Awards 2024

Faculty Research Mentor of the Year

Jenna Tucker Ph.D. is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at Kean University, where she has served as the Neurological Content Coordinator since 2019. She has been a practicing clinician for over 13 years, including inpatient, outpatient and home-care rehabilitation for adults with neurologic dysfunction, specializing in brain injury. Dr. Tucker earned her Doctorate in Physical Therapy, with a minor in psychology, from Northeastern University in 2011. She has been a Certified Brain Injury Specialist since 2012 and was designated as a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Neurologic Physical Therapy in 2014. Dr. Tucker is a member of the Brain Injury Alliance of NJ Board of Trustees and was recognized by the BIANJ as the 2023 recipient of the Jill Shulman Community Pillar Award. In collaboration with clinical partners at Intermountain Health, Dr. Tucker’s research focuses on brain injury rehabilitation, specifically concussion, and examination/treatment of dysautonomia. Her speaking experience includes symposia, workshops, platform and poster presentations at national and state-wide conferences, as well as multiple nationally-recognized podcasts. Each of Dr. Tucker’s research publications and presentations have involved multiple Kean DPT students and/or alumni. Since 2019, she has provided extensive mentorship to more than 30 DPT students for their involvement in current and future projects.

Iyad Ghanim, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders at Kean University. He earned a MA in Linguistics from UNC at Chapel Hill and a PhD in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Montclair State University. In his research, Dr. Ghanim uses psycholinguistic methods to explore the cognitive processes of speech and language processing, in particular, exploring how bilinguals use meaning-related or semantic information to process words and sentences. In the past three years as a faculty member at Kean, Dr. Ghanim has extensively mentored numerous undergraduate students in research projects funded by the ORSP Students Partnering with Faculty Award (SPF) and several CURF projects, which have resulted in co-authorships on publications or conference presentations at New Jersey Speech & Hearing Association (NJSHA) and other regional conferences. Most recently, one particular work exploring the effects of wearing face masks on language processing in bilinguals involved a first-generation undergraduate student who is interested in eventually pursuing a research doctorate. This work lead to a prestigious publication in a top journal on which the student is coauthored.

Nazif Durmaz Ph.D.  is an Associate Professor of Economics at Kean University.  He received a PhD in Applied Economics from Auburn University, Alabama.  He mainly teaches graduate course of Managerial Economics for MBA, International Economics, Quantitative Methods in Economics, and Macroeconomics for undergraduate.  Dr. Durmaz has published over 25 peer-reviewed academic articles in prestigious journals, such as International Journal of Forecasting, Economic Modeling, and Journal of Economic Studies.  3 of the published articles are with undergraduate students.  He has presented his research at many respected conferences and universities around the world.  His research interests are in International Economics and Trade, Open Economy Macroeconomics, and Empirical Financial Economics.

Faculty Research Mentor of the Year - Honorable Mention

After completing a B.A. in Communication at Adrian College, Joshua Guitar earned his M.A. and Ph.D. in Communication from Wayne State University. Joshua currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Communication at Kean University where he teaches classes in rhetoric, critical media studies, and political communication. Joshua employs both classical and critical methods of rhetorical inquiry to examine mediated political discourse, oftentimes to interrogate the rhetorical manifestations of ideology that inhibit democratic discourse, civil liberties, and political equity. Joshua’s research has been featured in communication journals like Critical Studies in Media Communication, Communication and Democracy, and Western Journal of Communication. Joshua recently authored a book entitled Dissent, Discourse, and Democracy: Whistleblowers as Sites of Political Contestation, published by Lexington Books in 2021. Joshua has also won a number of awards for his research, including the 2019 Top Paper Award in the Political Communication division of the National Communication Association, the 2022 James Madison Prize for Outstanding Research in First Amendment Studies, and the 2023 Robert M. O’Neill Top Paper Award in the Freedom of Expression division of the National Communication Association.

Thomas Abraham Ph.D.  is a Professor of Management at Kean University. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Massachusetts and his MBA from the Indian Institute of Management. His research interests include sustainability information systems, IT skills and capabilities, and MIS curriculum and education. He has published his research in several journals including MIS Quarterly Executive, Journal of Enterprise Information Management, Communications of the Association for Information Systems and Decision Support Systems.

He has served as Chair of the Management department and as Coordinator of the Master of Science in Management Information Systems program at Kean University. He was recently re-elected to the executive council of the Kean Federation of Teachers, the faculty and professional staff union, where he serves as the Vice President for Membership. He currently teaches both graduate and undergraduate classes in MIS and sustainability. He began his career as a computer programmer and systems analyst and has been an IT consultant to several companies including Sony Music and BMG.

