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.
Figure 1. Researchers developed a programmable synthetic tissue that mimics the adaptable structure of cephalopod papillae.
2017-18

Octopus Inspired Synthetic Tissue

By Meghan Bialt-DeCelie ’19 One of the most notable features of cephalopods like octopus and cuttlefish is their ability to quickly camouflage with the environment by changing the color and texture of their skin. They are able to dynamically adapt the textures of their skin by contracting muscular hydrostat structures referred to as papillae. Researchers, led by James Pikul PhD, from Cornell University took inspiration … Continue reading Octopus Inspired Synthetic Tissue

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Figure 1. Belgian researchers have made a breakthrough in cancer research by linking fructose 1,6-bisphosphate to the production of Ras molecules, which are commonly found in tumor cells.
2017-18

Researchers Clarify the Link Between Sugar and Cancer

By Meenu Johnkutty ’21 Researchers from the Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology in Belgium have achieved a breakthrough in cancer research. Their project, which began in 2008, finally came to completion after nine long years. The scientists’ focus was the Warburg effect, a phenomenon in which cancer cells rapidly break down sugar molecules, stimulating tumor growth. This effect was named after Nobel laureate Otto Heinrich … Continue reading Researchers Clarify the Link Between Sugar and Cancer

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Figure 1. Researchers discovered lower working memory levels in primary school children who were exposed to traffic-related pollutants.
2017-18

The Effects of Air Pollution on Working Memory in School-Aged Children

By Meenu Johnkutty ’21 According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average person takes about 23,040 breaths each day. Multiply this figure by 365, and an individual takes a gargantuan 8,409,600 breaths per year. That’s a tremendous amount of air! Because the human population is virtually tied to its air supply, it is no surprise that polluted air is detrimental to the human body. A … Continue reading The Effects of Air Pollution on Working Memory in School-Aged Children

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Figure 1. A German study recently revealed that video gamers may have an advantage in learning that non video gamers do not have.
2017-18

Do Video Gamers Have an Edge in Learning?

By Meenu Johnkutty ’21 Learning is an everyday occurrence that extends beyond the traditional classroom setting, whether it be quickly memorizing a bus route or remembering a colleague’s number. A recent study led by Dr. Sabrina Schenk of Ruhr University in Bochum, Germany, revealed that video gamers may have an edge in learning over non video gamers. In this study, researchers explored categorization learning, defined … Continue reading Do Video Gamers Have an Edge in Learning?

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2017-18, Interview

Student Researcher Interview with Vinoth Bandara

Interviewer: Benjamin Kerner Interviewed: Vinoth Bandara B: So, to start, state your name, major, and department. V: I’m Vinoth Bandara, I work for the BME department and I am a BME major. I’m an imaging specialist, and I do a lot of optics work B: So how did you get into research? V: I got into research my freshman year through my freshman year BME … Continue reading Student Researcher Interview with Vinoth Bandara

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Figure 1. Gut microbiota changes are crucial for the healthy development of infants.
2017-18

The Roles of Human Gut Inhabitants in Infant Development

By Maryna Mullerman ’20 Farzana Yasmin and researchers from the University of Alberta in Canada analyzed how microbial systems in infant guts change over time, as well as how they can be affected by perinatal factors such as antibiotics, formula feeding, and birth mode. The study would reveal the importance of tracking variations in microbial community during early life stages. The researchers collected data from … Continue reading The Roles of Human Gut Inhabitants in Infant Development

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Figure 1. Increased freshwater runoff, accumulation of the sediment flux, and prolonged open-water periods correlate with increasing delta sizes and show the effects of climate change.
2017-18

The Effects of Climate Change on Greenland’s Coastal Zone

By Maryna Mullerman ’20 Climate change is leaving observable effects on our planet. Mette Bendixen, along with other researchers from the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, explored the impact of climate change on the Arctic coastal zone in Greenland. The researcher hypothesized that the evolution of deltas is driven by both terrestrial and marine factors. They assessed the progradation – increase in sizes – of … Continue reading The Effects of Climate Change on Greenland’s Coastal Zone

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Figure 1. In the experiment discussed, OCD patients showed a dissociation between their confidence and actions.
2017-18

How Confident Are People in Their Actions?

By Maryna Mullerman ‘20 Confidence is thought to be based on previous experiences and outcomes, while new information modifies human perception of the environment. Matilde M. Vaghi and researchers from the University of Cambridge conducted a study to find a dissociation between action and confidence. They focused on obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) patients who struggled with repetitive behavior. Their findings revealed a novel aspect of human … Continue reading How Confident Are People in Their Actions?

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Figure 1. A general counseling setting.
2017-18

The Setbacks of Evidence Based Counseling

By: Ramanjot Singh ’19 In the recent years, there has been a strong wave of focus on evidence-based psychology. The push is towards achieving an evidence-based assessment for psychological conditions. More specifically, being able to have a physical test that will determine if you have a certain ailment or not. Counseling psychologist, Dr. Angie Cucchi, hypothesized that the evidence-based treatment would not be sufficient to … Continue reading The Setbacks of Evidence Based Counseling

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Figure 1. A child developing his motor skills.
2017-18

School Physical Activity Intervention’s Impact on Children’s Motor Skills

By: Ramanjot Singh ‘19 Previous research has shown that quality physical education may improve children’s focus on tasks. Dr. Ryan Burns from the University of Utah decided to further these findings by analyzing the effects of enhanced physical activity on children’s gross motor skills. He hypothesized that installing a Comprehensive School Physical Activity Programming (CSPAP) would significantly advance their motor skills. For 36 weeks, CSPAP’s … Continue reading School Physical Activity Intervention’s Impact on Children’s Motor Skills

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Figure 1. Financial burdens are crushing.
2017-18

Financial Burdens of Cancer

By: Ramanjot Singh ’19 It is well known that cancer is one of the major cause of death around the world. However, the indirect effects of cancer are overlooked by healthcare professionals. More specifically, the decrease in productivity, emotional costs, and financial burdens brought by cancer are often neglected. Recognizing this, Dr. Van Hoang from the Hanoi University of Public Health wanted to study the … Continue reading Financial Burdens of Cancer

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Caption: Linear model of effects of teacher burnout and stress.
2017-18

Do stressed teachers effect educational outcomes?

By: Ramanjot Singh 19′ Individual experiences of stress and burnout can have adverse effects on health and output. While much research has been conducted on the etiology of stress, its effects on teacher-student interactions is relatively unexplored. A group of researchers led by Dr. Venus Wong at the University of Kentucky conducted a study to examine potential direct effects of teacher burnout on teacher behavior … Continue reading Do stressed teachers effect educational outcomes?

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