69TH NJAS ANNUAL MEETING BOOKLET

Event Agenda

NJ ACADEMY OF SCIENCE

History

The NJ Academy of Science was founded in 1954, is affiliated with the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and is a member of the National Association of Academies of Science. The organization is 100% funded by its membership dues, fundraisers, grants and private donations. It is our hope that our NJAS members and friends continue to contribute to our mission.

Mission

The NJ Academy of Science (NJAS) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, whose mission is to preserve and promote the advancement of STEM-related fields among the NJ scientific community.

Objectives

Hold the NJAS Annual Meeting, an event that connects STEM professionals and showcases our community's scientific achievements.

Fund research grants for high school and college students to support scientific exploration in NJ.

Publish the NJAS "Newsletter" regularly to share scientific news, internships, and job opportunities with our community.

Annually, NJAS organizes seminars with other groups to discuss STEM topics, teach workplace skills, and offer mentoring to ensure our community succeeds in STEM careers.

Release the scholarly peer-reviewed journal, The Bulletin, on a regular basis.

Fundraiser2024-2025 isopenuntil January5,2025. Theproposedplanistoraise $5,000

Meet Our Keynote Speaker

NATHANAEL ARAGON COOPER SENIOR

ENGINEER - BRISTOL MYERS SQUIBB

Nathanael Aragon-Cooper, B.A. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, known as Nate, embarked on a journey from Mexico to the US where he traveled through California, Nebraska, Tennessee, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and took a right-hand left turn back to New Jersey This cross-country journey was a result of challenging economic and social circumstances. Despite the difficulties, he remains grateful for the experiences that have shaped him.

Nate graduated from Clark University located in Worcester, MA, with hopes of giving back to the world that has given so much to him He is currently a Manager, Senior Engineer at Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS), contributing to the collective work of treating cancer patients with cell therapies. He strongly believes that progress is not achieved in isolation but through combined efforts.

Whenever possible, Nate utilizes his ability to speak English and Spanish to enable communication and foster learning He humbly acknowledges that there is always more to learn and experience in life

Nate considers himself a forward-thinking, empathetic, and adaptive leader. He excels in troubleshooting and consistently strives for improvement in all aspects of his life Nate welcomes any opportunity to help others shine brighter He doesn't value fancy cars or watches but considers relationships and wonderful memories to be the real treasure in this world. Nate seeks to make a positive impact through community engagement, open dialogue, scientific advancements, technological innovations, and advancements in medicine. Thank you for taking the time to read Nate's biography He looks forward to meeting and learning about you as well

Meet Our Keynote Speaker

Jennie Williams, PhD

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR - RENAISSANCE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE (SBU)

Dr Williams attended Savannah State University (BS), Tuskegee University (MS), and Purdue University (Ph.D.). She conducted her postdoctoral work at Harvard prior to joining the Institute for Cancer Prevention in Valhalla, New York. After joining Stony Brook University as a Research Associate, Dr. Williams was promoted to Research Instructor of Medicine and then to Associate Professor with tenure

Dr. Williams’ initial cancer research centered on evaluation of the efficacy and mode of action of both “standard of care ” and novel chemotherapeutic agents. This work utilized formulated derivatives of Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) as chemotherapeutic agents against cancer progression Using commercially available cell lines, her group defined the mechanistic role of NF-κB and other transcription factors in response to novel derivatives of NSAIDs in colon cancer.

The focus of Dr. Williams’ current research is on defining and addressing racial disparities in cancer Her group seeks to understand the causes of cancer in general, both external and internal factors, and to define those dysregulations that result in differential rates of disease incidence and mortality between racial and ethnic groups. In her laboratory they are investigating this through molecular and chemotherapeutic assessments.

Dr Williams’ research focus turned to cancer racial disparities to address a glaring gap Although African Americans have higher cancer incidence and mortality rates than any other racial or ethnic group, knowledge about treatment and tumor biology was generated from in vitro and in vivo models of Caucasian American patients or those of undefined race and ethnicity.

Meet Our Keynote Speaker

JENNIE WILLIAMS, PHD

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR - RENAISSANCE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE (SBU)

We know that one size does not fit all. There are differences within and between groups, and from individual to individual. This understanding accelerated an interest in personalized medicine but until recently, this did not always factor in race, ethnicity, or gender. A root cause of this problem was that colon cancer models that varied by race and ethnicity were not readily available for research To address this issue, Dr Williams’ group generated diverse colon cancer cell lines (2D models). They are now generating diverse organoids (3D models) and patient derived xenografts (PDXs) to better recapitulate conditions in the human body. This is effectively being evaluated with the assistance of several collaborations.

Dr Williams’ group is addressing the underlying genetic/regulatory causes associated with cancer disparities. They are particularly interested in the association of inherent and acquired genetic mutations, aberrant DNA methylation, differential microbiome profiles, miRNA dysregulation as it relates to cancer disparity, and general response to chemotherapeutic agents Their hypothesis is that differential expression and dysregulation of these factors are in part accountable for the disparity in incidence of cancers seen in African Americans as compared to other racial and ethnic groups. With this systematic approach they are assessing how genetic and epigenetic dysregulation relate to disparities in cancer incidence and death rates between African-, Hispanic-, and Caucasian Americans.

VIP GUEST

VIBHA JAWA PH.D.

Fellow of American Association of Pharmaceutical Sciences (FAAPS)

Executive Director, Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacometrics –Disposition and Bioanalysis, Bristol Myers Squibb

Dr Jawa is responsible for leading biotherapeutic and cell/gene therapy bioanalytical (BA) functions, supporting DMPK and immunogenicity, and providing strategic and scientific oversight for the BMS developmental portfolio.

Vibha was at Merck for 4 years where she led the Predictive and Clinical Immunogenicity group and at Amgen for 14 years supporting Discovery to Development for biotherapeutics.

Vibha has 20+ years of experience in diverse fields of biologics, vaccine development, and gene therapy with successful support of 20+ IND, BLA, and MAA filings.

Vibha is a recognized leader in Bioanalysis and Immunogenicity with more than 75 peer-reviewed publications and serves as a reviewer and Editor for the AAPS Journal and J. Pharm Sci. Her current interests include preclinical translational approaches, data mining, ML/AI-based algorithms, and systems-based modeling, and improving the developability of novel modalities, including cell and gene therapies.

VIP GUEST

HASKELL BERMAN

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT – STATE AFFAIRS

HealthCare Institute of NJ

Mr Berman has spent more than 37 years in New Jersey state government, politics and public affairs. Presently, he serves as Senior Vice President –State Affairs for the HealthCare Institute of New Jersey (HINJ), a trade association representing New Jersey’s research-based biopharmaceutical and medical technology companies

Mr Berman began his career as Chief of Staff to Assemblyman Bob Franks and served in a variety of senior staff positions in the New Jersey General Assembly Republican Office, including Director of Policy & Planning, Director of Intergovernmental Relations, Director of the Speaker’s Office and Deputy Executive Director He also managed the Assembly Policy & Rules Committee and Assembly Education Committee

In 1990, Mr. Berman managed the successful campaign for re-election of Congressman Dean Gallo, and in 1991, he served on the staff of the New Jersey Republican State Committee.

