Investigating Impact of Differential Metabolic Gene Expressions on a Panel of Cancers

Rachel Tbeile Mann, Verrazzano Class of 2024, completed major in Psychology and minor in Biology

I have always enjoyed researching topics that interest me, and this project was no different. I had decided to graduate earlier than I expected to, so I was working on a shorter timeline but still enjoyed the process of researching and developing this thesis.

After taking radiation biology with Dr. Liu-Sullivan, I knew that I wanted to explore this topic further and reached out to her at the end of the semester about doing research. Initially, the focus of the research was going to be an investigation of drinking water quality of zip codes that are near the now closed Fresh Kills Landfill. However, the project had to be redesigned.

The Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) water quality database is only based on one water sample for all of New York, making a comparison of different zip codes impossible. As I had been a part of a research group, we decided to base our project instead on studying five types of cancers that are unusually prevalent among the Staten Island population. We each studied one of those cancers (I studied pancreatic cancer) and how varying levels of gene expression of three genes impact patient prognostics and overall survival.

To analyze the impact of gene expression on patient prognostics and overall survival, I used the KAPLAN-MEIER PLOTTER, which is a comprehensive database that provides information on differential gene expressions using Affimetrix, RNAseq, and DNA sets. This website provides figures that can then be analyzed to gain insight on differential gene expression.

The three genes I studied were: leptin, insulin, and insulin-growth factor. Insulin, which is secreted by the pancreas, controls blood sugar levels to maintain homeostasis. A regulatory protein called insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) controls growth hormones and stimulates the formation of new bones and tissues. Leptin is a protein hormone that is secreted by adipocytes and is vital to the body's energy balance. Leptin stimulates the growth of cancer cells, motility, and metastasis when a malignant tumor appears, although it is not always a cause of cancer.

It is interesting to note that while I expected differential levels of gene expression to have significant impacts on patient prognostic and survival in pancreatic cancer, that was not the case for all of the genes I had studied. Since my results weren’t what I expected, I feel like I gained even more insight on this topic than anticipated.

Through this thesis, I gained a better understanding of how research is conducted in the science world and learned that it doesn’t always go as expected. I also improved my collaboration and data analysis skills. Overall, I am grateful for this experience and especially for the unwavering guidance and support of my mentor throughout this process.

Reflections on SLS 303 Modern Cultures Course

Bayan Khalil, Verrazzano Class of 2024, completed major in SLS Early Childhood

When I reflect on the materials from the SLS 303 Modern Cultures course alongside my own time and culture, I notice the striking parallels that shed light on contemporary issues that are all around us. Exploring modernist literature like Virginia Woolf's works reveals profound insights into the human consciousness and societal expectations that are put upon us. Characters like Clarissa Dalloway and Septimus Warren Smith mirror struggles that are still faced by individuals today, such as isolation, identity, and pressure to conform. These themes resonate deeply in our world which is dominated by social media and the superficial connections that we seek.

Woolf advocated for the right of women's education and empowerment and this is part of ongoing discussions on gender equality in our current society. She challenged a society that often marginalized women's voices to show the importance of education and empowerment and she succeeded. These are seen as pillars of progress and change.

Freud's psychoanalytic theories offer valuable insights into the complexities of human behavior. While Franz Kafka's "The Metamorphosis" reveals insights into the human consciousness and our societal expectations, with Freud's theories being applied we see just how much human behavior is affected through childhood. People often view his ideas critically today, but his emphasis on the unconscious and early childhood experiences still influences contemporary psychology and is still used today. When reading his work, you can instantly feel a connection to our lives in the present day. I see parallels between Freud's concepts with how people deal with individual struggles with their unresolved issues and traumas, while they are often unaware of their underlying motivations.

When you look at art and literature from the modernist period through the work of artists like Picasso and writers like Woolf, it is obvious that there is a shared spirit of rebellion against societal norms they faced. Picasso's cubism and Woolf's stream-of-consciousness writing were groundbreaking in their era, and are reminiscent of today's movements advocating for diversity and breaking down barriers. Modernism pushed boundaries and challenged traditions, aligning with today's cultural landscape. The modernist movement reminds us of the importance of artistic expression and innovation in shaping society.

Overall, the materials from SLS 303 provided me with valuable insights that remain prevalent in my own time and society. Engaging with Woolf, Freud, Kafka and other modernist figures deepens my understanding of the human experience and their enduring impact on navigating contemporary life.

