Weston Research Scholars Program Report Fall 2025

October 22, 2025

In 2024-25, 112 Brooklyn Tech sophomores, juniors and seniors were enrolled in four Research Scholars Program classes. These classes were led by teachers/mentors, Ms. Stephanie Doire, Dr. Michael Estrella, Dr. Elisa Margarita, and Dr. Horace Walcott. The program was co-directed by Dr. Mathew Mandery and Dr. MacRae Maxfield.

As in past years, the research students were tasked with developing research, experimentation, and scientific communication skills while initiating self-directed research projects or external internships. Their overall goal was the senior year reporting to an informed public of their original contributions to science and engineering. For those who entered at the end of freshman year, their intermediate goals included a proposal in their sophomore year and a science, engineering, or innovation presentation in their junior year.

"Weston Research was more than just a class; it became a part of my community. As a student in Weston Research, I developed a strong sense of camaraderie with my peers as we navigated every aspect of the research process together, from designing experiments to brainstorming potential ideas.”

Amanda Chen ’25 - Binghamton University ’29 - (Biology)

Student Productivity 2024-25

	'21	'22	'23	'24	'25
Terra Entrants	17	4	15	36	38
Terra Finalist Projects	10	1	6	18	16
ISEF Finalist Projects	0	1	2	1	1
Regeneron Entrants	5	2	5	12	4
Qual. Life Innovation	0	0	2	7	7
Other Presentations	16	3	6	12	19
Articles	4	2	3	8	7

Terra Entrants – Thirty-eight projects were accepted for the Terra NYC STEM fair competition based on the completeness of their scientific merit, primary data, and analysis.

Terra Finalists – Sixteen of the above projects were selected by Terra competition judges to advance to the NYC regional finals.

ISEF Finalists – One project in the Terra Finals was selected by Terra judges to advance to the ISEF Final competition in Columbus, Ohio.

Regeneron STS Entrants – Four rising seniors, whose research was conducted individually, completed the Regeneron STS application and research report. Since many of our students were engaged in group projects, they were not eligible for Regeneron STS.

Quality of Life Innovation – Seven projects by sophomores and juniors competed in this NYC-based competition for innovative solutions to problems affecting quality of life. Of those, three were finalists and award winners and one was first place overall.

Other Competitive Presentations – Nineteen projects were presented in competitions and expositions including Davidson Fellow Scholarship competition, KidWind, World of 8 Billion, the Urban Barcode Project, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, RISEUP, American Institute of Chemical Engineers, Billion Oyster Project, and the Saint Joseph’s College Poster Competition.

Articles – Seven project manuscripts are published or in review by the Journal of Emerging Investigators or Research Gate.

Student Recruitment 2024-25

"I was first introduced to the Weston Scholars program during my freshman year of high school and officially joined as a sophomore. This opportunity opened the door to research, and since then, it has become one of the most meaningful parts of my academic journey."

Dilshoda Abdikarimova ’25 - SUNY Stony Brook ’29

Freshmen recruitment - As in the last two years, all freshmen were invited to seek nominations from science and math teachers to the RSP, and nominations for 218 students were received. In turn, these freshmen received an application packet including essay questions about a scientific article. One hundred eighteen freshmen completed the application, and their responses, along with their academic records, enabled the Research Team to select forty to be offered enrollment as the class of ’28. All applicants were encouraged to pursue research projects and contact the Research Team for guidance.

Sophomore and Junior recruitment – Many BTHS students, who were not enrolled as freshmen, have pursued independent research projects and been offered enrollment in RSP. In most cases, these students entered a research project in Terra or comparable competition, thereby fulfilling the expectation of RSP juniors. The 38-member class of ’25 includes ten students who joined as sophomores or juniors.

Research scholars science fair 2025

The 5th Annual RSP Science Fair, consisting of sixty-five student presentations by eighty-one students to thirty-six judges in nine parallel sessions, was held on May 21. All sophomores and juniors prepared written summaries and slide-show presentations for review and critical feedback by the judges for the purpose of focusing and strengthening their projects in preparation of upcoming competitions. The judges included ten BTHS faculty, fourteen RSP seniors, twelve alumni of the RSP, and a faculty member of the Saint Francis College Biology Department. The RSP alumni were from classes of ’16, ’17, ’18, ’20, ’22, and ’24.

Research scholars program class of 2025

More seniors met all their research goals this year than in any other year. Thirty-eight seniors completed the program and received the Whitecoat recognition compared to twenty-five last year and twenty-three in 2023. Their research topics included data science applied to medical detection and diagnosis, cellular and molecular biology, biochemistry, bioremediation, fluid mechanics, agricultural productivity, plant biochemistry, endangered species reproduction, mechanobiology, modeling stormwater management, validity of a traditional medicine, and marine biology.

The class journal was published with the graduates’ project titles, research summaries, presentations, and college enrollment for each of the students who received Whitecoat recognition.