From 1997 to 2000, Mr Berman served as Vice President of Capital Public Affairs, one of New Jersey’s leading government relations firms

Mr. Berman is a co-founder of Innovation New Jersey, a coalition of industry, higher education and government that is focused on building New Jersey’s innovation ecosystem

Mr Berman also serves as Vice President of the New Jersey Society for Economic, Environmental, Economic (NJSEED).

Mr. Berman graduated summa cum laude from Monmouth University with a B A in Communications and Political Science and served for 12 years as a member of the university’s Board of Trustees Government Affairs Committee

VIP GUEST

ANGELICA LINDO

PROJECT MANAGER

LIFE SCIENCES NORTHERN REGION NJ DEPARTMENT OF LABOR & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

With over two decades of extensive experience in job development, I specialize in assisting businesses of varying sizes and industry sectors. My expertise lies in forging strong partnerships with employers seeking to engage with public entities to address workforce, economic, and educational obstacles affecting the Life Sciences Sector.

We welcome input from leaders interested in partnering with the Department of Labor.

Please don't hesitate to reach out for further information @ Angelica lindo@dol nj gov

VIP GUEST

RORY ULLOQUE, MD

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR

DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY MEDICINE & COMMUNITY

HEALTH - RUTGERS UNIVERSITY - RWJMS

PHYSICIAN ADV

ROBERT WOOD ITAL

Rory Ulloque, MD MS is an Associate Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School His parents immigrated from Colombia in 1988, and settled in Hudson County, NJ He went on to graduate from Kennedy High School in Paterson, NJ and his immigrant beginnings inspired him to become a physician who can help the inner city community

Currently, he serves a leadership role as an academic hospitalist for the University Medical Group at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, where he practices inpatient medicine, and serves as physician advisor for the case management department at RWJUH He heads the post acute care program for the division of hospital medicine, taking care of patients discharged to skilled nursing facilities after hospitalizations at RWJUH.

Dr. Ulloque is part of the family medicine faculty at RWJMS, as such he serves as the course director for an elective MS3/4 course in hospital medicine, and as an active faculty collaborator in the longitudinal physicianship MS1/2 course. Dr. Ulloque attended Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (Class of 2009), where he received the Student Community Service Award for his work with the underserved population in New Brunswick, NJ He went on to complete a Family Medicine residency at Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School @RWJUH (Class of 2012)

After completing his training, Dr Ulloque joined the University Medical Group Hospitalist program at RWJUH, where he continues to provide acute care to hospitalized patients He has also ventured out into private practice in the past, and played a pivotal role in the successful establishment of a chain of Urgent Care centers in Northern New Jersey He enjoys providing patient care in all venues, and relishes discussing the art of medicine with students, residents, and fellows in training

Dr. Ulloque currently resides with his wife (a graduate of the INSPIRE program at RWJS) and teenage child in Northern New Jersey.

VIP GUEST

WILLIAM A. VELHAGEN, PH.D

PRE-PROFESSIONAL ADVISOR, PROFESSOR OF BIOLOGY, AND ASSOCIATE DEAN SCHOOL OF NATURAL SCIENCES-CALDWELL UNIVERSITY

William Araneta Velhagen, Jr. received his bachelor's degree in biology from the University of the Philippines and his doctorate in Zoology from Duke University. He has taught at James Madison University, Longwood University, and New York University. At Caldwell University, he is a professor of biology, and he heads the School of Natural Sciences.

VIP GUEST

JUDITH SHEFT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

NEW JERSEY COMMISSION ON SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY

Judith Sheft is the Executive Director of the New Jersey Commission of Science, Innovation and Technology. The Commission's mission is to accelerate economic development in New Jersey through science, innovation and technology including stimulating academic-industrial collaboration and encouraging and supporting entrepreneurs and inventors. Previously she was involved with regional economic and cluster development having responsibilities at the New Jersey Innovation Institute @ NJIT for the HealthIT Connections entrepreneurial cluster development program, the NJIT I-Corps Site and the Procurement Technical Assistance Center. She has been engaged with technology /IP innovation and commercialization efforts working with faculty and students to create startup companies and establishing licensing relationships with corporate partners. She advised external startups at NJIT’s high technology / life sciences business accelerator/incubator. She is on the Board of Advisors to the NJIT Murray Women’s Center and serves as a mentor and coach to students and faculty. She is a member of the NJ – Israel Commission and serves on the Board of Greater Newark Enterprise Corporation, StartUp Newark, Women’s Center for Entrepreneurship Corporation, Einstein’s Alley, SheTek and NJEDA Technology Advisory Board, working to assist early stage tech and life sciences entrepreneurs foster regional economic growth. She was a co-chair of Governor Murphy’s transition advisory committee for Technology Government and Innovation (2017)

Junior Academy Program

Please review the student names and abstracts of their respective projects. This year, we will be showcasing 148 Junior Academy presentations.

Category ID (project)

CellandMolecular CMB01

CMB02

JudgingGroup CMB03

A CMB04

CMB05

StudentName

ClaireJiang

VidhiBansal

IshirRao

JeslyArias

Title Abstract

Effect of the Microenvironment on Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Fibroblast-like Synoviocytes

Suppressing RAS-Induced Tumorigenesis in Neurofibromatosis Type 1 with DDAH1 Inhibition

Predictive Spatiotemporal Single-Cell Transcriptomics Modeling of Alzheimer's Disease

USING DNA AS AN IDEAL BUILDING BLOCK FOR DRUG-DELIVERY NANOSTRUCTURES

RitvikGupta Using Deep Learning to Automate Breast Cancer Histopathology

CMB06 Paridhi,Tyagi Ratio of T cell Subsets Predicts Survival in TNBC Patients

CMB07

EdwinZheng A New Role of Epigenetic Factor EZH2 in Regulating Cell Division

https://drive google com/open?id 1hiTlLAOGWs57hpOxoOvlddWQf7j1WW0

https://drive google com/open? id 10dqVslMtojsL2H4vhlyQNcyS7wOe4dFr

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https://drive google com/open? id 1B88gZrTHuXLfPp85YQViOPvXYpyrp0UL

