Analyzing Malware Safely: A Virtual Lab for Cybersecurity Research

Evan Brown, Verrazzano Class of 2025, completed major in Computer Science 

For my capstone I created a virtual malware analysis lab, with the objective of having a fully functional and safe environment to run and analyze malware without any risk of causing real damage. Cybersecurity is my passion, and it is a vast and changing field. On my journey, I realized I had yet to uncover the world of malware analysis, which sparked my curiosity. I used to watch YouTube videos of detonation of malware, but now I could do it myself.

Malware and cyber threats continue to evolve, which makes it so important to have analysis in order to develop the proper counter measures and awareness. I had some general knowledge of how I would go about setting this kind of lab up beforehand. I knew I would need virtual machines, which are software computers inside your actual computer, to keep the effects of the malware isolated. I also knew there were a lot of safety precautions I would have to take and thoroughly familiarize myself with.

 

Once I chose the virtual machines I would be using, the setup process turned out to be long and challenging. Many of the tools I needed were sensitive downloads which led to many things going wrong. Any issue in a single download could lead to hours of troubleshooting. Many things did not download properly, were outdated, or were not available anymore entirely. These problems were frustrating, but I didn’t let it deter me and I eventually was able to set up everything that I wanted, or made compromises when I had to. That was the least fun part of the project, and I was glad to get it out of the way early.

 

The rest of the setup dealt with setting up a private network for the virtual machines, which didn’t cause too many problems. Surprisingly, once everything was set up, the rest of the safety precautions were easy to put in place and remember, relieving me slightly of the stress of beginning to run real world malware. I didn’t detonate my first piece of malware until I was absolutely sure it was properly isolated and safe. Despite my confidence and triple-checks that everything was ready, the first time was extremely nerve-wracking. After that however, it became easier and easier. Thankfully there have been no accidents so far.

 

The next major step was to learn how to analyze this malware I could now safely run. This was a very fun process to learn the techniques, and then immediately put them into use on my own desktop, which was incredibly rewarding.

 

The greatest part about this capstone is that there is no end to the techniques I can learn, and malware I can analyze. I may have the fundamentals down, but there is so much more to explore. With my lab fully operational, I can now focus entirely on expanding my knowledge. Overall this was an extremely insightful project opening a brand-new door to cybersecurity and a potential career field. My use of this lab is far from over, as I continue to expand my expertise in this field.

The Implication of INO80 Acetylation in Transcriptional Activation

Anusha Haris, Verrazzano Class of 2025, completed major in Biology

My capstone project was a dive into the fascinating field of gene regulation. Gene regulation is the process by which the information encoded in our DNA is translated into the diverse characteristics that make us who we are. My research specifically focused on the INO80 chromatin remodeling complex and its role in this complicated process.
The question that drove my work was identifying the exact lysine residue within the INO80 complex that undergoes acetylation, a modification known to play a key role in influencing gene expression.
Looking back on the experience, my initial interest in gene regulation stemmed from classes like the Biology of Disease and Genetics. These classes opened my eyes to how cells coordinate gene expression and how disruptions can lead to the diseases and conditions we see in our everyday lives.
Though I was very excited to tackle my project when it first began, and I started with a clear framework, my work also involved navigating unexpected challenges. Without a doubt, the most difficult aspects of the research were fine-tuning the PCR conditions. Achieving the correct annealing temperatures for primer binding and troubleshooting inconsistent results required persistence and analytical thinking. In contrast, the earlier stages of sample preparation were relatively straightforward.
One of the most surprising things for me was the sheer amount of troubleshooting characteristics in molecular biology research. I learned that scientific progress often involves overcoming obstacles and adapting experimental strategies. My experiences in the lab were also very different from what I expected. Long hours were spent running tests and waiting for results. However, all the benchwork I performed helped me gain much experience in the kind of tests performed in the field of genomics.
Several different routes could be taken in terms of future research directions with my project. Investigating the specific enzymes responsible for INO80 acetylation would provide valuable insights into the regulatory mechanisms at play. Furthermore, it would be interesting to examine how this acetylation is influenced by various cellular signals and map out the protein-protein interactions mediated by the identified lysine residue.
The capstone experience has been enriching, providing me with invaluable skills and insights. I've honed my abilities in molecular biology techniques, developed my problem-solving skills, and cultivated a deeper appreciation for the scientific process. Beyond the technical expertise, this research has reinforced my passion for scientific inquiry and its potential to make meaningful contributions to advancing human health. As someone pursuing a BS/ MS in Biology on the Pre-med track, this project allowed me to explore the foundational science that supports human health and disease. As I progress in my pre-med track, I am eager to integrate this research foundation with my clinical experiences to provide comprehensive, cutting-edge care to future patients.

