Scholars’ Day Schedule | Monday, April 13, 2026

Poster Session
4:00-5:00 PM
Trustees Pavilion

Oral Presentations
5:00-6:30 PM
Trustees Pavilion

Reception
6:30-7:30 PM
Trustees Pavilion

Coercion Without Compliance: Oil Sanctions and Labor Markets in Russia, Iran, and Venezuela

Student Presenter: Amisha H Singh
Faculty Mentor: Sandipa Bhattacharjee

Brains in All Shapes: Building Better Classrooms for Neurodiverse Learners

Student Presenter: Miranda Frisbee
Faculty Mentor: Satarupa Dasgupta

Why Counties Count: Visualizing American Counties

Student Presenter: Isabella Villatora and Christopher Flug
Faculty Mentor: Stephen Rice

Walk a Mile in My Shoes Blind: The Relationship Between Mental Visual Imagery and Empathy

Student Presenter: Amrit Kaur
Faculty Mentor: Joseph Cataliotti

Optimizing Quality–Performance Tradeoffs in Real-Time Ray Tracing through Adaptive Parameter Tuning

Student Presenter: Justin J Haskoor
Faculty Mentor: Sourav Dutta

Project Title: Effect of Co-worker Support, Manager Support and Meaningful Work on Job Satisfaction: An Analysis of Generational Differences

Student Presenter: Eva M Tartakovsky
Major: Economics
Faculty Mentor: Tufan Ekici
School: Anisfield School of Business

Abstract: This paper analyzes the impact of co-worker and manager support as well as an important intrinsic factor (meaningfulness) on job satisfaction of the US workers. Previous research has shown importance of these variables on well-being at workplace, but this research departs from the previous literature in two main ways. First, we focus on the relative impact of these factors across different generations focusing on the differences between Millennials and Generation X. Secondly, we experiment with different measures of job satisfaction as well as creating a composite index. We use National Study of Changing Workforce (NSCW) from 2008 and use multivariate regression analysis to gauge these effects. Our preliminary results show that meaningful work is more important than co-worker and managerial support, and the effects are stronger for older generations.

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Project Title: Coercion Without Compliance: Oil Sanctions and Labor Markets in Russia, Iran, and Venezuela

Student Presenter: Amisha H Singh
Co-Author: Eva M Tartakovsky
Major: Economics
Faculty Mentor: Sandipa Bhattacharjee
School: Anisfield School of Business

Abstract: This paper examines the impact of sanctions on the labor market to discern whether they serve as an effective economic tool in international diplomacy. Through a comparative analysis of three countries that have faced oil sanctions – Russia, Iran, and Venezuela – we explore how these countries sustain their economies under such constraints, assess the macroeconomic health of their labor markets, analyze the political and diplomatic outcomes, and draw on these components to evaluate the implications for citizens’ livelihoods. We conduct data analysis using relevant macroeconomic indicators and evaluate the effects of sanctions through policy responses to comparatively assess the health of these economies. Based on preliminary review, our results suggest that while sanctions have a short-term impact, they are not a sustainable long-term diplomatic solution.

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Project Title: What Makes a House Historically Significant in Northern New Jersey?

Student Presenter: Kathleen Bishop
Major: Business Management
Faculty Mentor: Rikki Abzug
School: Anisfield School of Business

Abstract: Northern New Jersey’s historic landscape tells a story far larger than any single building or county. From seventeenth-century Dutch stone farmhouses to Revolutionary War headquarters and homes tied to influential families, the region’s built environment reflects a deeply interconnected historical identity. This research was conducted in partnership with the Northern Heritage Area (NHA) to evaluate the region’s eligibility for designation as a National Heritage Area. I was tasked with researching nationally significant historic locations across six counties—Bergen, Passaic, Morris, Essex, Hudson, and Union—to identify patterns that define Northern New Jersey’s shared heritage.

I began by surveying publicly available sources to identify notable sites and cross-matched that information with the National Register of Historic Places. I also incorporated insights from a journal published in 1902, which provided valuable historical context. Through this review, I noticed a notable concentration of residential structures and identified three major themes explaining their significance.

First is architecture and the way it reflects early settlement patterns and regional identity. Dutch Colonial stone houses are especially prominent in Bergen and Passaic, while Federal and Victorian styles appear more frequently in later-developing counties such as Union and Hudson. Second is family ties and the generational influence of prominent families whose homes reflect lasting social, political, and economic impact. Tracing ownership patterns reveals networks of influence that shaped the region. Third is the connection to the Revolutionary War and the role these homes played in military strategy, occupation, and the broader fight for independence.

Together, these themes demonstrate that Northern New Jersey’s historic homes form a cohesive cultural landscape, supporting the argument that the region possesses the shared historical resources necessary for National Heritage Area designation.

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Project Title: The Facade of Sustainability: Understanding the Disconnect Between Gen Z’s Environmental Values and Their Fashion Consumption Habits

Student Presenter: Isha Patel
Co-Author: Rasneli Paulino
Major: Marketing
Faculty Mentor:Joy de los Reyes
School: Anisfield School of Business

Abstract: The rise of sustainable fashion has coincided with growing concerns about overconsumption, particularly amongst Gen Z, a generation known for openly expressing strong environmental values. These values have come with a significant contradiction, as many Gen Z consumers still actively engage in mass fast fashion consumption. This study explores the disconnect between Gen Z’s stated sustainability values and their actual purchasing behaviors. Grounded in the marketing theory of the value-action gap, this research analyzes the psychological and social forces that contribute to this divide. Social media platforms play a key role by promoting microtrends and encouraging constant comparison with influencers and peers. This creates pressure to stay visually relevant. As a result, many young consumers buy trendy items to “fit in,” often damaging their self-esteem and financial well-being. Within this environment, sustainability itself becomes a commodity that is marketed as an aesthetic rather than a practice.

This research examines how fear of missing out, algorithm-driven exposure, and social norms lead to compulsive buying. Together, these factors strengthen a herd mentality that suppresses true self-expression and contributes to cultural homogeneity. This exploratory research uses data from a cross-section of academic articles, industry reports, and public participants’ surveys. By analyzing these related issues—in hopes of closing the value-action gap and fostering stronger awareness—the study seeks to explain why sustainability values don’t always lead to sustainable habits and highlight the psychological weaknesses that make Gen Z especially prone to trend-driven overconsumption.

Project Title: Swiping Right on Competition

Student Presenter: Nicolina M Saccomanno
Co-Author: Ashley Santangelo
Major: Marketing
Faculty Mentor: Sandipa Bhattacharjee
School: Anisfield School of Business

Abstract: This paper analyzes how dating apps operate within a market layout. They are more popularly seen as monopolies and oligopolistic framework although this paper argues that it functions as monopolistic competition. Using comparative data these companies offer differentiated yet substitutive services, they are also able to dictate pricing powers from app to app. Due to how users face low-switching costs, most have a free-trial period or in general free to use, and have access to numerous substitutes it prevents any single market, especially the big-named brands from exercising complete market control.

Product differentiation is one of the main factors which enables each app to create its own unique algorithm to connect people with one another based on their interests and previous data. Besides Product differentiation, marketing is another major factor that reinforced differentiation between creating the company’s brand identity and effecting consumer view more than price alone. Marketing teams do this through various marketing strategies that include advertising, social media presence, and influencer partnerships. With these strong marketing tactics these dating apps come off as trustworthy and enable users to form a loyalty to these specific apps.

Our research shows that the owners of these apps may work similarly with the app layout and their goal being able to create relationships between individuals but at the end of day are able to differentiate themselves from one another via targeting certain demographics, strong brand image, user-based algorithm and being able to advertise their product. With this it allows these apps to have certain pricing powers that involve subscription tiers and also shift the demand curve not based on competition with another app but through strong marketing. Even though this research shows that these organizations operate very similarly to an oligopoly it still functions as monopolistic competition.

Project Title: The Ripple Effects of a Government Shutdown: Economic Disruptions and Recovery

Student Presenter: Leslie Suruy
Co-Author: Olivia Redfern
Major: International Business
Faculty Mentor: Sandipa Bhattacharjee
School: Anisfield School of Business

Abstract: This research examines the economic effects of government shutdowns, with particular focus on the 2025 U.S. government shutdown and its impact on aggregate demand and aggregate supply. A government shutdown occurs when Congress fails to pass required funding legislation, resulting in the suspension of non-essential federal operations and the furlough of government employees.

Using historical data from past U.S. government shutdowns – including employment reports, consumer spending data, and GDP trends – we analyze and illustrate through graphical analysis how reductions in federal wages and government expenditures affect overall economic activity. Our findings suggest that shutdowns primarily generate a negative demand shock, as furloughed workers reduce consumption and heightened uncertainty dampens private investment, shifting the aggregate demand curve leftward and contributing to short-term declines in output and employment.

