The Role of Serotonin 1A Receptors in Neurogenesis in Neonatal Mouse Hippocampus via PKCε Mediated Signaling

Deena Mohsen, Verrazzano Class of 2025, completed major in Psychology and minors in Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry

One of my earliest memories from this research project was being in the lab, standing over a plate of tiny wells, trying to find the brain sections at the bottom. They were so thin and delicate I couldn't even tell if anything was there. We were starting the staining process, which meant gently washing the tissue with different solutions, carefully pipetting the liquid out, and repeating that multiple times. I remember being so nervous that I would accidentally suction up the section. Everything had to be done slowly and precisely. That was my first glimpse into how careful this research would have to be.

My project focused on how serotonin 1A receptors influence neurogenesis, the process of generating new neurons in the brain. I studied the dentate gyrus (DG), a region in the hippocampus involved in memory and emotion. In neonatal mice, the DG is still actively producing new neurons. I wanted to understand whether serotonin 1A receptor signaling plays a role in this process, and whether it's connected to a protein called protein kinase C epsilon (PKCε), which supports early brain development.

We used fluorescent staining to label specific cell types. Hoechst stained all nuclei blue, Ki67 labeled dividing cells in red, and DCX highlighted immature neurons in green. Using a confocal microscope, I scanned through the depth of the tissue from top to bottom to capture z-stacks, which allowed us to build 3D images of the DG. The goal was to visualize patterns of neurogenesis and determine how these molecular signals might be involved.

While I could recognize the DG in the tissue fairly quickly, interpreting the imaging was much harder. The microscope produced detailed images full of blue, red, and green-stained cells, but figuring out what those meant, whether cells were dividing, immature, or overlapping, took a lot of trial and error. It wasn't just about getting a picture. It was about understanding what I was looking at and what it revealed about neurogenesis in the brain.

At first, the idea of doing a capstone like this was intimidating. I didn't know how I was going to manage something with so many unfamiliar steps like staining, imaging, and data analysis. But once I started and focused on one step at a time, it became easier. The repetition helped me build confidence, and every small success made the next part less scary. I learned to troubleshoot, stay patient, and adapt when things didn't go as planned.

What I appreciated most about this project was how it brought together all the areas I've studied. I've always been interested in how brain development relates to behavior. This project gave me the chance to explore that connection from a molecular perspective while gaining real lab experience that challenged me in ways I wasn't expecting.

One of the most rewarding parts was seeing a clean, focused image of the DG with clearly stained cells in blue, red, and green, each one representing a piece of the story. After all the hours spent preparing, staining, imaging, and redoing steps, those moments felt like a payoff.

I'm especially grateful to Josie, who worked closely with me in the lab and taught me every step of the process, helping me feel more confident over time. And thank you to my mentor, Dr. Banerjee, for the opportunity to work on this research and for supporting the project throughout the year.

This capstone reminded me that growth doesn't happen all at once. It happens through small steps, constant problem-solving, and showing up even when you're unsure. It taught me how to stay focused, work carefully, and recognize how much I was growing along the way. It's an experience I'll always carry with me.

Investigating c-Fos as a Marker of Neural Activity in Planarians

Matthew Dodge, Verrazzano Class of 2025, completed major in Biology (7-12) and minor in ASL

My research investigated a common model organism known as planaria, a freshwater flatworm known for its regenerative ability and unique structure. It is similar to vertebrates, or organisms with backbones, which is evident through the conserved neurotransmitters, like serotonin and dopamine that is found in humans and planaria. This makes it a viable model organism for researchers to use in their laboratories.

However, little research has been done on the expression of a specific protein in planaria, known as c-Fos. It is produced by an Immediate Early Gene (IEG), meaning it has a rapid and transient production. In science, it is a known neural marker, meaning once the neuron is activated, the c-Fos protein is expressed and is visible under a confocal microscope for specific period of time. This information could be useful for a variety of reasons, including learning and memory research, mental health research, biomedicine, and specifically epilepsy, where neurons are activated and firing uncontrollably. By verifying the presence of c-Fos in planaria, we open the door for laboratories to expand epilepsy research and overcome financial burdens that come with vertebrate research.

