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 Many things did not download properly, were outdated, or were not available anymore entirely.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.

 

The Impact of Seasonality on Infant Motor Development

Lia Ohana, Verrazzano Class of 2025, completed major in Psychology

Within my first week after joining the research lab with Dr. Sarah Berger, I knew I wanted to be part of the Nanit project, which explores how infant sleep is affected around the time of motor skill onset. While collecting data, I began noticing differences in the ages at which babies were reaching milestones, which made me wonder what might be causing these variations. As I continued working, I read more about motor development and came across an article discussing how season of birth might influence the timing of milestone achievement. That idea interested me, and it ultimately inspired me to focus my honors thesis on the potential effects of seasonality and sleepwear on motor milestone timing.

My research provided a new perspective by monitoring infants over several nights and considering sleepwear patterns, which could affect how future studies interpret the effects of seasonality on motor development. Even though I didn't find conclusive evidence that season or sleepwear delays motor milestones, the project helped me understand how environmental factors like weather and clothing, could interact with motor development.

Through this experience I learned that research is not just about data, rather interpretation, building on previous studies, and continuously learning throughout the process. Additionally, I learned that not finding significant results still provides valuable insights.

While my research revealed no significant seasonal variations in milestone timing or sleepwear use, it did show how caregiver routines, such as regularly using sleep sacks, may lessen seasonal variation. To better understand how seasonal clothing patterns may affect infants' opportunities for movement and motor development, future research should expand on this study by examining clothing worn during the day in addition to sleepwear.

Exploring the Role of Collagen Genes in Head/Neck Cancer Tumor Micro-environment

Haneen Makki, Verrazzano Class of 2025, completed major in Biology 

The capstone process was a rewarding and challenging experience. At first, I was somewhat anxious and overwhelmed about taking on such a complex subject, but I also had tremendous hopes.

My project examined the function of collagen genes (COL4A1, COL5A1, and COL6A1) in the tumor microenvironment of head and neck cancer. I was initially concerned about understanding the methods used in computational biology and the extent of the required research. However, as I delved deeper, I became fascinated by collagen's intricate role in cancer development. Each new piece of information reinforced my determination to tackle the challenges and expanded my field knowledge.

During the study, I learned a lot about head and neck cancer, particularly about the role that tumor form plays in medication resistance. Desmoplasia, the tumor's protective environment, is produced by collagen fibers and reduces the efficacy of treatments. Understanding how different collagen genes impact this structure could result in more effective treatments.

My team and I utilized computational biology techniques to analyze gene expression data and assess the influence of collagen genes on patient outcomes and overall survival rates. Witnessing how biological data could be converted into valuable insights regarding cancer treatment was remarkable.

The discovery of the connections between various kinds of cancer was one of the biggest surprises of this procedure. Our research was a component of a broader investigation that looked into collagen expression in skin, lung, breast, brain, and head and neck malignancies. This helped me understand the wider ramifications of our findings and how studies conducted in one medical sector might influence others. I was also taken aback by the degree of cooperation required for study. I felt a sense of purpose and saw the importance of teamwork in the research field while working with other teams and contributing to a more significant scientific endeavor.

My capstone project aided in my personal development in unexpected ways. I became more confident in my ability to address challenging scientific problems and realized that it is more effective to rise to the challenge than to retreat. As I witnessed the results of my efforts, my initial anxiety and self-doubt slowly transformed into enthusiasm. Due to this experience, my interest in cancer research has grown, reaffirming the value of tenacity, teamwork, and critical thinking in scientific research.

Impact of Night Shift on the Mental Health of Nurses

Melanie Akilova, Verrazzano Class of 2025, completed major in Nursing 

After conducting research and trying to find the perfect topic to develop a capstone on, I landed on mental health and the impact it holds on nurses who work the night shift. I was inspired by reading blogs and listening to stories on how some nurses do not enjoy working the night shift due to the impact it has on their mental and physical well-being.

I learned a lot while developing the paper and the poster and I would like to share this experience with others to prepare them for their capstone as a Verrazzano student.