We also consider supply-side effects, including disruptions to government services that support private-sector productivity and the potential for prolonged fiscal uncertainty to erode business confidence and shift the long-run aggregate supply curve leftward. Finally, we evaluate post-shutdown recovery measures, such as back pay and fiscal stimulus, using graphical models to assess the extent to which these actions restore aggregate demand and mitigate both short- and long-term macroeconomic disruption.

Project Title: Progressive Residential Property Tax Proposal – Intervention for a Stressed Housing Market: A California Case Study

Student Presenter: Colin E Marencik
Major: Economics
Faculty Mentor: Sandipa Bhattacharjee
School: Anisfield School of Business

Abstract: Per the U.S. Census Bureau’s ACS (2024), 40% of all Californian households are identified as cost-burdened, with almost 27% of all renters having gross housing costs greater than 50% of their households income. This translates to approximately 5.5 million cost-burdened households, and almost 2.8 million being classified as “severely cost-burdened”, making California, by raw numbers, the most housing stressed market in the United States. Additionally, a 2025 Gallup poll found that 68% of renters cite affordability and insufficient funds for a downpayment as the primary hurdle to achieve homeownership, up from 45% in 2013. Key structural issues such as institutional investor acquisition, a diverging income to housing costs ratio, and tax and insurance burdens continue to drive people away from ownership.

This paper proposes a quantitative progressive residential property tax system structured around increasing property taxes determined by the quantity of properties held by a single owner. Taxes would escalate with additional properties owned, similar structurally to our existing income tax system. Thus, creating new revenues for the state without imposing new taxes for the average homeowner/individual.

Findings suggest that a progress-property tax system, implemented properly, could have meaningful benefits to the state from a tax revenue generation perspective. This could be deployed towards assistance programs such as first-time homebuyer assistance programs, favorable fixed lending rates, insurance subsidies, or stabilizing existing homeowner tax burdens. However, this presents key challenges such as shifting the cost burden on to renters, the restructuring of ownership to circumvent the tax, or demand-based price increases in home buying.

Ultimately, this proposal offers a framework for a tax structure meant to help alleviate some housing stress in our nation’s most burdened markets, leading towards a more affordable future without burdening the average person.

Project Title: Behind the Smile: A Campus-Wide Mental Health Awareness Campaign

Student Presenter: Uma Advani
Major: Communication Arts
Faculty Mentor: Satarupa Dasgupta
School: Contemporary Arts

Abstract: The current project designs and implements the “Behind the Smile” campaign at Ramapo College for promoting awareness, empathy, and open dialogue around mental health among undergraduate students. Guided by the message, “On the outside, they seem fine. Inside, they are fighting invisible battles,” the campaign emphasizes that mental illness is not always visible and that students may silently experience anxiety, depression, or related emotional challenges. The campaign employs a multi-level communication approach. Intrapersonal strategies encourage self-reflection and understanding of emotions, while interpersonal strategies foster open conversations among peers, friends, and family. Group and community engagement is achieved through collaboration with student organizations, events, and workshops, and institutional partnerships with the Center for Health and Counseling Services increase accessibility to mental health resources. Digital storytelling via Instagram and TikTok, using the hashtag #BehindTheSmile, amplifies authentic student narratives, while public communication through posters and campus events sparks broader conversations.

Targeted primarily at students aged 18–24 years, the campaign aims to normalize vulnerability, reduce stigma, and encourage help-seeking behaviors. Faculty, staff, and campus leaders serve as secondary audiences, modeling supportive practices and cultivating safe spaces for dialogue. Pre-launch surveys collect data on student stressors, attitudes toward mental health, and accessibility of resources to inform campaign messaging. By combining personal reflection, peer engagement, and community action, Behind the Smile seeks to create a compassionate campus culture where mental health is openly acknowledged and supported. The campaign demonstrates that promoting empathy and understanding can empower students to seek help, share their experiences, and foster a supportive community

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Project Title: Brains in All Shapes: Building Better Classrooms for Neurodiverse Learners

Student Presenter: Miranda Frisbee
Major: Communication Arts
Faculty Mentor: Satarupa Dasgupta
School: Contemporary Arts

Abstract: The current paper focuses on pedagogical strategies that create a diverse, inclusive and equitable educational environment for the widest possible range of learners—including neurodiverse students—in the undergraduate classroom setting. The findings of the paper show that neurodiverse students are often overlooked and left behind, educational accommodations are frequently not implemented, and learning experiences of these students are characterized by frustration, anxiety and stress. In-person interviews and an online survey were conducted in a small liberal arts college in Northeastern United States to understand the educational needs and learning experiences of the undergraduate neurodiverse students. The statistics that came back were startling. Out of the 36 students who took the survey, over 55% were not getting the accommodations that they needed; and 95% felt that teachers were disinterested and did not adhere to existing accommodations that they had. The in-person interview findings reflected and corroborated the survey results. The paper concludes that further strategies are needed to better support the needs of neurodiverse students and to enable the latter to thrive and succeed in a successful undergraduate environment.

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Project Title: Visionaries and Their Dark Futures: How Cyberpunk Media Reflect on the Present Day

Student Presenter: Jan Griffin
Major: Visual Arts
Faculty Mentor: Satarupa Dasgupta
School: Contemporary Arts

Abstract: This project explores the cyberpunk genre across media forms such as books and films. It examines how the cyberpunk genre and its respective media provide a lens through which current events and societal changes can be evaluated. When the cyberpunk genre was created in the early 1980s, it was a reflection of societal fears around technology and media. Despite the outdated nature of the genre, it has enjoyed a massive resurgence due to socio-political and media movements around the globe. Today, the genre has been recognized for its plausibility relating to social movements, technology, and other important facets of media today. Due to this recognition of cyberpunk in the cultural zeitgeist of our time, it becomes necessary to explore how the dark futures explored in the genre reflect on societal changes and media shifts in the present day. The project conducts secondary data analysis of extant academic research and information gleaned from modern media sources to develop a proposal on how the genre influences the media and societal developments in the modern age.

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Project Title: French Impressionism and Political Turmoil of the 1800’s

Student Presenter: Madison Hrebeniuk
Major: Visual Arts
Faculty Mentor: Meredith Davis
School: Contemporary Arts 

Abstract: This research focuses on, and analyzes, the political turmoil in France between the 1840’s and the 1880’s, and how these events dramatically influenced the Impressionist movement. Which contrasts mainstream understanding of Impressionism, which demonstrates this artistic era as focusing on the leisure of everyday life. Within the century France saw the rise and fall of three different Republics and two Empires. France also faced many periods of violence, ranging from the Franco-Prussian War to the Paris Commune. These events coincided with a new artistic movement, Impressionism. This paper seeks to uncover, and explore the relationships between the political turmoil that defined France at this time, and an artistic movement that is so often portrayed as apolitical, and indeed, much more concerned with optical experience than political realities. The dominant framing of Impressionism portrays it as an art movement focused on capturing the reality of everyday life, however, my research focuses on the ways that some Impressionist artists responded to the political turmoil of the time. In doing so I contrast the Impressionists with academic artists, whose work was widely celebrated at the time, such as Jean Meissonier. Meissionier was considered to be the ‘perfect’ Salon artist and enjoyed government commissions and lucrative sales. In contrast, the Impressionist paintings of Édouard Manet art were seen as ugly and disrespectful. By analyzing the differences between academic and avant garde artists, the range of viewpoints during this intense political era are demonstrated clearly.

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Project Title: Creating engaged citizens: A proposed campaign for the development and implementation of a curricular framework for civic education

Student Presenter: Maryellen Kane
Major: Visual Arts
Faculty Mentor: Satarupa Dasgupta
School: Contemporary Arts

Abstract: The current paper designs a campaign for the development and implementation of a curricular framework for civic education courses being taught at all levels of public school education. The proposed curriculum emphasizes the importance of citizenship education, civic knowledge and political engagement. Political participation rests at the core of American democratic principles. Voting, in particular, is a central component of the functioning of democracy in the nation. Despite this, the American electorate continuously suffers from low voter turnout and poor political efficacy. One of the causes for this phenomenon is a lack of a consistent, comprehensive civic education curriculum across the nation’s public schools. The current study addresses the gap by reaffirming the importance of increasing students’ exposure to citizenship education, with emphasis on instructional practices that are deemed effective in helping students develop civic engagement.

