:,r,',lli'T1'f'..,�';r> ;.. :'I'll,"! -,.. n:,1 ...'-:I, ✓ "' ,.- '" Women 1n Science 2016-2017 Vol. XIII � Yeshiva University �-}�� _,+'� STERN COLLEGE FOR WOMEN Table of Contents Acknowledgments......................................................... ............4 Introductory Remarks....................................... .......................... 5 Department of Biology .............................................................. 13 Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry ..................................... 21 Department of Physics ............................................................... 24 Department of Psychology......................................................... 33 Department of Speech Pathology & Audiology ................................. 37 Combined Programs........................................................ .........39 The Anne Scheiber Fellowship Program...................................... ....42 Students' Accomplishments..................................................... ...44 Students' Publications and Presentations .........................................48 Derech Ha Teva, A Journal of Torah and Science ...............................80 Abstract Booklet of Student Research...................... .......................92 Student Co-editors Sara Shkedy Rachel Somorov 2 women in science stern college for women 3 Acknowledgments Introductory Remarks The Departments of Biology, Chemistry/Biochemistry, Physics, Psychology, and Speech Pathology/ Audiology share a proactive approach in promoting We would like to thank the many people involved in Women in Science: the academic success of students at Stern College for Women (SCW) and in helping them achieve their career goals. The spectrum of career choices in Dr. Harvey Babich, Dept. Chair the biomedical, health, natural sciences, physical sciences, and behavioral . of Biology at Stern Colleoeb for Women , for mspmng the creation of this publication. sciences is varied, with our students entering graduate programs in medicine, dentistry, osteopathy, optometry, veterinary science, psychology, physical Dean Karen Bacon, the Mordecai D. and Dr. Monique C. Katz Dean of therapy, occupational therapy, physician assistant, nursing, genetic counseling, pharmacy, nutrition, speech pathology/audiology, education, Undergraduate Arts �nd Sciences, forher support of the many programs and opportu111t1es described herein that continue to empower Sternwomen in social work, and law; masters programs in biotechnology, public health, their pursuit of the sciences. engineering, architecture, and bioinformatics; and doctoral programs in the biomedical sciences, chemistry, physics, neuropsychology, clinical The student authors included in the Abstract Booklet of Student Research for psychology, and school psychology. Education in biology, chemistry, their dedication to science research. physics and engineering sciences are stepping stones toward careers in research and education in technology-oriented fields, including nanoscience Ms. Meirah Shedlo, Academic Coordinator, for the layout of the publication. and nanotechnology. The publishing company, Advanced Copy Center, Brooklyn, NY for The Departments of Biology, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Physics, production of a quality journal. Psychology, and Speech Pathology/ Audiology direct students to stretch beyond the classroom experience by involvement in scientificresearch. Both Mr. Shmuel Ormianer, Project Manager, for the cover design of this in the academic year and in the summer, students may work one-on-one with publication. on-campus faculty. In Summer 2011, a collaborative interaction between Bar Ilan University and Yeshiva University, now called the Bar llan Summer Research Program, enabled SCW and Yeshiva College (YC) undergraduates to intern in research laboratories in Bar llan University and, thereby, to spend a summer in Israel. In Summer 20 I 7, 16 SCW undergraduates participated in this laboratory experience. The science faculties actively encourage the science majors to apply for competitive undergraduate research internships, locally, nationally, and internationally. In the summer of 2017, an additional 30 SCW students were involved in research in a variety of laboratory facilities, including at SCW, Albert Einstein College of Medicine (AECOM), MontefioreMedical Center, Stony Brook University, Boston Children's Hospital, Northwestern University, and NYU Fertility Center, as well as in the Health Careers Opportunity Program at the Rusk Institute for Rehabilitative Medicine. The Jewish Foundation for the Education of Women (JFEW) Science Fellowship Program was inaugurated in the 2009-2010 academic year, with ten participating students. Each subsequent year, an additional