Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P. President | St. John's University website

St. John’s University students recently exhibited their research prowess during the University’s annual Student Research Conference held on April 9–10. The event featured a diverse range of projects from students across various academic fields, showcasing their creativity and innovative ideas.

Among the presenters was Matt Nadel, a Ph.D. student in Multi-Sector Communication, who delved into the topic of gossip in his project titled “Analysis of Gossip Comfort on the Basis of Context.” Matt aimed to challenge the stereotypes surrounding gossip and highlight its potential benefits, particularly in organizational settings. He emphasized the importance of understanding gossip's role in interpersonal communication and organizational behavior.

In the realm of health innovation, a group of students, including Valeria Sanchez Estrada and Paola Kotemelo, worked on a project focused on early detection of oral squamous cell carcinoma. Their project, “Development of Whole Cell Biosensors for Early Detection of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma,” aimed to create a noninvasive device that can identify disease markers through saliva, potentially saving thousands of lives.

Artificial intelligence also took center stage at the conference, with projects like Victoria Villalobos’ “Exploring the Legalities of AI Music,” which examined the impact of AI on copyright and legal issues in the music industry. Victoria highlighted the evolving nature of AI technology and its potential to reshape the music landscape, particularly in terms of legal challenges and copyright disputes.

The event culminated in an awards reception where Parul Suri and Mimansa Goyal, Ph.D. students in Pharmaceutical Sciences, received top honors for their research on treating neuroblastoma and pulmonary arterial hypertension, respectively. The conference not only provided a platform for students to showcase their work but also underscored the University's commitment to fostering a culture of scholarly research and academic excellence.

In a statement reflecting on the conference, Marc E. Gillespie, Ph.D., Senior Vice Provost at St. John’s University, emphasized the institution's dedication to promoting student creativity and research engagement as integral components of its educational mission.