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Project Title: Motivations Behind Engagement with the Manosphere Among Young College-Going Men

Student Presenter: Rachel Kobelski
Major: Psychology
Faculty Mentor: Satarupa Dasgupta
School: School of Social Science & Human Services

Abstract: The current paper examines motivations for joining the manosphere among young male college-goers in order to understand the process of developing traits associated with the adoption of extremist ideologies within this age group. The manosphere is an international network of social media influencers and communities that promote male supremacy and antifeminist ideologies. Extant research links low self-esteem and feelings of isolation as a precursor to accessing and interacting with manosphere content. Additionally, research shows that the manosphere influencers manipulate existing anxieties of young boys and men to essentially recruit them into the manosphere subcultures. The current paper administers a survey to male-identifying college-goers in a small liberal arts college in the northeastern United States (US) to understand manosphere engagement and motivation among this population. Results from the survey show low self-esteem and feelings of isolation as some of the primary motivators for joining the manosphere and adoption of ideologies often characterized by misogyny, violence, and extremism.

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Project Title: Life on a Tightrope

Student Presenter: Elizabeth Mendicino
Major: Law and Society
Faculty Mentor: Satarupa Dasgupta
School: School of Social Science & Human Services

Abstract: The current paper examines how neurodivergence shapes development of gender for assigned female at birth (AFAB) individuals, with a particular emphasis on how feminine traits and neurodivergent traits contradict. While neurodivergence and femininity are not inherently at odds, societal expectations equating femininity with perfection and neurodivergence with imperfection make this hard to see. Much of the literature pertaining to lack of representation for AFAB neurodivergent symptoms reflects a clear negative impact on those who are left without accurate diagnostic materials. While some identified traits may apply, the lack of appropriate materials make it much more difficult for neurodivergent AFAB to receive diagnoses and find identity in their gender and in their neurodivergence. For this paper, I chose to pursue a three-apart methodology. First, I built an understanding of the present literature on the relationship between neurodiversity and gender identity, then I interviewed AFAB neurodivergent individuals, finally I conducted a digital ethnography investigating AFAB neurodivergent online space. The digital ethnography and interviews brought forward fascinating commonalities, particularly focused on the idea of performing gender and more interestingly the idea of ‘failing’ at gender. This is a phenomenon that many neurodivergent AFAB individuals, even those who are cisgender, experienced; a neurodivergent woman’s inability to perform their ascribed gender causes them gender dysphoria, even as a cisgender female. One could argue from a base analysis that femininity and neurodivergent traits are inherently at odds, at opposite ends of a perfect versus imperfect dichotomy of societal expectation. The societal expectations of women force AFAB neurodivergent individuals to walk a tightrope to be seen as women. If they fail at their gender expression, they are marginalized.

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Project Title: Understanding the Power of LGBTQ+ Community Partnership in the Fight Against Legislative Attacks

Student Presenter: Olivia Parisi
Major: English and Literary Studies
Faculty Mentor: Satarupa Dasgupta
School: Humanities and Global Studies

Abstract: In recent years, state lawmakers across the United States have significantly increased efforts to enact anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) legislation, with a particular focus on limiting the rights and the visibility of transgender youth. The current paper proposes a campaign titled, -“Queer Resistance”, a community-led effort to respond to cultural and legislative attacks against LGBTQ+ individuals like the author themself. The campaign intends to mobilize queer people and allies through education, mutual aid, direct action, and creative forms of resistance. The main elements of this campaign are the establishment of a digital, web-based platform for tracking anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, the initiation of community-based mutual aid groups which will provide resources like mental health support and gender-affirming care, and the implementation of arts-driven activism to enhance visibility and solidarity. The study topic is especially important in the current political climate of the United States with a significantly increased conservative lobbying against LGBTQ rights.

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Project Title: Exploring resistance towards learning technology and artificial intelligence among seniors

Student Presenter: Wanda Walker
Major: Communication Arts (Degree Completion Program)
Faculty Mentor: Satarupa Dasgupta
School: Contemporary Art 

Abstract: I returned to college at the tender age of sixty-six and found adjusting difficult. At the core of my dilemma was technology and how it had evolved since the last time I was on a college campus. In sharing my experience with other seniors, I noticed many of them expressed that they would never do what I was doing. That was because they found technology too daunting a task to take on at their stage in life. Repeatedly, I heard the same complaint. I began searching for seniors to hear the narratives of their experiences of technology. It seemed that the seniors contributed to their own erasure from the technological landscape by willingly refusing to be a part of the latter. Their places of work employed technology, but instead of learning it, they had resisted. It was not long before technology took over their professional realm. But instead of joining in, the seniors ran and hid from it by retiring early. While society continues to embrace technology, many of the seniors still hesitate and appear intimidated to contend with all that it has to offer. My professor requested in our class, “Choose a topic you are genuinely invested in”. I chose seniors and their encounter with technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI). I interviewed nine seniors–my interviewees were not people who I had immediate access to. Some of them were uncomfortable chatting face to face about their inadequacies, which made telephone interviews, in some cases, the easier way to communicate. Some of the interviewees preferred a written questionnaire delivered to them. Indirect communication enabled spontaneity and honesty, and prevented any scope of judgement. The findings revealed a mixture of attitudes. Some of the interviewees had no interest at all in improving their technological skills or even learning AI. Out of the nine interviewees, only one was willing to embrace AI and welcomed it as a pleasant challenge. Each participant offered insights into their own personal journey of navigating technology and AI in a changing world.

Project Title: September 11th and the Emergence of New Patriotism

Student Presenter: Jesse Cardoza
Major: History
Faculty Mentor: Sarah Koenig
School: Humanities and Global Studies

Abstract: After the attacks on September 11, 2001, American media underwent a significant tonal and thematic transformation. On one hand, this new media did relate to and reflect the same fear that many Americans had been feeling the immediate years after 9/11, however, it also made way for pushing a new type of patriotism. One based on fear instead of love. Country music went from a genre about life in rural America to patriotic hymns, films were made promoting the fight against terrorism and allegiance to America, even video games such as Call of Duty and Battlefield began promoting the American military in a modern war setting. The new patriotism was constructed after 9/11 by our media and was based on fear, as opposed to love.

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Project Title: The Psychological Impact of Immigration & Detention on Latinx Children

Student Presenter: Maya Charles
Major: Psychology and Spanish Language Studies
Faculty Mentor: Paula Straile-Costa
School: Humanities and Global Studies

Abstract: The promise of the “American Dream” drives many latinx children and adults to journey to the United States border from Mexico, Central America, and South America. They face many life-threatening dangers along the way, including physical assault, rape, severe injury, and death. Furthermore, upon arrival, they face the threat of detention and deportation. Traveling with nothing more than what they can carry, they risk their lives in hopes that a brighter future awaits them once they cross the border.

Children face their own, unique set of challenges during their immigration journey and life in the United States. Child migrants often face severe mental health problems due to the trauma of leaving their home country and dangerous travel through unknown territory, oftentimes traveling unaccompanied without an adult family member. Additionally, child latinx immigrants often live with chronic stress that accompanies finding family members in the United States, poverty, risk of detention and deportation, separation from their parents, identity confusion, and social isolation once they have crossed the border. This project seeks to explore the ways in which children in particular are impacted by immigration and detention, and the resulting effect on their mental health and development. This study is based on original research regarding the field of child psychology, psychological trauma, and child development, and was originally written in Spanish.

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Project Title: The Representation of Peruvian Indigenous Woman Who Has Overcome the Intergenerational Trauma

Student Presenter: Aoi Kono
Major: Spanish Language Studies and Psychology
Faculty Mentor: Paula Straile-Costa
School: Humanities and Global Studies

Abstract: In this essay, I will explore intergenerational trauma caused by the Shining Path terrorist group from 1982 to 1992 in Peru, as represented in Claudia Llosa’s film “The Milk of Sorrow” (2009). Fausta, the indigenous Quechua protagonist, believes she is afflicted with “milk of sorrow,” an illness thought to be transmitted to an unborn child by trauma and fear experienced by the mother. In the beginning of the film, Perpetua, the protagonist’s mother, dies with the traumatic memory of being raped by a terrorist while she was pregnant with Fausta. Fausta tries to recover from this trauma and “milk of sorrow” by applying two solutions. First, she puts a piece of potato in her vagina, which functions as a double-edged sword. On one side, it gives her temporal physical protection from rapists and psychological assurance by maintaining a spiritual connection with her deceased mother. However, her remedy turns out to cause a life-threatening vaginal infection.

The second solution is cultural affirmation through songs. Fausta works as a servant at the pianist Aída’s house to raise money for Perpetua’s burial. At the house, Fausta often sings a song to calm herself, especially when cutting the potato sprouts from her vagina. Aída promises to give her pearls every time she sings, but eventually unfairly confiscates them after stealing her songs for her concerts, which symbolizes mestizo’s exploitation of the invisible indigenous in Peru. Finally, Fausta decides to remove the potato from her vagina and bury her mother in the coast to acknowledge Perpetua’s physical and symbolic death, ending harmful intergenerational trauma and beginning her new life. This study employs academic sources on intergenerational trauma to highlight the vulnerability of indigenous women in Latin America and the strategies for overcoming them with their cultural capitals.

