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2020. Before joining Columbia, Natalie worked as a Clinical Research Specialist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center where she supported clinical trial activities within the Genitourinary Oncology service. She joined Columbia in 2024 while pursuing a Master of Science in Research Administration and Compliance.
Naomi Schrag is the Vice President for Research Compliance, Training, and Policy in the Office of the Executive Vice President for Research, and the University's Research Integrity Officer (RIO). She oversees work on issues such as research misconduct, conflict-of-interest and international research compliance, and collaborates closely with other offices across the University to develop integrated approaches to compliance and training.
Roles and Responsibilities
Michelle Avallone is the Director of Export Controls & International Engagement. Her work focuses on matters relating to U.S. export controls and economic sanctions regulations, anti-corruption regulations as well as other international research issues.
Biography
Before joining Columbia in 2013, Ms. Avallone was a government contracts attorney at Crowell & Moring LLP. She later founded a solo practice focusing on government contracts and export controls for tech startups. Ms. Avallone graduated from Columbia Law School in 2006. Prior to law school, she received an M.A. in Anthropology from Columbia University and a B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley. Ms. Avallone has been a member of the U.S. State Department’s Defense Trade Advisory Group (DTAG) since 2014.
Roles and Responsibilities
Michael Klein is the Director of Research Compliance. His work focuses on research compliance issues such as conflict-of-interest; research misconduct; and science and security.
Biography
Before joining Columbia in July 2008, Mr. Klein worked as an attorney with the New York State Task Force on Life and the Law, the state’s interdisciplinary bioethics commission; the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; and the law firm Simpson Thacher & Bartlett. Mr. Klein received a J.D. from Columbia Law School and an M.A. in science writing from the Johns Hopkins University.
Roles and Responsibilities
Liana Tascau is a Compliance Specialist in the Office of Research Compliance and Training, helping to manage the administration of the University’s policies and processes concerning conflict of interest in research.
Biography
Dr. Tascau received an M.D. from the University of Bucharest, Romania, and has a Ph.D. in Neuroscience at Rutgers, from The State University of New Jersey. After graduation, Dr. Tascau worked as a postdoctoral scientist, laboratory technician, and research worker at Columbia University. Her research was mostly focused on neuroscience, pediatric cancer, bone biology, and mechanisms of development for atherosclerosis. Dr. Tascau also received a Master of Arts from Columbia University in Clinical Bioinformatics.
Roles and Responsibilities
Jennifer Tsai is the Administrative Manager in the Office of Research Compliance and Training, providing day-to-day operational support for the office, including financial operations, budgets, ordering supplies, etc.; assists with human resources administration for the office’s staff; acts as liaison with facilities management, IT and other departments on office related issues; establishes procedures and operational goals and serves as the primary information source on office procedures.
Roles and Responsibilities
Janique's work focuses on matters relating to export controls, international research, and conflict-of-interest.
Biography
Ms. Cheesman received her Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering from Syracuse University in 2012. She then went on to complete a Master of Science in Sustainable Engineering from Villanova University. Before coming to Columbia, Ms. Cheesman worked as a consultant for two years on projects involving environmental health and safety, environmental compliance, and corporate sustainability.
Roles and Responsibilities
Carmen Nieves is the Senior Coordinator in the Office of Research Compliance and Training, providing support to RCT’s conflict of interest, export control and research misconduct activities, as well as our many training programs.
Biography
Roles and Responsibilities
Barbara Szolc is Senior Compliance Specialist. She works on issues related to conflicts of interest and research, focusing on scientific review of sponsored research and IRB protocols for potential conflicts with researchers’ financial disclosures. These assessments include reviews of technology transfer licenses to startup companies and other licensees, company R&D/pipeline descriptions, and correspondence/consultations with researchers. Dr. Szolc works closely with the Columbia University Committee on Financial Conflicts of Interest and Research.
Biography
Dr. Szolc received an M.D. from University of Lodz, Poland, and completed her postdoctoral training in biomedical science at Northwestern University and Columbia University. She has done research at government-sponsored research entities, including Brookhaven National Laboratory and Argonne National Laboratory. She was also part of the NASA Space Radiation Exploration Program (NSRSS) in 2007. Dr. Szolc has published many scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals, including J. of Rad. Bio., J Vasc Interv Radiol, Magn Reson Med., Radiology, Radiation Research, Nanomedicine and Gastroenterology. Her research was mostly focused in radiation biology, immunology, neurology and social science. Prior to returning to Columbia, Dr. Szolc worked at New York University in education management, providing oversight and monitoring of pre-doctoral academic programs.
Roles and Responsibilities
Anderson Smith is the Assistant Director for Research Compliance Education for the Office of Research Compliance and Training. His work focuses on creating educational programs on research compliance and research ethics for the Columbia research community, including faculty and staff, students, and post-doctoral research fellows.
Biography
Dr. Smith has conducted seminars and lectures at various conferences, including the American Educational Research Association (AERA), National Association of Foreign Student Advisers (NAFSA), and National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), around literacy and metacognition. His research focused on the effects of literature when used in service to people with criminal conviction histories post-incarceration. He has also taught creative writing and spoken-word poetry in both medium and maximum-security prisons in New York. Dr. Smith earned his Ph.D. in English Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, where he also earned a Master's in Philosophy and a Master's in Education for the teaching of English. He received his Master's in Fine Arts for Creative Writing from Manhattanville College.