Caroline Clarke

Poster:  Systemic Review of SARS-CoV-2 Infection on Pediatric Neurological Function

Faculty Mentor:  Naseem Choudhury

In the last three years since the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers seem to be consistently uncovering consequential information surrounding possible long-term consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Scientists have been learning more about post-viral syndromes and have been searching for treatments to sicknesses like myalgic encephalomyelitis, Epstein Barr, and Guillain-Barre syndrome. Similar to those afflictions, a significant number of adults who experienced COVID-19 have complained about post-viral illness and symptoms that impair daily functioning; now coined Long COVID. With many pieces of the puzzle still missing in terms of predicting long-term health outcomes following COVID-19 infection (especially in repeated infections) we are left to wonder how this virus may affect youth development. I will review the neurological consequences from infection in utero to toddler age, effects on the brain and nervous system in adolescents, and general post-infection symptoms and illness in minors.
‍
Caroline Clarke is a Psychology major with minors in Neuroscience and Public Health from Wayne, New Jersey. After graduation, she hopes to pursue an MD-PhD to research psychoneuroimmunology; specifically, how early childhood trauma can lead to manifestations of physical diseases and harmful health outcomes.

Agrim Gupta

Poster:  Comsol Multiphysics Modeling for Thermally Efficient Windows

Faculty Mentor:  Daniela Buna

Our everyday decisions affect energy consumption, cost of living, and global climate change. One significant venue of energy consumption and rising costs in the US is the heating and cooling of residential and commercial buildings  Efforts have been made to bring down consumption by manufacturing thermally efficient windows and utilizing efficient solar films. The work presented here is a preliminary study investigating the feasibility of modeling complex window/solar film systems with Comsol multi-physics. The goal of the work is to find ways to optimize existing systems as well as investigate new combinations of geometries and materials to increase the efficiency of these windows. The preliminary work also includes research on physical constants for solar films needed for the Comsol model, research on the dependence of thermal conductivity with pressure for a variety of gasses, etc.
‍
Agrim Gupta is from Montville, New Jersey. He studies Engineering Physics.

Sara Hosbach

Oral Presentation:  Social Media, Body Image, and Self-Esteem:  A Study On How to Press “Like” in Real Life

Faculty Mentor:  Satarupa Dasgupta

As college students encounter a plethora of newfound responsibilities, the rise of social media has granted a space of connectedness and relaxation. However, the usage of such platforms resulted in the rise of photo editing apps and a standard of beauty that has become a means of comparison for users. Piling onto the academic and extracurricular priorities of college students, social media’s subliminal messaging regarding body image affects the perspective students hold for themselves. In order to analyze and understand the extent of these effects, mixed methodological research was conducted via secondary data analysis and surveying. Conclusions unveiled editing on social media intensifies comparisons among college students resulting in adverse effects such as lowering self-confidence, increased disordered eating and eating disorders, and greater consumerism. Additional research is needed to advise and monitor change as well as ensure improvements
‍
Sara Hosbach is from Freehold, New Jersey and is majoring in communication artswith a concentration in global media and communication and a minor in international studies. After graduating, she hopes to work for a nongovernmental organization (NGO).

Lena Mardini

Oral Presentation:  “One Wild and Precious Life”:  Reflections on Mary Oliver and One-Stroke

Faculty Mentor:  Lisa Cassidy

The long enduring Ming Dynasty was conquered by the Manchus in 1644, after the capture of Beijing. A full transition to the Qing dynasty would take decades to follow. Amongst the chaos, however, a thriving artistic revolution emerged. Many artists, such as Shih-tao, refused to accept new political leadership. Unable to express loyalty to the Ming dynasty, but unwilling to accept the new ruling class, Shih-tao became a reclusive Buddhist Monk. He developed an art style that was “implicit rejection of the new political order.” Painters such as Shih-tao have been compared to European Romantic writers because of their focus on artistic naturalism. The widely prolific nature poet, Mary Oliver, is considered a modern-day Romantic poet due to use of naturalism stripped of formalist structure. In this paper I will argue that Mary Oliver’s “The Summer Day” demonstrates Shih-tao’s theories on original spontaneity.
‍
Lena Mardini is a junior Philosophy and English and Literary Studies double major from Clinton, New Jersey. After graduating from Ramapo, she plans on continuing her education in an English Literature graduate program.