Their colleges include:


Baruch College, Macauley Honors College	Duke University	University at Albany, SUNY
Boston University	Harvard University (2)	Binghampton University, State University of New York (2)
Brown University (2)	Hunter College, Macauley Honors College	Stony Brook University, New York
Case Western Reserve University	Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)	Texas A&M University
City College of New York (CCNY)	Northwestern University	University of Minnesota
Columbia University	New York Institute of Technology (NYIT)	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Colorado School of Mines	New York University (NYU)	University of Pennsylvania (3)
Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art	Pomona College	Vanderbilt University
Cornell University (2)	Princeton University	Yale University (4)

The journal is available here and in print at the Brooklyn Tech Alumni Office.

Collegiate Successes of the Research Scholars Program Classes 2015-2025

Since its inception in 2012-2013, Weston Research Scholars have earned seats at some of the most prestigious institutions in the country, including Ivy League powerhouses such as Harvard University, Yale University, Princeton University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Brown University and the University of Pennsylvania; STEM leaders like Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Georgia Institute of Technology, The Cooper Union, and Carnegie Mellon University; competitive medical programs including the Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education BS/MD Program, New York Institute of Technology 7-Year BS/DO Program, and the Brooklyn College/SUNY Downstate BA/MD Program; renowned research universities such as University of Chicago, Johns Hopkins University, Rice University, University of Michigan, and Northwestern University and top New York institutions including NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Hunter College (Yalow Scholars Program), Macaulay Honors College at CUNY (multiple locations), and City College of New York.

In total, the eleven graduating classes of Weston Research Scholars have been accepted to over 90 distinct colleges and universities, with many students receiving full scholarships, honors program placements, and admission to accelerated medical, STEM-intensive and business focused programs. Of the 244 students who have graduated from the program, more than 30% of the students have attended either an Ivy league school or MIT. More specifically, the program boasts the following number of present-day university attendees or graduates:

Twenty at Cornell
Twenty at Stony Brook University
Seventeen at MIT
Twelve at Macauley Honors (Multiple Locations)
Eleven at Yale
Eleven at Columbia
Nine at Harvard
Eight at CCNY
Eight at NYU
Seven at University of Pennsylvania
Seven at Princeton
Six at Northeastern
Five at Binghamton University

2015 Research Scholars Program Recognition Ceremony

The 11th annual Research Scholars Program Recognition Ceremony was held on Friday June 13, 2025 in the Brooklyn Tech auditorium. Mathew Mandery served as emcee with the entire RSP mentor team participating in the ceremony. The newly selected class of freshman were welcomed; sophomores, juniors and seniors received special recognition awards including research grants to juniors and scholarships to seniors recognizing their exemplary work; and a Whitecoat Ceremony, in which all the seniors were given a lab coat inscribed with the RSP and their name, celebrated their completion of the program.

Selected Projects by Members of the Class of 2025

"I had opportunities to expand my research contributions beyond Brooklyn Tech to New York University's research institutions and assist both the Applied Dynamic and Optimization Lab (ADOL) as well as the Machines in Motion Laboratory in engineering projects. I credit the Weston Research Scholars Program for giving me the fundamentals in scientific thinking, detail orientation, and boundless pursuit as these skills helped me realize that I would like to continue research beyond high school and into my professional career."

Victoria Przydanek ’25 - University of Pennsylvania ’29 (Electrical Engineering and Physics)

Victoria Przydanek (with S. Ashlyn, NYU Tandon) “Penguineering” - Robots are known to walk out on stage, climb stairs, and autonomously get back up after a fall. They can be utilized to evacuate people in dangerous situations, but when it comes to a slippery situation (i.e., a nuclear malfunction, flooded homes, etc.) robots are unable to execute their task due to the low-friction terrain. Many companies have tried to tackle this issue and yet have failed. However, by analyzing the locomotion of penguins (animals whose morphology allowed them to adapt to maneuver on slippery surfaces) we are able to get a better understanding of the kinematical physics behind penguins' gait as well as anatomical features that allow penguins to traverse on slippery surfaces. We have hypothesized the roles of head, flipper, torso, and feet motion as penguins are walking to see how each part aids in a penguin's gait. With image and data tracking software, we were able to quantify distinct characteristics exhibited by penguins walking at two different inclines and speeds. Currently, we are relating these values to previous studies in order to help the field of biomechanics get a clearer understanding behind a penguin's distinct "waddle" and aid technology companies with creating robots that can traverse a wider selection of terrain.

"The Weston Research Program was an inspiring experience that deepened my passion for research and community service. Presenting my findings at the Javits Center was a proud moment, reinforcing my confidence in sharing knowledge. Beyond my own research, working to give back by teaching STEM classes to middle schoolers, helping spark curiosity and excitement in young learners was probably the most memorable. The program taught me the value of inquiry, collaboration, and mentorship. It strengthened both my technical skills and my ability to engage with and uplift my community."

