Author: Young Investigators Review

The Young Investigators Review is Stony Brook University's undergraduate-oriented, all-inclusive science journal. Founded in 2008, our mission is to provide the student community with a way to learn more about the research currently being done on-campus by their faculty and fellow peers. We feature articles that span all fields, from Physics to Neuroscience, as well as original student research reports straight from the campus laboratories. Our journal offers aspiring talented future researchers and physicians a way to hone their science writing skills and spread word of their experiences to inspire incoming students to think about devoting their futures to the various fields of science.
Computer Science

Predictive Policing: Important Safeguards to Consider

Trevor Kim, Grade 11 The use of artificial intelligence (AI) has increasingly become critical to modern society. AI algorithms are frequently used to automate industrial processes, to streamline supply chains and to even set our oven timers. Intrigued by the efficacy of this technology, law enforcement agencies have invested heavily in developing AI to assist with policing. One emerging use has been in the field … Continue reading Predictive Policing: Important Safeguards to Consider

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Biology

Unraveling the Ethics Behind Experimental Drugs

Aman Mistry, Grade 11 As the death toll due to COVID-19 increases, the ethical jumble surrounding experimental therapies becomes prevalent. Emergency situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic reassert the ongoing controversy surrounding the use of experimental drugs (2). Experimental drugs are preliminarily approved for clinical trials and can be alternatives to treat patients in times of crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic or when suffering … Continue reading Unraveling the Ethics Behind Experimental Drugs

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Engineering

A Sustainable Future in Technological Advancement

Alice Shvartsberg, Grade 10 Technology and engineering have been behind our accomplishments since the beginning of mankind, and our world would not be as progressive as it is today without these advancements. Technology evolved as our needs and wants became more sophisticated, but the production of these improved technologies have drawbacks to them. Our Earth encounters environmental, health, and ethical issues from the mass production … Continue reading A Sustainable Future in Technological Advancement

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Biology

The Questionable Validity of an FDA Approval

Leeya Azemoun, Grade 10 The Food and Drug Administration, commonly shortened to FDA, requires all medical and food products to be subject to their approval before being released on the market. This is, of course, necessary to ensure the safety of the general public who consume these products. However, there has been copious controversy over whether or not FDA approval is actually trustworthy. This concern … Continue reading The Questionable Validity of an FDA Approval

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Computer Science

Correcting for Bias in Automated Decision Making: How to Better Solve for Disparities in Algorithmic Outputs

Arnav Hak, Grade 10 Introduction          In today’s digitalized world, people are constantly encountering automated decisions made by ADM (Automated Decision-Making) systems. ADM systems refer to technical systems that aim to aid or replace human decision-making in society by deriving conclusions based on given datasets (1). These systems are increasingly becoming more common within local, state, and federal agencies, yet their use is somewhat rare in … Continue reading Correcting for Bias in Automated Decision Making: How to Better Solve for Disparities in Algorithmic Outputs

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Environment

Who is to Blame for Earth’s Death?

Natalia Pszeniczny, Grade 10 Introduction Environmental deterioration has been a huge topic of discussion between scientists and politicians. When dealing with such a delicate topic, it is important to consider all angles: democratic, environmental, personal, and economic. The issues presented with climate change vary in complexity. Many people are concerned that the increasingly rigid environmental restrictions will prevent their companies from expanding to their full … Continue reading Who is to Blame for Earth’s Death?

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Announcements

2020 Young Investigators Writing Competition Winners

<p value="<amp-fit-text layout="fixed-height" min-font-size="6" max-font-size="72" height="80">The Stony Brook Young Investigators Review (SBYIR) is pleased to announce the results of the <strong>2020 Young Investigators Writing Competition</strong>! Our competition invited high school students from Long Island to write brief articles in newspaper or literature review format to describe and engage the public in scientific societal controversies. Specifically, students entering grades 10-12 explored dilemmas regarding experimental therapy, neutral … Continue reading 2020 Young Investigators Writing Competition Winners

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Interview

Student Researcher Interview with Jessica Vilas-Boas

Interviewer: Hannah PhiliposeInterviewed: Jessica Vilas-BoasInterview Conducted Fall 2019 H: Hi! Can you please tell me your name, major, and department of research? J: Hello! I’m Jessica Vilas-Boas. My major is biochemistry, and I work in PharmacologicalSciences. H: Follow up question what specific lab are you a part of, and how long have you beenworking there? J: I am in Dr. Markus Seeliger’s lab, and I’ve … Continue reading Student Researcher Interview with Jessica Vilas-Boas

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Disease

Low-Level Mechanical Signaling to Stimulate Bone Growth

Aditi Kaveti ’23 Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by the reduction of bone quality and low bone mineral density (BMD). Bone resorption is the process by which osteoclasts break down bone tissue and release minerals, resulting  in a transfer of calcium from bone tissue to blood. When excessive resorption occurs, bones weaken and become brittle, which may eventually develop into osteoporosis. Bone health can be … Continue reading Low-Level Mechanical Signaling to Stimulate Bone Growth

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Health, Sociology

Silent Voices of the Hungry

Gwenyth Mercep ’22 About one in five US households with children experience food insecurity [1]. Food-insecure families may employ protective strategies to deflect collective hardships on children and national data suggests that in general, adults believe they are very successful in doing so [1]. Only 1% of these parents reported their children to experience a reduction in nutritional quality or quantity [1]. Contrarily, data shows … Continue reading Silent Voices of the Hungry

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General Psychology

Unseen Intimate Partner Violence in the Emergency Department

Gwenyth Mercep ’22 Domestic abuse incidence is pervasive and tightly correlated with a large scope of disproportionate health disparities yet is largely underrepresented in data collection. Individuals who experience intimate partner violence (IPV) access the emergency department (ED) more often compared to their counterparts and most notably for chronic and long withstanding health conditions [1]. Despite guidance urging emergency medicine (EM) physicians to screen patients … Continue reading Unseen Intimate Partner Violence in the Emergency Department

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Microbiota, Natural World

Developing Genetic Tools for Eukaryotic Marine Microbes

Gaurav Sharma ’22 Sea life may hold one of the most diverse microbial ecosystems since we have not yet uncovered all of the mysteries and organisms teeming among the depths. Among the microbes that have been studied are eukaryotic microbes which range in diversity. When it comes to studying these organisms, researchers are presented with a challenge and can only genetically study some of these … Continue reading Developing Genetic Tools for Eukaryotic Marine Microbes

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