NYC Gazette

A group of ambitious undergraduate students at New York University (NYU) are engaged in research projects that range from virtual reality to biochemistry, demonstrating the diverse opportunities available for academic exploration. These students have found themselves working alongside professors and PhD candidates, delving deeper into their fields of interest.

Aya Amine and Nourhane Sekkat, both majoring in Interactive Media at NYU Abu Dhabi, are investigating how realism in virtual reality impacts human emotions. "Our research centers around figuring out how much the level of realism in VR settings impacts human emotions," Aya explained. They discovered varying emotional responses to realistic versus cartoonish environments, with immersive sound playing a significant role.

Olivia Qian from Steinhardt is part of the Verbatim Performance Lab (VPL), where she contributes to creating documentary theater performances. The main project this semester focuses on the 2024 presidential election. "It’s meant to lead audiences to a better understanding of what people living and working in the United States expect from a president," Olivia stated.

Sue Li and Zaq Ponce, both studying Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Tandon, are involved in nanoparticle research under Professor Nathalie Pinkerton's mentorship. Zaq expressed his interest in contributing to impactful health work: "I like that I’m able to contribute to work that has a significant impact on health."

Leon Xu from CAS is researching the Zero-Price Effect in behavioral economics under Professor Yisroel Cahn's guidance. He aims to explore why people might choose free options even when they offer less utility compared to paid alternatives.

Madonna Hanna, a Chemistry major mentored by Professor Michelle Krogsgaard at Grossman School of Medicine, works on developing T cell receptors for melanoma treatment. She emphasized the importance of patience in lab work: "These are long processes; sometimes we conduct experiments seven or eight times."

These students' experiences highlight the potential for undergraduates at NYU to engage deeply with their studies through research opportunities across various disciplines.