STUDENT AND ALUMNI ACCOLADES
Samuel Annan ’24, biology major, spent his summer in the competitive Novartis summer internship program in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He worked with professionals at the pharmaceutical company’s research headquarters on radio-ligand therapy, a form of cancer therapy. The Novartis program provides research training opportunities for top-tier students who have had little exposure to industry research. The students gain research experience and prepare for careers in biomedical research and for application to prestigious graduate and professional programs.
Annan and Abbas Wafa presented their research titled “Green Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles (GNPs) and Its Applications: A Modern Tale of Magical Golden Eggs” at the national meeting of the American Chemical Society in San Francisco in August. Their research mentor is Xiaolei Gao, Ph.D., assistant professor in the School of Natural Sciences. Their trip was made possible thanks to American Chemical Society travel grants and the support of the leadership at Caldwell including Ellina Chernobilsky, Ph.D. They earned several awards this year including at the 2023 Undergraduate Research Symposium last spring, at the poster presentation at the Senior Academy at the 68th New Jersey Academy of Science annual meeting in May and in nanochemistry at the William Paterson University Undergraduate Research Symposium as well as the top poster award at Caldwell Research and Creative Arts Day.
Kayla Baca ’24 interned with the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office this past summer. The criminal justice and political science major appreciated “getting to see first hand how the accused gets their right to a fair trial and all the steps to a trial that aren’t common knowledge like jury selection and plea negotiations.” She was grateful for the internship, which gave her a clearer vision of her academic and career plans; these include attending law school and becoming a civil rights or criminal defense attorney.
Sonia Casiano, a criminal justice major with minors in criminal forensics and psychology, performed an 18-minute marimba solo, completely by memory, with the percussion ensemble several times last spring. Casiano was drum captain of the marching band for two years and is the drum major this fall. She has performed with the wind ensemble, university chorale and brass and flute ensembles and is teaching music at Northern Valley and Morris Hills high schools. “Sonia is an outstanding musician who is extremely dedicated to the Music Department. We are very proud of her and her accomplishments,” said Rebecca Vega, professor of music.
Computer science students Nika Gedenidze and Rishikesh Yadav presented their paper “Visual Cortex Doesn’t Change, Why Should Convolutional Layers?” at the 16th International Conference on Brain Informatics in August at Stevens Institute of Technology.
Benjamin Fernandez’s new solo mixed media exhibition “Be Still” was shown at the Warren Township Library in the summer. In his description Fernandez ’24, a senior and studio art major, wrote: “To be still is to be open to our senses, allowing ourselves to be released from the busyness of our daily lives. Stillness in body, mind and spirit can enable us to discover the beauty within ourselves and our surroundings. I hope that you experience moments in your day when you can find stillness in your own life.”
Adam Lasek, a social studies education major, was one of nine students across the nation selected to receive a fall 2023 Father Fitzgerald Scholarship from Delta Epsilon Sigma, a national scholastic honor society recognizing academic excellence, service and leadership at Catholic colleges and universities.
Jannice Salazar, a computer science major, was awarded a scholarship from the Hispanic Information Technology Executive Council (HITEC) Foundation. The scholarship recognizes Salazar’s outstanding academic achievements, leadership potential and commitment to advancing technology and diversity within the field of computer science. Her scholarship from the HITEC Foundation will provide Salazar with financial support, access to the HITEC’s extensive network of technology leaders, and mentorship opportunities to help her thrive in her academic and professional pursuits.
Tia Williams ’23, a psychology degree graduate, presented her research on impostor syndrome, inspired by her capstone course, at the Association for Psychological Science conference in Washington, D.C., in May. As one of the only undergraduate students there, she appreciated receiving quality advice and encouragement from Ph.D. students.
“After this experience in Washington, D.C., I’m not only looking forward to the next APS international conference but also my future plans of research and graduate school,” said Williams. Her faculty advisor was Lily Tsoi, Ph.D. Williams’s research has been made possible by a grant from the Sigma Xi Committee on Grants in Aid of Research. In the Natural Sciences Department, ten students obtained internships to participate in the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) program at Rutgers University under the guidance of Kenneth McGuinness, Ph.D. They focused on bioinformatics, a new field at Caldwell University. The students received stipends and transportation thanks to the STEM Advance Project, funded by a grant from the Department of Education’s Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) STEM and Articulation Program. The 10 students who took part in the SURE internships are Rojan Basnat, Apekshya Bhattarai, Pratishna KC, Denielle Keenan, Nicolette Nabiryo, Alyssa Negron, Kamal Kumar Sah, Halim Salifu, Anshuraj Sedai and Yarelliz Valentin.
In addition to the Rutgers internships, two math majors, Anish Poudel and Janmajay Subba, received stipends to participate in the Polymath Jr. Program, which provides math students with a unique opportunity to engage in advanced research in STEM fields, work with experienced researchers and mentors, and gain valuable experience in collaborative research, publishing and networking.
Salifu, a biology major with a minor in healthcare administration, worked in the Center for Advanced Biotechnology at RWJ-Rutgers and SURE, studying protein evolution using bioinformatics tools and software programs to analyze protein structure. He placed second for his poster presentation at a symposium at the end of the summer. Salifu said it was a privilege to immerse himself in the “intricate world of proteins, delving into the complexities and structural changes with the help of high resolution computers.”
Mariam Haroun, a biology major, was awarded a full stipend to attend the Research Intensive Summer Experience (RISE) at Rutgers, which covered her funding and housing. She focused on the effects of dopamine on specific proteins, contributing to the understanding of neurological conditions.
Nabiryo, also a biology major, participated in RISE and conducted research in cellular biology. She explored how certain proteins influence cell movement and shape, which is critical for understanding diseases like cancer. Her experience solidified her desire to pursue an M.D./Ph.D. “I absolutely loved the research, and it’s made me even more excited about my future in medicine and science.” 🟥