https://drive google com/open? id 1WSfdMiyVe0GUdCXMfuVKKB6osmlkFI0M

https://drive google com/open? id=19h9WYzc3zXyhB2UfwyONZZk5VxLScjSn

https://drive google com/open? id 1tHaxcUzTv1sV1potQMYHH5qxk6RvN7vu

CellandMolecular CMB08

CMB09

JudgingGroup CMB10

B CMB11

CMB12

CMB13

AnimalandPlant APS01

Kavya,Chettur, Kavya,Chettur, JustinByun, Kevin Tong,Anat Firnberg

Modeling Down Syndrome Intestinal Homeostasis In Vivo and Ex Vivo

Anisha,Gupta Using DT388-SPA to target ATII cells in a surfactant disease model

Kailyn,Cho

AlexKim

Sofiya, Doroshenko

AyaneHiwatari

Vinil,Polepalli

APS02 RitwikSingh

JudgingGroup APS03 Jade,Castillo

C APS04 Shivali,Sethi

Dose Response of Etoposide on a Relevant Model of ETMR

Effect of Valproic Acid on Astrocytic Synaptic Plasticity in Autism

Synergistic Effects of TMZ and TERTInhibition on TMZ-resistant Glioblastomas

Breast Cancer Inducement by Red Meat Consumption

Effect of Epigallocatechin Gallate and Piperine on the Regeneration of D Tigrina

Impact of Increased Soil Nitrogen Levels on Western Harvester Ant Mortality

A Comparison Study of Inhalants to Tobacco Cartridges

Effects of Different Sized Bioplastics on Development of Ocimum Basilicum

APS05 JocelynPacio Jocelyn Pacio - Abstract for NJAS

APS06 SuvitAsnani

APS07 Abhiansh,Pathak

APS08 Ayon,Hajra

KNO3 EFFECT ON GROWTH OF RapidCycling Brassica rapa WITH GLYPHOSATE

The physical effects of colloidal silver on Omicum basilicum

Utilizing QACs as Mitigating Agents Against VOC Toxicity in Duckweed

https://drive google com/open? id 1mdTbNDMltcIeuO2k8idA5LS6Z9vgzdLq

https://drive google com/open? id 18rKzKnr8rMWhARpC7Z2yu21uXc iyUX4

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https://drive google com/open?id 1NQJ8EKknW2Fign zA5LTcaf0zWvnvkAy 8j8Zp3BbY

https://drive google com/open?id=1g52TGtLGHjsTeqQpDFniuCH2arB8B4TJBGas8RbZMo

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https://drive google com/open? id 1HLZ2AxOFmhbdePmNKtEfla2 WQrl77ju

JudgingGroup CHE04

D CHE05

CHE06

CHE07

Observing Solubility of Nickel Complexes in Different Solvents For Extraction

Bhargav Yerramsetty

Sunkalp, Chandra

Anders,Nielsen

Angelina, Vaclavik

Quantum Chemistry to Simulate Drug Trials for Cystic fibrosis

Predicting Microplastics Exposure via Neural Network Gene Expression Integration

Simultaneous Electrolysis-Carbon Capture in a Reactor with Aqueous KOH

Road Salt Impacts on Monmouth County Streams

Chemistry/Biochemistry CHE08 Maya,Abdelaal Tannin Interference on Dimethyl Sulfide Presence in Salt Marshes

CHE09 LaurenMcNaboe Utilizing Natural and Synthetic Polymers as Nanofiber Air Filters

https://drive google com/open?id=1W2Ba0LVF rGBrwbNvQLmLWO5tJgjA4

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id=1sbwCpWjtE3N7Y2ka6QZJ9rmksoeP ZMi

https://drive google com/open? id=1 fnZNJpSLjxvvUufkbgZjUU Mpuoao2a

https://drive google com/open?id 13QgjpLWLIRNEnz8DPT3ZrT0AQc87dBv

https://drive google com/open? id=14ijvLM1z1eXhByye8zkzz8rMpbP2erB4 JudgingGroup CHE10 Nithila, Sengottuvelan

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN F-BOX PROTEIN 45 AND TUMOR SUPPRESSOR PROTEIN PAR4 IN CANCER

E CHE11 Leila,Zhou Fresco Painting: When Chemistry Meets Art

CHE12 JulioCervantes Fabrication and Analysis of OLEDS with Solution-processed PEDOT:PSS Thin Films

CHE13 Joshua,Mendoza Synthesis of Lithium Lanthanum Perovskite for Solid Lithium-ion Electrolyte

CHE14 Mia,Sullivan Synthesizing Microwave-Assisted Carbon Quantum Dots for Thiamin Detection

CHE15 Aditya,Trivedi The Utilization of Nanoparticles in the Treatment of Type 1 Diabetes

https://drive google com/open? id 1Cm3ACX2oDkoiFTf5fLrQHVdjJz7rKhBy

https://drive google com/open? id=118bT7quUXSJJUqT2FwIKkMgy4XNl6qkX

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https://drive google com/open?id 1H1e71CmmPimGN3m-5QM536eIqO2Dzcwf6FrzM- R2o

EarthScience,Geology, Meteorology

EGM01

Pramya, Surapaneni Neural Network Prediction of Ocean Wave Behavior for Tsunamis

EGM02 Pranshu,Suyal Utilizing Deep Learning to Identify Potentially Habitable Exoplanets

JudgingGroup EGM03

F EGM04

EGM05

EGM06

Suchit,Basineni Using Deep Learning Models to Predict Wildfire Probabilities & Spread

Abhinav,Kartik Using Machine Learning to Understand the Reasons Behind Quasar Formation

Morgan,Zylinski Ferulic Acid Influence within Saltmarshes at Barnegat Bay, NJ

Amalie,Werner

EGM07 PrishaMalik

WILDFIRE AND PRESCRIBED BURN EFFECTS ON PINE BARRENS SOILS AND SUCCESSION

Land Degradation Assessment via Gamma-Ray Spectroscopy and Remote Sensing

https://drive google com/open? id 140UOQMgDoPvHXWTVMProHUoF9wVs6yDb

https://drive google com/open? id=1X2D0uqbeJGqaC3Tjlp8BIJcrHT1-aE3p

https://drive google com/open? id 1kHLx3Q0 OCPJRE4WZ453RQ3RYazSUGvG

https://drive google com/open? id=11mamfikE1YqTpfmNrTd cPKsp6X7fiTJ

https://drive google com/open? id 1KgbZeic13Fo000ZN8cG59K7VfUzZfoKE

https://drive google com/open?id=15fjF5bFdZiFLBZz7td4xYfI499Gcffv

https://drive google com/open? id 10JcoSwgHfkZXQN14-QI CMpgGZD0H uD

Ecology/Environmental

ENV05

ENV06

Ryan,Cohen Analysis of Non-optimal Conditions for the species Chlorophyta using bioreactors

McDonaghKuntz Effect of Azospirillum brasilense on Trifolium pratense’s Survival After Saltwater Inundation

VanessaMejia How Can White Rot Fungi Enzymes Clean Contaminated Soil?

ENV07 Esat,Acikgoz Investigation of Biofilm-Like Cyanobacterial Aggregates for Real World Applications

ENV08 MichelleRozenfeld Modeling Potential Impact Of Global Warming On Soil Bacteria Composition

ENV09 KritiSrivastava Optimizing Solar Cell Performance Through Cu2O and TiN Nanoparticles

ENV10 RachelKim Particulate Prognostics: A National Model for Wildfire-Impacted PM2 5 Forecasting

ENV11

JudgingGroup ENV12

H

ENV13

ENV14

ENV15

ENV16

ENV17

ENV18

Gabrielle,Eimbinder Pesticide exposure and thyroid cancer risk in the United States

WendyGuo,HillaryXie Invasive Japanese Stiltgrass Effect on Biodiversity of Ground-Level Plant Species

KathrynAckerman, SamPuleio Population Assessment of Harbor Seals at Gateway National Recreation Area

EricaLee,DavinShin The Biodiversity of Mushrooms in Northern New Jersey

AnnaLappas, CatherineLopes

THE EFFECTS OF THE SOUTH RIVERSIDE DRIVE LIVING SHORELINE ON EROSION, BIODIVERSITY, AND WATER CHEMISTRY IN RELATION TO Geukensia demissa

Hillary,Guarango The Impact of Contaminants in Union City Urban Agriculture

Rohit,Kottomtharayil A Deep Learning Approach for Effective Air Quality Countermeasure Evaluation