Tina Nosrati

Poster:  The Art of Communication with AI:  Unlocking the Power of Generative Language Models

Faculty Mentor:  Ali Al-Juboori

The increasing popularity of generative AI models has led to a new research trend focused on improving collaboration with these models and optimizing their results. With generative models able to solve problems, how should we interact with their applications, like ChatGPT and Bard, so that we get the best results? In our research, we focused on prompt engineering, one of the trends in this area. A systematic literature review framework was used to gather and analyze the most recent papers introducing Prompt Engineering tools. In this study, we also examine how PE tools can improve human interaction with language models through prompts and provide accurate and relevant results. Besides presenting the logic behind each of these methodologies, we will provide a number of examples illustrating how these methods can be applied to our everyday use cases.
‍
Tina Nosrati is a Computer Science major and an international student from Iran. Post-graduation plans include pursuing a PhD in Computer Science, with  areas of research in language models and human-AI interaction.

Sarah Panicucci & Alexey Maydanov

Poster:  Hungry for Change:  A Multi-Dimensional Analysis of Food Security in Sub Saharan Africa

Faculty Mentor:  Fariba Nosrati

Food security has long been a pressing issue in Sub-Saharan countries. Despite various proposed approaches over the years, conditions have only marginally improved. The current trend is even more concerning, as undernourishment is increasing, indicating a decline in food security. This research aims to examine undernourishment as a crucial indicator of food security, conducting a multidimensional analysis of the factors that influence it. Exploratory analysis was performed on publicly available data to understand trends related to food security, followed by a cluster analysis to group countries into high and low food availability categories. Hypothesis testing was conducted to compare these clusters. Additionally, a predictive model was developed to determine the key factors that influence food security. The results indicate that food availability alone is insufficient to resolve food insecurity. Instead, factors such as food utilization, management, and distribution play a more significant role in addressing this issue.

Alexey Maydanov is a Business Management major with minors in Business Analytics and Finance, from Paramus, New Jersey. His postgraduate plans include furthering his education by attending the MBA program at the Ramapo College of New Jersey.

Sarah Panicucci is a Marketing major with a minor in Business Analytics, from Ringwood, New Jersey. Her postgraduate plans involve pursuing an MBA while continuing her career in marketing.

Kiely Paris-Rodriguez

Poster:  Geography and Companies

Faculty Mentor:  Jeremy Teigen

Space is the next frontier. Until recently, interest in space has purely been scientific or militaristic via satellites. The environment of space meant space travel was logistically inefficient and current technology deficient. Now, burgeoning technology created by millionaire-owned space agencies are rendering the previous obstacles of space obsolete. With geographical issues negligible, the unharvested resources of space represent economic potential. The focus of space exploration is shifting from militaristic and scientific to economic, ushering in a second era of colonialism akin to the first with one exception. This research examines how space colonialism may indicate a larger shift from national sovereignty to corporate sovereignty as space expansion is spurred by economic gain.
‍
Kiely Paris-Rodriguez is from Mahwah, New Jersey and is a political science-space psychology double major. After graduation, she intends to attend graduate school.

Danielle Rosengrant & Suzanne Zaugg

Poster:  Electrophysiological Differences in Auditory Processing Event-Related Potentials (ERPs) in Adults with High and low Self-Reported Deficits of Attention

