2016 Summer Science Scholars Present Projects at Annual Poster Session

Each summer from June to August, Burke Medical Research Institute mentors the next generation of research scientists through the Summer Student Research Program. Selected college students engage in cutting-edge science research in participating Burke Medical Research Institute laboratories. The Summer Student Research Program is co-directed by Dianna E. Willis, Ph.D. and John Cave, Ph.D.

To conclude the summer program this year's students presented posters of research projects at the annual Summer Science Scholars Program Poster Session held Friday, August 12, 2016. With the Burke Medical Research Institute faculty and scientists, Burke Hospital physicians and staff, family and friends in attendance the students presented their research projects.

2016 Summer Science Projects

Amanda Bernstein 
Project: Elbow training to increase motor function in stroke patients using combined robotic technologies.
Mentor: Avrielle Rykman Peltz, MA, OTR/L and Dylan Edwards, Ph.D.
Attending: The City College of New York (rising senior)

Maria Lopez Cavestany 
Project: Design of custom prosthetic hand. 
Mentor: David Putrino, Ph.D.
Attending: Stevens Institute of Technology (rising junior)

Bryan Chatterton 
Project: The role of G-quardruplex secondary structures in mRNA transport and local translation. 
Mentor: Dianna Wills, Ph.D. and John Cave, Ph.D.
Attending: University of Connecticut (rising senior)

Divija Chopr 
Project: Creating a repository of immersive 360 videos to treat neuropathic pain. Using advanced MRI techniques to understand lateropulsion in stroke survivors. 
Mentor: David Putrino, Ph.D.
Attending: New York University (rising sophomore)

Celeste Rodovalho Soares de Camargo 
Paradoxal heightened ipsilesional corticospinal excitability in mild to moderate hemiplegia. 
Mentor: Mar Cortes, M.D. and Dylan Edwards, Ph.D. 
Attending: Faculdade de Medicina do ABC (4th year medical student)

Toby Kashket
Project: Effectiveness of constraint-induced movement therapy on children with hemiplegia and ipsilateral connections: a case study.
Mentor: Kathleen Friel, Ph.D.
Attending: University of Rochester (rising junior)

Hana Mahallati 
Project: Using advanced MRI techniques to understand lateroplusion in stroke survivors.
Mentor: David Putrino, Ph.D. 
Attending: Barnard College (rising sophomore)

Polin Petkova 
Project: Analysis of cellular components of dystrophic axonal endings in vitro. 
Mentor: Taylor Johns, B.A.
Attending: Manhattanville College (rising senior)

Samuel Potash 
Project: How can one protein cause many functional diverse changes. 
Mentor: Gary Gibson, Ph.D. 
Attending: Tulane University (rising junior)

Henry Roach 
Project: Why do some patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease by cognitive testing lack amyloid plaques. 
Mentor: Gary Gibson, Ph.D. 
Attending: White Plains High School (rising senior)

Sydney Sherman 
Project: Chronic softening cervical spinal cord stimulators: safety and efficacy. 
Mentor: Jason Carmel, Ph.D. 
Attending: University of Texas at Dallas (rising sophomore)
Awarded First Place

Zulfi Soomro 
Project: Creating a repository of immersive 360 videos to treat neuropathic pain.
Mentor: David Putrino, Ph.D.
Attending: Horace Greeley High School (rising senior)

Sarah Sylla 
Project: The effectiveness of hand-arm bimanual intensive therapy for children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy.
Mentor: Kathleen Friel, Ph.D. 
Attending: Horace Greeley High School (rising senior)

Tim Zavarella
Project: Lactate is an effective neuroprotectant which synergizes with NAD(H) supplementation or 12-LOX inhibition.
Mentor: Amit Kumar, Ph.D. and Rajiv Ratan, M.D., Ph.D.
Attending: Horace Greeley High School (rising senior)

Shelley Zhu 
Project: Assessing schwann cell differentiation and its potential for intracerebral hemorrhage therapy. 
Mentor: Marietta Zille, Ph.D. and Rajiv Ratan, M.D., Ph.D.
Attending: White Plains High School (rising senior)

Sydney Sherman won first place for the 2016 Summer Science Scholars Program Poster Session

Congratulations 2016 Summer Science Scholars

A panel of instructors and post-doctoral researchers judged the poster presentations. Each poster was evaluated for research design, creativity and comprehension, and visual presentation. With close results, judges awarded Sydney Sherman, a rising sophomore at University of Texas at Dallas, with first place for the 2016 Summer Science Scholars Program Poster Session. Mentored by Jason Carmel, M.D., Ph.D., Sydney’s project focused on chronic softening cervical spinal cord stimulators: safety and efficacy. The Burke community congratulations Sydney Sherman and saults the 2016 Summer Science Scholars in their achievements and discoveries fulfilled during the summer program.