JoelizCorrea Bioremediation of the NJ Wetlands Using Live Organisms

https://drive google com/open?

id=1UpwMxJi7Bv9zTRGdFcKlnFZVTghm9E

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https://drive google com/open? id 1tUEUM2gcmBJAuQiKi9fM5oN8ZwKK -eFNhm33MAOJCA

https://drive google com/open? id 1oiJesfmdZHn5tzGE3xisgQECTZ43dfX9

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https://drive google com/open? id=1J4bMJipXdEoIPxzP7rykPM43vQyvYzd 6Mqa88WrImZk

https://drive google com/open?

qHvZjkBEdgcM7VMPaZvtjSMug8INmtq I ENG04 SophiaGao Wearable Hazardous Gas Sensor for Respiratory Health Monitoring

ENG05 MaggieKelleher Employing Woodpecker Cranial Adaptations in Helmet Design for Impact Protection

ENG06 RishayGupta Infrared Localization: Designing a Novel End Effector for Pneumatic EMS Soft-Robots

ENG07 Samhita Pokkunuri

SNAKE - An effective locomotion of MultiTerrain Pneumatic Muscle-Driven Modular Soft Robot

ENG08 ShlokaShriram Novel Quantum Materials for Low Power Electronics

ENG09 SeihyunLee Implementing New Features to Make a Friendship-Centric Social Platform

HealthandMedicine MED01 Edward,Kang Predictive Modeling of Childhood Neurodevelopmental Disorders: A Machine Learning Approach

MED02 Daniel,Han Cardiovascular Disease Predictive Modeling with Machine Learning Feature Importance

JudgingGroup MED03 Ria,Kamat The Relationship Between Tumor-Induced Osteoclastogenesis and Osteoprotegerin

J MED04 KevinJin CHEBULINIC AND GALLIC ACID TREAT NOVEL TARGETS IN ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

MED05 Pranav,Suresh Interactions between C albicans, Colorectal Cancer, and Complement-dependent Regulation

MED06 Anusha,Sharma A Novel Machine Learning Tool for Detection of Skin Lesions

MED07 Vincent,Li Effect of Ibuprofen on the Regenerative Growth of Dugesia tigrina

HealthandMedicine MED08 PrishaRai VAE Pipeline for Tau Inhibitor Screening Validated in Drosophila Models

MED09 Gajan,MohanRaj DiaDetect: A Novel Collaborative Approach for Diagnosis of Diabetic Retinopathy

JudgingGroup MED10 Siddharth, Kedharnath Automated White Blood Cell Classification: Revolutionizing Hematological Diagnosis for Patients

K MED11 Samay,Prabhu Algorithm for Automated Detection of Multiple Sclerosis using Machine Learning

MED12 DilanGandhi A Novel Algorithm to detect Arrhythmias through ECG Signal Analysis

MED13 JophyLin Reducing Diabetic Retinopathy Misdiagnosis Using Deep Ensemble Learning

MED14 Jamilett,Aldaz Enzymatic Degradation of Polyesters For Tissue Engineering

https://drive google com/open?

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https://drive google com/open? id 1YXrxy57E8dLKrHR0ycIy8StsleZxCxaTQxlMf KJvKU

Category ID (project)

HealthandMedicine MED15

StudentName Title Abstract

Sophia,Liu Novel β2-Agonist Presents New Opportunities for Asthma Treatment

MED16 Hongju,Cho Investigating Mycobacterium Tuberculosis DNA Gyrase as a Supercoiling Target

JudgingGroup MED17 DesmondPepe Effects PI3K and MEK inhibitor combination therapy on EGFR+ cancer

L MED18

MED19

MED20

Ruby,Li Diagnosis Success Rates of Traditional vs Teledermatology

Emily,Mathew Examining the Effect of Graviola and Aloe Vera on Diabetes

Merisha, Fernando Evaluating a Non Invasive Treatment to Prevent Neural Death After a Traumatic Brain Injury

MarineScience MRN01 RiyashiVaria CoralGel: Tailored Hydrogel Films for Enhanced Coral Microfragmentation

MRN02

Ioanna, Varouhakis Effects of Temperature and Heavy Metals on Daphnia pulex

JudgingGroup MRN03 Abigail Hesterhagen Identification of optimal temperature conditions for early life-stage Tautoga onitis

M MRN04

Alaina,ManzanoHernandez Methylmercury Analysis of River herring Across US Northeast and Mid-Atlantic Region

MRN05 ZoeySmith Nutrient Uptake of Zooxanthellae After Temperature Acclimation

MRN06 DaJeong,Won The Effect of Calcium Carbonate Substrates on Coral Growth

MRN07 MaeWoolley, SofiaBracken

The Effects of Temperature and Salinity Changes on Gonionemus vertens

MRN08 KatrianaWalls Assessing Sulfate Levels in Navesink River Marinas: A Comprehensive Analysis of Water Quality and Environmental Impact

Math/Computational MCS01 Niyel,Hassan A Framework for Fall Detection Using Wi-Fi Channel State Information

MCS02 Krish,Patel

A novel cryptographic cipher incorporating complex analysis and transformative geometry

JudgingGroup MCS03 Siddharth Shankar Algorithmic Solutions to the Gerrymandering Problem

N MCS04 Ishani,Singh Automated Early Detection of Diabetic Retinopathy Using Deep Learning