Faculty Mentor:  Naseem Choudhury

ADHD and other related attentional disorders are some of the most common forms of developmental learning disorders affecting children, often persisting into adolescence and adulthood. Previous research has shown that difficulties in attentional processing, like those seen in patients with attention deficit disorders, are linked to disruption or atypical activation of cortical neuronal networks. Electroencephalogram (EEG) and event-related potentials (ERPs), including mismatch negativity (MMN) and the P300, reflect the patterns of early neuronal activity characterizing the processes of attention and working memory. The overall objective of study is to examine the characteristics, including peak amplitude and latency, of endogenous (MMN) and early attention related (P3a/P3b) ERPs in an oddball auditory processing task in adults with varying levels of attentional deficits. Preliminary results suggest decreased P300 amplitudes in adults with high self-reported deficits of attention, potentially indicating a difficulty in allocating proper attentional resources to appropriate auditory stimuli.
‍
Danielle Rosengrant is a senior biology major with a minor in neuroscience from Mine Hill, New Jersey. Her current post-graduation plans include attending medical school and continuing with her research.
Suzanne Zaugg is a senior double-majoring in psychology and neuroscience. She is from Millstone Township, New Jersey. Post graduation plans include continuing her education further by going to Physician Assistant (PA) school.

Shreya Ranjan

Oral Presentation:  Leveraging Blockchain to Enhance ESG Reporting and Achieve Sustainable Development Goals

Faculty Mentor:  Nikhil Varma

Environmental, and Social Governance (ESG) reporting has gained prominence in recent years as sustainability priorities rise globally. However, current ESG practices suffer from issues related to transparency, traceability and data quality. The lack of standardization also makes it challenging to measure impact on sustainable development goals (SDGs). This study proposes to explore how emerging technologies like blockchain can be leveraged to strengthen ESG practices and further SDG accomplishment. Research will follow a mixed-methods approach including a systematic literature review, interviews with sustainability professionals, conceptual model development. expert review and case studies. In conclusion, this study aims to use blockchain to enhance global ESG reporting and accountability by developing a validated SDG-aligned model that address transparence and traceability issues, with the goal of promoting scaled adoption of blockchain for a more sustainable future.
‍
Shreya Ranjan is an Information Technology Management senior from Edison, New Jersey. Ranjan is excited to embark on a career in the IT sector, most likely applying skills and expertise in technology management.

Jae’l Rumph

Poster:  Understanding the Epidemic of Mass Shootings Through American Gun Culture & The Second Amendment

Faculty Mentor:  Sanghamitra Padhy

The US has the highest rate of mass shootings in the world and is experiencing an upsurge in violent mass shootings annually, with some of the most fatal mass shootings having occurred within the last decade. There is a connection between the gun culture in America and the current gun laws that work hand in hand to sustain the problem.
‍
Jae’l Rumph of Paterson, New Jersey is a Law and Society major with a minor in Crime and Justice Studies and a concentration in Criminal Justice. After graduation, Rumph aspires to obtain her masters degree in Forensic Science.

Mia Schutz

Visual Arts Presentation:  Maladaptive Forest

Faculty Mentor:  Ann LePore

Maladaptive Forest uses both 2D and 3D animation to tell a fairy tale-inspired narrative about a goddess presiding over a forest. In this work, the characters are mainly 2D animated using shading to help blend with the 3D modeled background, using both classic and modern styles together. The main inspiration for creating this piece was to emulate the style of the movie “Klaus”, which revolutionized the industry with a unique 2D/3D aesthetic. The work showcases an environmental message about deforestation; however later on a deeper message is revealed about using daydreams to escape reality. The artist was inspired by her own experience using stories to make life more interesting.
‍
Mia Schutz lives in Metuchen, New Jersey and is a Visual Arts major with a concentration in Electronics Arts and Animation. She plans on getting into an animation studio after she graduates.

Hannah Scroggins

Oral Presentation:  From Privatizing Space to Infinity and Beyond

Faculty Mentor:  Mihaela Serban

Historically, the U.S. has had a unique fascination with Outer Space. From the U.S.’ scientific discovery to technological advancements during the Space Race, America’s curiosity about space has propelled us into an age when celestial tourism is no longer a space enthusiast’s fantasy. This essay provides an in-depth analysis of how the privatization of space is currently impeded by the antiquated Outer Space Treaty of 1967, and from a critical perspective, explores the connection between celestial tourism and capitalism, history, and Enlightenment philosophy on property ownership, with law at the forefront. An argument will be made that the privatization of the celestial tourism industry will not only enable more civilian tourists to access Outer Space, but it will also help humanity realize the best version of itself in today’s technologically emergent world.
‍
Hannah Scroggins is a Law and Society Major and Philosophy Minor. She has had the privilege of working as a Research Assistant, in which she analyzed court documents from over 70 U.S. criminal cases to identify how the use of Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG) has been argued and affirmed in criminal courts; she also takes great pride having served as a 2022 RCNJ Student Delegate at the 73rd Annual Student Conference on U.S. Affairs (SCUSA) at the United States Military Academy, West Point NY.

