Student & Faculty Research

Metropolitan Association of College and University Biologists (MACUB) – November 5, 2022

On November 5 2022, students and faculty attended the 55th annual meeting of the Metropolitan Association of College and University Biologists at the SUNY Old Westbury campus. PODER fellow Jizhady Paez ‘24 and Laura Twersky, Ph.D., presented their research on “Effects of Microplastics on Neurulation and Larval Development of Xenopus laevis ( African clawed frog ).” PODER fellow Valerie Salto ’25 presented her research titled, “Song Sparrows (Melospiza melodia) Alter their Songs in Response to Anthropogenic Noise,” with Katherine Wydner, Ph.D., and Oshane Annon ‘22. Isabelle Bautista ‘25 and Katherine Rodriguez ‘24 presented their research with Dr. Wydner and others on “Project FeederWatch at Year Eight: Urban Gardens are Winter Havens.”

Metropolitan Association of College and University Biologists (MACUB) – October 31, 2020

Stephanie Martinez ‘22, Karen Canales ‘21,Shawn Ali ‘21 and Dr.Laura Twersky are co- authors of the presentation “ Review of Daily Exposure of Babies to Environmental Endocrine Disruptors(EEDS)/Plastic” that won an award at the annual meeting ( virtual) of the Metropolitan Association of College and University Biologists (MACUB)

Epidemiology Forum 2020 at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health Feb. 28,2020

Dr. Laura Twersky, Biology, with research students on trip to NYC Epidemiology Forum 2020 at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health

TriBeta Research Foundation Academic Grants 2019-2020

1. Wonja Kim ’20
   Effects of green tea and Triphala extract, individually and in combination, on diet-induced obesity in zebrafish
   Research Advisor: Dr. Laura Twersky
2. Melissa Quintana Blanco ’21 and Giovanni Gonzalez ’22
   Can kaempferol prevent the development of malformations n clawed frog larvae exposed to bisphenols?
   Research Advisors: Dr. Laura Twersky and Dr. Christina Mortellaro
3. Khawlah Nazzal ’20
   Effects of aspartame and saccharin on the gut microbiome
   Research Advisors: Dr. Christina Mortellaro and Dr. Jill Callahan

Student and Professors Present Research at Annual Cell Biology Meeting

Christina Mortellaro, Ph.D., assistant professor of biology, Laura Twersky, Ph.D., professor of biology, and Michael Verile ’19 recently presented at the annual cell biology meeting in Washington D.C. Read more.

Academic Grants 2015-16

1. Robert Graffin
   Effects of sucralose, saccharin, aspartame and rebaudioside (in Stevia) on neurulation in Xenopus laevis (clawed frog)
   Research advisor/collaborator: Dr. Laura Twersky
2. Laura Kelly
   The effects of creatine monohydrate on renal function in Wistar rats
   Research advisor/collaborator: Dr. Laura Twersky
3. Summen Mushtaq, Valentina Osorio and Sophia Touri
   Transgenerational effects of bisphenol A and bisphenol S on aspects of reproductive system functioning in Caenorhabditis elegans (nematode worm)
   Research advisors/collaborators: Drs. Maria Agapito, Jill Callahan and Laura Twersky