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Project Title: Archiving the Past: Creating a Finding Aid at a County Historical Society

Student Presenter: Grace Martinez
Major: History
Faculty Mentor: Stephen Rice
School: Humanities and Global Studies

Abstract: This project is a case study consisting of three parts. The first will be an analysis of my co-op at the Morris County Historical Society, during which I created a finding aid for a large donation of paper documents related to a now closed Masonic lodge. This portion will focus on the practice of creating a finding aid, the use of primary and secondary sources in the research process, and how to make a finding aid that accounts for the diverse perspectives of its audience. It will also discuss the challenges I faced and how I addressed them, including condensing the finding aid and making decisions about what information to include. Additionally, this section will discuss how I worked within the guidelines of Describing Archives: A Content Standard while creating the finding aid. The second part of the project will focus on MCHS itself, including the history of its home at Acorn Hall, the families that previously owned the building, and the history of the organization itself. It will also discuss the building’s place on both the National and New Jersey Registers of Historic Places. Finally, the project will examine the history of Masonry in New Jersey. This will include both a general overview of Masonry’s history in the state and a specific analysis of Madison Lodge #93, which donated its records to MCHS upon its closing in 2023. Included in this will be a brief history of the lodge building itself, which was built in 1824.

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Project Title: Supporting Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the Second Language Classroom

Student Presenter: Aidan McBride
Major: Spanish Language Studies
Faculty Mentor: Paula Straile-Costa
School: Humanities and Global Studies

Abstract: This study examines how the world language classroom properly supports language learners with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) while reinforcing their language acquisition skills and interpersonal skills. ASD is often characterized by commonly repeated behaviors, extremely restricted interests, and challenges with interpersonal communication. Current research challenges the unfashionable belief that language acquisition is a barrier for students with ASD. This study draws from recent empirical studies, such as Garrido et al. (2021), while highlighting proof that clearly demonstrates bilingualism has no clear negative impact on students with ASD. On the contrary, exposure to multiple languages actually enhances executive functioning, cognitive flexibility, and neural plasticity (Alms, 2022).

This study has its roots in sociocultural learning, integrating the works of psychologists and linguists such as Vygotsky, Long, and Swain and demonstrating that scaffolding and meaningful interactions between people are key for language acquisition. This is especially true of students with ASD, who often crave social interaction but may face problems with communicating effectively (Chen et al., 2015). Research done on social skills groups for people with ASD (Gates et al., 2018) and exemplary rapport between teacher and student (Losh et al., 2023) continues to support the true importance of structured social interaction in the world language classroom. This study also highlights effective pedagogical strategies, including relevant materials (Shrum & Glisan, 2015), adapted reading (Murray, 2015), top-down teaching (Makino, 2018), and educational assistive technology (Yang et al., 2024).

Ultimately, this study champions the belief that world language classrooms can provide the optimized environment for students with ASD to reinforce communication, executive cognitive functioning, and the competency of their social skills. When teachers treat bilingualism as a tool available to students with ASD rather than a hurdle to be overcome, the classroom becomes a space where students with ASD achieve academic and social success.

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Project Title: Assessing responsibility in cases of harm caused by AI

Student Presenter: Enith Soto
Major: Philosophy
Faculty Mentor: Zachary Peck
School: Humanities and Global Studies

Abstract: In this paper, I will argue that AI systems create genuine responsibility gaps. A responsibility gap is when a harm has occurred, but no legal entity can be held morally and legally responsible for the action. As AI systems become more autonomous and opaque, identifying who or what is responsible for a harm becomes more difficult. Not holding anyone responsible negatively impacts human autonomy, mental health, and existing social imbalances; yet there’s little regulation on assessing these damages. Corporations often use AI to deflect responsibility by “agency laundering” (Rubel et al. 2019). This is the practice of including AI systems in any decision-making process with intentions of diffusing responsibility, making harmful outcomes appear as technical failures instead of active human choices. Some philosophers, like Christian List (2021), suggest that “artificial intelligent systems, like corporate entities, might qualify as responsible moral agents and as holders of limited rights and legal personhood”(1). From this perspective, AI should be a bearer of legal responsibility, similar to corporations. However, I argue that shifting responsibility onto the system itself risks reinforcing the very responsibility gaps we are trying to resolve. Rather than assigning moral and legal agency to AI, we should proactively strengthen regulatory and institutional structures to hold those involved accountable. Through case studies of incidents where AI has caused harm, such as generating non-consensual images, manipulative digital marketing systems, and chatbots encouraging mental health crises, I will demonstrate how AI produces human consequences without a system to address the fallout. We need to rethink how responsibility is assigned, not by anthropomorphizing machines, but by closing the structural gaps that allow harm to stay unregulated. Even if individual blame is difficult to isolate, there remains a collective and institutional responsibility to correct the system that is causing harm.

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Project Title: Why Counties Count: Visualizing American Counties

Student Presenter: Isabella Villatora
Major: Bioinformatics
Co-Author: Christopher Flug
Major: American Studies
Faculty Mentor: Stephen Rice
Schools: Theoretical and Applied Science and Humanities and Global Studies

Abstract: In a day and age where technology can feel all consuming, there exists an opportunity to use modern tools to enhance the public’s understanding of the world in which they reside. Within the United States, a large component of social identity is associated with where one lives, including their individual county. At the county-level there exists a rich history related to both the name and geographical origins of each county that is valuable in understanding the context of the country in which we live.

A database of county origins was created by developing a vocabulary sectioning off each origin into one of 5 categories: important individual, other country, geographic feature, indigenous reference, and event/concept. Specifics of each origin were included for every county which was then drawn upon for additional research into county origin bios for the state of New Jersey. County-level data regarding population was obtained from the U.S. Census Bureau.

This project aims to develop fresh visualizations of counties in the United States and create a common landing page for users to interact with any number of datasets on the county level, with a focus on the 21 counties of New Jersey. This includes an interactive, animated map, made in ArcGIS, that visually depicts the creation of all counties in the United States, with pop ups to include county origin bios for New Jersey. Additionally, network graphs, made in Gephi, were utilized to provide more insight into the ancestral relationships between New Jersey counties and provide alternative visualizations for demographic changes over time. Future directions will involve the integration of county seal images into our dataset which opens the door for identifying trends across counties in the United States.

Project Title: Sustainable Packaging in High-Volume Manufacturing

Student Presenter: Jillian Abbood
Major: Environmental Studies and Sustainability
Faculty Mentor: Nathaniel Otjen
School: School of Social Sciences and Human Services

Abstract: Sustainable packaging has emerged as a critical focus for manufacturers as climate-conscious consumers and regulatory pressures become increasingly prominent. Packaging waste contributes to the ever-growing concerns about the health of the planet’s ecosystems, including ocean pollution and landfill overcrowding. It is imperative, then, that manufacturers implement a thoughtful sustainability strategy that enables them to meet consumer demands for eco-friendly products while maintaining profitability. This study examines how publicly-traded manufacturing companies have successfully implemented sustainable packaging strategies, with the goal of identifying effective decision-making practices, cost considerations, and transferable best practices. Prior research has explored alternative packaging materials, notably the use of biodegradable synthetic biopolymers to replace “virgin,” or new, plastic. These studies acknowledge several limitations and challenges, including the high cost of implementation, intensive land-use, and insufficient recycling infrastructure. Other research has shown an apparent disconnect between packaging materials with the lowest environmental impact and consumer perceptions of sustainability. For this study, two publicly traded manufacturers that successfully implemented sustainable packaging strategies were analyzed using qualitative document analysis and quantitative financial ratio analysis. A cross-case comparison was then conducted to identify similarities, differences, and best practice insights. The prioritization of reduced waste and decreased environmental impact emerged as central themes. >From this research, I recommend a controlled, gradual transition to sustainable packaging designed for circularity. A truly sustainable manufacturing process ought to use infinitely recyclable materials from responsible sources and energy-efficient production practices. As I show, environmental responsibility and stable long-term financial performance are not mutually exclusive.