MCS05 Aadarsh,Kumar BUS ANT-ICS: SCHOOL BUS OPTIMIZATION USING ANT COLONY ALGORITHMS

MCS06 Nikhil Jathavedam

MCS07 BenjaminLi

MCS08 Ryan,Edwards

Developing Software to Identify Osteomyelitis Staphylococcus Aureus Antigens

FS-MSA: A Few-Shot, Self-Prompting 3D Medical Image Segmentation Algorithm

Identifying and Eradicating Aquatic Protozoa Employing CNNs and NLP APIs

https://drive google com/open? id=1HyrVPanN2lCYwh4UL8AymlJUOBWXSMz

https://drive google com/open? id=1EXUUmOG4wGqZjM--81Zc3EHHd2aA0hjS

https://drive google com/open? id 1OHkRrbgWYjpk1v6LLYqlAYdhgLhoQHLo7TT wCrnp1-Q

https://drive google com/open? id=167L85MfIODWZE8wsIIh7IJ6A8a rzPt-

https://drive google com/open? id 1daEjFZde 87iKo0IF NZ0V48blXl2v87

https://drive google com/open? id 1eG0p83HsDLtM1tB9TtK8VjYpHTVZebDE

https://drive google com/open? id 15qOeRovEGQH35yweNdeoXKQHJSwf9cPk

https://drive google com/open?id 1tbl8xbzaJe3HyRQ1hQt3ZL4xOnyKIaf

https://drive google com/open? id=1rkG5O3wYMOfZu905rrb4X-lAXA07QDYZ

https://drive google com/open?id 1JcX1xPJzCV7jvJXopbg3y-orpqQLTEm

https://drive google com/open?id 1xsK3wvn2fCDNg1Zj0igK9MROfV5RpOT

https://drive google com/open? id 1lIlaK9CuNF4yTQUsDxpjDXx7lNRgPCe1

https://drive google com/open? id 1sSf1kBrtkP6QI9mw4PEw911wvin578Jb

https://drive google com/open? id 1UFsTG4pkkTcDQcgn30dtwVsdmH4i0VPinSR V1S4XfWQ

https://drive google com/open? id 1KKypYIofyUda4luFZBHo4OcL8PJWqrm

https://drive google com/open? id=1qibx0oKJ36TsDkG1lFHXe3hiKYOmMbI

https://drive google com/open? id 13FtaWvi w6L1Apyv3wlp6DUekRlHW6va

https://drive google com/open? id 1bH8xnmko LJ1Prv5TlnwwE5udJNZEB0p

https://drive google com/open? id 15PiggxhhhSCWeaJX1U65-IoBKM 9V7NL

https://drive google com/open? id 1eKd AB5nDPCYGaygEIJr7bOVKyTwD8Xu

https://drive google com/open?id=1IDHj8 davSHLfaLe3tTbMo75-1C3-jF

https://drive google com/open? id 1QBtuGxSJhOYdyUoDvj9dv4ixRAyurV134ddMU W7AYcM

Math/Computational MCS09 Ayan,Patel Improving Codon Optimization with Machine Learning

MCS10 Shreya,Mahindroo Improving the Analysis of Malicious Websites Using Machine Learning

JudgingGroup MCS11 AbigailJones Jones Abigail Junior Abstra ct

O

MCS12

Vasudevan Govardhanen Nakashima bundles on Calabi-Yau (n+2)-folds

MCS13 Raymond,Jiang Privacy-preserving Fundus Disease Diagnosis Using Federated Learning

MCS14 VishrutThoutam Protein Design for Drug Discovery Using QuantumInformed Graph Transformers

MCS15

MCS16

Math/Computational MCS17

Lehansa, Marambage

Quantitative Characterization of Single Particle Combustion using Xray Phase Contrast Imaging and Machine Learning

JoseRubio Robotic IoT Testbed Abstract

LizzieLauzardo

MCS18 Ibrahim,Wichka

JudgingGroup MCS19

P MCS20

MCS21

MCS22

MCS23

Synthesis of NovelAntagonists for Blocking Estrogen-Receptors in DrugResistant Breast Cancer

TG-2 Inhibitor LigandScreening Techniques Designed With Ensemble Machine Learning-Based QSAR

Victoria,Vizueta The Impact of Virtual Reality On Lessening the Learning Gap

Suhani,Kumar

Harry,Fan

Maya,Bhasin

Anna,Pitera

Train an Open-Source Language Model to Accurately Solve Math Problems

Using AI to recognize contrails to decrease global warming

Using Temperature Data with Machine Learning to Predict California Wildfires

Predicting and Analyzing the Temperatures of Diamondback Terrapin Nests

https://drive google com/open? id 175yDUfLASMMRmCeaX0YZPEh6tsaUmkAe

https://drive google com/open? id 1j Vq7KuyTD6MVFUGfwah1hFzMc 3r3d

https://drive google com/open? id 1zuOA1uY5Fzf0ehYuZu GdkRL4Rs- FDt

https://drive google com/open? id=1ZsIMcc8RI8DNRV0NNh 0aq9WGdDICuKX

https://drive google com/open? id 1FhrQdKvR436UrPgWUZzUZeBwCFgmcYC3

https://drive google com/open?id 1vCTKTYoIsgwvAkg2qKmen7J091SoKZF

https://drive google com/open? id=1VgDKrI8rA2fLj57smFycIDfQjHgBesCC

https://drive google com/open? id 1WOKVF5XI2E95fVYu0JKnIZ7OWFF2yPc6yFqmrI9LCrw

https://drive google com/open? id=1ylOBOyWQRachBXf5NtVUzcO tu50IAle

https://drive google com/open? id 1E4BZHzyM0qcCSAUXetrSSkcmXH9pSFPZ

https://drive google com/open?id=1G0vINNetKxa4rANxQ9R5JKC3F-n3jMm

https://drive google com/open? id=1z6xDq1Eh iR0JH8f io9o8fAOLOcQFQV

https://drive google com/open?id 1JX1RS22OZee7jx6B57cOlOKFVxkK51w

https://drive google com/open? id 1iHAJdPQd5HwmN0FEw7xHiJ2qjD9DskRy

https://drive google com/open? id=1jLc0ZIQEGF guDyuJUo6Kfz1lS1xLqfl

AnanyaAnchlia Impact of Intravenous Iron Repletion on the Gut Microbiome of Iron-Deficient Blood Donors

https://drive google com/open? id 1NoFPN8EyfoEJzz xye83YHrYuaC VbOo MCB02 HenryCantor Henry Cantor NJAS Abstract https://drive google com/open? id 1wAMpv8Hey7k MmmIjjI599dU-ATu9I r JudgingGroup MCB03 Divyam,Dave Exploring zingerone-ampicillin combination for inhibition of Staphylococcus epidermidis

https://drive google com/open? id 1bdiI7Ms38cTL1Gzl6uMUVKy8Qr-Zeax4 Q

MCB04 John,Chang Effect of Red Noise Frequencies on Vibrio fischeri Bioluminescence

MCB05 Jyothi,Ramesh Horizontal Gene Transfer of Ampicillin Resistance Between Micrococcus Luteus/Roseus

MCB06 EdricCalderon Sawdust Disinfectant Vs Regular Disinfectant

MCB07 Nathan,Ege Investigating Variations in E coli Post Gut Colonization Model

MCB08 JoonwoonLee Analysis of Growth Kinetics of colorectal cancer under Oxidative Stress

MCB09 Tyler,Jeong Survival and of M abscessus in BMDM of CC mice

MCB10 Navya,Shah Testing Antimicrobial Efficacy of Varying Aloe Species Against S epidermidis

Physics PHY01 AnthonyKim

PHY02

JudgingGroup PHY03

R

Belen,FrancodelaMatta

Hybrid Quantum-Classical Neural Network For Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder

Gear-Based Topological Mechanical Metamaterials

StephenYoon Machine Learning Prediction of Entanglement Evolution in a NonMarkovian Environment

