The 2025 class of Governor’s STEM Scholars gathered on Saturday, January 25, 2025 at Montclair State University for the STEM in Academia Conference, the second of four annual events. This engaging program provided Scholars with the chance to explore academic careers in STEM, interact with faculty, and discover opportunities available at New Jersey’s higher education institutions.
The day commenced with a warm welcome from Dr. Junius Gonzales, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at Montclair State University. Dr. Gonzales spoke about the significance of interdisciplinary research and the role of education in advancing STEM fields.
One of the conference highlights was a panel discussion featuring accomplished STEM professionals who shared their experiences and career journeys. Panelists included Dr. Ethan A. Halm, Henry Rutgers Chair in Population Health Innovation at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences; Dr. Kauser Jahan, Professor and Department Head of Civil & Environmental Engineering at Rowan University; Dr. Eusebio (EZ) Pires, Senior Manager of Technology Marketing and Business Development at Rutgers University; and Dr. Donald Sebastian, Professor of Chemical and Materials Engineering at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. Each panelist shared valuable insights into their paths to academia, the challenges they overcame, and the rewarding opportunities available to those pursuing careers in STEM education and research. One Scholar commented that the panel "taught them about various aspects of STEM in academia. Hearing [the panelists'] perspectives on fostering innovation among fellows and guiding them in introducing their groundbreaking work to the public was both inspiring and insightful."
The morning continued with a fascinating presentation by Dr. Marc Favata, Chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Montclair State University. In his talk, When Black Holes Collide! Gravitational Wave Research at Montclair State University, Dr. Favata delved into groundbreaking discoveries in gravitational wave research, providing Scholars with an inspiring glimpse into the mysteries of the universe.
After a brief break, Scholars reconvened for an inspiring session led by Dr. Stefanie Brachfeld, Vice Provost for Research and Professor of Earth and Environmental Studies at Montclair State University and board member of the Research & Development Council of New Jersey. In her talk, One Good Decision. No Matter What. And Other Reminders on My Keyboard, Dr. Brachfeld emphasized the importance of perseverance, curiosity, and thoughtful decision-making in navigating both research challenges and professional development.
Scholars then explored STEM careers in education through a panel discussion featuring Naseed Gifted, Vice Principal at Science Park High School and Dr. David Mwangi, Supervisor of Science for the East Orange School District and moderated by RDNJ Executive Director Kim Case, JD. The panelists encouraged Scholars to consider the profound impact they could have as STEM educators and underscored the critical role of teaching in shaping the next generation of STEM leaders.
The afternoon brought an immersive learning experience as Scholars participated in two rounds of STEM courses and labs. In these interactive sessions, they had the chance to engage with topics such as mapping and forecasting natural hazards with Dr. Josh Galster, prototyping virtual and augmented reality learning experiences with Dr. Elliot Hu-Au, and exploring the chemical tools that help us better understand the world with Dr. Yvonne Gindt, all of Montclair State University. The second round of sessions offered equally enriching topics, including the study of extreme astrophysical phenomena with Montclair State's Dr. Shaon Ghosh, advancements in computer vision for pollen counting with Kean University's Dr. David Joiner, and insights into civil and environmental engineering with Dr. Jahan.
To close out the day, Scholars toured Montclair State University’s state-of-the-art research facilities, offering a firsthand look at some of the university’s innovative laboratories. Highlights of the tour included the Microscopy and Microanalysis Research Laboratory, and the Sokol Institute for Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences. Other exciting stops included the Robotics and AI Hub, and the Extended Reality Lab, demonstrated the potential of virtual and augmented reality in STEM applications.
From insightful panels and lectures to hands-on experiences in labs, the STEM in Academia Conference provided the Governor’s STEM Scholars with an invaluable opportunity to explore the diverse pathways available in academic STEM careers while highlighting the rich academic resources offered by New Jersey’s universities. A Scholar said about the conference: "I came to the epiphany that after working in STEM, it would be a great opportunity for me to teach others about my work and new advancements in my field. Even now, I enjoy teaching my classmates about conducting research and new developments in cellular biology. I can apply this love for helping by potentially educating the next generation of scientists." The 2025 class of Scholars will reconvene on March 1, 2025 at New Jersey Institute of Technology for the STEM in Industry conference.
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