Mercer Times

The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) hosted its annual Mentored Undergraduate Summer Experience (MUSE) during June and July, involving 92 students and 45 faculty members across 53 projects. The eight-week program allows students to conduct research or engage in creative activities alongside TCNJ faculty from various academic disciplines.

One project focused on "Modeling the Effects of Vertical Green Walls on Thermal Regulation in TCNJ Dormitories." Manuel Figueroa, from integrative STEM education, guided biology majors Shayaan Makki and Sahir Tehseen. They explored how green façades can improve energy efficiency in buildings by building models equipped with sensors to compare temperature differences. Figueroa noted that green façades could alter interior temperatures by 2–10 degrees Celsius.

Another project, "Making Microbiological Phenomena Visible," involved Sorraya Brashear-Evans '16 mentoring interactive multimedia majors Olivia Stark and Sammie Zhu. Collaborating with Colgate-Palmolive, they created an animated video illustrating the human microbiome's role in health. Their work was presented at Colgate-Palmolive's facility in Piscataway, New Jersey.

Nadya Pancsofar led a study titled "Becoming a teacher: How do first-generation college students choose to pursue majors in Education?" with history major Lisa Falvey and communication studies major Christian Perez. They analyzed interviews to understand how first-generation students enter teaching fields, applying the community cultural wealth theory to identify pathways for recruitment.

Mechanical engineering faculty Ardeshir Tabrizi and student Leah Sklar worked on designing a "Solar-Powered Frost Prevention Device." This project aimed to provide an eco-friendly solution for protecting fruit trees from frost damage using solar power instead of fossil fuels.

These projects highlight the diverse research opportunities available through MUSE at TCNJ.