PHY04 Audrey,Wang

PHY05

PHY06

PHY07

PHY08

PHY09

PHY10

The Effect of Varying Tennis Ball Pressure on Wrist Injury

Rohan,Arni Searching for Dark Matter Production Using Genetic Algorithms

RemyMander

JasmineGuo

Indus,Boddu

Alexander,Recce

Nareshsanjay Muthukumar

The Effect of Dribbling OfficialModel Basketballs on AirPressure Retention

Discovering Strong Gravitational Lenses with Machine Learning

A Novel Switched Reluctance Motor Design That Reduces Torque Ripple

Improving Liquid Cancer Biopsy Using Segre-Silberberg Effect

Optimizing Wing Design for Maximum Lift-to-Drag Ratio using OpenVSP

https://drive google com/open? id 1jjZmdomnQxKqXxTMfThaQ3sxi8PIrl4E

https://drive google com/open? id 1PDuMGzb2Y0QQcbzNAdgzTsbC-m2jb5oL

https://drive google com/open?id 10ZFfovVIIAwgOyWWfNVrQDpIqs hcq

https://drive google com/open? id 1T3D8gTQ37gkZjAf-mxbhacwt0u0t9EM2

https://drive google com/open? id 1ddbwQEdWoxCrL1lHYFU1kBFdMhktMeOl

https://drive google com/open? id 1S3quyptMZsTp j2k6NcOYFcSh2LL8LR6

https://drive google com/open? id 1ciMgIwrEFVmuJsMCxtB2bGcZ-ChluXW

https://drive google com/open? id 1yD7yEfvNYEqqHqYq-6Lfq ghtO9UNlQV

https://drive google com/open? id 1EdaZJKph3Wou22804ET7wwia4fO2Zigr

https://drive google com/open?id 1TXN6SohxsOOVYRA0C6AnjPNIjPQU3eS

https://drive google com/open? id 1lAWK2PGUtuEK4gw btXWgfJSmK1W7207

https://drive google com/open? id 1wzgST5XPyZtl1Ng-5PBGiQXCY amnME-

https://drive google com/open? id=1P1EeQYqAqRFGeWnLG43INF5e4S 84qpc4uVw3NXjWs

https://drive google com/open?id=1F3qHIN6Q0VGORhKS3jnw8YTHQHsF4cs

https://drive google com/open? id 1Y3qE8qFyk6L1mRNt78cfViDjALtBOPKV

https://drive google com/open? id 14EYtJBWItfY1eaSoC0MI Iag68xfBDCP

https://drive google com/open?id=10nN0k146a6JRV11FQfgXZVQ8g9SLXW-

Psychology/ Behavior

Student Name Title Abstract

PSY01 Emily, Kim Mu Suppressions of Participants With and Without Previous Bone Injuries

https://drive google com/open? id 1diFxSiIISvO7PoxXITN5dHPQ9qfe AuLR

PSY02 Christian, Volk How Citronella's Location Affects Drosophila Melanogaster's Repulsion From a Banana

Judging Group PSY03

Saathvik Gubbala AI Ethical Analysis Through Recidivism Case Study Using ML

https://drive.google.com/open? id 1cYNPdB3hoxkgBux6TjFdQJ2rPcSR0JN

S PSY04

Michelle, Kim

PSY05

Social Integration Challenges Faced by Dual Migration Groups:Russian Koreans

Valerie Duran Impostor Syndrome Among First-Generation Professionals

https://drive google com/open? id=1uaegBavX1PEse7yUKjAAEkeETWUBDGe

https://drive.google.com/open? id 1rm7LngLjq66MKrina yQyoz6kL6 KSXYv

https://drive google com/open?id 1KzacpBcf1CJyjoKCpdT-1StMQBtimUO

PSY06

Diana Benitez The Anatomy Of A Mass Shooter

https://drive google com/open? id=1TRommOt8xF10DQKO4ttYrLpeg eT0ASCzaeOCiTLK2rk

PSY07

Shreyas Musuku Integrating Biopsychosocial Profiles with Machine Learning for Managing Mood Disorders

https://drive google com/open? id=1RtfCofjcGRyfG5fvYcPXANS7EODW6J

12 PM TO 12:50 PM

Participants, kindly take a moment to visit each table. Upon engaging at each table, you will be given a raffle ticket. At the culmination of the STEM Showcase, we will draw winners for various prizes from the raffle tickets collected!

Science & Technology Directorate

Department of Homeland Security

Please check QR code for speakers information or click this link

Please check QR code for speakers information or click this link

The NJAS executive board extends its heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you for your dedicated commitment and invaluable contribution as Professional Development Seminar Speakers at the 69th NJ Academy of Science Annual Meeting.

Mary Eileen Wood, M.S. Coordinator of STEM Engagement

Terra Science and Education Syracuse, NY

Mahika Jawa

Cofounder of STEMpowering Kids

Teen Board President of STEAMpark Inc

Mohamed Mohamed, Ph.D

STEM Director of Student Research and Science Laboratories

Union College of Union County

Cranford, NJ

Dusty Lang Director

Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program, Department of Homeland Security(DHS) - Science & Technology Directorate

Cynthia Ferrer-Cespedes, MPH Director

Office of Student & Multicultural Affairs - Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

Patricia Irrizarry, Ph.D Program Support Coordinator and Research Scientist

INSPIRE/IRACDA NIH Grant Program - Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ

The NJAS executive board extends its heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you for your dedicated commitment and invaluable contribution as Professional Development Seminar Speakers at the 69th NJ Academy of Science Annual Meeting.

Melissa Baralt, Ph.D Professor Berkeley College/ Montclair State University

Lauren Lowery, BS Innovative Medicine Commercial & Government Contracting & Pricing lead, Johnson & Johnson

Sreejit R Menon Ph.D Distinguished Research & Technology Manager Croda Inc

Robert Dodge, PhD Director Scientific Governance - Novartis

Gratitude to Our NJ Academy of Science Judges

The NJAS executive board extends its heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you for your dedicated commitment and invaluable contribution as judges at the 69th NJ Academy of Science Annual Meeting.

Your expertise, time, and thoughtful evaluations have played a significant role in inspiring and guiding the next generation of scientists