Originally, I was lost on how to begin my research, what websites to look for, which articles to apply, and how to narrow down my search. I reached out to my mentor, Professor Hunton, in the Nursing department. She helped me tremendously in making this capstone come to life. My biggest advice to anyone starting their capstone is, do not wait until the last minute and research something you are interested in and passionate about!

My capstone highlights how disruption of sleep patterns can significantly impact a nurses’ wellbeing, causing them to feel burnout, increase the likelihood of making mistakes, and possibly struggle with mental health issues. I discovered that young and less experienced nurses are the most vulnerable population within nursing, which applies to me. To help minimize these effects for me as a new graduate nurse, I have learned that I need to have a consistent sleeping routine, even on days off, and practice relaxation techniques to ease the mind and body.

With all this information at hand, I had to sit down and put everything on paper which seemed easier said than done. After sorting out and trying to cut down bits and pieces of data, I found myself having a hard time meeting the 12-page count requirement, even when I thought this topic would be detail heavy enough to write continuously.

Throughout my capstone experience I learned the importance of mental health, which is a topic that is not discussed as openly as it should be. Devoting every single hour of my day to develop my paper showed me how dedicated I was in voicing this idea to the nursing community.

The most important takeaway is, always advocate for yourself and put your well-being before others. Feeling burnt out as a nurse is more likely to do harm than good and can put patients at risk. Taking a mental health day, learning how to say no, and going to sleep a few hours earlier on days of work can tremendously play a role in improving mental health.

The Impacts of Cyanobacteria on the Mammalian Microbiome

Richard Verdi, Verrazzano Class of 2026, completing majors in Biology and Psychology, and minor in Geography

I identified my research area by trying to find a commonality between my mentor, Dr. Efting, and my own interests. I am a double major in psychology and biology, I wanted to try to incorporate both of these aspects into my capstone project. Dr. Efting is interested in cyanobacteria, one of the oldest organisms on Earth, so I attempted to find an association of her topic of interest with another subject that intrigued me.

I found that there are not only cyanobacteria in our environment, but that it’s on our skin, in our oral cavity, and in our gut. These three locations are the primary microbiomes on the human body that inhabit a variety of bacterial groups and aid in maintaining homeostasis, with cyanobacteria making up a very small portion of each.

My capstone project aligned our research interests and came up with the question of how the cyanobacteria in our microbiome could affect mammals in several ways. I found that it plays a role in certain diseases, as the number of cyanobacteria fluctuate in one of the microbial sites on the body, resulting in a dysbiotic, or unbalanced state of bacteria. This state reduces homeostasis and has many negative effects on the human body.

I was happy to be able to relate the overarching question to the field of psychology as well, because cyanobacteria produce certain toxins called neurotoxins that deplete neurons in the body. This realization helped me connect diseases such as Alzheimer’s and ALS, diseases that cause neuron depletion, to the cyanobacteria producing toxins in the environment.

I was motivated to determine if cyanobacteria within our microbiome specifically can create toxins in our bodies, resulting in the development of a certain disease. This question has never been explored nor answered, so I took advantage of this opportunity to complete my capstone on this topic and tried to find out if the claim was truly possible.

Exposure to cyanobacteria, especially for people who live near contaminated lakes, is an issue in society that should be more known due to the many negative effects that this exposure can cause.

After finalizing my capstone, I was not able to determine any definitive results that toxins can be produced in the human microbiome itself. However, I have confirmed that cyanobacteria and its toxins can enter the mammalian body in a variety of ways, resulting in the development of certain diseases. The type of disease can impact the number of cyanobacteria in our microbiome including breast cancer, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and many neurodegenerative diseases.

I would further expand on the topic by looking deeper into the features of cyanobacteria in our microbiome to determine if there is any way that they can produce toxins there without the connection to the external environment around us.

I expected this capstone to be very literature based, which it was since it would be a health hazard to make direct contact with cyanobacteria contaminated lakes and would be nearly impossible to get samples from individuals to determine the cyanobacteria in the microbiomes. Organizing the information gathered and finding the articles to record the necessary information was the most difficult part of the project, while putting together the essay itself was the easiest part since I organized my evidence properly.

