undergraduate research symposium
TRANSCRIPT
Monday, March 5, 201810 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Jersey City, NJ
Undergraduate
Research SymposiumFifth Anniversary
The Fifth AnnualUndergraduate
Research Symposiumwas opened by an
outstanding group ofprofessionals frommultiple industries.
Regina Hartley, VicePresident, Human
Resources, UPSInformation Services,
and Chair of theIndependent CollegeFund of New Jersey(ICFNJ) welcomed
researchers, faculty,industry reps, board
members andstudents from
Hudson CatholicHigh School.
Roderick Coward,Director of Supply
Chain Management,Merck & Co. led off
the program byaddressing the need
to be open to achange in careerdirection when
opportunities in afield dwindle. Dr.
Kimberly Griswold,Lead Scientist,
Materials Science andEngineering,Demilitarization Technology and
Environmental Engineering Division,TeamLead for CATalytic Capabilities,ARDEC,Picatinny Arsenal, shared with students
how innovation is a team process and thevalue of learning to work together to
achieve the greatest results. John Bridges,Vice President, Electric Operations, Public
Service Electric & Gas Companyencouraged students to understand the
business of their employer and how theirrole contributes to the larger mission andgoals. Each speaker additionally provided
some insights in the false starts along theircareer paths helping students understandthat growth comes from all opportunities.
John B.Wilson, President of the ICFNJ,closed the program by thanking the
speakers for sharing their insights, lessonslearned and stories that guided their paths
to career success.
From left to right: Kimberly Griswold, PhD; GiuseppeDiBenedetto, PhD; Gihan Oraby; Pamela Ferlazzo; DouglasWong; and Gordon Powers
From left to right: Lauren Holland; Elina Piken, JoeFattorusso; and Valerie Lalor
The success of the Symposium hinges on the engagement ofthe presentation judges. While support comes from manycorporations and businesses, two distinct entitiesdemonstrated their exceptional commitment to STEMengagement by sending a team of evaluators – ArmamentsResearch Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC),Picatinny Arsenal, NJ; and three time program sponsor,Siemens Industry, Inc.
Scored in seven areas including overall presentation, the top fivescorers of the Undergraduate Research Symposium are recognizedat the close of the event. From left to right: Sara Lamcaj, Seton HallUniversity (3rd top score); Koushik Muralidharan, MonmouthUniversity (4rd top score); Nicole Sivetz, Monmouth University (2nd
top score); Olivia Blondheim, Drew University (2nd top score); andPearl Sutter, Drew University (top score).
Harish AppiakannanRider University, Class of 2020
Cristian Arias
Bloomfield College, Class of 2018
Loreena K. AveryRider University, Class of 2019
Julia BurtonCollege of Saint Elizabeth, Class of 2018
Ryann CallaghanDrew University, Class of 2019
Abigail SternerSeton Hall University, Class of 2020
Davis CookSeton Hall University, Class of 2020
William DavisSeton Hall University, Class of 2020 Artiom Efimenko
Monmouth University, Class of 2019
Michelle EngCaldwell University, Class of 2018
Ngima Sherpa
Caldwell University, Class of 2019
47 student presentations
Olivia BlondheimDrew University, Class of 2018
TOP SCORER
Symposiumparticipants
found ways toovercome
challenges inconducting
their research.
Salvatore FinocchiaroStevens Institute of Technology, Class of 2018
Ralph Foglia III
Seton Hall University, Class of 2018
Qiaoli He
Georgian Court University, Class of 2018
Christina Fontana
Georgian Court University, Class of 2019
Samantha FroschCentenary University, Class of 2018
Jessica Tintweiss
Centenary University, Class of 2019
Favour GarubaCaldwell University, Class of 2018
Grant GillanMonmouth University, Class of 2018
Fernando E. GomezFelician University, Class of 2018
Oscar Jossue Gutierrez-ZunigaBloomfield College, Class of 2018
Hailey Handerhan
Georgian Court University, Class of 2019
Katrina Janssen
Caldwell University, Class of 2018
Studentresearchers
puttechniqueslearned in
the classroomto practical
use.
Jasy Lata
Saint Peter’s University, Class of 2019
Dana LoyalCentenary University, Class of 2018
Molly Mancuso
Fairleigh Dickinson University, Class of 2018
Angelique McFarlaneSeton Hall University, Class of 2018
Liam J. McGlaughlin
Georgian Court University, Class of 2018
Tyler McVeigh
Seton Hall University, Class of 2018
Michelle KimCollege of Saint Elizabeth, Class of 2018
Foujan MoghimiCaldwell University, Class of 2019
Funding provided students an opportunity tocontrol the research topic and the way the
experiment was conducted for first time.
Sara Lamcaj
Seton Hall University, Class of 2018
TOP SCORER
Eva Kenfack NgapgueCaldwell University, Class of 2018
TOP SCORER
Rebecca OlceseSaint Peter’s University, Class of 2019
Jay PatelStevens Institute of Technology, Class of 2018
Jacob RiedelGeorgian Court University, Class of 2018
Victoria RomanCollege of Saint Elizabeth, Class of 2017
Rina RosalesSaint Peter’s University, Class of 2019
Marta SuazoSeton Hall University, Class of 2019
Christabel Osei-DuCaldwell University, Class of 2019
Kofi MirekuCaldwell University, Class of 2020
Pearl SutterDrew University, Class of 2018
TOP SCORER
Koushik MuralidharanMonmouth University, Class of 2020
TOP SCORER
Nicole SivetzMonmouth University, Class of 2019
TOP SCORER
Students gainedthe knowledgeand patiencerequired whenworking withexperimental
data.
33 researchfacultyadvisors
Three professors haveserved as faculty advisors allfive years of the Symposium.We are grateful for thecommitment of theseprofessors and those whohave joined them in supportof the students, innovation,and learning.
Agnes Berki, Ph.D.Associate Professor ofBiology, Department ofNatural and Physical SciencesCaldwell University
Sergiu M. Gorun, Ph.D.Professor, Department ofChemistry and BiochemistrySeton Hall University
E. Todd Weber, Ph.D.Chairperson, Department ofBiology, BehavioralNeuroscience and HealthSciencesRider University
Marc Tremble, Jr.Bloomfield College, Class of 2019
Eliane F. TsopmeghaCaldwell University, Class of 2018
Rebecca WodzinskiFairleigh Dickinson University, Class of 2019
Olivia XiaoSeton Hall University, Class of 2019
Danielle ToumaSeton Hall University, Class of 2019
46 presentation judges
SHARING THEIR TIME.SHARING THEIR KNOWLEDGE.SHARING THEIR EXPERIENCES.
SHARING IN SHAPING A FUTURE.
Students developed self-confidence by networking with
professors and companyrepresentatives.
Jena UngartenCentenary University, Class of 2019