Jenna Vesey

Poster:  Examining the Role of ATF1, ATF2 & IAH1 in the Production of the Banana Aromatic, Isoamyl Acetate

Faculty Mentor:  Joost Monen

Yeast’s critical role in beer fermentation involves producing alcohol and a variety of aromatic compounds, giving characteristic flavors to differing beer styles. While most ales utilize one species of yeast (S. cerevisiae), brewers have artificially selected them over generations of brewing, producing various strains with unique but largely uncharacterized genetic backgrounds. Our research investigates various strains and their ability to produce a specific aromatic compound, isoamyl acetate, a desirable “banana aroma” in certain beer styles. By comparing strains with varying degrees of these banana/fruity notes, we examine genes (ATF1, ATF2, and IAH1) that code for enzymes involved in isoamyl acetate synthesis to better understand the exact role that they play. Our data indicate that neither ATF1, ATF2, nor IAH1 expression are solely responsible for driving isoamyl acetate production, but their relative gene expression to one another leads to the desired banana note found in certain beers.
‍
Jenna Vesey is a bioinformatics major from Springfield Township, New Jersey. Vesey is a senior and plans to go to graduate school after college.

2022 COPLAC Northeast Regional Undergraduate Research,
Scholarly and Creative Activity Conference

Karyssa Cendaña & Nathan Laduke

• Ramapo Faculty Sponsor: Eric Weiner
• Poster | Foraging Preferences for Different Tree Species by Three Woodpecker Species in a Hardwood Forest Heavily
  Impacted by an Invasive Insect Outbreak presenting a poster that they co-authored. It is about a semester-long, intensive field project that they completed about woodpecker foraging in a floodplain forest at the Ramapo Valley County Reservation.

Trent Montgomery

• Ramapo Faculty Sponsor: Monica Giacoppe
• Visual (Work of Art) | The concept for this digital story was originally inspired by my great grandfather’s life. Him and my great grandmother were separated early on in their marriage. The story itself focuses on this character’s realization that his dreams won’t bring food home for his family. He sacrifices his passion to become a better father.

Genesis Siverio

• Ramapo Faculty Sponsor: Todd Barnes
• Oral Presentation | Fleabag: Maneuvering Feminism & Performing Femininity Using ideas about self-surveillance originated by Michel Foucault, the paper analyzes the way the titular character in the series Fleabag performs. The unnamed protagonist breaks the fourth wall and speaks to the audience directly, making only her interactions with other characters the actual “performance.” Yet, as gender and queer theory denotes, femininity is a performance in itself. The protagonist both rejects conforming to femininity and is ineffectual in her various attempts at femininity. Women’s bodies are disciplined and policed to make sure the standards of femininity are being upheld and the protagonist is shown being judged on her performance of it; she is seen being upset at the comments of others while disliking the system that created the boundaries and standards for her gender. The protagonist is also shown attempting to maneuver feminism and its complexities. She is a “bad feminist” and overall complex, radical, and thrilling character.

Erin Ward

• Ramapo Faculty Sponsor: Jacquie Skrzynski
• Visual Art (Embroidered Self-Portrait): Painted self-portrait | I incorporate materials that are precious to me: pressed flowers, recycled fabric, and a sewing needle. This work is intended to be an interpretation of how I see myself and how I feel when I am creating work that I love. The embroidery and the act of stitching together the face became an important part of my process. Embroidery has been a more recent interest of mine. I am captivated with the idea of reclaiming it from being predominantly a “woman’s craft” to finally being recognized as a true form of fine art.