The aspect of the project that surprised me the most was how in-depth it was and how many references I used, as I did not expect to find over 500 articles for references. I am glad to have acquired knowledge about a biological topic and that I was able to incorporate a few psychology aspects into the project. I am also grateful to have worked with Dr. Efting over the past year as well. She has made me a better writer in the process and dedicated her time to assisting me with this project. Overall, I am proud of this research and learned a lot of information. It was a great and productive experience.

Have You Ever Thought About the Second Person?

Gianna Liantonio, Verrazzano Class of 2025, completed major in English Writing and minors in ASL and Italian

I wrote a critical analysis on the creative nonfiction essay, "You Are the Second Person" by Kiese Laymon, with Professor Cate Marvin as my mentor. We explored the different themes of the essay such as racism, prejudice, family, health and revelation.

Kiese Laymon wrote about his experience working under a toxic editor for five years to gain his approval, but realized in the end he was not going to get his book published. He decided to put himself first and write what he wanted to write, publishing many books and essays.

He is a strong advocate for Black writers and is authentic in his work, never filtering what he knows is important to be said. He writes from the heart and if it’s not real, it has no business getting published. He wants to be able to stand by his work years later, but said there is no shame in revising over and over. He has revised works that seemed perfect at the time, but wanted to make them even better. He is a hard-working writer who, from this experience, learned the types of books he wants to write and would not let anyone dictate the topics he includes.

I read the essay in Professor Marvin’s creative writing class, and appreciated Laymon’s realistic view of the publishing world that you normally would not hear about. I enjoyed reading and learning about Laymon and his experience and identified with this piece because I hope to one day work in publishing and editing.

I knew I wanted to do a creative writing project of some kind for my capstone and felt Professor Marvin would be the perfect mentor. I enjoyed her class immensely and learned a lot to help me become a better writer.

The capstone was a summary of the essay and delved into different themes we discovered as I was writing. I realized I had more I could write about than I initially thought, gaining new insights each time I read the essay.

The biggest challenge was the page count and being able to write new ideas without repeating myself, and I was surprised with how many pages I ended up with at the end. I did enjoy writing this paper as it helped me interpret the essay in different ways and discover more themes than I initially saw. The easy part was that I enjoyed reading the essay over and over, analyzing different parts, and seeing details I may have missed the first time.

Once I had a steady outline I was able to write a lot, with new ideas blossoming every second. When I did get stuck, Professor Marvin helped me find more aspects of the essay to write about, and that helped me finish it.

Even though Laymon's essay had the same amount of words each time I read it, I gained a new perspective each time. For example, he wrote about a man he observed outside his window. Each time I read it, I thought of different reasons why he included that in this piece.

I could expand this piece with in-depth writing on his other essays and novels, or how there are two sides to the publishing world, one of which is rarely heard about.

What I take away from this research experience is that I feel like I know Kiese Laymon by reading through his words and eyes. The essay was in second person, which had us walk in his shoes during his experience and helped the reader to empathize and understand his situation.

I enjoy analyzing works of literature and finding the deeper meanings behind a line or paragraph. I enjoyed writing this paper and even though it was challenging at times, I had fun delving into different themes and aspects. I want to read more of Laymon’s works and see similarities and differences in his writing. He is a talented writer who writes what he believes no matter what anyone says. 

 

Exploring the Role of Collagens (COL13A1, 14A1, 15A1) in Head and Neck Cancer

 Aisha Yousaf, Verrazzano Class of 2025, completed major in Biology

Conducting my research project on the role of collagen genes in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has been an incredibly rewarding academic and personal journey. When I first began this project, I had a general interest in head and neck cancer biology and the roles of the collagen gene family and the extracellular matrix. I didn’t fully realize how much the tumor’s surrounding structure could impact patient survival, treatment outcomes, and even the future of personalized medicine. Through months of literature review, data analysis, and discussions with my mentor, Dr. Nancy Liu-Sullivan, I’ve come to appreciate how complex and dynamic the tumor microenvironment really is.