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Project Title: The Unknown Killer: Understanding the Influence of Anonymity on Violent Speech

Student Presenter: John Brighouse
Major: Law and Society
Faculty Mentor: Sanghamitra Padhy
School: School of Social Sciences and Human Services

Abstract: I gained an interest in anonymous online speech while following the Luigi Mangione trial. Like many others, I watched as anonymous accounts supported and encouraged the assassination of Brian Thompson on his way to work, and began to wonder whether or not the ability to remain anonymous online played any role in this behavior, or if there were other factors. My research contains three main themes, which include “Beauty as Innocence/Attraction to Killers,” “Frustration of Diminishing Returns,” and “The Celebration of Death and Vigilante Justice.” Although each theme is different from the next, I conducted my research through the same method for each, a digital ethnography. I created a fake anonymous account on both Twitter and Reddit and began finding accounts and groups that would regularly discuss Luigi Mangione. My first finding that a significant amount of his support was due to his traditional attractiveness. Accounts relentlessly expressed their love and support for him, sometimes referring to him as their “King” and saying they would do anything to free him. I also conducted research into psychology, which I did with the assistance of three psychology professors here at Ramapo and I was introduced to the idea of the frustration of diminishing returns, and other key psychology terms. The American working class is tired of the wealthy class because they feel that they worked extremely hard and have much less to show for it. My last theme, the celebration of death and vigilante justice has to do with the desensitization that is caused through the use of social media. Having such easy access to violent crimes online desensitizes people and makes it easy for them to dehumanize the things they are seeing. I believe this research is incredibly important due to the scale of social media and its increasing accessibility.

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Project Title: Unequal Access, Unequal Outcomes: The Impact of Nutritional Insecurity, Access to Care and Cost Barriers on Diabetes Disparities in African American Communities

Student Presenter: Esther Crowey
Major: Biology/Social Work
Faculty Mentor: Gardan Speights
School: School of Social Sciences and Human Services

Abstract: This scoping review explores how systemic racism contributes to diabetes-related health disparities among African American adults through economic, sociocultural, and environmental barriers. These barriers are defined as inequalities between groups in access to resources, opportunities, or outcomes resulting in social, economic, or systemic disadvantages. Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder that affects the body’s ability to regulate blood glucose levels due to either insufficient insulin production by the pancreas or the body’s inability to effectively utilize insulin. While treatment options exist, African Americans still experience higher rates of complications due to limited access to care, high treatment costs, and inequitable food environments. Analysis indicates that delayed preventive care, insurance instability, and provider bias contribute to poorer diabetes management and increased hospitalization rates from secondary diabetic complications. Additionally, sociocultural factors including medical mistrust
and social norms, influence treatment adherence and self-management. The review highlights gaps in research on medication affordability, Type 1 and gestational diabetes, and the impact of recent federal policy changes on healthcare access. This review emphasizes the necessity for future research and policy advocacy to address the structural inequities and improve health outcomes for African Americans.

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Project Title: Using Play Therapy Techniques to Teach Social and Emotional Skills to Adolescents in a College Preparation Program

Student Presenter: Sara Gustavsen
Major: Social Work
Faculty Mentor: Colleen Martinez
School: School of Social Sciences and Human Services

Abstract: Play therapy is a theoretically grounded, evidence-informed means of providing psychotherapy to those who may be unable or reluctant to engage in talk therapy. There are a variety of play therapy theories and methods, and play therapy is well established as an effective option for children with trauma as well as emotional and behavioral issues. Practitioners who use play therapy skills and techniques assess the needs of their clients and determine developmentally appropriate interventions that are engaging and accessible. Play therapy can also be used with adolescents, making helping relationships more engaging, relevant, and fun.

Upward Bound Math Science (UBMS) is a federally-funded college preparation program that helps under-resourced high school students strengthen their academic skills and complete the college application process. UBMS at Ramapo College of New Jersey serves students from Paterson, NJ who are first-generation college students and/or from low-income backgrounds. Becoming more aware of the social and emotional challenges students faced, UBMS at Ramapo added a Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) component to their program. SEL skills such as resilience, effective communication, and emotional regulation are necessary for success in college.

The author is an MSW student who interns with UBMS as the SEL counselor. While not providing psychotherapy, the author has been using creative and play therapy activities to teach SEL skills in engaging ways. Students participated enthusiastically, had fun, developed deeper social connections, and learned SEL skills.

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Project Title: Lyrical Evidence: The Use of Rap Lyrics in Court

Student Presenter: Gia Gyenes
Major: Law and Society
Faculty Mentor: Sanghamitra Padhy
School: School of Social Sciences and Human Services

Abstract: Rap lyrics are often presented as evidence in the courtroom to imply criminal activity, which criminalizes what is actually artistic expression. This project aims to address this issue and identify underlying factors that influence it. Rap was originally created as a form of resistance music that gave a voice to marginalized communities, allowing them to express their everyday struggles. When these lyrics are misinterpreted or taken as a confession, they reinforce pre-existing biases about Black artists and their music. Recognizing this cycle is essential in preventing the disproportionate use of rap lyrics in the legal system.

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Project Title: Walk a Mile in My Shoes Blind: The Relationship Between Mental Visual Imagery and Empathy

Student Presenter: Amrit Kaur
Major: Psychology
Faculty Mentor: Joseph Cataliotti
School: School of Social Sciences and Human Services

Abstract: There is a common expression that states that in order to understand a person, you must put yourself “in their shoes.” This phrase often connotes the actual visual imagining of oneself in another’s position; however, this implies that the ability to empathize requires the ability to mentally visualize. This study aims to determine if there exists a relationship between mental visual imagery and empathy, both broadly and at the individual subscale level. Prior literature has found that there is a relationship between the two phenomena, particularly that those who lack the ability to form mental visual images (“aphantasic”) exhibit lower empathy scores than those with the ability to form mental visual images. In the current study participants across the imagination spectrum were instructed to complete a questionnaire that consisted of the Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire (VVIQ), which assessed mental visual imagery level, and the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI), which assessed empathy levels across four subscales (perspective taking, fantasy, empathic concern, and personal distress). The results of the study indicate that there is no statistically significant correlation between mental visual imagery and empathy. This result extends to the IRI subscales of fantasy, personal distress, and empathic concern as well, with the only exception being the perspective taking subscale, which was positively correlated with mental visual imagery. The results of individuals with aphantasia revealed no statistically significant correlation with empathy, both broadly and with the individual IRI subscales. These findings suggest that one’s mental visual imagery status does not relate to their capacity to empathize. Notably, this indicates that individuals with aphantasia do not have less empathy despite their inability to “put themselves in another’s shoes”.

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Project Title: Parental Rights v. The Ability to Learn: How the Parental Rights Movement Has Been Changing Education

Student Presenter: Amanda Shortt
Major: Law and Society
Faculty Mentor: Sanghamitra Padhy
School:  School of Social Sciences and Human Services

Abstract: Through a historical legal analysis, this study examines the politicization and overall evolution of the “New Parental Rights Movement” and its impact on K–12 public education in the United States. Parental rights were initially understood as protecting a parent’s liberty to determine where their child attended school. However, the modern parental rights movement has shifted away from these principles and toward a politicized effort to censor curriculum and promote conservative ideologies within public education. The study analyzes this change, which has led to widespread impact on school districts nationwide and has shifted conversations in the political sphere.

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Project Title: The Effects of Distraction on Patience and Waiting

Student Presenter: Aleksandra Tomaszkowicz
Major: Psychology
Faculty Mentor: Virginia Gonsalves-Domond
School:  School of Social Sciences and Human Services

Abstract: This research will interrogate the following: what constitutes patience? The author considers the potential variables that could influence an individual’s patience and willingness to wait for an extended period of time; this topic of study is applicable to situations where individuals may wait to be attended to. Lack of patience would result in negative feedback, whereas an abundance of patience would conclude positively. The project aims to discover circumstances that would increase or decrease the levels of patience by either providing stimulating objects in the waiting room, or leaving the individual to their own devices. Based on the existing literature concerning this topic, the author hypothesized that the presence of distractions would increase patience levels. Current research suggests that the presence of intentional marketing techniques, such as cute mascots, will increase consumer patience (Wang et al., 2024), whereas non-distractive conditions decrease tolerance of having to wait (Katz et al., 1991). There are confounding variables that could influence the results such as pre-affective state, later commitments, and personal belongings.

Project Title: Solventless Synthesis of Chalcones

Student Presenters: Helena Dasappan, Samantha Mullins, Sophia Navarro, Karolina Wala, Eliza Qosaj
Major: Biochemistry
Faculty Mentor(s): Jay Carreon & Kokila Kota
School: TAS

Abstract: Chalcones (1,3-diaryl-2-propene-1-ones) in which two aromatic rings are linked by a three-carbon α,β-unsaturated carbonyl system have been shown to display a wealth of biological properties. A small library of chalcones have been synthesized by Claisen-Schmidt condensation with various electron-donating and electron-withdrawing substituents for a structure-activity relationship study. Although most aldol condensation reactions are run in organic solvents at elevated temperatures, solventless synthesis of chalcones have recently been shown to be efficient. Solvents are a significant component of industrial chemical waste. This reaction highlights green chemistry principles as the synthesis minimizes waste production (no reaction solvent) and proceeds with high atom economy. This study also evaluates the antimicrobial potential of four para-substituted chalcones containing a piperonal moiety against Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Gram-negative). While these bacteria are often commensal in wild-type environments, they frequently mutate in clinical settings to cause severe, multi-drug resistant infections in immunocompromised patients. Given the urgent need for compounds that can bolster the efficacy of existing antibiotics, we investigated the inhibitory activity of these chalcone derivatives against laboratory strains of both pathogens. Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion and spectrophotometric analyses were performed to quantitate the bacterial growth to assess the antimicrobial activities. These experiments provide a foundational understanding of the compounds’ ability to target diverse bacterial cell walls and serve as a model for developing novel therapeutic strategies against hospital-acquired infections. Our findings suggest that these piperonal-based chalcones represent promising scaffolds for the design of new antimicrobial agents capable of addressing the challenges of contemporary antibiotic resistance.

