Baruch College Students Awarded National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates

June 28, 2022

Two Baruch College students are recipients of the National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates (NSF REU), a program which supports active and meaningful participation by undergraduate students in new or ongoing research funded by the NSF.

Amiyah Young (’23) and Alexandra Acevedo (’23) will join major NSF projects with potentially significant implications for public policy. Young is focusing on climate justice in New York City, while Acevedo will join a team of researchers studying obesity and nutrition in Costa Rica.

Meet Baruch’s Award Winners

Amiyah Young: Climate Justice in New York City

Amiyah Young is participating in the Columbia Graduate School’s “Beyond Basic Science – Connecting Climate to Communities” research experience, where she is learning how climate change research is gathered, analyzed, and communicated for relevant stakeholders and policymakers.

“I’m excited to interact with other climate change activists and connect them to the youth I’ll be working with,” says Young, who is majoring in public affairs at the Marxe School of Public and International Affairs and completing a minor in Spanish.

“I believe a huge part in fostering tangible change with issues like climate change is bridging the gap between experts and younger generations who will be responsible for carrying out change themselves. It’s important that they meet and partake in dialogue that expands the conversation surrounding climate change. Hopefully it even breeds innovation on how to tackle it, which is the goal.”

For her NSF REU, Young is assisting on the project Community Visioning for Climate Justice in New York City run by Professor Thad Pawlowski. She will be creating a series of workshops on climate justice by conducting research, facilitating the workshops, tracking their outcome, and managing other logistics.

These workshops are part of a toolkit for expanding community outreach on climate justice, a joint initiative between the Center for Resilient Cities and Landscapes (CRCL) and the New York City Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice.

“This research experience will help me because I think the first step in learning how to empathize and effectively service communities abroad is to practice those methods within your own community,” explains Young, who wants to become a NYC Urban Fellow and eventually a foreign service officer.

Young adds, “Being born and raised in NYC, who I am comes from being shaped and molded by this city. As a result, I want to be a part of any effort that seeks to make things better for the people that live here and the research project I’m partaking in does just that.”

Alexandra Acevedo: Researching Obesity and Nutrition in Costa Rica

Alexandra Acevedo is currently in Costa Rica working on a research project about obesity and nutrition with her NSF REU through The Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) program.

Under the guidance of Dr. Sara Shuger Fox, Acevedo is researching public health and the prevalence of obesity in rural areas, exploring potential preventative measures that can be done to reduce mortality due to obesity, and identifying any differences between a public and universal healthcare system.

“I was shown this opportunity by my professor, Dr. David Gruber,” recalls Acevedo, a Psychology major at Baruch’s Weissman School of Arts and Sciences. “In the application process, I answered candidly that this experience would be my first stepping stone into the environmental sphere professionally. I’m relying on experiences like these to guide me to the career that’s right for me as I discover what interests me in environmental science and related fields such as sustainability.”

Working with the Organization for Tropical Studies and LSAMP was Acevedo’s first choice given the coveted opportunity to conduct research abroad.

Students selected for this program live at La Selva Research Station or Las Cruces Research Station for eight weeks. Here they have access to tropical forest ecosystems, mentoring by experienced tropical researchers, and training in field research methodology.

“Not only do I get to work with my research mentor, but there will be nine other interns who I can meet and learn from, as well as the four other mentors. These researchers, field workers, and students come from across the United States and Costa Rica, so I’m excited to hear their experiences and what interests them about the environmental field,” says Acevedo.

“I’m hoping to use this experience researching to find what aspects of STEM interests me the most so I can develop and improve my skills. This may be literature research or fieldwork, I’m excited to find out!”

Awards and Scholarships Advising Support

Baruch students interested in applying for fellowships and scholarships can visit Baruch College’s Office of National & Prestigious Fellowships Advising. This office helps guide students through the application process when pursuing awards that support their academic studies.

In addition to the NSF REU, other opportunities available to students include the Fulbright award, Jeannette K. Watson Fellowship, Gilman International Scholarship, Freeman-ASIA scholarships, Venture for America, PPIA Fellowship, and many more.

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