One of the most important things I learned throughout this process is that cancer research isn’t just about targeting the tumor itself but it’s also about understanding the complex environment in which it exists. I had always thought of collagen as a structural support protein, but through my research, I discovered that different types of collagen can either promote or suppress tumor progression. Investigating COL13A1, COL14A1, and COL15A1 helped me see how even small differences in gene expression can impact overall survival for patients with HNSCC. It was both eye opening and empowering to work with real world RNA-seq data and generate Kaplan-Meier survival plots to draw meaningful conclusions about cancer outcomes.

Beyond the science, this project taught me the importance of staying curious, being persistent, and learning from mentors. The support I received helped me think more clearly, ask better questions, and solve problems in a more thoughtful way. I now feel more confident reading scientific articles, working with data, and talking about cancer biology and treatment. Most importantly, this research has motivated me to keep studying how diseases work at the molecular level and explore how discoveries in the lab/research studies can improve patient care.

Analysis of EGFR/RAS Isoforms in Melanoma and Effects of PKI-166 on EGFR

Abedalfattah Twam, Verrazzano Class of 2025, completed major in Biology

My research goal was to look into melanoma and how expression levels of different oncogenes can impact patient prognostics. The oncogenes I chose for this study were EGFR and the isoforms of RAS which consist of Kras, Hras and Nras. Using the Kaplan Meier database, I found that higher expression levels from EGFR and Hras were associated with shorter survival times in patients with melanoma whereas Kras and Nras expression levels were found to have no significant impact. Additionally, I also researched PKI-166. PKI-166 was a drug which had inhibitory effects on EGFR reducing its activities, however it had many adverse effects leading to it being discontinued.

I chose this area of research because I strive to become a future healthcare provider. I believe the knowledge I learned from taking on this research and also the skills I've developed throughout will help me as a future provider. Reading through a variety of publications and using resources like google scholars to find relevant information was a major challenge and at times very exhausting, it taught me just how challenging researching can be and the amount of patience needed. If I were to ever go back and add to my research I would like to study which oncogenes are found to impact melanoma patient prognostics, how common these oncogenes are and possible treatment options.

Overall, this experience was challenging but very rewarding!

PKI-166 Structure

The Impact of Vision Impairment on Development and Daily Life in Young Adults & Children

Merna Mikhail, Verrazzano Class of 2025, completed major in Psychology

For my capstone project, I chose to research a topic that deeply interests me and aligns with my career goals. I aimed to combine my psychology major with my goal of becoming an optometrist by exploring vision impairment and its impact on the development and daily life in children and young adults. The objective of my research was to gain a deeper understanding of how adolescents and children with vision impairments navigate their daily lives, including the challenges and limitations they may face whether in school, social relationships, or personal development. Additionally, I wanted to explore how vision impairment influences self-esteem and confidence, which can have broader effects on various aspects of life.

During my literature review, I came across some unexpected findings. For instance, one study revealed that adolescents with severe vision impairments reported the highest sense of school belonging compared to their sighted peers and those with milder visual impairments. This was surprising because one might assume that greater vision impairment would correlate with increased struggles in social integration.

However, this study challenged that assumption, highlighting the complexity of individual experiences. One of the most significant takeaways from my research is that no two cases are the same; there is no universal standard for how vision impairment affects a person’s life. Each individual experiences and copes with their impairment differently. Some grow up in supportive environments that encourage independence, while others may not have access to the same resources or support, leading to greater feelings of limitation. Through my research, I also discovered various tools, such as assistive apps, that help individuals with vision impairments navigate daily challenges.

Pursuing a career in optometry means that I will work with a diverse range of patients, including children and adolescents with varying degrees of vision impairment. This research has provided me with valuable insight into their experiences, challenges, and coping mechanisms. Additionally, it has broadened my perspective on how society can better support individuals with vision impairments.

Initially, I expected my capstone to be just another project, something to complete and move on from. However, it turned out to be a profoundly eye-opening experience that provided me with new perspectives and meaningful knowledge. One of the biggest challenges I faced was finding the right sources, as locating relevant and credible studies required extensive research. Fortunately meeting with my mentor, Professor Louis Rotondo, helped me refine my focus and identify key areas to explore.