Scratch, The Beginning of Coding for Young Children

Bayan Khalil, Verrazzano Class of 2024, completed major in SLS Early Childhood

Through my research, I gained a profound understanding of the significance of digital literacy and computational thinking. Initially, when introduced to Scratch, I harbored little interest. However, collaborating closely with my mentor Dr. Ting Yuan enlightened me to its potential to revolutionize the landscape of computer science.

When looking at today's job market it is revealed that the most high-paying and sought-after positions involve some form of coding. With no prior coding experience, I wondered how individuals could grasp such concepts, especially later in life, when we could introduce this process at a younger age to ensure accessibility for all students. Not only would students acquire fundamental skills essential for future employment, but they would also develop a deeper comprehension of the digital realm, enabling them to navigate it more adeptly than ever before.

The integration of computational thinking into school curriculum is pivotal for children's development, fostering problem-solving skills and enabling them to discern its real-life applications. This structured problem-solving approach proves invaluable not only in coding but also in real-world scenarios.

My journey with Scratch opened my eyes to how a children's digital platform could revolutionize STEM education in schools. It stands out as an exceptional introductory tool, presenting a block-based interface that allows them to develop both technical and creative skills. My research underscores its superior engagement compared to traditional teaching methods. Students are naturally drawn to its interactive nature, fostering an environment where they can experiment and take control of their learning, potentially reaching a level of proficiency sought after by high-tech industries while still in school.

Scratch transcends barriers, fostering inclusivity and accessibility, particularly for students with disabilities. It not only facilitates communication but also encourages creative exploration and bridges language gaps. Most importantly, teachers play a pivotal role in facilitating this learning journey. They serve as guides, ensuring a smooth learning process tailored to individual needs. As I prepare to embark on my career as an early childhood educator, I recognize how this shift in teaching methodologies emphasizes the importance of understanding students' preferences and leveraging technology to enhance their educational experience.

My collaboration with Dr. Yuan has fundamentally altered my perspective on teaching, enriching my understanding of how to become a more effective educator. I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to work alongside such an exceptional professor and eagerly anticipate future collaborations. Even as I graduate from college, my journey with Scratch is only just beginning.

Mechanisms of Sleep

Zakary Blyth, Verrazzano Class of 2024, completed major in Psychology

Working on my capstone project was an academically fulfilling experience, full of challenges and triumphs. With the help of Dr. Batmanian, I put together a literature review consisting of all of the significant research and discoveries revolving around sleep within the last decade.

The past decade has been a fruitful period for sleep research, with studies attempting to solidify what the ideal conditions are for the perfect night’s sleep, and studies that take a deeper look into what goes on within the body during the deep sleeping hours. This also includes new discoveries about what the potential consequences are for the body when one is sleep deprived for an elongated period of time (usually consistently for years). Using these studies, I combined the information from all three sections to isolate the perfect conditions for optimal productivity and cognitive output.

The experience of this was challenging at times, as there was no shortage of brand new research. With all of these articles to choose from, choosing the ones that were most relevant, and which tied together with the other articles from each section was quite the task. By the end of the project, I ended up using 19 different studies, all of which have ideas that are interwoven within the others. There were a few rewrites as well, to make sure I got what I needed from each article. Although this proved to be challenging at the beginning, the amount of new information I learned by the end was well worth it. I got the chance to really use the skills I learned about writing APA research papers, and got the opportunity to write a full-length review of my own, which was a great experience. Dr. Batmanian was extremely helpful in helping me to edit my work, and helped keep my ideas on track, along with giving several helpful suggestions that helped the paper flow better.

The other component of the project, the poster board, was a wonderful learning experience as well. Having to pinpoint a select few talking points from the paper that effectively summarized the main ideas of the work was interesting, and designing the poster itself was pretty fun, because there were so many options. I was excited to share my work at the Undergraduate Research Conference.

Overall, my experience completing my capstone project was a great one. I got the opportunity to learn a lot about sleep (and there is so much more to know that has not been discovered yet), and present it as comprehensively as I could. I was able to use the skills I learned throughout my time at CSI, and complete a project that I am proud of. I could not wait to present this work, and to see the amazing work of my peers.

Emphasis in Speech: The Individual’s Perspective

Thikra Mohammad, Verrazzano Class of 2024, completed major in English Linguistics and minor in Speech Language Pathology

My independent study research class has been one of the most beneficial and challenging courses I have ever taken in my college career. The research stood out with a lot of practical tools and concepts I learned over the past year. I worked on a group project all semester with other college students, trying our absolute best to gather data, with our English Linguistics professor alongside us helping us every step of the way.