Malihe Aliasgari, Ph.D., brings a unique blend of mathematical and engineering expertise to Kean University. After joining the inaugural cohort of the Equity in Action Presidential Postdoctoral Fellowship Program in 2021, she transitioned to a role as Assistant Professor of Mathematics in the School of Integrative Science and Technology (IST). Dr. Aliasgari is also a dedicated Faculty Research Mentor, guiding both graduate and undergraduate students in their research endeavors.

Dr. Aliasgari holds two Ph.D.s: one in pure Mathematics from Amirkabir University, Iran, and another in Electrical Engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT). This dual background informs her research interests, which lie at the intersection of Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Error Control Coding, Information Theory, and Algebraic Coding. Dr. Aliasgari is particularly drawn to research that bridges the gap between theoretical foundations and practical applications in engineering.

Undergraduate Student Researcher of the Year - Natural Sciences

Siyun Yang is a senior-year undergraduate student from Kean University majoring in Biology. She is currently working at the Chemometric and Molecular Modeling Laboratory under the supervision of Dr. Supratik Kar at Kean University. Her research interests are computational drug design and discovery. Currently, she is working on two different research projects: One is the implementation of computational-aided drug discovery against neglected viruses like Nipah and Zika virus, and the other one is environmental toxicity assessment for industrial organic chemicals towards different fish species. She has published 4 Q1 research articles, including Science of The Total Environment (IF = 9.8), Computers in Biology and Medicine (IF = 7.7), and Nature Scientific Reports (IF = 4.6), and 2 book chapters. She has presented her research at various national and international conferences, including the American Chemistry Society (ACS) Conference 2023 in San Francisco, the ACS Conference 2024 in New Orleans, and the NJADDC Symposium at Princeton University.Reflecting on all this, research is part of the journey to possibly obtaining a PhD in Artificial Intelligence with a concentration of Computer Vision studying brain images and being a professor inspiring people with disabilities, and to aid minority groups to persevere just like the Kean motto says —

Cougars Climb Higher!

Undergraduate Student Researcher of the Year  - Social Sciences

Justin Antonio is a senior Business Management major at Kean University. His research interests involve organizational and leadership psychology, often working with the concept of emotional intelligence. His first job was located at Kean University, as a Research Recruiter under the Center of Undergraduate Research & Fellowships. Throughout the years, he has held multiple leadership positions including presidents for the Business Research Society, Business Analytics Student Association, and Human Resources Management Club. He currently has interests in corporate entertainment, marketing research, and human resources management as possible routes for career prospects.

Undergraduate Student Researcher of the Year  - Formal Sciences

Tristram Dacayan is a senior at Kean University pursuing a B.S. in Computer Science. He started doing research as a freshman in 2020 under the guidance of Dr. Daehan Kwak. He has a remarkable passion for research, commitment, and enthusiasm for computer science.

His main field of interest revolves around artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML), and he strives to learn more about technologies and advancements in the field, with notable experience in Computer Vision (CV), Natural Language Processing (NLP), and Large Language Models (LLM).His work includes enhancing Electronic Health Records (EHR) summarization through LLM-Augmented Knowledge Graphs and employing an NLP Pipeline for EHR summarization. He was also co-advised by Dr. Kuan Huang to develop an Automated Parking Space Occupancy Detection system using Spatial Grid Mapping. Additionally, Tristram has worked on Computer Vision-Based Monitoring for Online Meetings. At Carnegie Mellon, he pioneered the development of an Automated Pain Assessment system using Video Masked Autoencoder Architecture. These projects not only demonstrate his technical proficiency but also his commitment to applying computer science to real-world issues and societal challenges.Through his research, he has been able to attend and present his work at many national and international conferences, such as Great Minds in STEM (GMiS), National Conference for Undergraduate Research (NCUR), International Conference on Pattern Recognition and Artificial Intelligence (PRAI) 2022, Computational Science and Computational Intelligence (CSCI) 2022, 2023, and RISS Working Papers Journal 2023. He also had the opportunity to publish four papers about his research work at these conferences. Inspired to broaden his AI/ML knowledge, he was selected for Carnegie Mellon's Robotics Institute Summer Scholars (RISS) REU program in 2023 and Google's Software Product Sprint (SPS) in 2021. Alongside his research work, his third-place award in the Kean Business Plan Competition in 2023, his first-place win at the GMiS CAHSI Hackathon in 2021, and his elected role as vice president of Upsilon Pi Epsilon (UPE) demonstrate his efforts outside his academics.