Looking ahead, I would love to expand this research by shifting the focus to adults with vision impairments. Understanding how they manage daily life, their self-perceptions, and their coping strategies could provide even more valuable insight into the lifelong impact of vision impairment.

Ultimately, this experience has reinforced the importance of being open to learning and embracing the unexpected. I now understand that research is not just about finding answers but about uncovering new perspectives that challenge assumptions. This project has been both enlightening and rewarding, and I look forward to applying what I’ve learned in my future career.

Visualizing interactions between RAGE and S100A12 binding and signaling with YFP and CFP

Shaan Shirazi, Verrazzano Class of 2025, completed major in Biology

I was looking for research and was accepted to work in Dr. Rupal Gupta’s lab. There was definitely a learning curve for me, as the projects involved relied heavily on topics in biology and biochemistry that I hadn’t yet learned.

But from the very beginning, I was fascinated by the work being done on proteins and how the experiments conducted could help further our knowledge on the intricate systems that help our bodies function. This was a big motivating factor that kept me coming back and working in the lab. I loved how the work I did would actually help us to work towards a goal of publishing our findings on different proteins and receptors in our bodies, furthering society’s knowledge on this topic.

My capstone covers how my research aims to understand how a protein in our body named S100A12 interacts with its respective receptor called RAGE. Using a technique called fluorescent energy transfer microscopy, it uses a fluorescent protein that we attached to the receptors to visually observe and detect the interactions between S100A12 and RAGE. S100A12 is normally produced by our immune system, and is known to signal immune responses via RAGE, such as inflammation. S100A12 is observed in patients suffering inflammation from diseases such as chronic kidney disease and rheumatoid arthritis.

I found it challenging yet fun learning how to operate different machinery such as the thermocycler to replicate DNA via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or the gel electrophoresis system to confirm the presence of DNA. I began my research with a basic knowledge on their function and purpose and came out far more experienced and learned. Experiences like that actually benefited me in my biology classes, when these techniques were discussed and tested on.

Working on this project I was very surprised at the time many procedures took, as I quickly learned that science requires a lot of time and patience to get results, and that I always have to brace myself for failure as that is much more common than success. In my capstone paper I detail in my results section the many hiccups I encountered when working towards my goal, and every time I learned to stand back and assess what went wrong and adjust my methods accordingly.

I began this project in my sophomore year, and I have since heavily expanded upon my research on this specific topic involving the S100A12 protein, testing different mutants such as S100A12E31A and S100A12E31AI47A’s ability to bind metal under different conditions. Overall in addition to the scientific knowledge I have gained working on this project, more importantly, I also learned a lot of good skills and habits such as patience, work ethic, and critical thinking.

The Influence and Impact on How Social Media Shapes Societies

Chloe Matuszewicz, Verrazzano Class of 2025, completed major in Business Management

Social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Twitter have fundamentally altered how individuals, organizations, and communities connect and share information. My research aimed to explore the role of social media as a disruptive innovation and its impact on communication, education, business, and society.

Social media has improved international communication, encouraged activism, and opened up new avenues for education and promotion, but it also has drawbacks, including false information, privacy issues, overabundance of content, and the decline of authenticity. Through qualitative research, this study aimed to investigate the advantages and disadvantages of these developments, providing stakeholders such as governments, corporations, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) with guidance on how to deal with the opportunities and difficulties presented by social media.

The results demonstrate social media's dual character as a force that needs careful management to prevent detrimental effects on society and as a tool for innovation and advancement. Understanding how ingrained social media has become in daily life gave rise to the concept for this study. Its capacity to disrupt established systems like marketing, communication, and education stood out as a field that deserved more investigation.

I was driven by the urge to gain a deeper understanding of this two-pronged tool and to pinpoint tactics that companies, academic institutions, and legislators may employ to maximize its advantages while reducing its drawbacks. The frameworks of Clayton Christensen's Disruptive Innovation process and Everett Rogers' theory Diffusion of Innovation offered a theoretical perspective for analyzing how social media alters society dynamics.