When this research first began, I didn't know what to expect. I had never taken an independent study before, and I worked with a professor on researching empathy and how it intertwines with our ability to perceive and comprehend the emotions conveyed through speech.

It was so interesting to investigate how our tendency to hear or distinguish between how people emphasize words during speech may be related to particular character traits. As time passed and we reached our maximum number of participants to volunteer to take the study in our research lab, it was a surreal feeling. I remember telling my parents how it was a very different feeling than completing most of my classes after finalizing the research. It was a feeling like no other, knowing that you worked so hard, trying to find participants that fit the criteria of only native English-speaking individuals and having a total of 100 volunteers. I had accomplished something I never saw myself doing the last 3 years or even back when I was in high school.

This research was so cool to see the intriguing relationship between empathy and speech perception, but it mainly focused on how individual differences in perspective-taking abilities shape the sensitivity to vocal emphasis. It took a lot of time and effort to make this research successful and possible for all of us to present at the undergraduate conference.

The purpose of this capstone was to show compelling insights into the interplay between empathy and speech perception. The positive correlation observed between perspective-taking abilities and sensitivity to vocal emphasis underscores the pivotal role of empathy in facilitating accurate interpretation of what are called prosodic cues.

In the present study, we tested for a relationship between empathy; an aspect of personality, and cognitive processing style and emphasis. We found that individual differences in empathy were predictive in the perception of emphasis. It was estimated using measures of emotion recognition, and emphasis was operationalized as the height of pitch levels on words, in what is known as Words with Sentenced Stress. This shows that empathy may be an important source of individual differences in perceiving and understanding spoken language.

This research project was a major turning point in my undergraduate experience and was both demanding and enlightening. Working with classmates and a dedicated professor brought richness to the experience, and as a capstone course, it offered an environment for putting learned principles into practice. Investigating the relationship between speech perception and empathy provided exciting new insights into the dynamics of human communication. The results of participant recruitment, study design, and data analysis demonstrated how important empathy is in influencing how we interpret spoken language. This study reflects my progress and perseverance during my time in college and adds to the academic conversation as well as being a personal accomplishment.

Building a Free Code Assistant

Prince Addo, Verrazzano Class of 2024, completed major in Computer Science and minor in Mathematics

For my capstone I worked on a free and open-source AI(Artificial Intelligence) code assistant. More specifically, I built a free and open-source neovim plugin called ollama-pilot.nvim that uses the ollama framework for open-source model integration. Although AI code assistant’s tools have quickly become popular amongst programmers, their close-source nature has been contentious. My project is novel in that it is the first implementation of a completely open-source code assistant.

I’ve had a real interest in hacking ever since taking computer science seriously after graduating high school. The idea of creating clever tools to break into systems piqued my interest; it was a mixture of technology and art, which I was exploring at the time. In order to successfully break into a system, like a true hacker, you must first understand the ins-and-outs of a system; only then can you creatively break it—like Picasso once said, “learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.” Although I was never able to fully pursue hacking, this interest led to me learning about software development, Linux, and most importantly, open-source.

To me, open-source is a positive and peaceful place; there exists bad actors and people with ulterior motives, but similar to capitalism or blockchain algorithms, unless the majority of the system consists of bad actors, the system will function as intended. In computer systems, the source-code is the truth, therefore if someone hides or obfuscates the source-code then they might be lying—and one can argue that they probably are. As the name implies, open-source is about making the source-code open to the public to view, therefore it is the ultimate expression of honesty that can be made. If the source-code is available, and you want to know whether a program is not doing anything malicious, you can just read the code. If it’s not available, you have to operate on the trust-me-bro principle, which is infamous for being precarious in the computer industry.

Open-source is also a place to share and collaborate on projects with like-minded people. This builds confidence and a sense of community, which is important since the practice of programming is often isolating. I’ve met some of my closest friends working on open-source projects. Open-source can be taken further by making it free; the term free is not free as in price, all open-source projects are by nature free, but as in the freedom for anybody to modify the source-code in whichever way they want. If any security concern was introduced, instead of being only able to detect it, they would be able to remove it.

I came across Vim, a free and open-source project, really early in my programming journey. Once you’re in the realm of Linux, Vim is bound to come across your radar. It took me a while to appreciate it, but as I got more proficient, I gained more respect for it. It always felt a little too difficult, so I was never able to fully dive into it until NeoVim came out. NeoVim takes Vim and adds more features to, features which for one, make it more accessible to new programmers. On top of that, package managers like lazy.nvim that recently came out have made the experience of plugin management a lot easier and intuitive.

