Students Gain Insight and Inspiration Through Faculty Research at Stony Brook

English major Kamala Covert (right) with assistant professor of English Neisha Terry Young. Photos by John Griffin.

Stony Brook University students have access to more than 1,800 student research opportunities each year. As an internationally recognized R1 research institution and the number one public university in New York State, Stony Brook boasts more than 2,300 research faculty who provide the mentorship and experience that student researchers need to make an impact on the world.

The result? Students who find themselves working on dynamic, exciting research, exploring potential career paths and gaining essential experience, thanks to the support of world-class faculty.

Kamala Covert, an English major from Coram, New York, explores intersectionality and how different facets of identity commingle and overlap in ways that can expose how people engage with the culture and society they live in.

Covert has hosted fireside chats and podcasts as part of her internship with Neisha Terry Young, an assistant professor in the Department of English, whose own research explores the affordances of multiliteracies in supporting the intersectional identities of Black immigrant youth.

"I look at my own life and my socioeconomic status and gender in relationship to the education system, and I was explaining to Dr. Young my experience with education and all the letdowns I had," said Covert. "In an academic space we talk about big ideas and theories and you expect a certain level of professionalism, but when you have an experience that doesn't fit that mold, it makes you take a step back."

Covert said Young encouraged her to explore more about what that meant. "We did a series of talks and wrote an abstract for my research, and I looked at a lot of different literary material that explained how compounded the identity is," Covert said. "For students who may not excel from the beginning, being given the opportunity in this space to really explore things they may not have known is what our world needs, especially in education."

Darren Wang is a senior biomedical engineering major does his research in the biochemistry lab of Benjamin Martin.

Darren Wang, a senior majoring in biomedical engineering with a minor in chemistry, brought his classroom curiosity straight into the lab under the guidance of Benjamin Martin, where he studied ways to manipulate gene activity in developing zebrafish.

"Ben's been super supportive," said Wang, who was recently featured as the URECA Researcher of the Month. "Most importantly, he gave me the room to explore different ideas… He gave me the space to explore and develop as a scientist." Using the skills and confidence developed through his undergraduate research experience, Wang prepares for advanced opportunities following graduation and aims to pursue a PhD in biophysics.

Undergraduate Research & Creative Activities (URECA) promotes and supports undergraduate research in all disciplines at Stony Brook. Established in 1987, the URECA program is administered through the Office of the Provost/Division of Undergraduate Education and reflects Stony Brook's historical leadership in integrating research and education.

Faculty mentors are critical to the success of the URECA program. Faculty-mentored research is a high-impact experience that develops problem-solving and presentation skills, contributes to academic success and professional development, and connects students to mentoring communities.

Mass communication major Kailyn Penney (left) with Matthew Salzano, assistant professor in the School of Communication and Journalism.

Kailyn Penney of Coram, New York said she became interested in the ethics and creative implications of generative AI through a class she took with Matthew Salzano, an assistant professor in the School of Communication and Journalism.

"Exploring his catalogue of research opened my eyes to scholarly concepts and opportunities I didn't even know existed," said Penney, a transfer student from SUNY Suffolk County Community College pursuing a BS in mass communication. "The experience helped me connect these ideas to my own creative projects and future career in the evolving digital media landscape."

Research opportunities for graduate students are abundant as well.

Maria Feiler researches human morphological variation, specifically the ontological development of the skull and pelvis.

Anthropological sciences doctoral candidate Maria Feiler (left) with assistant professor of anthropology Carrie Mongle.

"I came into Stony Brook's program very focused on modern humans," said the anthropological sciences doctoral candidate, who was trained in forensics before expanding into understanding humans, hominins and primates at large. "My lab has really expanded my abilities as a researcher."

Feiler, a Wisconsin native, said the interdepartmental nature of Stony Brook's program has helped her grow, and she credits Stony Brook faculty with providing valuable mentorship, including her advisor, Chris Percival, and department chair Kathy Twiss.

"[Assistant professor] Carrie Mongle has been fantastic in terms of practical help. She's helped me with writing advice, and has helped me get through the struggle that is graduate school," Feiler said. "I came here because the breadth of knowledge within this department and the ability to connect with other departments across Stony Brook seemed like an incredible opportunity. And it has been."