The CUNY Research Scholars Program at Queensborough Community College
CRSP Orientation welcoming the 2022-2023 cohort of 19 students and mentors
About CRSP
The CUNY Research Scholars Program provides funding to facilitate laboratory and other research experiences for associate degree students over a one-year period. The goal of the program is to encourage undergraduate participation in authentic research and to increase persistence in STEM and Social Science disciplines.
In 2023-24, the CUNY Research Scholars Program at QCC will support 19 students and 19 faculty mentors.
Successful student applicants are expected to participate in the laboratory (or computer laboratory) experience for one full year and complete 320 hours of research/independent study. In addition to participating in research, student interns are expected to attend workshops on laboratory safety, Responsible Conduct in Research, and bi-weekly research/scientific career-related workshops. Student interns are also expected to present a poster/talk at the college level in the fall semester and at the CUNY annual symposium.
Each year, the program culminates in a CUNY-wide symposium where students display and present their work to peers and mentors.
Student interns who do not complete the entire program and attend the program events will not qualify for the entire stipend.
Student Eligibility
Full-time associate degree students at any stage in their academic career can participate in research projects in the STEM and Social Science disciplines. Student researchers must have a minimum GPA of 2.7 and commit to being an active participant in the program for one full academic year.
Student Support
Students are awarded a $5,000 stipend (paid in installments), conduct 320-400 hours of faculty-mentored research, and participate in structured activities on campus, including sessions on laboratory safety, library research, public speaking, and poster preparation.
Faculty Support
The program also provides compensation for faculty mentors in the amount of $1000 per student mentee. This amount is for one full academic year of the program. Faculty are funded to mentor or co-mentor a maximum of two students. Mentors commit to meeting regularly with their student researcher, overseeing their research, and fostering the student’s interest in their academic field.
How to Apply
Applications for the 2023-2024 cycle of the program closed at 11:59 pm on Wednesday, September 13, 2023.
Acceptance to the Program
An external review process is being conducted, and the recipients of the scholarships will be announced no later than Monday, September 25th.
Note: The application process is competitive, as CRSP usually receives more applications than we can fund. Please refer to the rubric that is used to score faculty/student applications and select finalists.
For more information contact:
Dr. Regina Sullivan, Rsullivan@qcc.cuny.edu
CRSP Director for 2023-2024
CRSP 2022-2023 Scholars and Mentors
| Student Name | Research Mentor(s) | Department | Project Title |
| Anna Liu | Monica Trujillo | Biological Sciences & Geology | Molecular detection of pathogens from wastewater |
| Valerie Muse | Rochelle Nelson | Biological Sciences & Geology | Understanding Imposter Phenomenon in Commuity College Undergraduate Students Studying General Biology |
| Chris Na | Andrew Nguyen | Biological Sciences & Geology | Examining the function of STAT3 in regulating genes associated with RAW264.7 cell apoptosis |
| James Babo | Regina Sullivan | Biological Sciences & Geology | Investigating the effects of Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes on gene expression of lung cancer cells |
| Elijah Bernard | Sharon Lall-Ramnarine | Chemistry | Development of Ionic Liquid and Solvate Ionic Liquid Electrolytes for Low Temperature Li-metal Batteries |
| Mariia Ihnatiuk | David Sarno | Chemistry | An investigation of methods to deploy polyaniline and its derivatives for the removal of metal ions from aqueous solution |
| Ho Martin Yuen | Sharon Lall-Ramnarine | Chemistry | Exploring the properties of ether- and thioether-functionalized imidazolium ionic liquids |
| Matthew Smith | Huixin Wu | Engineering Technology | Mobile Robotic Arm |
| Arafat Akon | Esma Yildirim | Math & Computer Science | Prediction of End-to-end Data Transfer Throughput in the Cloud Using Neural Networks |
| Sean He | Yusuf Danisman | Math & Computer Science | Comparing Different Cross Validation Techniques for Classification Problems in Finance |
| Martina Hove | Carolyn King | Math & Computer Science | Using Series to Find Solutions to Differential Equations |
| Xiaolin Huang | Wenjian Liu | Math & Computer Science | The Probability Distribution of n-sided Dice Sum |
| Maximillian Yam | Yusuf Danisman | Math & Computer Science | Comparing Different Cross Validation Techniques for Regression Problems in Finance |
