Research

• The Effect of Phosphates and Nitrates in Fertilizer Runoff on Harmful Algal Bloom/Pollution Growth (Grade 9 - 2022 - Honor Award)

  My team and I researched how phosphates and nitrates in fertilizer runoff impact harmful algal bloom growth. We found that while each nutrient increases algae, their combination causes the most rapid and harmful bloom, reducing oxygen levels and water quality. This showed how nutrient runoff drives pollution and ecosystem damage. For our work, we were honored with an Honors Award from the Long Island Science Congress (LISC).

• Dose-Dependent Effects of Flavonoids on Oxidative Stress in C. elegans (Grade 10 - 2023)

  My team and I studied the effects of flavonoids on Caenorhabditis elegans to test their ability to mitigate oxidative stress. We examined how different doses influenced stress resistance and compared the effectiveness of various flavonoid types. Our findings provided insight into how natural antioxidants may improve cellular defense against oxidative damage.

• AI-Powered Pneumonia Detection from Chest X-Rays (Inspirit AI - 2023)

  My team and I developed an AI-based system to diagnose pneumonia from chest X-rays. We designed a convolutional neural network (CNN), enhanced its performance using transfer learning, and evaluated it on real-world clinical data. Our approach ensures the model can accurately detect pneumonia and perform effectively on practical, real-life medical images.

• Plant-Based Strategies to Counter Apoptosis Evasion in C. elegans (Grade 11 - AP Research (Independent Research) - 2024)

  I studied the synergistic effects of plant-based therapeutics—Resveratrol, Mangiferin, and Curcumin—on C. elegans as a model for cancer. The research focused on how these compounds could help prevent apoptosis evasion in activated PI3K pathways, a key mechanism in tumor growth. The findings highlight the potential of combining natural compounds to enhance therapeutic effects against cancer-related pathways.

• The Role of Tau in Alzheimer"s Progression (2025 - Independent research)

  I studied the role of tau protein aggregation in Alzheimer"s disease and analyzed how abnormal tau buildup contributes to neuronal dysfunction and disease progression. The research highlights the mechanisms behind tau-induced neurodegeneration and provides insights for potential therapeutic strategies. This article was published in Rising Researchers Journal.

• Fractal Dimension Analysis of EEGs for Seizure Biomarker Development (2025 - Independent research - Silver Medal Awarded)

  This study investigates the use of Katz and Higuchi fractal dimensions to analyze EEG signals for detecting neural activity patterns. By examining the complex geometry of EEGs, it links brain wave patterns to the four stages of seizures. The goal is to develop biomarkers that can identify seizure stages more accurately. Ultimately, this approach aims to enhance personalized treatment for seizure patients on a larger scale.

• Evaluation of the ABC Pathways (July 2025)

  Conducted group research at Hofstra University under faculty supervision to investigate how early adverse experiences—across dimensions of threat, deprivation, and unpredictability—contribute to later mental health outcomes, and to identify protective factors that may buffer these effects among youth of color.