First Name

Affiliations

Malihe Aliasgari, Ph.D Kean University

Rylee Allen, BS Montclair State University

Kiruthika Balasubramanian, Ph D MSkCC

Roberta Batorsky, MS Retired

Seema Betigeri, Ph D Merck

Vrushank Bhatt, Ph.D Bristol Myers Squibb

Samip Bhattarai, Ph.D Kean University

Kathleen Blain, MS Kean University

Anthony Bologna, BS Seton Hall University

Paul Bologna, Ph.D Montclair State University

Mariela Bravo, BS Felician University

Angela Brown, BS

Montclair State University

Tashirah Burgess, BS Felician University

Damali Campbell, MD

New Jersey Medical Association

Angela Chemidlin, MS Montclair State University

balwant Chohan, Ph.D Felician University

Megan Conrad, Ph.D ExploreLearning

Ying Cui, Ph.D Montclair State University

Mario Da Costa, MS BASF

Michael Eckel Santos, BS

Seton Hall University

Nancy Farlow, MS Lincoln High School

Dorra Frikha-Benayed, Ph.D

Casandra Gabriele, MS

Xiaolei Gao, PhD

Nina Goodey, Ph.D

Gursimran Gujral, BS

Dr. Reginald Halaby, PhD

Abigail Hall, BS

Joseph Helsing, Ph.D

Vrinda Jain, Ph.D

Brandon Kaplun, BS

Nana Ama

Jelena

Komitas, MS

Kean University

Rutgers Cancer Institute of NJ

Caldwell University

Montclair State University

Montclair State University

Montclair State University

Seton Hall University

Stevens Institute of Technology

Rutgers x Colgate Palmolive

Union College of Union County

Caldwell University

Manalapan High School

First Name Affiliations

Walter Korfmacher, Ph.D consultant

Joshua Korn-Heilner, MS

Hellen Ladino, BS

Bhavinbhai Lakhani, MS

Seton Hall University

Montclair State University

DACK Consulting Solutions

Adeniyi Lawal, Ph.D Stevens Institute of Technology

Jason Lunden, Ph.D Rutgers University

Amani McRae, BS Caldwell University

Mohamed Mohamed, Ph.D UNION COLLEGE of UNION COUNTY, NJ

Tristan Mondesir, MS University of Maryland Global Campus

Sengottuvelan Murugan, Ph.D Genesis Biotechnology Group

Alyssa Negron, BS Caldwell University

Stacy Onofrietti, Ph.D Rutgers University

Stephen Parent, Ph.D Kathera Bioscience Inc

Keyur Patel, MS

Saiyal Patel, BS

New Jersey Institute of Technology

Seton Hall University

Rishabh Patel, BS Rutgers University

Marius Pelmus, PhD

Seton Hall University

Nehaben Pithadia, MS Harrisburg University

Nick Pontillo, BS

Sreelekha Prakash, MD

Lorelei Pratt, Ph D

Rutgers University

Stockton University and NJPHA

Caldwell University

Rob Pyatt, Ph.D Labcorp

Junior Academy Judges Affiliations

Wen Xie, PhD Legend Biotech

Naveena Yanamala, PhD Rutgers RWJMS

Jonathan Zhang, BS Institute of NeuroImmune Pharmacology

Samira Ziaei, PhD Felician University

Stacy Love, PhD

The Rowan-Virtua School of Translational Biomedical Engineering & Sciences

Camila Vardar, PhD Rowan University

Sundari Pai, MS Bristol Myers Squibb

Brendan Connor, BS Rowan University

Srinivasa Raghavan, MS Tata Consultancy Services

Rory Ulloque, MD Rutgers University - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

Natalie Roche, MD Rutgers New Jersey Medical School

Senior Academy Judges

Dorra Frikha-Benayed, Ph.D.

Stephen Parent, Ph.D.

Delaney St. Pierre, M.S.

Vrinda Jain, Ph.D.

Bhavinbhai Lakhani, M.S.

Keyur Patel, M.S.

Marius Pelmus, Ph.D.

Mario Da Costa, M.S.

Joshua Korn-Heilner, M.S.

William Velhagen, Ph.D.

David Walker, M.S.

Candace Tang, M.S.

Rory Ulloque, M.D.

Krishna Tobon, Ph.D.

Vrushank Bhatt, Ph.D.

Affiliations

Kean University

Kathera Bioscience Inc

Montclair State University

Rutgers University & Colgate Palmolive

DACK Consulting Solutions

New Jersey Institute of Technology

Seton Hall University

BASF

Seton Hall University

Caldwell University

Montclair State University

Legend Biotech

Rutgers University - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

Bristol Myers Squibb

Bristol Myers Squibb

Gratitude to Our NJ Academy of Science Ambassadors

The NJAS executive board extends its heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you for your contribution as NJAS Ambassador at the 69th NJ Academy of Science Annual Meeting.

Name of Ambassador High School - School Name

Tina Wang Bergen County Academies

Veda Elchuri Bergen County Academies

Yanna Ysabelle Sadol Bergen County Academies

Agatha Shaikhutdinova Bergen County Academies

Jaehyun Hwang Bergen County Academies

Delancey Van Meir Bergen County Academies

Lana Mehetarian Bergen County Academies

Lina Mekonnen Bergen County Academies

Averie Lee Bergen County Academies

Pavitra kalaivanan Edison High School

Niyathi Emmadi Edison High School

Lillian Boyd MATES

Samatha Capili MATES

Zachary Ciappa MATES

Isabella Morgan MATES

Kealia Grace Smith MATES

Chloe Wnek MATES

Akanksha Narayan Thomas jefferson Middle School

Sai Hasini Chandran Thomas jefferson Middle School

Zara Wiley Northern Valley-Demarest

Adam Ulloque Wayne Valley HS

Name of Ambassador Institution Name

Dinushka Regmi Caldwell University

Erika Calle Kean University

Kalicer Del Rosario Garcia Kean University

Angel Ihie Kean University

Joshua Debrah Kean University

Edgar Villegas Montclair University

Aidan McCoy Seton Hall University

Aliye Pehlivan Seton Hall Univeristy

Eshika Gupta Seton Hall Univeristy

Zayan Keezhana Seton Hall University

Sydney Ekwe

William Paterson University

Stephanie Gussin NJAS Fellow

NJ ACADEMY OF SCIENCE

EXECUTIVE BOARD

2024-2027

Dr.Maria Agapito, Ph.D - President

MariaAgapito,Ph.D.,isadedicatedscientistandeducatorwithdegreesfromMontclairState University and Rutgers University. With expertise in neuroscience, neuroendocrinology, canceranddevelopmentalbiology,sheconductedgroundbreakingresearchatRobertWood JohnsonMedicalSchool.Dr.Agapitoisalsoarespectedleader,servingaspresidentoftheNJ Academy of Science, Assistant Professor at Caldwell University, Wayne Township Environmental Commissioner, and Northern NJ LifeSciences Industry Partnerships - Dept. Of Labor Convener. Dr. Agapito’s long-term goal is to change the face of America by enhancingcuriosity,educating,andmentoringstudentstoenterSTEMrelatedfields.Inthis way,wecancreateadiversepopulationofrolemodelsforthenextgenerationstocome.

John Wnek, Ph.D - Treasurer

John Wnek, Treasure of the New Jersey Academy of Science, is a science supervisor at MATES and adjunct faculty at Kean and Stockton Universities. He co-chairs initiatives such as the Save Barnegat Bay Student Grant Program and the Diamondback Terrapin Working Group, advancing terrapin conservation and research. With numerous publications and curricula focused on coastal ecosystems, John leads projects in derelict gear removal and bycatch reduction in Barnegat Bay, fostering environmental stewardship and education.

Dr. Kiruthika Balasubramanian, Ph.D Executive Secretary

Dr. Kiruthika Balasubramanian, a seacancer researcher with a Ph.D. from Avinashilingam University, India, is currently based at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, specializing in Next Generation Sequencing. Renowned for her exceptional reviewing skills across various journals, she boasts a diverse career in esteemed research institutions. With a dedicated focus on pioneering therapeutic strategies for diseases, Kiruthika has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and delivered presentations at over 20 national and international conferences. Beyond her professional pursuits, she passionately shares Indian culture and values, inspiring young minds through her involvement with the New Jersey Academy of Science.

NJ ACADEMY OF SCIENCE EXECUTIVE BOARD

2024-2027

Donna Leonardi, MS

Junior Academy Director

Donna Leonardi is the Junior Academy Director of the NJAS. She facilitates various research symposia, highlighting the work of our future young innovators from throughout the state of New Jersey. Her primary goal is diversity, equity, and inclusion at the STEM front. Mrs. Leonardi, who holds a Master's degree, has over 25 years of teaching/mentoring experience and was formerly a cytogenetics laboratory manager. She is currently a student research mentor/consultant for the Bergen County Academies. Her mentees have peer reviewed publications, National and International Awards, as well as a patent.

Marius Pelmus, Ph.D Chair of the Science Program

Marius Pelmus, Ph.D., of South Orange, NJ, seeks a full-time role in pharmaceuticals, biotech, or chemicals, boasting extensive skills in project management, technical writing, and data analysis. With experience as a Research Associate at Seton Hall University and Principal Scientist at ExecuPharm, he brings valuable expertise in experimental design and synthesis. Holding a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Seton Hall, Marius is recognized for his contributions, evident in numerous awards and a prolific publication record presented globally.