2021 COPLAC Northeast Regional Undergraduate Research,
Scholarly and Creative Activity Conference

School of Contemporary Arts

Student Name: David Machon
Project Title: 39 days, 20 people, 1 Survivor 21 years later
Faculty: Dr. Satarupa Dasgupta

School of Humanities and Global Studies

Student Name: Hannah Johnson
Project Title: The Hyrulian Sublime
Faculty: Lisa Casidy

Student Name: Cristina Avena
Project Title:  The Ethical Dilemma of EpiPens
Faculty: Lisa Casidy

Anisfield School of Business 

Student Name: Christian De Luca
Project Title: China: How a Nation’s Culture Can Dictate Business Operations and Economic Policy
Faculty: Dr. Tammi Redd

Student Name: Myat Noe Pwint Phyu
Project Title: How product messages on social media and luxury brand congruity influence brand loyalty
and purchase intention
Faculty: Dr. Christina Chung

School of Social Science and Human Services

Student Name: Autumn Laird
Project Title:  Event-Related Potentials Reveal Differences in Attention and inhibition networks based on engagement of working memory in ADD adults using a visual oddball paradim
Faculty: Nasseem Choudhury

School of Theoretical and Applied Science

Student Name: Shreehar Joshi
Project Title:  Deep Neural Networks for Time Series Classification in Human Activity Recognition
Faculty: Dr. Eman Abdelfattah

2020 COPLAC Northeast Regional Undergraduate Research,
Scholarly and Creative Activity Conference

Click HERE to view photos of the conference on COPLAC’s Facebook page

School of Contemporary Arts

Student Name: Talal Afandi
Project Title: Street Portraits
Faculty: Yolanda Del Amo

Student Name: David Tierney
Project Title:  Globalization of Bollywood: The Role of Online Media Content in Reaching Global and Local Audiences.
Faculty:  Ruma Sen

Student Name: Gabriella Burkart & Kathryn Sutphin
Project Title:  Breaking Boundaries: The Importance of Class, Gender, a Space in What the Love!
Faculty:  Ruma Sen

School of Humanities and Global Studies

Student Name: Justin Lester
Project Title: Retailer
Faculty: Rosina D’Angelo

Student Name: Tara Reilly
Project Title:  Evie Shockley’s, “Separation Anxiety,”
Faculty: Paula Straile-Costa

Anisfield School of Business

Student Name: Erin Fisher
Project Title: The Effects of Social Media in Building Brand Loyalty
Faculty: Christina Chung

School of Social Science and Human Services

Student Name: Duygu Worrall
Project Title: Moral Differences Between Turkey and America
Faculty: Donna Crawley

2019 COPLAC Northeast Regional Undergraduate Research,
Scholarly and Creative Activity Conference

Click HERE to view photos of the conference on COPLAC’s Facebook page

This year’s Northeast Regional Undergraduate Research Conference was held on October 8 and 9, 2019 at
Keen State College. Listed by student name, project title and faculty mentor.

School of Contemporary Arts

Student Name: Amanda Steuernagel
Project Title: Psychoanalysis of Michal and Katurian from Martin McDonaghs, The Pillowman
Faculty: Daniel Ciba

Student Name: Gabriella Burkart
Project Title:  Buddhist Practices in the West and Violence within Peace
Faculty:  Nakia Matthias

School of Humanities and Global Studies

Student Name: Zurine Cadena Jimenez
Project Title: Impunity: the Threat to Lasting Peace
Faculty: Erick Castellanos

Student Name:  Gabriela Ulloa
Project Title:  Memorialization Along the Mexican American Boarder
Faculty:  Erick Castellanos

Anisfield School of Business

Student Name: Kevin Murphy
Project Title: Attitudes Toward Product Information on Instagram Among Young Consumers
Faculty: Christina Chung

School of Social Science and Human Services

Student Name: Brandon O’Reilly
Project Title: The Library: Elevating a production through light
Faculty: Peter Campbell

Student Name: Betsy Santos
Project Title: Sociological Factors Influencing Perspectives towards Vaccines
Faculty: Kristin Kenneavy

