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Scientific Posters
Each summer, RockEDU immerses high school and undergraduate students in authentic, mentored research. These posters showcase the science explored and the growth of students as emerging researchers.
In this research group, students investigated how cells respond to and repair DNA damage using yeast as a model system. Through hands-on lab work, including like growing yeast, running PCR, and preparing DNA for sequencing, they explored how and where DNA breaks occur in the genome, and what that means for cell health. This research group was run by RockEDU Fellow Andres Mansisidor, PhD (Postdoctoral Fellow, Risca Laboratory).
Support Scientist Mentors
Rochelle Shih, Graduate Fellow, RU, Funabiki Laboratory
Maria Esterlita Siantoputri, Graduate Fellow, RU, Heintz Laboratory
Lauren Horowitz, Postdoctoral Fellow, RU,
Hera Cenaj, Graduate Fellow, RU,
TAKEs THE BREAKs DnaOWN (Mutants vs. Wild Type)
Yuti Das, James Clemens High School; Vanya Nyarko, Frank Mccourt High School
Reducing Background DNA Breaks In Budding Yeast Through Mechanical Cell Lysis
Sehaj Kaur, Bayard Rustin High School; Sijung Lee, United Nations International School
Minimizing Apoptotic ssDNA Breaks Using Genetic Mutant Strain
Adib Khan, Martin Van Buren High School; Daniel Shameti, Midwood High School
The Effects of Chelating Agent EDTA on Possible Apoptotic DNA Breaks
Anna Claire Hopper Openheim, Bard High School Early College Queens; Priscilla Ramchand, Bard High School Early College Queens
In this research group, students explored how the brain controls behavior using fruit flies as a model system. They learned to raise and care for fly stocks, build simple behavioral setups, and use genetic and optical tools to study how specific neural circuits affect actions. Neurobiology of the Fly was run by RockEDU Fellow: Sachin Sethi, PhD (Postdoctoral Fellow, Maimon Laboratory).
Support Scientist Mentors
Kedar Gupta, Research Assistant, RU,
Daniel Oh, Graduate Fellow, RU, Darnell Laboratory
Yarden Wiesenfeld, Graduate Fellow, RU, Bargmann Laboratory
Joanna Yeung, Graduate Fellow, RU, Risca Laboratory
Baby-Mama Likes It Smelly!
Abigail Loor, East Side Community School; Aria Hossain, Hillcrest High School
Investigating D. melanogasters’ Social Behaviors
Adama Diaby, High School of American Studies at Lehman College; Yucheng Jin, Li Po Chun United World College of Hong Kong
Dopamine Receptors are Required for Fly Foraging Behavior
Priyam Shah, Brooklyn Technical High School; David Kim, Portola High School
A Novel Maze Assay for Fly Navigational Behavior
Dharani Moorthy, Hillsborough High School
How Do Flies Know to Mate With Their Own Species?
David Grafals, Queens Metropolitan High School
In this research group, students investigated soil as a living system by examining its biological, chemical, and physical properties. They designed their own experiments to test questions about biodiversity, structure, and environmental impacts, while also considering how soil health connects to community and policy. Soil Health was led by RockEDU Fellow Karl Palmquist (Graduate Fellow, Shyer-Rodrigues Laboratory).
Support Scientist Mentors
Micah Rapp, Postdoctoral Fellow, RU, Hudspeth Laboratory
Irem Igzi, Graduate Fellow, RU, Fuchs Laboratory
Bria Varn. Buhler, Graduate Fellow, WCMC, Jaffrey Laboratory
Relating Soil Composition to Arthropod Abundance in Maintained Soil Versus Unkempt Soil in an Urban Sense
Tess Robinson, High School for Dual Language and Asian Studies; Rayven Velez, Art and Design High School
Climate Disasters and Macroinvertebrates: An Investigation of New York Soil
Abigail Sturley, The Brearly School; Hannah Zucker, Yeshiva University High School for Girls
Characterizing The Relationship Between Soil Properties and Fungal Diversity: Insights Into Soil Health Criterion
Talia Caskey, The Clinton School; Tianyi Huang, Shanghai Starriver Bilingual School
Investigating Variations in Fungal Richness Among Low-Stress and High-Stress Urban Habitats in Manhattan
Renato Bolo III, Philippine Science High School Bicol Region Campus
Nutrition and Soil Health
Alex Paul, Ramaz School
In this research group, students collected local water samples and used DNA sequencing to search for bacteria and viruses, gaining experience in molecular biology, bioinformatics, and data visualization while designing their own research questions. Virus Hunters 2022 was led by RockEDU Fellow Caryn Hale, PhD (WCMC, Senior Computational Biologist, Berger Laboratory).
Support Scientist Mentors
Frances Marks, Graduate Fellow, WCMC, Ehrt Labroatory
Davd Ng, Graduate Fellow, RU, Fuchs Laboratory
Michael Mazzucco, Tri-I MD-PhD Student, WCMC, WCMC
Catherine Freije, Postdoctoral Fellow, RU, Rice Laboratory
Viruses and Bacteria Found in Central Park
Tamera Venson, Martin Van Buren High School
Virus Hunting in Central Park
Zadia White-Regis, Frank Mccourt High School
The Relationship Between Microcystis and Other Species Related to Harmful Algal Blooms
Juliet Lewis, Bi-cultural Hebrew Academy
Differential Gene Expression in Microcystis aeruginosa Blooms within Central Park
Jeffrey Lin, Signal Mountain Middle High School
The Relationship between Microcystis aeruginosa and Phycodnaviridae
Luciana Requena, Manhattan Bridges High School
Microcystis' Oxygen Paradox and its Effects on Microbial Decomposers
Christopher Abruzzo, Veritas Preparatory Academy
Relationship Between Eutrophication Microbe and Microcystis aeruginosa
Donald Zheng, New Explorations into Science, Technology and Math School
The Effects of Human Activity on Bacterial Diversity
Michael Epelman, Brooklyn Technical High School