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Project Title: Detection of HFE Gene Mutations Associated with Hemochromatosis using Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism Polymerase Chain Reaction

Student Presenter: Jestina Brown
Major: Biology
Faculty Mentor(s): Joost Monen
School: TAS

Abstract: Hemochromatosis is a genetic disorder characterised by excessive iron absorption leading to progressive iron overload. Most cases are associated with mutations in the HFE gene, specifically the C282Y, H63D, and S65C variants. Early identification of these mutations is important because clinical symptoms—including fatigue, arthropathy, cirrhosis, and cardiomyopathy—are often absent or nonspecific until adulthood. This study aimed to develop a cost-effective genetic assay for the early detection of common HFE mutations. DNA was extracted and analyzed using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) to identify mutation-specific cleavage patterns. The results demonstrate that RFLP analysis can detect the targeted HFE variants, supporting its use as an accessible diagnostic screening method.

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Project Title: Characterizing the Binding Interactions Between Lysozyme and Monomolecular Films of Poly(methyl acrylate) and Poly(ethyl acrylate) Using Surface Pressure MeasurementsSolventless Synthesis of Chalcones

Student Presenters: Gianna Paciulli, Mckale Harkin, Sultan Alhaddad, Samuel Broytman
Major: Chemistry
Faculty Mentor(s): Robert Mentore
School: TAS

Abstract: Lysozyme is a protein with antibacterial properties that are abundantly found in tears and other biological fluids. Poly(methyl acrylate) (PMA) and poly(ethyl acrylate) (PEA) are members of a family of synthetic polymers that are used to produce intraocular lenses and dental cements. The two synthetic polymers have a novel ability among polymers to form monomolecular films with well-defined structures on the surface of aqueous solutions. Surface pressure isotherms were generated and used to study the interactions between monomolecular films of PMA and PEA on buffered saline solutions of lysozyme. The recorded isotherms show the effect that a single methyl group in the side-chain of polymers can have on the binding interactions between the polymer films and the proteins that are found at the surface and in the aqueous subphase.

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Project Title: Optimizing Quality–Performance Tradeoffs in Real-Time Ray Tracing through Adaptive Parameter Tuning

Student Presenters: Justin J Haskoor
Major: Computer Science
Faculty Mentor(s): Sourav Dutta
School: TAS

Abstract: Ray tracing delivers high-fidelity visual realism but often incurs significant computational cost, making the balance between image quality and rendering performance a critical challenge. Modern ray tracing frameworks expose numerous tunable parameters such as sampling rates, bounce depth, and denoising settings that directly influence both visual quality and execution time. However, identifying an optimal configuration that satisfies a user’s desired quality–performance tradeoff remains a nontrivial task due to the high-dimensional and interdependent nature of these parameters. This paper presents an automated optimization approach for tuning ray tracing parameters using the NVISII rendering framework. The proposed algorithm systematically explores the parameter space to identify configurations that best align with user-defined preferences between image quality and performance. By quantifying quality and performance metrics and incorporating them into a unified optimization objective, the method adapts rendering settings to meet diverse application requirements, ranging from real-time visualization to offline quality rendering. Experimental results demonstrate that the approach efficiently converges to high-quality tradeoff solutions, reducing manual tuning effort while providing predictable and controllable rendering behavior.

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Project Title: Anisotropic Optical Conductivity of the Weyl semimetals PrAlSi and PrAlGe

Student Presenters: Masayasu Nitta, Eranda Serjani, Halyna Hodovanets – Missouri University of Science & Technology, Aleksandr Chernatynskiy – Missouri University of Science & Technology
Major: Engineering Physics
Faculty Mentor(s): Catalin Martin
School: TAS

Abstract: PrAlSi and PrAlGe are magnetic Weyl semimetal with ferromagnetic ordering below 20 K. Questions such as the origins of magnetic interactions, the role of Berry curvature or the coupling of Weyl fermions to magnetic moments are still debated. Here, we address some of these outstanding issues through polarization dependent optical conductivity on single crystals of PrAlSi and PrAlGe. We measured reflectance at various directions of the electric field with respect to the crystallographic axes, in the spectral range from 80 cm-1 to 24,000 cm-1, both in the paramagnetic and ferromagnetic phases. We observed common features between PrAlSi and PrAlGe, both in terms of anisotropy and spectral weight redistribution across the magnetic transition. Our results indicate weak coupling of Weyl fermions to magnetic moments of Pr3+ ions, similar to some of earlier reports.

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Project Title: Aggressive Interactions Among Migrating Raptors Over the Ramapo Mountains

Student Presenters: Julien C Roche, Josephine Mitchell
Major: Environmental Science
Faculty Mentor(s): Eric Wiener
School: TAS
(No oral talk)

 Abstract: Although aggressive interactions among migrating raptors are common, little research exists about aggression among raptors while they are migrating. The purpose of this study was to examine the frequency and levels of aggression among the most common raptor species observed during autumn migration over the Ramapo Mountains in the New Jersey Highlands. Observations were conducted daily from September to mid-November from 2023 to 2025. Levels of aggression were determined on a 0 – 10-point scale for 432 raptors involved in aggressive interactions where at least one of the individuals was migrating.

Cooper’s hawks (Astur cooperii) had the highest rate of aggressive interactions relative to the number of migrant individuals of that species observed. However, evidence suggests that Cooper’s hawks’ high rates of aggression may have occurred because sharp-shinned hawks, which were involved in by far the highest number of aggressive interactions in the dataset, may have initiated interactions with Cooper’s hawks at a greater rate than with other species. Furthermore, sharp-shinned hawks exhibited similar levels of aggression towards each of the other predatory species, while exhibiting significantly lower aggression levels towards turkey vultures (Cathartes aura), suggesting that raptor aggression may be greatest towards potential predators and competitors. Interestingly, streamlined raptors that commonly flap during migration, such as sharp-shinned hawks, Cooper’s hawks and American kestrels (Falco sparverius), tended to exhibit the highest levels of aggression. In contrast, migrating species that tend to rely more on soaring and updrafts to conserve energy (e.g., broad-winged hawks (Buteo platypterus)) exhibited lower levels of aggression. Given that both migration and aggressive interactions can be highly energetically taxing, further research about aggressive interactions among migrating raptors is clearly warranted.

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Project Title: Oak Leaf Defoliation Following a Spongy Moth Outbreak in the New Jersey Highlands

Student Presenters: Mihir Jariwala, Benjamin Hentz, Michael Chabot
Major: Environmental Science
Faculty Mentor(s): Eric Wiener
School: TAS

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate patterns of oak (Quercus spp.) defoliation levels relative to individual tree and stand-level characteristics immediately following the second year of a spongy moth (Lymantria dispar) outbreak in the New Jersey Highlands. Several oak species were surveyed for severity of leaf defoliation within continuous forests of the Ramapo Valley County Reservation (RVCR; 18 study plots; 491 trees) and Norvin Green State Forest (NGSF; 17 study plots; 384 trees). Variation in defoliation was evaluated within and across study plots, and relationships were examined between defoliation levels and oak species, tree size, vertical strata, and stand density.

Defoliation levels among individual trees ranged from 3% to 73%, varying across a spatial gradient within both forests. While defoliation levels for species of the same subgenus were generally not significantly different, trees in the red oak subgenus tended to be more defoliated than trees in the white oak subgenus. Possible explanations include that drought conditions during the previous year may have left species in the red oak subgenus more susceptible to defoliation, or the microenvironments associated with the white oak subgenus may have led to greater disease severity among spongy moth larvae. Trunk diameter positively correlated with defoliation for red oaks at both sites, and for chestnut oaks at NGSF, suggesting that larger trees may be more susceptible to defoliation. Within both forests, oak abundance and oak stand basal area did not correlate with defoliation levels. However, defoliation levels and both stand variables were statistically significantly higher at NGSF than at RVCR, suggesting that higher oak density and basal area may be associated with higher defoliation levels at the forest scale. Additional research should explore how oak defoliation by spongy moths and any subsequent tree mortality may vary across successive outbreak years, spatial scales, and climate trends.