After graduating, Tristram Dacayan aspires to pursue an M.S. in Computer Science at Kean University's graduate program, engage in revolutionary AI/ML research, and undertake doctoral studies to deepen his expertise and significantly contribute to the field.

Graduate Student Researcher of the Year

Isabel R. DeSanno is a distinguished graduate student at Kean University pursuing a Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology with a perfect 4.0 GPA. Driven by a passion for understanding the complexities of human behavior within legal contexts, Isabel aspires to further her academic journey by pursuing a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. With a solid foundation in forensic psychology, Isabel has garnered extensive experience in conducting academic research and working as a graduate assistant with the Center for International Studies and Office of Career Services. Her dedication to the field is evident through her involvement in numerous research projects, where she has presented her findings at prestigious conferences such as the South Eastern Psychological Association and the Eastern Psychological Association. Isabel's academic excellence and commitment to scholarly pursuits have been recognized through various awards and accolades, including being named Graduate Research Student of the Year in Spring 2024 and serving as the Valedictorian for Kean University's 2022 Undergraduate Class. Additionally, she has received scholarships such as the Seaman First Class Peter J. Russo & Signalman First Class Walter E. Lafferty Scholarship by the U.S. Coast Guard Foundation and Kean University's Trustee's Scholarship. In addition to her academic achievements, Isabel has demonstrated leadership and service through her involvement in various extracurricular activities and volunteer initiatives. She competed as an NCAA Division III Athlete during her four years at Kean University as a distinguished Women’s Swim Team member, where she specialized in the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke. Notably, the team was the undefeated NJAC champions during the 2022-2023 season, and Isabel received Academic All-NJAC honors during the 2021-2022 season. As a former high school and undergraduate Valedictorian, she is committed to expanding her professional experience in alignment with her focused areas of study. This year, she also served as the inaugural president of the Cougar Career Club, which aims to serve as the bridge between campus and careers for like-minded students and student groups, offering programming, field trips, and exclusive learning opportunities for its members. With her exceptional academic background, research experience, and commitment to advancing the field of forensic psychology, Isabel is poised to make significant contributions to the field as she progresses in her career.

Graduate Student Researcher - Honorable Mention

Lira Llolla holds a B.A. in Molecular Biotechnology from Kean University. Graduating this May with her Master's in Science and Technology, she has focused her academic research on medicinal and innovative biotechnology practices.  Lira is an award-winning pharmaceutical representative holding the Merck Great Award and Vice President Club Award. Her passion is using her background in science and healthcare to bridge innovative pharmaceutical developments to healthcare providers and their patients! She enjoys using her experiences to encourage and help others around her. Her passion is to strengthen her skills and to one day be able to give back to the community that has allowed her great opportunities to better her life!

Doctoral Student Researcher of the Year

Meaghan Dowdell is currently a third year doctoral candidate in the Kean University Department of Physical Therapy, set to graduate in May 2024. In 2021, she graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Scranton majoring in Kinesiology/Exercise Science. While pursuing her undergraduate degree, she served as a research intern within the Kinesiology Department, where she gained experience assisting with numerous aspects of the research process. Since beginning her graduate education, Meaghan has been involved in over ten research projects primarily focused in the field of brain injury and dysautonomia rehabilitation under the mentorship of Dr. Jenna Tucker. She has co-authored one peer-reviewed manuscript, one peer-reviewed abstract, one platform presentation, and numerous poster presentations at both state and national conferences. In 2023, one of these posters was recognized nationally at the American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting with a 3rd place poster award by the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy, Brain Injury Special Interest Group. Meaghan also serves as a mentor to other students in the DPT program who are seeking research opportunities. Upon graduation, Meaghan will be pursuing a career as a neurological-based doctor of physical therapy and plans to pursue a Ph.D. focused on brain injury rehabilitation. Her goal is to transform neurological physical rehabilitation through clinical experience, dissemination of evidence-based research, and teaching within DPT programs.

Doctoral Student Researcher - Honorable Mention

Daniel Watson is a doctoral candidate from the United Kingdom (U.K.) completing his final year in the combined School and Clinical Psychology Psy.D. Program at Kean University. He is currently completing his internship at the Mendota Mental Health Institute in Wisconsin, where he is engaged in forensic evaluations, as well as the treatment of individuals with serious mental illness. His research interests primarily fall within the areas of forensic psychology and treatment outcomes.

 Research Days Cover Design Contest

Winner

Honorable Mentions