Color Psychology in the Context of Advertising

Mariam Ibrahim, Verrazzano Class of 2025, completed major in Business Marketing   

My capstone project explores how colors affect consumer emotions, perceptions, and decision-making, and how businesses use these effects in their marketing strategies. This topic brings together ideas from psychology, branding, and culture to better understand how something as simple as a color choice can shape a brand’s identity and influence buyer behavior.

I first became interested in this area through my MKT 211 class where we had to do a SWOT Analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) of Budweiser. My role in this group project was so analyze the brand’s most recent add, analyzing the color psychology of the brand’s newest item and what each color represented, and give suggestions to the brand on how they could improve their advertising campaigns.

As someone who also runs a small online makeup resale business, I’ve always paid attention to product packaging and branding, especially how certain colors grab attention or suggest particular qualities like luxury, freshness, or eco-friendliness. That curiosity led me to research deeper theories behind color usage in advertising.

Going into the capstone, I expected the process to feel like an extension of my usual class research, but more in-depth. In reality, it was much more immersive than I imagined. One of the most challenging parts was finding accessible and reliable academic resources. Many scholarly articles were behind paywalls, so I had to spend time searching for open-access versions or request help from my professors and library resources. The literature review and theoretical foundation section also required a lot of discipline because it involved connecting abstract theories, like associative learning or semiotics, to practical marketing examples.

The easiest part was visualizing the ideas for my research poster. Since color is such a visual topic, creating the layout felt natural. I enjoyed transforming dense research into something engaging and visually appealing for a broader audience. I was also pleasantly surprised by how many everyday examples I could pull from—like Coca-Cola’s use of red or Facebook’s blue, to show color’s power in real life.

Overall, this journey has confirmed my passion for branding and advertising. I now feel more confident in analyzing why brands make the visual choices they do, and I’m excited to continue exploring how marketing can tap into our subconscious perceptions in meaningful and ethical ways.

Preparation and Characterization of Multi-Responsive Microgels for Controlled Drug Release

Hadi Abbas, Verrazzano Class of 2025, completed major in Biochemistry and minor in Chemistry

For my capstone project, I investigated the preparation and characterization of multi-responsive microgels designed for controlled drug release. The main objective was to create a biocompatible, intelligent drug delivery system that could respond to environmental stimuli—specifically temperature and pH changes—to release therapeutics precisely at diseased sites while minimizing off-target effects.

Using oligo (ethylene glycol)-based polymers, I synthesized microgels crosslinked with dynamic boronate ester bonds. These microgels shrank in response to increased temperature and swelled in acidic environments, which simulated conditions like inflammation or tumors. The results demonstrated that drug release could be finely tuned by adjusting environmental conditions and crosslinker density, confirming the potential of these systems for targeted therapeutic delivery across a broad range of diseases.

I initially identified this research area by reading literature about smart biomaterials and their applications in personalized medicine. My primary motivation came from a desire to bridge materials science with healthcare innovation. Having seen firsthand, through volunteering in hospitals, how systemic side effects from cancer treatments affect patients, I became interested in how drug delivery could be made safer and more localized.

