Scientific Posters

In the 2024 Stem Cells research track, students investigated how stem cells grow, differentiate, and respond to their environments. This track was led by the following RockEDU Fellows, all members of the Fuchs Laboratory: Natalie Alexander, (Rockefeller Graduate Fellow); David Ng (Rockefeller Graduate Fellow); and Alain Bonny, PhD (Postdoctoral Fellow), with contributions from support scientists, listed below.

Support Scientist Mentors

Jess Posada, MD, Postdoctoral Fellow, RU, Tavazoie Laboratory

Deniz Abdusselamoglu, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow, RU, Fuchs Laboratory

Maria Belen Harreguy Alfonso, Research Support Scientist, RU, BIRC

Yixin Hu, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow, RU, Fuchs Laboratory

Lauren Anderson, Graduate Fellow, RU, Risca Laboratory

Deepika Nambiar, Graduate Fellow, MSKCC, An Laboratory

Jaina Wollowitz, Graduate Fellow, MSKCC, Heller Laboratory

Charlotte Bell, Graduate Fellow, RU, Fuchs Laboratory

Nicolas Carbone, Graduate Fellow, WCMC, Rout

Cell-a-bration: Balancing Differentiation in Cancer Stem Cells to Enhance Post-Treatment Outcomes

Leora Blechner, SAR High School; Nneamaka Onyia, BASIS Chandler

Combinatorial Effects of 9-Cis Retinoic Acid and IL-33 on Keratinocyte and Squamous Cell Carcinoma Proliferation

Jonathan Yu, University of California, Berkeley; Chaya Greenberg, Hunter College

Understanding the Impact of Hypoxia and TGF-B1 on Cancer Stem Cell Properties

Hana Rashid, The Dalton School; Rukhshona Babakhodjaeva, Hunter College

The Effect of Increased Cholesterol on Keratinocyte Physiology

Najifa Nosin, High School for Environmental Studies; Pranai Rao, Academy for Science and Design

Retinol Implications on Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Comparative Analysis with Keratinocytes and DNA-Damage

Alimatu Radan, Yalow Honors Program, Hunter College; Sharon Gomez, St. John's Preparatory School

In the 2024 Feeding Behavior and the Brain research track, students examined how the brain regulates eating and energy balance. Their projects explored the neural and molecular pathways that influence when, why, and how organisms feed. This track was led by the following RockEDU Fellows, all members of the Friedman Lab: Yue Yu, PhD (Postdoctoral Fellow) and
Donghoon (Jerry) Lee, PhD (Postdoctoral Fellow).

Support Scientist Mentors

Lisa Pomeranz, Senior Research Associate, RU, Friedman Laboratory

Xin Yu Zhu Jiang, Graduate Fellow, MSKCC, Lai Laboratory

Yushan Wan, Postdoctoral Fellow, WCMC, Fine Laboratory

Audrey Goldfarb, Graduate Fellow, RU, de Lange Laboratory

Kenzie Yedlin, Graduate Fellow, RU, Vosshall Laboratory

Betty Ortiz, Graduate Fellow, RU, Shaham Laboratory

Xiaoqun Zhang, Lab Manager, MSKCC, Immunology Department

The Fat and the Furious: High-Fat Diet on Mouse Behavior, Physiology, and Neuroactivity

Nisa Keshwani, Evergreen Valley High School; Alissa Ye, John P. Stevens High School; Anuhya Chilakapti, Hollis Brookline High School

Hidden Hunger: Amino Acid Deficiency-Induced Weight Loss in Mice

Mayuri Fiete, Newton South High School

Mouse Munchies: The Effect of Amino Acid Deficiency

Rapheal Ally, Queens High School for the Sciences at York College

From Feast to Fast: Transformative Impacts of Fasting on Mouse Physiology

Khadija Sayari, Hunter College; Aidana Azimbaeva, Silk Road International School; Nguyen Ai Trinh, AICJ High School

In the 2024 Stress Machine: The Neuroscience of the Stressed Brain research track, students investigated how stress impacts brain function and behavior. Their work focused on the biological pathways of stress and how the brain adapts -- or struggles to adapt -- under pressure. This track was led by RockEDU Fellows: Merima Sabanovic, PhD (Postdoctoral Fellow, Lee Laboratory, WCMC) and Luz Jubierre Zapater, PhD (Postdoctoral Fellow, Kentsis Laboratory, MSKCC).

Support Scientist Mentors

Lennart Sagner, Visiting Student, RU, Nussenzweig Laboratory

Shawn Mozeika, Graduate Fellow, RU, Zhao Laboratory

Munoj Kumar, Postdoctoral Fellow, RU, Rajasethupathy Laboratory

Arianna Izawa-Ishiguro, Graduate Fellow, MSKCC, Mellinghoff Laboratory

Mohammed A. Fouda, , WCMC, Neurological Surgery Department

Tetyana Martynyuk, Postdoctoral Fellow, RU, Ravetch Laboratory

Silvia Benito Kwiecinski, Postdoctoral Fellow, MSKCC, Studer Laboratory

Nazish Murad, Postdoctoral Fellow, WCMC, Radiology Department

Michelle Yu, Undergraduate Research Intern, WCMC, Lee Laboratory

UMAP-ing Schizophrenia Risk: A Gene Expression Journey Through the Dimensions

Alua Zhanuzakova, Columbia University; Amani Kaur, Benjamin N Cardozo High School

Mice on Meds: Shocking Effects

Jacob Prager, SAR High School; Damini Rosenblatt, Brooklyn Technical High School

Good Light, Bad Noise: Do Safety Cues Help in Fear Extinction?

Nandika Dhingra, Woodbridge Academy Magnet School; Nathan Esses, Yeshivat Darche Eres Inc.

Stress Who's Back: Methylation of FKBP5

Soham Bafana, Dwight Englewood School; Somin Jung, American International School of Budapest

Starve Wars: Return of the Stress

Lisa Reinaudi-Monzier, Columbia Secondary School for Math Science and Engineering; Maria del Mar López Ahmad, Millennium High School

In the 2024 Protein Pioneers: Into the Virion research group, students explored how proteins shape the structure and function of viruses. Their projects examined the roles viral proteins play in infection and how studying them can reveal new strategies for treatment or prevention. Protein Pioneers was led by RockEDU Fellows: Anoosha Banerjee (Graduate Fellow, Campbell Laboratory) and Priyadarshani Choudhary, PhD (Postdoctoral Fellow, Fischetti Laboratory)