School of Theoretical and Applied Science

Student Name: Yash Parikh
Project Title: Comparison of Machine Learning Models to Predict Twitter Buzzabstract
Faculty: Eman Abdelfattah

Student Name: Subal Bhattarai
Project Title: Weighted Voting
Faculty: Amanda Beecher

2018 COPLAC Northeast Regional Undergraduate Research,
Scholarly and Creative Activity Conference

School of Contemporary Arts

Student Name: Melody Lenda
Project Title: Anon(ymous)
Faculty: Janelle Ferraro, Mary Cicitta & Mary Ellen Allison

Student Name: David Francis Vaughan & Joseph Perez
Project Title:  The Legend of Nana Yaa
Faculty:  Shalom Gorewitz

School of Humanities and Global Studies

Student Name: Emma Lucier-Keller
Project Title: The Visual Production of Chinese Masculinity in Political Cartoons, Photography & Laundry
Faculty: John Gronbeck Tedesco

Student Name:  Alexandra Davies
Project Title: After the funeral, I Antiquity and Light from the plains
Faculty: James Hoch

Student Name:  Guadalupe Juarez
Project Title: Crossing Our Borders
Faculty:  Eric Castellanos

Student Name:  Madeline Martinez
Project Title: A  Collection of Moments and Events
Faculty: Eric Castellanas

Anisfield School of Business

Student Name: Justina Celentano
Project Title: The Impact of Cybercrime
Faculty: Timothy Burns

Student Name: Hyunwook Shin
Project Title: How Young Consumers React to CSR Messages on Social Media
Faculty: Christina Chung

The Northeast Regional Undergraduate Research, Scholarly  and Creative Activity Conference was hosted by the Ramapo College of New Jersey Office of the Provost on October 23 and 24, 2015. Over 100 students, faculty and administrators were in attendance. The event was deemed to be a huge success. Ramapo College presentations listed by student name, project title and faculty mentor.

School of Contemporary Arts

Student Name: Matthew Searfoss
Project Title: Transgender Identity and the Online TV Revolution: “Transparent” and Beyond
Faculty: Ruma Sen

Student Name: Monica Coniglio
Project Title: Heteronormative social media culture
Faculty: David Oh

Student Name: Jonathan Prokopowitz
Project Title: Adoration of the Earth; “Untitled” (skateboard)
Faculty: Jacquelyn Skrzynski

Group Name: CantaNova
Project Title: Pathways
Faculty: Lisa Lutter and Itay Goren

School of Humanities and Global Studies

Student Name: Thomas Harden
Project Title: The Immorality of Wrongful Life Litigation
Faculty: Lisa Cassidy

Student Name: Jennifer Zgola
Project Title: Lesbian Liberation: An Extension of Womens Liberation
Faculty: Stacie Taranto

Student Name: Misha Choudhry
Project Title: #BlackLivesMatter: A Collaborative Text
Faculty: Todd Barnes

School of Social Science and Human Services

Student Name: Misha Choudhry and Kathryn Yost
Project Title: Microagressions on Campus: Experiences and Effects
Faculty: Kristin Kenneavy

Student Name: Brenda Arthur and Stephanie Morfi
Project Title: Comparing Food Knowledge and Diet Habit of College Students in US and China’s Metropolitan Areas
Faculty: Martha Ecker and Yan Xu

Student Name: John Derek Stern
Project Title: The War on Drugs and Jim Crows The Most Wanted: A Social and Historical Look at Mass Incarceration
Faculty: Mihaela Serban, Sanghamitra Padhy, and Aaron Lorenz

School of Theoretical and Applied Science

Student Name: Ryan Ludvigsen, Shaun Novoshelski, and Christopher Warren
Project Title: Synthesis of Hydrazones as Antibiotics
Faculty: Jay Carreon

Student Name: Ashley Dinkel
Project Title: Inhibition of c-src activity in primary bone marrow cells mimics the decreased expression of the osteoblast phenotype seen in tumor cells
Faculty: Thomas Owen

2014 COPLAC Northeast Regional Undergraduate Research,
Scholarly and Creative Activity Conference

Click HERE to view photos of the conference on COPLAC’s Facebook page

This year’s Northeast Regional Undergraduate Research Conference was held on November 7 and 8, 2014 at Keene State College in Keene, New Hampshire. Listed by student name, project title and faculty mentor.