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Project Title: Timing and Patterns of Autumn Migration of Blue Jays (Cyanocitta cristata) through the Ramapo Mountains, 2016-2025

Student Presenters: Sarah Luckenbach
Major: Environmental Science
Faculty Mentor(s): Eric Wiener
School: TAS
(No to oral talk)

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine the daily and seasonal timing of autumn migration by blue jays (Cyanocitta cristata) through the Ramapo Mountains of the New Jersey Highlands, and to identify relationships between the numbers of migrants observed and wind direction, wind speed, and air temperature. Daily migrant counts were conducted at lookouts in the Ramapo Mountains during autumn migration from 2016 to 2025. Wind direction and wind speed were recorded in the field, and hourly temperature data were accessed via an online database. Annual autumn migrant counts of blue jays varied dramatically, ranging from 19 to 7,773 total migrants per year. Additionally, during the years with high numbers of migrants, there was considerable variation among daily migrant counts, with as many as 2,135 counted in a single day. Substantial variation existed among hourly counts as well, with significantly higher percentages of migrants observed in the morning. Wind direction, wind speed, and air temperature did not statistically significantly correlate with daily migrant counts. However, although low numbers of migrating blue jays were observed across the entire range of the weather variables in this study, large numbers of migrants were generally only observed when weather conditions included light tailwinds or perpendicular winds, and relatively moderate temperatures. In conclusion, the results of this novel study suggest that blue jay migration is highly variable at annual, daily, and hourly time scales, and that specific weather conditions are associated with large numbers of migrants passing through the Ramapo Mountains. Given that there are exceedingly few studies about blue jay migration, further research should examine regional patterns of migration and the roles of population fluctuations, predator-avoidance, flight energetics, and movements associated with spatiotemporal shifts in acorn mast.

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Project Title: Micro-Scale Wind Energy Systems, Wind Energy Conversion Theory, and 3D-Printed Vertical-Axis Turbine Design

Student Presenters: Marlon Valladares
Major: Biochemistry
Faculty Mentor(s): Caroline Brisson
School: TAS
(No oral talk)

Abstract: Small-scale wind energy systems offer a promising pathway for low-power, renewable energy generation in urban and low-wind environments. This project presents a literature review into the design, modeling, and fabrication of a micro-scale vertical-axis wind turbine (VAWT) intended to power low-energy loads such as LEDs. Foundational principles of wind energy conversion were reviewed, including the relationship between wind speed, air density, swept area, and extractable power, as well as the theoretical efficiency limits imposed by established aerodynamic models. These models provide a framework for evaluating the realistic limitations of micro-turbines operations at low-average wind speeds.

Building upon this theoretical background, the project specifically addresses the manufacturing of turbines through the use of filament-based and resin-based 3D printing. The advantages and limitations of different 3D printing methods are discussed in terms of structural integrity, material surface finish, and aerodynamic performance at small scales. The project also examined the role of 3D modeling programs such as Fusion 360 and Tinkercad, as well as simulation software for testing turbine development. These software platforms were reviewed as essential tools for blade development, swept-area estimation, design refinement, and enabling rapid prototyping and experimental testing.

By integrating established wind energy theory with modern manufacturing techniques, this work demonstrates how accessible fabrication technologies can be leveraged to explore and create micro-scale renewable energy systems. This review emphasizes the educational and research value of combining literature-based analysis, computational modeling, and manufacturing in the development of micro-scale wind turbines. Additionally, it provides an overall framework for future investigations into hybrid micro-renewable systems, for example, the incorporation of both wind and solar energy sources in low-power applications.

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Project Title: Effects of Photoperiod on the Growth and Quality of Two Culinary Species in the Lamiaceae (Mint) Family

Student Presenters: Jasneet Kaur
Major: Biology
Faculty Mentor(s): Yan Xu
School: TAS

Abstract: Like all families, individuals grow differently under the same conditions. This study explored how two species from the Lamiaceae family, basil (Ocimum basilicum) and sage (Salvia officinalis), react to different photoperiods. Two different photoperiods, 12 hours and 6 hours, were studied by placing 3 basil and 3 sage plants under red-blue LED light for each condition for a 6 week period. Growth was assessed by measuring the plant height, number of leaves, and the diameter of the largest opposite leaf pair. Chlorophyll pigments were extracted and quantified to measure if different daily light exposures alter pigment concentrations, specifically chlorophyll a (Chl a), chlorophyll b (Chl b), and carotenoids (Crd). Results indicate species specific difference in chlorophyll accumulation and overall growth across the two photoperiods, which suggests that basil and sage respond differently to the amount of light available. Additional biochemical analysis to quantify the changes in culinary quality is in progress. These findings help inform optimized lighting strategies for herbs grown in controlled-environments.

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Project Title: Seasonal Variations in the Growth and Medicinal Quality of Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) Located in Mahwah, New Jersey

Student Presenters: Gabriella Klimczuk, Sasha Cotzomi
Major: Biology
Faculty Mentor(s): Yan Xu
School: TAS
(No to oral talk)

Abstract: Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) is a hardy species grown in NJ, often classified as an invasive species that can disrupt local ecosystems. However, it has a long history in traditional medicine, possessing antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and potentially anticancer properties. This project aims to monitor seasonal changes in the growth and quality of mugwort located around the Native Flower Meadow (NFM) on the RCNJ campus and in the Continental Soldiers Park (CSP) in Mahwah. Leaf samples were collected in October (early Fall) and November (late Fall) 2025, and spring sampling

will resume in April 2026. Our results indicate a seasonal decline in phytopigment concentrations across all samples from early to late fall, responding to shorter photoperiods and cooler temperatures. Particularly, mugwort plants from the CSP site showed less degradation of phytopigments than samples from the NFM site. This difference suggests that plants at the NFM site are more sensitive to environmental triggers, which may be due to varying soil fertility and solar exposure between locations. In addition, methanol extracts of the samples are being analyzed to identify seasonal variations in the accumulation of bioactive compounds related to their medicinal properties.

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Project Title: Evaluation of the Selective Antimicrobial Efficacy of Polyphenols Against Enterococcus faecalis and Escherichia coli in a Simulated Gut Environment

Student Presenters: Jonathan M Sam, Anxhel-Larti, Cassidy John Mauludi
Major: Biology
Faculty Mentor(s): Kokila Kota
School: TAS

Abstract: The commensal gut microbes Enterococcus faecalis and Escherichia coli are increasingly recognized as formidable opportunistic pathogens, particularly within the ‘ESKAPE’ group of multidrug-resistant organisms. These strains pose a significant burden on global healthcare, frequently causing severe nosocomial infections in immunocompromised patients where conventional antimicrobial cocktails often fail due to toxicity and rising resistance. Consequently, there is an urgent need for biocompatible alternatives, such as plant-derived polyphenols. This study investigates the selective inhibitory effects of specific polyphenols against the laboratory strains of E. faecalis (Gram-positive) and E. coli (Gram-negative) within a simulated anaerobic gut environment. Utilizing disk diffusion assays, spectrophotometry, and direct colony counting, we quantify the antimicrobial efficacy of these natural compounds under physiological conditions. Our goal is to identify potent polyphenolic candidates that selectively target opportunistic pathogens while sparing beneficial microbiota. These findings aim to support the development of polyphenol-based adjuvant therapies to combat the escalating challenge of multidrug-resistant hospital-acquired infections.

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Project Title: Role of Actinomyces viscosus Biofilms in Root Surface Caries and Evaluation of Natural Anti-Biofilm Agents

Student Presenters: Adriana Gedeon
Major: Biology
Faculty Mentor(s): Kokila Kota
School: TAS

Abstract: Actinomyces viscosus is a facultative anaerobic, Gram-positive oral commensal bacterium strongly associated with the development of root surface caries. Unlike enamel caries, root surface lesions are characterized by softening of calcified tissues without distinct cavitation. A. viscosus demonstrates a high affinity for collagen-rich root surfaces and readily forms biofilms, a critical factor in its pathogenicity. Within these structured communities, the bacterium ferments dietary carbohydrates to produce organic acids that contribute to demineralization and disease progression. The virulence of these biofilms is further enhanced through synergistic interactions with other oral microorganisms, particularly Streptococcus mutans, as well as multispecies associations involving Streptococcus, Veillonella, Porphyromonas, and Fusobacterium. These polymicrobial interactions underscore the complexity of oral infections.