Joseph Spagna, Ph.D

NJAS Peer-Review Journal “Bulletin” Editor

Dr. Joseph C. Spagna, a Professor of Biology at William Paterson University, specializes in arthropod evolution, particularly spiders and ants. With a Ph.D. from UC Berkeley and postdoctoral experience at the University of Illinois, UrbanaChampaign, he focuses on biomechanics and phylogenetics. His research, evidenced by numerous publications and presentations, enhances our understanding of arthropod biology. Beyond research, Dr. Spagna excels as an educator, mentoring students and contributing actively to the advancement of scientific knowledge.

NJ ACADEMY OF SCIENCE EXECUTIVE BOARD

Suriya Dharshini Ramankuty, Ph.D

NewsLetter Editor

Her expertise spans data analysis utilizing SAS, research in VLSI technology, and prototype designing of medical devices such as fetal heart rate monitors. Surya's academic journey includes a Master of Science in Biomedical Informatics from Rutgers the State University of New Jersey, where she achieved a remarkable CGPA of 3.91. Additionally, she holds a Master of Engineering in Applied Electronics from Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan College of Engineering and a Bachelor of Engineering in Biomedical Instrumentation from Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science & Higher Education. Notably, in 2014, she was honored as the Anna University Rank Holder in PostGraduation, earning a prestigious gold medal for her academic excellence.

News letter Editor

News letter Editor

News letter Editor

News letter Editor

Mr. Jonathan Zhang Chair of the NJAS Membership Committee

An aspiring physician-scientist deeply committed to lifelong learning and research at the renowned Institute of Neuroimmune Pharmacology (INIP). With a diverse portfolio spanning addiction in HIV transgenic rats to COVID-19's neurological manifestations, Jonathan's passion and curiosity drive his contributions. Recognized through conference presentations and publications, Jonathan's primary focus lies in advancing understanding of COVID-19's neurological impacts. As an Early Career Investigator and Scribe Special Operations Ambassador, Jonathan aims to lead in research and healthcare, aspiring to make a significant global impact.

Dr. Jason Lunden, Ph.D Co-Chair of the Grant Committee

Dr.JasonLunden,Phd, isadistinguishedmedicalwriterwithafocusonneuroscienceand cardiology,with an expansive portfolio that also encompasses key interests in endocrinology, pharmacology, and oncology. His work, characterized by precision and clarity, serves to make complex scientific concepts accessible to broad audiences, including students, healthcare professionals, and patients seeking understanding of their conditions. Dr. Lunden’s expertise not only lies in translating intricate medical data into accessible information but also in structuring content to efficiently highlight crucial information. His commitment to excellence in medical communication is evident through hiscontributiontovariousprojectsthataimtoadvanceunderstandingandfacilitatebetter healthcareoutcomes.

NJ ACADEMY OF SCIENCE EXECUTIVE BOARD

Nan Perigo, MS Past-Treasurer

Nan Perigo, M.S. in Science Education from Oregon State University, is a multifaceted professional currently serving as the Research Facilities Manager at Kean University. In additiontohermanagerialrole,Nanremainsdeeplyengagedinbothresearch,notablyin pollen tracking, and teaching across various disciplines including general biology, microbiology, and anatomy & physiology. With a rich background in academia and administration, Nan has contributed significantly to the scientific community, having previously held the position of treasurer for the New Jersey Academy of Science (NJAS). Her commitment to academia extends further as she plays an integral role in coordinating the Annual Meeting at Kean University, fostering collaboration and knowledgeexchangewithinthescientificcommunity.

Clare F. Kennedy, MS Chair of the Grant Committee

Clare F. Kennedy, MS, is a seasoned educator and expert in biology, agricultural science, and environmental science, with over 30 years of experience teaching at both high school and college levels. Armed with an Associate of Applied Science in Horticulture, Clare brings a wealth of knowledge and practical insight to her classrooms. Her passion for nurturing curiosity about plant life and sustainability has inspired countless students throughout her career. Clare's dedication to fostering a deeper understanding of the natural world has made her a respected figure in academic circles. With her expertise and commitment to education, Clare continues to shape the minds of future generations of scientists and environmental advocates.

Tina Bustamante, BS, FINRA, PMP Chair of the Professional Development Committee

Tina Bustamante, boasting a Bachelor of Science degree along with certifications in FINRA and PMP, is a seasoned Product Manager in the investment banking industry. With a robust background in Electronic Trading, Middle Office operations, and Equity Trading, she is recognized as a skilled FinTech professional. Tina's career highlights her adeptness in navigating the complexities of financial technology, demonstrating a keen understanding of market dynamics and technological innovations. Known for her leadership and innovative approach, Tina has successfully spearheaded product development initiatives, driving value for her clients. Tina's commitment to staying updated on industry trends underscores her dedication to delivering cutting-edge solutions in the dynamic world of investment banking.

NJ ACADEMY OF SCIENCE EXECUTIVE BOARD

Laura Lorentzen, Ph.D

Bulletin Co-Editor & Past-President

An Associate Professor of Biology at Kean University. She has over twenty years’ experience in undergraduate STEM teaching and curriculum development, both as an administrator and as a faculty member. Awarded in 2023, she is the principal investigator (PI) of the National Science Foundation (NSF) Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program. She is a past president of the New Jersey Academy of Science, and past Editor-in-Chief of the Association for Women in Science (AWIS) Magazine, and a Forum Advisory Board Member for the national research honors society Phi Kappa Phi.

Paul A. X. Bologna, Ph.D Bulletin Co-Editor & Past-President

Dr. Paul Bologna is a Professor of Biology and the Director of the Marine Biology and Coastal Sciences Program at Montclair State University. His research expertise lies within aquatic ecology with emphases in Jellyfish Ecology and Seagrass Ecosystems. His current research includes understanding jellyfish dynamics and the impacts of the closure of the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station on zooplankton communities. he is currently conducting eelgrass restorations in Barnegat Bay with funding from the NJDEP. Dr. Bologna has served the New Jersey Academy of Science for the last 20 years as a board member, including serving as the president of the Academy from 2010 to 2013. Dr. Bologna continues his commitment to engaging the next generation of scientists as a teacher and research mentor.

Kendall Martin, Ph.D Bulletin Co-Editor

Dr. Martin started his research career by getting involved as an undergraduate, in research on plant-microbe relationships at Hampshire College. He is a Soil Biologist and Microbial Ecologist. These fields draw on a wide range of disciplines, from physics to economics. Before joining William Paterson, he was a research scientist involved in large, collaborative, multidisciplinary projects for almost a decade. During this time, he sought out opportunities to bring undergraduate students into his lab. He helped to develop a program to bring students into the Environmental Protection Agency lab facility where he worked.

Closing Remarks

Message

“Today, we united as a community to share our contributions to science, recognizing that we were not alone in our journey, learning from our mistakes, and nurturing resilience alongside our peers. Embracing the vibrant diversity of our beloved New Jersey, we came together to forge lifelong connections and fostered a collaborative spirit. As proud residents of NJ, we joined forces to address the evolving demands of STEM, committed to enhancing our collective future. Looking forward to seeing you next year at the 70th NJ Academy of Science Annual Meeting, please save the date: May 10, 2025.”

Maria Agapito, Ph.D

Additional Parking Lot (Prefer for school buses)