School of Contemporary Arts

Student Name: Marina Consalvo
Project Title: Intercultural Communication Conflicts: They Happen Everywhere
Faculty: Patricia Keeton, David Oh, Ruma Sen

Student Name: Alyssa Maurin
Project Title:  Vortograph (2 works)
Faculty:  Yolanda Del Amo

Student Name:  Benjamin Reuter
Project Title: Cell Phone Connectivity and Separation Anxiety
Faculty: Patricia Keeton, David Oh, Ruma Sen

School of Humanities and Global Studies

Student Name: Heather Debel
Project Title: Harley
Faculty: Hugh Sheehy

Student Name:  Mary DiPasquale
Project Title: “She Reminds Me of My Ex-Wife!” – Sexism and Hillary Rodham Clinton’s 2008 Bid for the Presidency
Faculty: Stacie Taranto

Student Name:  Jonathan Mangel
Project Title: Putting the Problem in the Crosshairs: Partisan Perspectives on the Causes of Gun Violence
Faculty: Jeremy Teigen, Michael Unger

Student Name:  Kenny Moncayo
Project Title: A Body on the Catafalque: Deconstruction of Race in Jean Genet’s The Blacks: A Clown Show
Faculty: Vassiliki Flenga

School of Theoretical and Applied Science

Student Name: Brian Wlodawski
Project Title: Severe Weather and Tree Mortality In a Mixed Hardwood Forest of the New Jersey Highlands
Faculty: Eric Wiener

2013 Coplac Northeast Regional Undergraduate Research Conference

Click HERE to view photos of the conference on COPLAC’s Facebook page.

This year’s Northeast Regional Undergraduate Research Conference was held on October 25 and 26, 2013 at the

Massachusetts College of Liberal Studies in North Adams, MA. Listed by student name, project title and faculty mentor:

School of Contemporary Arts

Student Name: Melissa Calvo

Project Title: Julie Taymor: The Face Behind the Masks
Faculty: Peter Campbell

Student Name: Alexandra Lehaf
Project Title:  Differences in Perceptions of Women’s Makeup Between the Sexes
Faculty:  Andrew Burns

Student Name:  Elena Rubinetti
Project Title:  Illegally Downloading Music Benefits Artists, Contrary to the Music Industry’s Belief
Faculty: Andrew Burns

Student Name: Lauren Fedorchak
Project Title:  Untitled, 2013, inkjet prints (Two 17×36″ pinhole camera images)
Faculty: Yolanda del Amo

Group Name:  CantaNova
Project Title:  24 person choral group performance
Faculty: Lisa Lutter

School of Humanities and Global Studies

Student Name: Emily Moore
Project Title: The Great Depression Visual Expression
Faculty: Stephen Rice

Student Name: Laura Sancic
Project Title: Assimilation and Acculturation Among Ghanaians in Urban Areas
Faculty: Susan Hangen

School of Theoretical and Applied Science

Student Name: Kara Graham
Project Title: Divergence and Genetic Diversity of Species in Sphagnum (peat mosses), co-present with Alyssa Solimine
Faculty: Eric Karlin

Student Name: Amanda Skuriat
Project Title: Integrated Engineering Physics Laboratory Assessment
Faculty: Danela Buna, Caroline Brisson

Student Name: Alyssa Solimine
Project Title: Divergence and Genetic Diversity of Species in Sphagnum (peat mosses), co-present with Kara Graham
Faculty: Eric Karlin

2012 Northeast Regional Undergraduate Research Conference

Faculty-student research from six COPLAC campuses was presented on October 26 and 27, 2012 at host Eastern Connecticut State University. Listed by student name, project title and faculty mentor:

School of Humanities and Global Studies

Student Name: Michael R Borell
Project Title: The Hollywood Horrors of the 1930’s
Faculty: Carter Jones Meyer

Student Name: Ashley Robin Netanel
Project Title: Weighing Metaphors: Analyzing Christina Rossetti’s ‘Goblin Market’ through Queer Theory, Ecocriticism, Marxist Structuralism, and Psychoanalytical Theory
Faculty: Todd Barnes

Student Name: Erin R. Mulligan
Project Title: Women’s Plight and Soldier’s Will to Fight; How Correspondence from the Home-Front Effected Confederate Desertion
Faculty: Stacie Taranto

Student Name: Jacqueline Thomas
Project Title: Semiotics, Desire, and the Constitutive Lack in Robert Hass’ Mediation at Lagunitas
Faculty: Todd Barnes

Student Name: Caitlin A. Vogel
Project Title: Let’s Talk About Translation: A Body of Translation Theory and Female Desire in Brossard’s Mauve Desert
Faculty: Vassiliki Flenga

Student Name: Ashley T. Wood
Project Title: Imagining Pocahontas: Representing Native Americans in US History Textbooks
Faculty: Monica Giacoppe

School of Contemporary Arts

Student Name: Emily Brawer
Project Title: Portrayals of Female Politicians in Film and Television: Reinforcement of Negative Gender Stereotypes
Faculty: Pat Keeton

Student Name: Tiffany S. Fischer
Project Title: You Want to Be A What? Perceptions of Women Sportscasters among College Students
Faculty: Ruma Sen

Student Name: Amy Cunningham
Project Title: Cast iron, bronze: Scrambled Truth
Faculty: Jay Wholley

Student Name: Corale Group: CantaNova
Project Title: Singing performance
Faculty: Lisa Lutter

October 2011 COPLAC Northeast Regional Undergraduate Research Conference

More than 180 students, faculty mentors and campus administrators from six COPLAC campuses.

School of Humanities and Global Studies

Student Name: Thomas J. Bulger
Project Title: From Oregon’s Trails to Red Redemption: The Western in Interactive Media
Faculty: Carter Jones Meyer

Student Name: Alison Culvert
Project Title: Education as Common Ground
Faculty: Monica Giacoppe

Student Name: Amanda Lentino
Project Title: Special Needs and the Public School System
Faculty: Todd Barnes

Student Name: Jacqueline Thomas
Project Title: Intertextuality and the “Rape” of Miranda in the The Tempest and Eastwards
Faculty: Todd Barnes

Student Name: Maria Zampetoulas
Project Title: Yoga Within the Yoga Club: The Epicenter of Healing
Faculty: Susan Hangen

School of Contemporary Arts

Student Name: Asa Hilmersson
Project Title: WikiLeaks and the Censorship of News Media in the U.S.
Faculty: Pat Keeton

Student Name: Amy Nasse
Project Title: Facebook: Defining the Lives of People Today
Faculty: Ruma Sen

Student Name: Alex Bissonnette
Project Title: Artwork Untitled No. 1A
Faculty: Jackie Skrzynski

Student Name: Ashley Katalenas
Project Title: Artwork Untitled
Faculty: Jackie Skrzynski

School of Social Science and Human Services

Student Name: Marianela Clavelo
Project Title: Happiness: A Phenomenological Study
Faculty: Jim Morley

Student Name: Gregory Gentile
Project Title: Tactile Information Helps Children Solve Fitting Problems
Faculty: Shaziela Ishak

School of Theoretical and Applied Science

Student Name: Elizabeth DeSmet
Project Title: A Phylogenetic Study of Sphagnum subgenus Sphagnum Based on Plastid Sequences
Faculty: Eric Karlin

Student-faculty research presented on October 28 and 29, 2011, listed by student name, project title and faculty mentor:

Past COPLAC Northeast Regional Undergraduate Research Conferences

• COPLAC Conference Presenters Fall 2010 (PDF)

Metamorphosis, a journal published by COPLAC, features the work of students who have presented at one of the regional conferences.

• Ramapo College Student Metamorphosis Articles (PDF)