In 2019, we published a groundbreaking article about the benefits of the CUNY Research Scholars Program in Cell Biology Education—A Journal of Life Science Education.
In 2023, we published another article about CRSP in Cell Biology Education – A Journal of Life Science Education. That article assesses the impact of shifting research modalities and their impacts on mentors and students.
Please direct program inquiries to:
Ron Nerio, Ph.D.
Director of the Program
ron.nerio@cuny.edu
Celebrating 10 years of the CUNY Research Scholars Program, the Ad Astra Undergraduate Research Newsletter released a special 10 year edition highlighting CRSP student, alumni, and faculty research projects.
The CUNY Research Scholars Program (CRSP) funds year-long research experiences for associate degree students at all seven CUNY community colleges and three comprehensive schools. The goal of the program is to encourage undergraduate participation in authentic research and to increase persistence in STEM disciplines. Students receive 400 hours of mentoring from faculty members and participate in biweekly workshops, including sessions on ethical research conduct, public speaking, and poster preparation. Students receive stipends for their participation and present their work at a year-end, CUNY-wide undergraduate research celebration.
Meet some of the 2023-2024 CRSP students:
BARBARA LEWIS
Medgar Evers College
Mentor: Dr. Shiraz Mujtaba
My research utilizes cell based experiments to understand the role of the MYST family in developing Castrate-Resistant Prostate Cancer
GUSTAVO GUZMAN
Borough of Manhattan Community College
Mentor: Dr. Jose Fernandez Romero
We are testing antiviral solutions alone & combined on herpes simplex type 2 (HSV-2) using cell-based plaque reduction assay.
MANISHA
Queensborough Community College
Mentor: Dr. Sarbani Ghoshal
Our research focused on the the investigation of the anticancer properties of Polyrhodanine Copper Nanocomposites.
FILIP WOJDA
Borough of Manhattan Community College
Mentor: Dr. Younes Benkarroum
Our research explores various techniques to enhance the speed and percision of CT scans for medical planning and diagnosing.
SHELBY BRAGE
Queensborough Community College
Mentor: Dr. Susana Pinheiro
We aim to developing an epidemic model to study the spread of two co-circulating virulent pathogens.
KENDALL CLAGGETT
LaGuardia Community College
Mentor: Professor Abdellah Ait Elmouden
My research focus is to develop a viable alternative EMS vehicles to alleviate the shortfalls of traditional EMS vehicles.
LAIBA ZIA
New York City College of Technology
Mentor: Dr. Lubie G. Alatriste
Our research involves conducting theoretical reviews and analyzing survey data to examine linguistics’ role in education.
ASHAR MALIK
Queensborough Community College
Mentor: Dr. Andrew Van Nguyen
Our research project utalizes LPS stimulation and qPCR to examine the anti-inflammatory properties of green and black tea.
AMANDA PADILLA
New York City College Of Technology
Mentor: Dr. John McCullough
Our research investigates the mechanics and meaning of Hamilton’s Turntable Theater, where the stage and story evolved.
DESTINY ERHUNMWUNSE
New York City College of Technology
Mentor: Dr. Ozlem Yasar
My research will be focusing on the degradation rate of Polyethylene Glycol Diacrylate (PEGDA), and dissolving the PEGDA in water and ethyl alcohol.
EUNJI AHN
Queensborough Community College
Mentor: Dr. Jun Shin
Our research aims to develop a method to measure the reflective index of a solid compound using the extension method.
FAHMID HASSAN KHAN
LaGuardia Community College
Mentor: Dr. Charles Keller
Our main aim is to identify species of stress resistive tardigrades by rRNA/DNA barcoding and community gene profiling.
NANG KHAM HSI LIANG
LaGuardia Community College
Mentor: Dr. Na Xu
I’m investigating the efficacy of chemotherapy drugs within a 3D-vitro microenvironment via vascularized tumoroids.
ARDA TAHA BATTALOGLU
New York City of Technology College
Mentor: Dr. Ozlem Yasar
My research is involves investigating PEGDA’s degradation in water and ethyl alcohol for Tissue Engineering—comparing scaffold breakdown rates.
NAWEL MESSAOUDI
Kingsborough Community College
Mentor: Dr. Roberto Mariani
YEHYA ELFGEEH
New York City of Technology
Mentor: Dr. Ivan Guzman
My research aims to study how adding repurposed textile to lightweight soil can modify its properties.
DAVIA WILLIS
Queensborough Community College
Mentor: Dr. Celia Sporer
Our goal is to identify the connection between political knowledge and attitude, and attitude towards punishments and its influence.
ARIAN BERISHA
New York City College of Technology
Mentor: Dr. Aparacio Carranza
Our project optimizes IoT data storage through efficient Data Processing, Cloud and Retrieval for optimal efficiency.
JADE SMITH
College of Staten Island
Mentor: Dr. Jason Bishop
Our research examines the various ways empathy, and the magnitude of it, affects the way that we speak.
DAVID HAN
Queensborough Community College
Mentor: Dr. Guozhen An
LI LIN CAO
Kingsborough Community College
Mentor: Dr. Laura Spinu
KAZI TASIN
New York City College of Technology
Mentor: Dr. Patrick Slattery
My research focuses on a comprehensive analysis of migrant training programs in NYC and their economic implications.