Our research began by causing seizures in 20 worms using kainic acid, which activates neurons and causes synchronous, high-frequency firing. At 0 minutes, we killed 5 worms, then fixed them on a microscope slide. At 30, 120, and 240 minutes we repeated these steps. Once all the worms were fixed, we then observed the worms under a confocal microscope. It works similar to an MRI. It takes photos on individual planes of axis to create a high-resolution image that is unblurred by light coming from other angles. For instance, instead of taking a photo of an uncut cucumber, the confocal microscope would cut a thin slice out from the middle, then lay the slice flat and take a photo of it. The microscope will not only show us a 3D visual of the entire Planaria inside out, it will show us the fluorescence of the c-Fos protein. It shows up bright red in photos when present, and darker where it is not as present.

Each photo was analyzed on a software called ImageJ, which allowed me to calculate the amount of fluorescence specifically in the head and body of the flatworm. Once this data was collected, I created two line graphs to visualize the data over the course of 240 minutes. The data showed a temporal expression similar to that of vertebrates in the head. While not perfect, the repetition of this procedure with guidelines and protocols for confocal imaging will help us in the future. However, our data is promising and provides a foundation for the potential use of planaria as a model organism in neuroscience.

I expected this research to be trickier than it was, due to the first attempt being a little less than pleasant. We ran this experiment before measuring c-Fos expression using a Western Blot. This did not turn out as nicely as intended, leading to insufficient data to support our hypothesis. Having repeated the experiment again using a different approach, I am satisfied with the results, and happy with the work I put in.

This research can definitely be improved and implemented to build a strong foundation for the use of planaria as a model organism for neuroscience research. The validation of the presence of c-Fos would eliminate financial burdens caused by vertebrate research and allow for more accessible data. Further research can be done to evaluate the nervous system of planaria and map the areas of the brain firing under different stressors including seizures, chemical exposures, memorization, etc.

Our hypothesis was supported by the presence of a c-Fos-like temporal expression over the course of 240 minutes, specifically peaking at 30 minutes in the head of the planaria. While more research can be done to validate the presence of c-Fos, this lays the groundwork for further neuroscience research using a cheaper, small, and easier to handle model organism. Further research can be done to validate the presence of c-Fos and produce a nicer temporal expression.

This research experience granted me one of a kind access to equipment many students are unable to access. My favorite experience was using the confocal microscope, a one of a kind piece of equipment that takes beautiful images of planaria samples. Working in these settings invigorated my passion for learning. What also motivated me was the history of our school grounds and the Willowbrook State School. As a future New York City school teacher, being aware of the different learning disabilities that may impact your students and responding appropriately is necessary to maintain a safe and positive learning environment.

Pill Recognition using Discrete Cosine Transform Technology

Eslam Hussein, Verrazzano Class of 2025, completed major in Electrical Engineering

My research project focused on solving a common but serious problem: helping Alzheimer’s patients take their medicine correctly. People with Alzheimer’s often forget when or how much medication to take, which can lead to health problems, hospital visits, or even dangerous situations. To help fix this, we developed a smart pill dispenser that uses a special computer vision technique called the Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) to recognize pills based on their shape and size.

I chose this research topic because I’ve always wanted to build something that makes a real difference in people’s lives. I’ve seen how hard it is for elderly patients to manage their medications, particularly when memory loss is involved. The idea of using technology, especially computer vision, to solve this problem felt meaningful and exciting.

At first, I thought the capstone would mostly be about building hardware, but it turned out to be more about analyzing data and writing code to process images. That shift surprised me, but it helped me grow a lot as a student. I had to teach myself new concepts in signal processing and image analysis, which was challenging but also rewarding.

The hardest part was working with image data. It wasn’t always easy to get clear images of pills or extract the right features using DCT. Small things like lighting or camera angle could affect the results. On the other hand, once we figured out the right steps, the actual coding and testing went more smoothly than I expected. I also found that writing about the results and explaining them in simple terms helped me understand the work better.

In the future, I’d love to expand this project by connecting the dispenser to a mobile app for caregivers. The app could give updates, track missed doses, or even show live camera feedback. I’d also like to train the system to recognize more types of pills and work under different lighting conditions.

What I learned from this project is the importance of persistence and creativity. Research doesn’t always go the way you expect, and sometimes what seems like a small discovery—like a data pattern—can lead to a big improvement. I also learned how powerful it is when engineering and healthcare come together. This capstone taught me not just how to build a smart device, but how to think deeply about the people who will use it.

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.