Valentina Wolfe ’25 – SUNY Binghamton - Mechanical Engineering

Valentina Wolfe (with E. Margarita, BTHS) “Vermicomposting for fertilizing Hydroponics” - Hydroponic farming is the innovation that may be able to avert food crises in many parts of the world. But the one obstacle to adoption of hydroponics for large-scale food production is fertilizer cost. To grow food in a hydroponic system, fertilizer must be constantly applied. Our hypothesis was that the liquid extract from compost could provide essential nutrients sustainably from inexpensive materials leading to food yield comparable to hydroponics using synthetic liquid fertilizers. We prepared a homemade compost with earthworm byproducts and extracted a constant supply of “compost tea” and used it as the sole source of nutrients in a hydroponics system and compared the plant growth and yield to a comparable hydroponics system using a name brand liquid fertilizer. We found that compost tea gave more progressive results rather than the synthetic fertilizer used for hydroponics.

"My high school research journey fundamentally shaped how I approach complex problems and deepened my appreciation for the scientific method. As a research intern at the Kalderon Lab at Columbia University during 11th and 12th grade, I worked closely with Drosophila melanogaster ovaries—filtering, dissecting, imaging, and analyzing them to better understand stem cell maintenance and differentiation. Mastering advanced tools like the LSM800 and LSM880 confocal microscopes, as well as ZEN imaging software and Adobe Illustrator, taught me the importance of precision and persistence in generating meaningful data. Writing two independent research papers over two years allowed me to articulate scientific findings with clarity and purpose, reinforcing the value of effective communication in research."

Siddhant Acharya - Pomona College

Sid Acharya (with A. Reilein, Columbia) “Live Imaging of Epithelial Stem Cells in the Drosophila Ovary Reveals Mechanisms of Stem Cell Maintenance and Differentiation” - Drosophila melanogaster ovaries are an effective model for stem cell research because of the similarity of their Follicle Stem Cell (FSC) niches to mammalian intestinal stem cell niches. In this study we looked at how FSCs movement and division. This is important because of a disagreement in the field about how FSCs divide and move after division. It is critical to solve this discrepancy because of the importance of stem cell research to human tissue regeneration. By studying how stem cells act during normal circumstances, we are better able to understand and diagnose abnormal circumstances by how they affect stem cell movement. We hypothesized that FSCs would divide across the germarium and would move randomly after division, following population asymmetry instead of asymmetrical division. We used live imaging instead of fixed imaging because it made it possible to track the germaria over time to see how they moved and divided. To do this study, we imaged germaria under a confocal microscope, using fluorescent proteins as markers. The stem cells in these images were then traced in Adobe Illustrator, and then those tracings were made into a 3D model in Blender. We found that as FSCs divide, the daughter cells separate perpendicular to the AP axis. After division, their movement is largely random and not connected to each other. We found there to be no evidence of asymmetric division, as was stated in previous studies.

"My high school research journey has been defined by curiosity, interdisciplinary exploration, and a commitment to applying science to real-world challenges"

Saranika Chakraborty ’05 - The Cooper Union ’29 (Mechanical Engineering)

Saranika Chakraborty (Columbia) “The Rise of Light Density Disks in Bubble-Free Vibrating Granular Materials” - The rheology and mechanics of fluidized granular materials are poorly understood, despite their ubiquity in the natural world and industrial processes. Fluidized granular materials exhibit complex behaviors distinct from traditional fluids. A common technique to probe the rheology of fluidized granular materials, and other fluids, is to investigate the sinking and rising dynamics of large intruders in these systems. Here, we study the rise of a low-density intruder in a box of particles, fluidized with gas flow and vertical vibration. The intruder is imaged using a high-speed camera and analyzed using digital image correlation in MATLAB. Five parameters are varied: gas flow velocity, vibration intensity, intruder density, bed height, and initial intruder position. The experiments reveal that increasing gas flow was found to decrease intruder rise time, while increasing vibration intensity was found to increase intruder rise time. Increasing the density of the intruders, increased the rise time which is also exhibited in Newtonian fluids. When observing varying intruder position and bed height, the rise velocity was found to collapse onto a single line suggesting that the pressure-dependence, scales with depth are analogous to Newtonian fluids. This study offers insights into the behavior of fluidized granular materials and optimizing industrial processes involving fluidized beds. By advancing our knowledge of granular material behavior, this research is crucial for developing more effective methods to control and manipulate these materials, which can lead to advancements in industrial applications where precise handling of granular media is necessary.

The Success of the weston research scholars program

The remarkable success and recognition of the Weston Research Scholars Program is a testament to the power of collaboration. Under the visionary leadership of Dr. Mathew Mandery and Dr. MacRae Maxfield, and the exceptional guidance of mentors Ms. Stephanie Doire, Dr. Michael Estrella, Dr. Elisa Margarita, and Dr. Horace Walcott, the program has cultivated a vibrant and intellectually rigorous research community. Their dedication, expertise, and unwavering teamwork—combined with generous support from Josh Weston ’46, John ’65 and Mary Manuck, Dean ’68 and Linda Fong, Randi Zinn, Lauren H. Soloff, Achilles ’58 and Nadia Perry, Dr. Horace Walcott, and Dr. MacRae Maxfield—has created an unparalleled environment for high school research excellence.