RICHLOVE OWUSU ANSAH
Bronx Community College
Mentor: Dr. Dickens St. Hilaire
My research focuses on Pm10 and Asthma, the effects this brings, and its causes.
MUKHAMMAD KOSIMKHUJAEV
Kingsborough Community College
Mentor: Dr. Anupam Pradhan
Our research investigates the epigenetic factors impacting predisposition to neurodevelopmental disorders when exposed to in-utero smoking.
NANA-AMA DONKOR
Bronx Community College
Mentor: Dr. Monique A. Guishard
OBINNA DURA
New York City College of Technology
Mentor: Dr. Ozlem Yasar
Our research project investigates PEGDA’s degradation in water and ethyl alcohol for Tissue Engineering—comparing scaffold breakdown rates.
YOSRA AGOURAY
Queensborough Community College
Mentor: Dr. Urszula Golebiewski
My research aims to better understand the role of electrical signaling or action potentials in initiating movement in the plant Mimosa Pudica.
TYRIZ NEWTON MARYAT
Medgar Evers College
Mentor: Dr. Harsha Rajapakse
I will be researching the impact of a student’s performance in a Calculus course on their General Chemistry scores.
MASUMA BEGUM
New York City College Of Technology
Mentor: Dr. Lubie Alatriste
Our research aims to examine frequency and effects of Language Bias in multicultural collegiate settings to promote inclusive environment.
MOHAB HUSSEIN
Queensborough Community College
Mentor: Dr. Esma Yildirim
My research uses the implementation of a cloud LoadBalancing policy via multi-variate time series data and neural network prediction models.
SUMIYA JAHAN
New York City College of Technology
Mentor: Dr. Lubie Grujicic
This project investigates college campus language bias; we design tools, gather data on students’ mother tongues.
MARAWON ELSAYED
Kingsborough Community College
Mentor: Dr. Kristin Polizzotto
My research explores a Devonian crinoid group from New York, shedding light on it’s biological diversity.
YEN YI SHAK
Queensborough Community College
Mentor: Dr. David Sarno
My research aims to determine if a fluorescent payload can be encapsulated in porous polymer microspheres and released by sonication.
ANTONIO DESBOINE II
Kingsborough Community College
Mentor: Dr. Eric Rothenburg
I am researching KBCC student attitudes towards education, careers, and their well being since being back on campus.
MARDIYAH USMAN
Medgar Evers College
Mentor: Dr. Ijaz Ahmed
My research aim is to test chemicals on cancer cells and their efficacy in the lab.
JAKE JACOBO
Queensborough Community College
Mentor: Dr. Mangala Tawde
Our research focuses on isolating & growing bacteria in populous areas & superfund sites, hoping to produce novel antimicrobial compounds.
SHANTAL EDWARDS
Queensborough Community College
Mentor: Dr. Jody Resko
Our research aims to investigate body positivity in college students and factors that may influence it.
FADY FRIEG
College of Staten Island
Mentor: Dr. Syed Rizvi
My research project aimed at helping others understand how offshore wind turbines can provide electricity to large cities.
EI PHYU
LaGuardia Community College
Mentor: Dr. Doyel Pal
My research project aimed in creating a Secure Health Monitoring System using IoMT devices for secure data transmission and storage in the cloud AI.
MICHAEL MATTIS
Medgar Evers College
Mentor: Dr. Andrii Iurov
CLAUDIA BAZILE
Medgar Evers College
Mentor: Dr. Richard Denton
My research project searches for novel antibacterial Antibacterial Synnepyrroles from Human-Associated Nocardiopsis sp. Show Protonophore Activity and Disrupt the Bacterial Cytoplasmic Membrane
DARDRICK GORDON
LaGuardia Community College
Mentor: Dr. Christopher Farley
My research project is investigating the effect of heavy atoms and their position on the transition of electrons in a porphyrin molecule.
LISE GAY
Kingsborough Community College
Mentor: Dr. Anupam Pradhan
My research project investigates different products from farmers’ markets, if they contain outbreaks of fecal coliforms such as Salmonella.
ABDUL MOHAMMED
Bronx Community College
Mentor: Dr. Rujin Tian
My research project investigates using the difference in human DNA to determine biological and hereditary traits.
USMAN MARDIYAH
Medgar Evers College
Mentor: Dr. Ijaz Ahmed
My research aim is to test the efficacy of chemicals or extract from plants on cancer cells in lab.
SHUNNY PARIKH
Kingsborough Community College
Mentor: Dr. Shawna Brandle
JASMINE WHITE
Medgar Evers College
Mentor: Dr. Armando Howard
My research aim is study the chemical and physical properties of the ocean.
SALINA TAMANG
LaGuardia Community College
Mentor: Dr. Pratik Kumar Rathod
CRYSTAL MATOS
LaGuardia Community College
Mentor: Dr. Jacob Veras
MARIAMI KOCHIASHVILI
Kingsborough Community College
Mentor: Dr. Roberto Mariani
