John Jay Research and Creativity Week 2018
John Jay Student Researchers Shine During 2018 Research and Creativity Week

This spring, John Jay students presented original research and projects to fellow students, faculty, and the general public as part of the annual Research and Creativity Week. From April 30 to May 4, 355 undergraduate and graduate students from 25 areas of study participated.

Presenters included students in the Honors Program, the Program for Research Initiatives in Science and Math (PRISM), Macaulay Honors College, the McNair Scholars Program, and Student Academic Success Programs (SASP), as well as students completing their capstone courses in the Criminal Justice and International Criminal Justice majors. Also included were the departments of Public Management, Psychology, and English. A total of 163 faculty members served as mentors for student projects.

Bettina Muenster, Assistant Director of the Office for Student Research & Creativity, helps organize Research and Creativity Week. As always, she was impressed by the students who participated. “This year’s Research & Creativity Week has once again been an enormous success and demonstrated the indisputable power of intense student-faculty research collaborations,” said Muenster.

Ashley Gonzalez
Student Ashley Gonzalez presents her International Criminal Justice capstone research on discrimination in the Dominican Republic to onlookers

This year’s projects were diverse in topic and form. While Karen Argueta presented a storytelling podcast she helps produce at John Jay, Joseph Mahmud presented an app that he and students Steven Pacheco and Donauta Watson-Starcevic created to help formerly incarcerated individuals find jobs. For their innovative app, Mahmud and his team were recently named the winners of the Echoing Green Social Impact Challenge.

Joseph Mahmud and Steven Pacheo presenting their app CONNECTr
 Joseph Mahmud (left) and Steven Pacheco (right) presenting on their app, CONNECTr, which aims to help formerly incarcerated people find jobs

On May 3, Dr. Guillermo Linares, Acting President of the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation, visited the Honors Program poster session. The posted session showcased Honors students’ scholarship and creativity across various disciplines. Dr. Linares, who oversees financial aid for higher education in New York State, was able to witness some of the unique and remarkable research conducted by John Jay students.

Bryant Silva
Honors student Bryant Silva presents his criminal justice research to Dr. Guillermo Linares

PRISM students also showcased their research presentations in forensic science, toxicology, cell and molecular biology, chemistry, environmental science, and computer science. Lisset Duran, who has conducted award-winning research on the genetics of breast cancer and who will be attending Princeton as a Ph.D. candidate this fall, presented her findings at the PRISM symposium as this year’s Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher.

Lisset Duran, Dr. Guillermo Linares and Dr. Nathan Lents
(from left to right) Student Lisset Duran; President of the NYS Higher Education Services Corporation Dr. Guillermo Linares; and Director of Honors Program Dr. Nathan Lents

On May 4, to conclude the weeklong fair, students were given awards for top ePortfolios. EPortfolios are student digital archives that document learning and spotlight achievements in and out of the classroom. You can view the list of award-winning portfolios here.

Selina Li and Daniel Auld
EPortfolio award winner Selina Li (left) with Director of Student Learning Dr. Daniel Auld (right)

By the end of the week, John Jay scholars who presented, many of whom are graduating this May, walked away with a sense of accomplishment. “Students were visibly beaming with excitement and energy,” said Muenster. “They eagerly shared their work, passions, and future aspirations as emerging scholars.” 

View more photos from Research and Creativity Week.