| Yuanhong Yu | Zeynep Akcay Ozkan | Math & Computer Science | Predicting student success in college algebra classes using machine learning |
| Nina Zabat Borja | Rex Taibu | Physics | Textbook Presentations of Hydrostatic & Osmotic Pressures: A Quest for Interdisciplinary Thinking |
| Yaakoub Muslemani | Paul Marchese | Physics | Is Hurricane Energy increasing in the North Atlantic? |
| Ziyue Du | Michael DeMarco & Mark Zelcer | Social Sciences | How does Chinese International students experience affect their academic goals? |
| Kaitlyn Murphy | Patrick Byers | Social Sciences | Transformations of truth and reality as a result of the use of digital technology and social media |
| Stephany Platero | Jody Resko | Social Sciences | Academic perseverance among first generation community college students: An exploration of the social and cultural capital phenomenon |
Meet the Students and Mentors
CRSP scholar Mariia Ihnatiuk, mentored by Dr. David Sarno
CRSP scholar Stephany Platero, mentored by Dr. Jody Resko
CRSP scholar Valerie Muse, mentored by Dr. Rochelle Nelson
CRSP scholar Xiaolin Huang, mentored by Dr. Wenjian Liu
CRSP scholars Maximillan Yam and Sean He, mentored by Dr. Yusuf Danisman
Dr. Carolyn King with CRSP Mentee Martina Hove
Dr. Esma Yildirim with CRSP Mentee Arafat Akon
Dr. Huixin Wu with CRSP Mentee Matthew Smith
Dr. Mark Zelcer and Dr. Michael DeMarco, mentors to Ziyue Du
Dr. Monica Trujillo with CRSP Mentee Anna Liu
Dr. Patrick Byers with CRSP Mentee Kaitlyn Murphy
Dr. Paul Marchese with CRSP Mentee Yaakoub Muslemani
Dr. Rex Taibu with CRSP Mentee Nina Zabat Borja
Dr. Sharon Lall-Ramnarine with CRSP Mentees Elijah Bernard and Ho Martin Yuen
Dr. Zeynep Akcay Ozkan with CRSP Mentee Yuanhong Yu
CRSP Events
Fall 2022
|
Date / Location |
Event |
Description |
|
Fri., Sept. 30th 10–11:30 am Location: Oakland Dining Room, QCC |
CRSP Orientation |
Faculty-student teams will attend program orientation and review program requirements and event schedule. Students will submit all required paperwork. Faculty and student stipend forms will be completed. |
|
Oct. 3rd-7th |
All outstanding CRSP student stipend and program paperwork due:
|
Upload RCR certificate and outstanding documents to the QCC Dropbox Also, E-mail the RCR certificate to JChabra@qcc.cuny.edu and CDenny@qcc.cuny.edu |
|
Wed., Oct. 12th 1-2 pm Location: L-302 STEM students; L-311 for Humanities, Social Sci, & Health students
Wed., Oct. 19th 1-2 pm (repeat session online) |
Library Research Workshop Project Specific guidance. 2 groups: STEM and non-STEM students
|
Presented by Profs. Christine (Mi-Seon) Kim and John Schriner. Take your CRSP project title. Learn how to find scholarly sources using library databases and how to cite sources in the proper format. |
|
Fri., Oct. 14th 12-2 pm Location: S-414 |
Lab Safety Workshop for Chemistry & Biology students
|
Presented by Mr. Mel Rodriguez, Chemical Hygiene and Health and Safety Officer. |
|
Wed., Oct. 19th 1-2 pm Meeting ID: 848 2954 1422 |
Social Sciences Research Practices Workshop |
Presented by Dr. Jody Resko and Dr. Patrick Byers, Professors of Social Sciences |
|
Fri., Oct. 21st 3-4 pm Location: S-412
Wed., Oct. 26th 1-2 pm Online |
Responsible Conduct in Research (RCR) Workshop E-mail certificate for Online portion by Friday, October 7th 5:00 pm. |
Complete Part 1 Online by October 7th. Complete Part 2 with Ms. Jennifer Chabra E-mail certificate to |
|
Wed., Nov. 9th 1-2 pm Location: S-412 |
Poster Preparation & Presentation Tips – for Undergraduate Research (UR) day |
Presented by Dr. Paul Sideris Learn valuable tips for conference poster preparation & presentations |
|
Fri., Dec. 2nd 10 am – 3:30 pm Location: Student Union |
Undergraduate Research (UR) day Presentations Abstracts due: November 11th |
All QCC students/faculty present on UR projects |
Spring 2023
Feb. 8th: CRSP Spring Welcome Back Meeting
Feb. 22nd: Resume Writing Workshop
March 15th: Speech Workshop
April 26th: LinkedIn Workshop
May 5th: QCC Spring Student Symposium
May 26th: CUNY-Wide CRSP End-of-Year Symposium
Special Congratulations to the students who won presentation awards at the 2022 CRSP Summer Symposium
- Tsz Wa Ellen Chu, mentored by Dr. Amy Traver on the project: Children on the move and in the news: Reports of Child Emigres in New York State Media 1853-1929
- Shaniakay Williams, mentored by Dr. Mangala Tawde on the project: Antimicrobial Resistance in Environmental Microbes
- Elijah Bernard, mentored by Dr. Sharon Lall-Ramnarine, Michael Keating (CCNY) & Dr. Elizabeth Biddinger (CCNY) on the summer project (at the CCNY NASA Center for Advanced Batteries for Space) on: Development of Ionic Liquid and Solvate Ionic Liquid Electrolytes for Lithium-Metal batteries