At the start, I expected the capstone to mostly involve straightforward lab work: synthesizing polymers, testing drug release, and gathering data. In reality, it was much more iterative and creative. Designing the polymer system required frequent adjustments, from tweaking monomer ratios to troubleshooting purification methods. It wasn't just about following a recipe — it was about understanding the behavior of materials and learning to adapt.

One major challenge was mastering the synthesis conditions. Small variations in temperature, stirring rates, or initiator concentrations drastically affected the size and uniformity of the microgels. Another challenge was learning to interpret dynamic light scattering data; the patterns were sometimes noisy and required careful calibration. On the easier side, preparing buffer solutions and conducting fluorescence measurements for drug loading were relatively straightforward tasks, as these were familiar techniques from previous coursework. A surprising aspect was how sensitive the microgels were to minor pH changes; even slight variations outside of expected ranges caused significant differences in swelling and drug release, underscoring how critical precise control is for real-world applications.

If I were to continue this research, I would explore integrating a third stimulus-responsiveness, such as redox-sensitivity, to make the system even more specific to cellular micro-environments. Redox-responsive bonds could trigger drug release inside cells that have high glutathione concentrations, such as tumor cells, adding another layer of precision. I would also test the microgels in more biologically relevant conditions, like serum-containing media, to understand how proteins might affect their behavior.

What I am taking away from this experience is the realization that research is both meticulous and imaginative. Success doesn't come just from technical skill—it comes from asking the right questions, designing clever experiments, and embracing setbacks as opportunities to learn. Working independently also built my confidence in experimental design and critical analysis. Finally, I developed a deeper appreciation for interdisciplinary research, as this project combined polymer chemistry, biomedical engineering, and pharmaceutical sciences. These lessons will stay with me as I pursue future opportunities in biomedical innovation.

Traits Associated with Range Sizes and Driver of Individual Species Diversity of American Birds

Morgan Novello, Verrazzano Class of 2025, completed major in Biology, and minor in Italian

I did not know where to begin when it came to my capstone research. Luckily, I had just taken Professor Manne's biology statistics class and she was looking for students for an independent study. I responded right away to see what it was about. During out first meeting she mentioned that we would be studying birds and their traits, and I knew that this would be right for me. My grandad and I used to watch birds in the park when I was younger. He passed a little before the meeting and it gave me another chance to connect with him.

Research with Dr. Manne began by using the most significant traits of birds to see how they related to range size. When you think of birds you may assume that small birds move further because they have less weight to fly around. For instance, a larger body size may directly expand their range due to interactions with resources and environment, but having a larger body species leads to having lower reproductive rates.

So many different traits could mean so many things and we wanted to look into it further. There are many more traits that go into it such as habitat, diet, clutch size, dispersal ability, and fecundity. We took data from three parts of the US: Eastern, Western, and Spanning (meaning the area from east to west). Determining the importance of these traits would allow us to analyze multiple factors.

For the results, the direct relationship between range size and migratory behavior was positive and only significant in the western and eastern areas. Body size was positive everywhere but the east. This meant that in the east smaller body size meant bigger range size.

The next part we wanted to understand was the relationship between the number of individuals and the number of species in an area. In this study, we wanted to see which bird species drive changes in this relationship over time. We used long term (30 years) of bird abundance data. We also used the jackknife regression technique, which was so cool to me. We took one bird to see how the slope changed. By using this, we saw which species whose removal caused bigger changes in this relationship. It showed us patterns of biodiversity. The number of years that a species caused this change varied a lot and this suggested that not all species contributed equally to community structure. Range size was very significant in both the first and second parts of our research.

I expected this capstone to be challenging and it sure was. Writing this paper and reflecting on these past two years took a lot of effort and time. There was so much that went into it. It was not just about writing a paper. I had to research each of these birds and also use a coding platform (R studio). It took a lot of time but I feel very accomplished. What I am taking away from this research experience is my love for birds is renewed. It was so interesting learning all these things about them and doing all this research, and the statistical side of it and learning and using what I learned in class was a great application.