Initially, I expected the research process to be relatively straightforward—a compilation of existing literature, followed by a clear synthesis of ideas. However, it turned out to be a far more intricate and demanding journey. Due to its wide-ranging and complex effects, social media demands an intricate equilibrium between examining its advantages and resolving its drawbacks. To draw useful findings, every area impacted by social media, including communication, education, and entertainment, needed to be investigated comprehensively. I didn't realize how much more critical thinking and further research this project would demand, and careful analysis of sources.

One of the primary challenges was working within time constraints, which limited the ability to conduct primary research. Secondary data collection and analysis became crucial, but thorough filtering was also necessary to make sure the sources were reliable and relevant. It proved to be a balancing act to focus on specific elements without simplifying them, considering the wide range of social media's influence. However, it was comparatively simple to obtain secondary data and identify reoccurring patterns due to the amount of literature on social networking as a disruptive innovation.

Theoretical frameworks, like Christensen's work on disruptive innovation, offered an organized method for examining how social media is changing different industries. The magnitude and range of social media's effect shocked me the most. I learned how profoundly it has changed not just how people communicate with one another, but also how society, business, and even educational systems are shaped. Social media's dual nature—its ability to promote constructive social change while also presenting serious risks, was especially noticeable. Social media encourages superficial participation and spreads false information even as it gives users the ability to take part in international discussions and movements.

This study experience has been enlightening and life-changing. It underlined how crucial flexibility and critical thinking are when tackling a complicated, quickly changing topic like social media. I discovered the importance of combining many points of view and striking a balance between theoretical understanding and real-world applications. Above all, this study reaffirmed how crucial it is that stakeholders use social media with consideration. For example, companies must adopt strategies that strike a balance between short-term aims, like more sales, and long-term ones, like fostering trust and brand loyalty.

To promote a better online environment, governments and politicians must concentrate on enhancing digital literacy and preventing false information. Nonprofits can utilize social media to spread their message, but they also need to be aware of the dangers of false information and content overload. Overall, this study has helped me better grasp how social media is changing how society interacts, learns, and functions.  

The Impact of Emotional Intelligence and Managing Mental Health in the Workplace

Emily Albano, Verrazzano Class of 2025, completed major in Business Management, and minors in Finance and Marketing

When I was tasked with writing my capstone project, I became stuck almost immediately with trying to decide on a topic My advisor suggested thinking about my own experiences, and writing became easy again.

My project focused on emotional intelligence for managers to support mental health within the workplace. This idea came from my personal experience during my student-athlete time and the tragic loss of a female goalie named Katie Meyer, which opened my eyes to the importance of mental health support. That traumatic event helped made me aware of my own struggles and that what I was feeling wasn’t okay. Experiencing a small-scale burnout made me realize just how tough it must be for people who face such stresses and also manage to handle a job. I saw that mental resources were seriously lacking in not only my environment, but in the role that I want to pursue after college. I wanted to explore how emotional intelligence might enable managers to create healthier work settings.

I researched specific programs that train emotional intelligence skills in managers. It would be fascinating to find out whether the companies that received this type of training see improvements in employee satisfaction and retention levels. I would also want to explore how these changes really influence the company culture over time, as more and more employees from the young generation, Generation Z, enter the workforce and place such value on this element of leadership.

What I took away from this study is support for mental health in the workplace is a necessity. The role of the manager plays a big part in setting the atmosphere for the teams. Simple things, like carefully listening to employees, showing empathy, and resolving conflicts with an understanding approach make a huge difference in how one may feel at work. Including policies that provide a work-life balance, such as flexible schedules or access to resources for maintaining good mental health, is a huge contributory factor toward an enabling, supportive environment.

This project has taught me that the human side of management is important. It's not just about employees being present to get the work done, but how their emotions can directly affect their actual performance and satisfaction with their jobs.

