DANBURY, Connecticut — Western Connecticut State University recently hosted the Northeast Regional Research Conference for Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Honor Society. This one-day event in April was a celebration of interdisciplinary research and learning opportunities, hosted by the WestConn Chapter of Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Honor Society for interdisciplinary research in the sciences and engineering.
The conference provided an opportunity for students and professionals in the Northeastern United States to engage in conversation about study and research opportunities, and to network with distinguished Keynote Speakers and other Sigma Xi researchers from across the Northeast.
A special session for exemplary collegiate and high school student research was a feature of the day. More than 170 registered attendees representing 12 different Northeast Region Institutional Chapters were in attendance, and 58 research posters were presented. WestConn faculty and students captured four awards during the event.
The following are the 2026 Research Award winners:
- Postdocs & Professionals (1 award): Hasan T. Arslan, Ph.D., and Shahab Band, “Bridging Criminal Justice and Computer Science: The S.H.O.T. AI Database on Officer-Involved Shootings.” Western Connecticut State University Departments of Justice and Law Administration, and Computer Science
- Graduate Student (all disciplines) (1 award): Tianrui Zhua, Alsu Ibrahimlib, Christopher Lawrence De Jesusc, Thomas A. Neubertc, Sirojiddin J. Mirzaakhmedovd, Husniddin Rakhmonovd, Shujing Wange, Timothy Bromagef, “Metabolomics reveals diet and health profiles of steppe pastoralists along the ancient Silk Road.” New York University Institute for the Study of the Ancient World; Hunter College; NYU Grossman School of Medicine Department of Neuroscience and Physiology; Samarkand Archaeological Institute, Cultural Heritage Agency of the Republic of Uzbekistan; Peking University School of Archaeology and Museology; New York University Department of Anthropology
- Disciplinary Awards – Computer Sciences, Engineering, and Applied Math (1 award): Phillip Sgobba, Emma Maselli, Trent Brown, Issac Macwan, Krishna Dixit, “Characterization of Bacteriorhodopsin-based Thin Films.” Fairfield University
- Behavioral Sciences (1 award): Benjamin Durisile, David Mabruki, and Lorenz S. Neuwirth, Ph.D., “The Effects of Neurodevelopmental Lead Exposure on Skull Formation, Fontanelles Morphology, and XRF-Elemental Analyses .” SUNY Old Westbury
- Life Sciences (3 awards)
1st place: Sedra M. Alasadi, Kayla R. Tracy, and Torrance C. Hanley, “Interspecific variation in Daphnia’s responses to biocide exposure.” Sacred Heart University Department of Biology
2nd place: Karla Mendez Vasquez, Milo Duch, Jacob Calle, Mohammad Elawa, Jacob Lee, Wilmer Montero, Christa Piccorelli, Jo-Elle Rodriguez, Sherry Zhumi, and Joshua Cordeira, Ph.D., “The Progressive Digging task: a naturalistic assay of effort-based food motivation in mice.” Western Connecticut State University Department of Biology
3rd place: Enamul Ahsan & Fernando Nieto-Fernandez, Ph.D., “Advancing Phage Structural Biology Through High-Resolution Resin Printing.” SUNY Old Westbury
- Physical Sciences (3 awards)
1st place: Tanner Poissant and Nicholas J. Greco, Ph.D., “Synthesis of JAK3 Inhibitors as Candidates for Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis.” Western Connecticut State University Chemistry Department
2nd place: Annabelle Bork, Theodora Pinou, Ph.D., “Marine Invertebrate Discoveries on Juvenile Sea Turtles of the Western Atlantic.” Western Connecticut State University Department of Biology
3rd place: Yashfa Amer, Randeeno Burrell, Luciana Freire, Thuraya Almontaser, Franchesca De La Rosa, Tahis Munoz, Dana DeMoninicis, Lorenzo Salegna, Pamela K. Kerrigan, Ph.D., “Integration of tetratolylporphyrin (TTP) into liposome carriers for administration to breast cancer cells.” University of Mount Saint Vincent School of Natural and Mathematical Sciences
- High School Student Research (all disciplines)
1st place: Denis Sovjani, Dilan Reyes, Oyekolapo Babalola, and Shaharyar Nawaz, “The Effects of Metallic Ions on Brine Shrimp.” Westbury High School, Westbury, New York
2nd place: Ange Guillaume, “Analyzing the toxicity of ferrous sulfate on Artemia salina survivorship rate.” Westbury High School, Westbury, New York
3rd place: Anaya Hepburn, Anaiah St. Charles, Gicelle Villarreal Mora, Angelina Ocando, and Leedsay JeanFelix, “How Do Excess Phosphates Affect the Diversity of Aquatic Microbiomes?” Sacred Heart High School, Hempstead, New York; Westbury High School, Westbury, New York; Science Technology Entry Program (STEP) at SUNY Old Westbury, Old Westbury, New York
In addition to the research presented, the day’s theme, “The Interdisciplinary Nature of Research,” was addressed by three distinguished Keynote Speakers: Dr. Dustin Rubenstein, who discussed “Cooperation in a Changing World,” Dr. Matthew Tracy, who spoke about “Preparation and Biological Evaluation of Amide-Containing Quorum Sensing,” and Dr. Katerina Trepekli, who discussed “Applying Deep Learning and Remote Sensing Observations in Building Community Resilience.”
Also, during the event, the Sigma Xi Service Award was presented to Dr. Pamela K. Kerrigan, Assistant Dean of the School of Natural and Mathematical Sciences and Professor of Chemistry, University of Mount Saint Vincent; and American Chemical Society Fellow.
For more information, contact Dr. Theodora Pinou at pinout@wcsu.edu.
Western Connecticut State University changes lives by providing all students with a high-quality education that fosters their growth as individuals, scholars, professionals, and leaders in a global society. Our vision: To be widely recognized as a premier public university with outstanding teachers and scholars who prepare students to contribute to the world in a meaningful way.