After the release of ChatGPT and the subsequent release of all things AI related, I started exploring AI and AI tools and began using my first code assistant called Codeium. I loved using it because it simplified the development process, but I couldn’t really trust it. I knew that my data was being sent to the Codeium servers and the code for those servers are not open-source, therefore who knows what they are doing with it. I had to shut it off and I eventually just stopped using it. I looked for some solution, but there was none, so I endeavored to build one, which is where this project comes in. Open-source AI is at its infancy and has several problems. One is that it requires an expensive computer to run it in a reasonable amount of time—or sometimes run at all. Another problem is that it is difficult to host. The latter problem was solved once I found the ollama framework, which is essentially a framework that allows you to host open-source models. The former problem is much harder, but will probably be fixed in the coming years. Once the major roadblocks were gone all that was left to do was architect and write the code. This proved to be very difficult as the learning curve was steep, but I committed myself to breaking the project into components and tackling each component in the development process. As of this writing, I have not completed the project, but I plan on getting at least an alpha or beta version out there.

Should Vocational Education be Included in Secondary Education?

Lauren Cardieri, Verrazzano Class of 2024, completed major in Mathematics (7-12) and minors in ASL and Business

Before I began my research, I had a strong belief that vocational training was needed in secondary schools and should be reimplemented. I developed this belief from my own experience in schooling growing up, as I only ever received classes that were heavily based on academics.

I used to hear stories from my relatives about their experiences in vocational classes, such as crafting furniture or rewiring a light switch, and truly I felt overlooked in my educational pursuit. While they all learned life skills that they still utilize to this day, I only learned how to properly write essays and how to multiply matrices, which may help me in higher education courses, but never in real-life, everyday experiences. I found myself wishing that I had some classes that would teach me skills that could be transferred to my outside life other than academics, hence, becoming a strong supporter of vocational education.

However, once I truly looked into the history and ideology behind vocational education, I quickly realized that this would not be the best course for secondary education institutions to go down. Instead of opening opportunities for students like I had envisioned, it instead limited students immensely, discriminated against certain people, and only had the intention of benefiting the economy rather than the students themselves.

For example, only poor, minority students would be primarily placed in these vocational classes, while the more privileged students would be placed in academic courses that could lead to higher education paths. The students left in these vocational classes would then be bound to the specific career type with little to no ability to move to another career type or chance of obtaining a high-paying job.

Because of this, I now became opposed to reestablishing vocational education in high schools and understood why there was such a movement to remove it from secondary schools.

On the other hand, Career and Technical Education (CTE) quickly caught my eye. It is the perfect balance of academic education and vocational education, as students are expected to take basic academics that will give them the opportunity to attend a higher educational facility, but it also expects students to learn specific skills. Instead of these skills being non-transferable, students in CTE education learn skills that pertain to a specific career cluster, meaning they have a multitude of career path options when exiting college. Students who participate in this type of education also receive certifications in many fields that will allow them to obtain a job straight out of high school if they wish.

The project could be developed further by finding students that received each type of education, academic, vocational, and CTE, and collect research on them. It would be interesting to see what opportunities each student received after high school, what skills they left with, how much money they receive from their jobs, if they attended a higher education, what their opinions are, and much more. With this information, I would be able to either solidify my belief that CTE is the best education type, or possibly even be thrown for another loop in my beliefs.

Event Management and Student Engagement in Higher Education

Emily Jimenez, Verrazzano Class of 2024, completed major in Business Management 

For my capstone project, I researched how the different functions of management affect event planning in higher education, and how campus activities departments and student programming boards can leverage their skills and knowledge during the event planning process in order to increase student engagement within their events. My interest in doing research on this topic came about as a result of my involvement with CSI’s Campus Activities Board (CAB), which is a programming board that plans a wide variety of events for CSI students. I served as the Chairperson of the Board, leading our team in planning and organizing these events as well as managing our budget.

Because of my own involvement with CAB, I was particularly interested in studying how effective event planning and evaluation methods could create a better experience for the students attending events on campus, thus creating higher levels of engagement that extend far beyond the events the student attends.

