Galloway, N.J. — Stockton University graduate students showcased the results of their extensive research and hard work during the fall semester at the annual Graduate Symposium on Dec. 5 in the Campus Center Event Room. 

Five programs were featured at the symposium, including American Studies, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Data Science & Strategic Analytics, and the Educational Doctorate in Organizational Leadership. Throughout the room, a variety of projects, including both oral and poster presentations, highlighted diverse and interdisciplinary research. 

Many of the students developed a deep interest in their topics and were eager to share their findings with others in the Stockton community. Margvinatta Senesie, a student in the Data Science and Strategic Analytics program, shared her project, which focused on monitoring the diet of harbor seals in New Jersey using fish oil DNA. 

“This is a project for my data exploration class, and it’s something I initially started in my final year of undergrad,” Senesie explained. “I wanted to continue because now I actually have a list of species that we were able to identify from the seals’ fecal.” 

Senesie was inspired by her professor, Tara Luke, who introduced her to the research she is now pursuing.  

“I really enjoyed working in her lab. I’ve taken multiple classes with Dr. Luke, and I enjoyed spending time learning from her,” Senesie said. “The most exciting part for me was amplifying the DNA from the samples we collected from the seals. I spent months trying to perfect it, making sure to remove any contamination from the DNA or other solutions we might have used.” 

Faculty played a major role in encouraging students to not only create a presentation on their research but to work on their public speaking skills in preparation for the future when they will eventually present to larger, more diverse audiences. 

“This gives them an opportunity to practice presenting because, especially in data science, you can’t work in a vacuum,” said Clifton Baldwin, an adjunct professor in Data Science and Strategic Analytics. “You’re going to have to present to someone, whether it’s a manager or a large group. This event allows them to practice presenting to a friendly, supportive audience as opposed to some of the tougher crowds they might face in the professional world.” 

For students like Laura Nicolich, participating in the symposium was especially valuable in improving her public speaking skills, which are not frequently emphasized in the Occupational Therapy program. 

Students inspire the guests, but the guests also left an impression on the students. As attendees conversed with the researchers, they learned new things about the topics being presented and gained insights they may not have known before. 

“People are teaching us things too,” Nicolich said. “We just had someone mention that the population of New Jersey is only one-quarter of the people currently displaced in the world, which is crazy to think about. That 35.3 million is four times the population of New Jersey, which is one of the most densely populated states. You just learn new things from everybody.” 

The symposium also marked an important milestone for many graduate students as their projects contributed to their final grade for the semester. Many students felt a sense of relief knowing they had completed their semester’s work and could now turn their attention to their next research project. 

For students like Nicolich, the experience has fueled her motivation to continue pursuing her career.  

“It gave me the wherewithal to talk to people and educate them, which is really important in the occupational therapy field,” she said. 

“With your patients, you’re going to be teaching them things, and sometimes those topics can be difficult or even political. This experience helped me practice having those conversations, and it makes me excited to be in the field and advocate on a daily basis.” 

— Story by Courtney Combs, photos by Lizzie Nealis