Promoting Early Engagement in Research
Reinforcing its reputation as a center for applied, community-engaged scholarship, New York Institute of Technology recently completed the ninth year of its Mini-Research Grants Awards (MRGA) program to encourage high school students to pursue science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields.
A total of 148 projects were submitted, representing 208 participating high school student team members. Thirty-five grants were awarded toward newly proposed or continuing projects at 24 high schools.
Niharika Nath, Ph.D., professor of biological and chemical sciences, founded the program and continues to oversee it. She notes that this cycle reflects the program鈥檚 growing visibility and alignment with supporting pre-college outreach and access through early engagement in research. Proposals were evaluated through a structured, competitive review process, which Nath co-led with , professor of physical therapy, and , associate professor of computer science. Graduate and undergraduate student reviewers also provided meaningful participation; they include life sciences student Lissa Joseph (life sciences); Doctor of Physical Therapy students Daniel Chan and Charles Siguenza; biology students Nigel Oommen and Gianna Salib; and M.B.A. student Aryan Gudibanda.
鈥淭his evaluation model ensured scientific rigor while offering professional opportunities for 91社区 students,鈥� says Nath.
Select awarded projects include:
- 鈥淩eal-Time AI-Powered Low-Cost Pollen Sensor for Allergy Risk Monitoring鈥�
- 鈥淢achine Learning Prediction of Membrane Performance for Various PFAS Removal鈥�
- 鈥淎 BIO-Based Model of Fusobacterium nucleatum-Driven Oral Carcinogenesis鈥�
- 鈥淭he Influence of Agricultural Pollutants on Freshwater Planaria鈥�
- 鈥淐omputational Simulation of Microbiome-Derived LPS Gene Dysregulation and TLR4-Mediated Inflammation in Irritable Bowel Syndrome鈥�
- 鈥淒evelopment of an Aptamer Gold Nanoparticle Colorimetric Biosensor for the Detection and Quantification of Zinc in Water鈥�
- 鈥淰OCuum: A Biotechnological Vacuum for On-Site Filtration of Airborne Pollutants in Construction鈥�
- 鈥淒etermining the Microplastic Shedding Rates for Food Containers Based on Plastic Type鈥�
- 鈥淐ursive Proficiency and Working Memory During Handwriting and Typing: An EEG Study鈥�
- 鈥淚nvestigating the Impact of the Gut Microbiome on Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitor Efficiency in Alzheimer鈥檚 Disease Using Drosophila鈥�
- 鈥淕enerational Cohort and AI Literacy as Predictors of Nurses鈥� Intent to Integrate AI in the Hospital Setting鈥�
- 鈥淭he Effects of Vitamin C on Allium fistulosum 搁别驳别苍别谤补迟颈辞苍鈥�
- 鈥淭he Effect of Temperature on Health of a Saltwater System Using Saccharina latissima and Mytilus edulis as Model Organisms鈥�
- 鈥淭he Effects of Pre-existing Stress and Social Media on Adolescent Stress Levels Using Electroencephalography Brain Wave Analysis鈥�
Additionally, local media have highlighted awarded projects from in Wantagh, N.Y., and in Massapequa, N.Y.
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