As younger generations enter the workforce, they are looking for more empathetic and supportive leadership. Companies that invest in building emotional intelligence in their leaders will have better employee retention and ultimately be successful. This experience has taught me a lot about the power of emotional intelligence in the workplace, how emotionally intelligent managers inspire trust, constructively handle conflicts, and genuinely support their teams. By putting mental health front and center and leading with empathy, companies can create a culture that truly values personal well-being and professional growth. This project has shown me time and again that real change starts with how leaders connect with and care for their people.

A Comparative Analysis of Emergency Room, Urgent Care Centers and Physician Office Visits

Katherine Ebrahim, Verrazzano Class of 2025, completed major in Nursing 

For my capstone project I reviewed literature on the utilization of the Emergency room (ER), Urgent Care centers (UCC) and Physician offices (PO). The aim of this literature search was to analyze why patients may choose to go the ER over UCCs and POs, and explore how health care professionals can guide patients to the appropriate care settings and provide solutions to direct patients to the best option. Each of these three locations provide a slightly different service. Comparing the overlap and fine tuning their use can result in better overall care to patients.

A large factor that affects patients is access to care. If patients are in a location where they only have an ER as a close option for care, they might choose to go there even when an UCC would suffice. If a person’s PO or UCC is closed at the time that they are seeking care they would be forced to go to the ER for medical treatment or risk not being able to receive any care.

Ensuring that UCC’s remain open to patients can allow them to seek treatment. It is also important to remember that some patients do not have regular visits with a health care professional. This lack of connection to a primary care physician may be the cause of a lack of access to PO visit.

This data could help to identify when each location is used, and how accurately patients are selecting the appropriate location to visit. This can lead to improving patient decisions through healthcare guides and decreased unnecessary ER visits.

I chose this area of research because the ER is something I am very passionate about. I was also interested in how to help both patients and the health care team. The research for this project was very interesting and there were a variety of papers that I found compelling. Learning more about this topic and being about to speak about it to friends and family has made me appreciate the patients that ER workers have to treat. I found it surprising how many articles I was able to find on my topic because I was worried I wouldn’t find enough. Overall, I have learned that researching about a topic you are interested can be rewarding and teach you more about your topic.

The Effect of Tau on Cervical Cancer Cell Cycle and Neuroblastoma Cell Cycle

Sandi Kelada, Verrazzano Class of 2025, completed major in Biology

At the start of my research journey, I wanted to be involved with cancer research. However, I was unable to find a position in a cancer research lab. I was also interested in neuroscience but was not sure of all the opportunities here at CSI. When one of my professors connected me with Dr. Alonso, I learned of all the projects she has been working on with Alzheimer's disease, which I found fascinating. She asked me to decide on what I would be working on and as I was researching the options, I came across new literature discussing correlations between Alzheimer's disease and cancer. I was very excited to explore this further because it combined my cancer interest with neuroscience. I presented this to Dr. Alonso and she loved the idea and I was very grateful that I could explore this new link further.

My overall capstone experience was very positive. I learned many new things and was pushed outside my comfort zone. Researching this new correlation was at times challenging since these discoveries were relatively new. However, I was pushed to work harder and collaborate with other people as well as my mentor in order to construct my methodology and perform my experiments. I am very grateful for all the people that helped me and were there for me during this journey and how they were always available to answer any questions I had. This experience also increased my knowledge and love for biology and its relevance in medicine. I learned about and studied major disease processes that are common, and it I saw the relevance of research and how drives clinical medicine.

While I was able to gather many data in this project, there is still more to be done. Further research looking at other cancer cell lines could include studies that could be compared with one another. Additionally, staining protocols as well as techniques such as western blot are necessary to determine the biochemical bases of these correlations. Additionally, statistical tests could also be done to figure out the significance between the different cancer cell lines. More research needs to be done to find out the reasons behind the differences in the intensity between them.

Ultimately, I am very grateful that I had this research opportunity. It not only furthered my research goals but has also better prepared me for a medical career. I have learned to be persistent, to ask difficult questions, and to not be afraid of asking for help when I need it. I will always remember to stay creative and innovative and explore new connections and discoveries even among the seemingly mundane.