Despite emerging evidence of its pathogenic role, A. viscosus remains comparatively underexplored in dental research. Moreover, although uncommon, it has been implicated in opportunistic systemic infections affecting vital organs, including the lungs, heart, and kidneys. The proposed study aims to evaluate the strength, structural complexity, and pathogenic potential of A. viscosus biofilms using a simple yet robust biofilm assay. Additionally, the study will investigate the anti-biofilm efficacy of selected non-toxic, naturally derived, cost-effective plant and fruit extracts. By characterizing biofilm dynamics and exploring novel biofilm-disrupting agents, this research seeks to bridge existing gaps in understanding the role of A. viscosus in oral disease and contribute to the development of alternative preventive strategies targeting polymicrobial biofilms within the oral microbiome.

Project Title: Catalan Numbers and Their Applications

Student Presenters: Afrona Tozluku
Major: Mathematics
Faculty Mentor(s): Katarzyna Kowal
School: TAS 

Abstract: Catalan numbers form a unique and fascinating sequence of numbers, arising from seemingly unrelated combinatorial problems. In this paper, we use graduate-level mathematics to examine four combinatorial problems arising from real life, and we compose their proofs and present them in a way accessible to undergraduate students. These problems surprisingly produce the sequence of Catalan numbers. The four problems are: the famous Bertrand’s Ballot Problem, the problem of counting ballot lists of length 2n using the famous Cycle Lemma, counting lattice paths from (0, 0) to (n, n) that do not rise above the main diagonal, and the problem of counting triangulations of a convex n+2-sided polygon. These problems use various tools, including lattice paths, bijections, reflections, ballot lists, cyclic arrangements, (n, m)-arrangements, recurrence relations, and elements of graph theory and geometry, just to name a few. Furthermore, this paper discusses some interesting real-world applications of Catalan numbers that the authors of this paper discovered.

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Project Title: Stirling Numbers of the Second Kind: Proving a Summation Formula and Applications

Student Presenters: Tahir Jamil
Major: Mathematics
Faculty Mentor(s): Katarzyna Kowal
School: TAS

Abstract: Stirling Numbers of the Second Kind were introduced by Scottish Mathematician James Stirling in 1730. They count the number of ways to partition a set of $ n $ objects into $ k $ non-empty subsets and can be expressed as $ S(n, k) $. Employing graduate-level mathematics, this paper analyzes the proof of the summation formula of Stirling Numbers of the Second Kind, which was developed by Leonard Euler in 1755. Furthermore, this paper also discusses fascinating real-world applications of Stirling Numbers of the Second Kind across various fields, including combinatorics, probability, statistics, and computer science.

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Project Title: On 132-Avoiding Permutations with an Adjacency Constraint

Student Presenters: Nathaniel R Nadler
Major: Mathematics
Faculty Mentor(s): Katarzyna Kowal
School: TAS

Abstract: Permutation pattern avoidance is a central topic in enumerative combinatorics, with classical 132-avoiding permutations enumerated by the Catalan numbers. We refine this class by imposing a local adjacency constraint requiring the absolute difference between consecutive entries to be at most m. This combines a global pattern restriction with a bounded-difference condition and produces substantial structural rigidity. Let A(n,m) denote the number of permutations in S_n that avoid 132 and satisfy this adjacency bound. We completely solve the first nontrivial case m = 2, proving that the maximum element n may occur only in positions 1, 2, or n, yielding a finite structural decomposition of the class. From this we derive an explicit linear recurrence with constant coefficients and a rational ordinary generating function for A(n,2), leading to precise exponential asymptotics C times alpha to the n, where alpha greater than 1 is the unique real solution of the equation alpha cubed equals alpha squared plus 1. We further analyze the case m = 3, establish analogous positional restrictions on the maximum element, and provide computational evidence supporting a finite-state description. We conjecture that for each fixed m the class admits a finite structural decomposition and hence a rational generating function. This family interpolates between the rigid regime m = 1 and the Catalan regime obtained when the adjacency constraint becomes vacuous.

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Project Title: From Reflection to Protection: Assessing the Impact of Window Modifications on Avian-Glass Collisions at Ramapo College of New Jersey

Student Presenters: Abdul J Alhaddad
Major: Biology
Faculty Mentor(s): Cailin O’Connor
School: TAS

Abstract: Bird–building collisions are a leading cause of direct avian mortality, driven largely by reflective glass that birds mistake for open flight paths. Through a window strike monitoring effort at Ramapo College of New Jersey since 2018, several collision hotspots were identified, including one building face on the C-Wing academic building. In 2023, Feather Friendly bird-deterrent markers were installed on the hazardous windows in an effort to reduce bird strikes. This intervention has dramatically reduced strikes at this location to nearly zero since its installation. In 2025, routine cleaning of some lower-level windows on academic buildings ahead of the fall semester dramatically increased their reflectivity just as migration season approached. After a mass mortality event of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, one of the most negatively impacted species on campus, water-based white paint markers were used to draw horizontal lines to disrupt reflections and protect birds. This evidence-based, low-cost, and removable treatment significantly lowered collisions across treated buildings as well. This project offers a replicable model for institutions seeking affordable window strike mitigation options and highlights how students can be involved in creating a safer, more humane campus environment. This research supports Ramapo College’s mission and vision statements, which promote sustainability, empathy, ethics, and responsibility.

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Project Title: Honeybee foragers discriminate between safe and dangerous resources at the flower-level but not at the patch-level

Student Presenters: Allison C Lozano
Major: Biology
Faculty Mentor(s): Natalie Lemanski
School: TAS

Abstract: Honeybees (Apis mellifera) use the waggle dance to communicate the location and quality of food resources and can also convey information about danger. However, it remains unclear whether bees use this information to avoid entire foraging patches or only specific dangerous flowers. In this study, we examined how predators on artificial flowers influence bee visitation at both the individual flower level and the patch level. Bees visited dangerous flowers less frequently but, contrary to our predictions, they did not avoid entire patches containing predators; safe flowers within dangerous patches were visited as often as flowers in completely safe patches. Since the waggle dance lacks the detail needed to pinpoint individual flowers, these findings indicate that the bees in our study depended mostly on their own experience rather than on social information to avoid danger. Further research is needed to determine when bees prioritize personal versus social information during foraging.

Project Title: FTIR and DSC CHARACTERIZATION of CRYSTALLINE and AMORPHOUS POLYETHYLENE TERAPHTHALATE

Student Presenters: Eranda Serjani, Valeria Lopez, Agnese Karen Gamarra, Helena Dasappan
Major: Engineering Physics
Faculty Mentor(s): Daniela Buna
School: TAS

Abstract: Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is one of the most abundant polymers produced in the world. From packaging and bottle market applications to the defense industry and body protection applications, PET is both a commercial product and a continued research focus (1,2,3,4,5). The elastic modulus of PET is a property of interest as it affects the rigidity of solid PET. Ultrasound measurements provide a reliable measurement method, but it requires a large sample of solid PET of known crystalline vs amorphous content. The work presented here is dedicated to the thermal and far-infrared spectroscopy characterization of amorphous and crystalline PET for an “as delivered sample” and a laboratory manufactured sample. The focus was placed on the comparison of the FTIR spectra between crystalline and amorphous samples for NovaPet 232 samples “as delivered” and the samples manufactured in the laboratory furnace. The results show that the fabrication method is reliable for producing large samples for ultrasound measurements of elastic modulus.

Project Title: Resolving Intent-Content Conflict in Retrieval: An Emotion-Aware Knowledge Graph Framework

Student Presenters: Prashant Shah
Major: Computer Science
Faculty Mentor(s): Ali Al-Juboori
School: TAS
(No oral Talk)

Abstract: When users seek content based on how they want to feel rather than on what they want to watch, semantic retrieval systems fall short. The problem is acute when emotional intent conflicts with semantic content, such as seeking a happy movie about war. We propose a retrieval framework that models emotions as first-class entities in a knowledge graph and scores candidates using a formula that combines semantic similarity, graph structure, and an explicit affective displacement penalty, where the penalty weight governs the relevance-emotion trade-off. Graph encoder representations are aligned with the text embedding space via a cosine-similarity objective, enabling cross-modal score fusion. Evaluated on 1,600 synthetic queries across aligned and conflicting semantic-emotion conditions, the penalty reduces normalized affective displacement error by 0.037 (on a [0, 1] scale) in the conflict scenario relative to a graph-only ablation (paired d_z = -1.51), while also improving aligned-scenario displacement. Varying the penalty weight reveals a consistent trade-off between emotion fidelity and semantic recall, with intermediate settings recovering most of the displacement gains at lower recall cost. Internal ablation confirms the penalty as the primary driver. Edge-intervention tests show that removing emotion edges from the knowledge graph reduces conflict-scenario performance, with the effect concentrated when the penalty is active and negligible when it is disabled, consistent with the model relying on these edges for emotion-aware ranking.