To begin working on my project, I first sought to gain a deeper understanding of the idea of student engagement. I learned that student engagement is a multifaceted concept, encompassing students’ academic pursuits, social interactions, and overall sense of belonging within their institution and campus community. It refers to the level of investment students have both in their classroom learning and in their overall college experience. Students who are highly engaged with their broader college experience outside of the classroom tend to have stronger positive outcomes.

After researching the concept of student engagement, I then began learning about event management, and how effective event management can lead to increased student engagement. I split my research on event management into three different sections: (1) design and planning, (2) implementation and logistics, and (3) assessment and evaluation. In this portion of my research, I learned how campus activities departments and student programming boards could consider student interests and encourage participation in the events that they plan, utilizing quantitative and qualitative assessment methods to evaluate their progress. Event organizers can utilize the feedback they receive to identify the strengths and weaknesses associated with their past events. Throughout my research, I related what I was learning to my own experience with CAB. This allowed me to provide anecdotal evidence, using some of CAB’s events and initiatives as examples in my work.

After graduating, I will continue with school to pursue a graduate degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs. Working on this capstone project helped me to solidify my decision to enroll in my graduate program. I found the research very interesting, especially since I will be working as a Graduate Assistant in Campus Activities. I would definitely like to continue learning more about event management and student engagement as a graduate student. I would love to learn more about the impact of technology in student engagement, especially as it relates to events. More specifically, I would like to explore the most effective ways to use technology for creating more engaging and accessible events.

Advanced Nanoengineering for Glucose Sensing and Drug Delivery Systems

Sakina Saeed, Verrazzano Class of 2024, completed major in Biology

Collaborating in the laboratory with my mentor Dr. Shuiqin Zhou, her doctoral graduate Koushik Bhattacharya, and Dr. Prashun Roy, has been an immensely transformative experience that goes beyond academic pursuits. I had the privilege of being instructed in an Organic Chemistry I lab by Professor Prashun Roy prior to my research experience, and gained a comprehensive understanding of his methodologies and approaches to addressing particular challenges, which set a strong foundation for my subsequent research endeavors.

During our research, our collective efforts were focused on exploring innovative solutions for managing diabetes, specifically investigating the integration of fluorescent systems for glucose sensing and insulin delivery. The primary aspects encountered in this experience on a personal level were growth as an individual, challenges faced, and meaningful insights gained from this research journey.

Embarking on a collaborative research journey with experts in diverse fields such as synthetic chemistry, polymerization techniques, and biomedical applications was truly enlightening. Dr. Zhou’s mentorship not only expanded my technical knowledge but also nurtured critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Working as a team taught me the value of effective communication, collaboration, and leveraging collective expertise to drive meaningful research outcomes. Moreover, this collaborative environment allowed me to build strong professional relationships and learn from the unique perspectives of each team member.

Our research project centered around addressing the challenges faced by individuals with Type 1 diabetes, with a keen focus on the seamless integration of continuous glucose monitoring and precise insulin delivery. Delving into the potential of fluorescent systems for dual functionality not only broadened our horizons but also paved the way for innovative approaches in healthcare. This hands-on experience not only deepened my understanding but also reignited my fervor for contributing to advancements that have a direct and tangible impact on the well-being and quality of life of patients. It was fulfilling to see how our research could potentially transform healthcare practices and improve patient outcomes.

One of the most exhilarating aspects of this research journey was the exposure to advanced machines and tools that revolutionized our approach to scientific inquiry. The Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), Photoluminescence Spectroscopy (PL), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), and Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) were not just instruments in a lab but gateways to a deeper understanding of molecular structures and material properties. The hands-on experience with these technologies not only expanded my technical proficiency but also fostered a deeper appreciation for material characterization techniques and their significance in biomedical applications.

Reflecting on my time in the lab with Dr. Zhou, Koushik, and Dr. Roy, I am grateful for the invaluable experiences, mentorship, and personal growth that this journey has provided. Collaborative research, coupled with exposure to advanced machines and tools, not only expanded my scientific knowledge but also nurtured essential skills such as teamwork, communication, and problem-solving. This experience has deepened my passion for contributing to meaningful research endeavors and has prepared me for future challenges and opportunities in the field of biomedical engineering. While I am passionate about becoming a Physician Assistant (PA) and directly contributing to patient care, this research experience has ignited another found passion for research in a laboratory setting. I envision combining my clinical skills as a PA with continued research in biomedical engineering, aiming to bridge the gap between innovative research and practical healthcare applications. This dual approach will not only enhance my capabilities as a healthcare professional but also contribute significantly to advancing healthcare practices and patient outcomes.