nine to ten students, all with interests in the sciences, joined the program. Most recently, the Foundation has renewed a grant to support additional cohorts through the 2021 academic year. Highlights of the JFEW Science Fellowship Program include a pa1iial scholarship, a stipend fora summer research internship as well as travel funds, a stipend to support scientific conference attendance, 4 women in science ster n college for women 5 one-on-one mentoring with a science faculty member, and an enrichment students were part of a project conducted at the North Shore Hospital, program, providing workshops to aid students in their academic and reviewing patient data and research materials. The Speech professional development. This year, the JFEW Fellows have obtained Pathology/Audiology Club hosted renowned professionalsto address clinical internships, either in clinical or biomedical wet-lab research, in fieldsof experiences, research projects, and career issues. research including psychology, cancer cell biology, veterinary medicine, neurobiology, and molecular biology. The fellows have interned in A specific objective of the science departments at SCW, in addition to prestigious institutions, including University of Chicago, Emory University, nurturing the highest level of academic achievement, is to provide students AECOM, The Rockefeller University, Johns Hopkins University, Harvard with opportunities forleadership roles. Upper-level students may be Medical School, Rutgers University, New York University, Yale University, appointed to positions as Teaching Assistants (T As) for laboratory sections Barrow Neurological Institute, Hadassah Hospital, Bar Ilan University, Tel and as Recitation Instructors to review materials for the lecture sections of Aviv University, and in industry, Citromax. Several of the JFEW students the science courses. Student-led clubs, such as the Biology Club, the have taken leadership roles in forming and/or leading the Neurobiology Chemistry Club, the Physics Club, the Psychology Club, the PreMed Club, Club, the Genetics Club, the Optometry Club, and the Medical Ethics the PreDent Club, the Occupational Therapy Club, the Pharmacology Club, Society. Graduates of the program are currently pursuing careers in various the Nutrition Club, the Global Health Club, Pre-Engineering Club, the science and health-related fields: medicine, dentistry, physical therapy, Nutrition Club, the Bikur Cholim Club, etc., provide opportunities for occupational therapy, nursing, public health, biomedical engineering, math students to gain skills in organizing events and in coordinating social education, food science, psychology, and veterinary medicine. functions. The Department of Psychology offers an Honors Research Seminar for The 2010-2011 academic year saw the birth of four new clubs: the Nursing upper-level psychology majors. As part of this seminar, students are Club, the Genetics Club, the Optometry Club, and the Neuroscience Club. involved in ongoing research projects, either at SCW or at off-campus sites, · The Public Health Club was launched during the 2011-2012 academic year; such as the Ferkauf Graduate School, NYU Medical Center and Mt. Sinai beginning Fall 2016, the college instituted a minor in public health. Our School of Medicine, among others, and are supervised by an on-site newest club, the Physician Assistant Club, was started in the 2012-2013 investigator for 6 hours/week for 12 weeks. The primary requirement forthe academic year in order to spur interest in an increasingly popular field. course is a comprehensive literature review and/or scientificreport of the These clubs ofteninvite outside speakers to lecture and to conduct question­ students' research projects, as well as a class presentation. The combination and-answer sessions on a variety of interesting topics. The Nursing Club of internship and seminar allows the students to gain practical experience in held a number of paiiicularly well-attended events, including an information literature review, data collection and management, and scientificwriting and session with admissions officersfrom the nursing programs at NYU, oral presentations. Students attending graduate programs in Clinical Columbia University, and Pace University. It also organized a guided tour of Psychology have identified the research seminar as being particularly helpful the NYU College of Nursing. These student-run clubs provide students with in preparing them for graduate school. the opportunity to develop the social and professional skills needed to . succeed in their future careers and provide networking opportu111t1es with To meet growing student interest in the neurosciences, programs in SternCollege alumni already in the field. neurobiology were instituted by a collaborative