Student Research

Student nurses converge for an interdisciplinary research conference organized by George Mason students

Taylor Thomas — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 13:59:11 +0000

Student nurses converge for an interdisciplinary research conference organized by George Mason students Taylor Thomas Wed, 06/04/2025 - 09:59

In This Story

Karen Trister Grace

Tara Altay, a PhD student in George Mason’s School of Nursing, noticed an unfortunate conference trend: a decrease in attendance and an increase in price. Disheartened but refusing to remain passive, Altay leveraged her role as treasurer of the �� Graduate Nursing Organization (GNO) to combat this observation becoming the norm. Refusing to see knowledge and network become inaccessible to fellow students and nursing professionals, the GNO, in partnership with George Mason Nurses for Sexual and Reproductive Health (NSRH), organized a D.C.-area interdisciplinary student nursing research conference.

Tara Altay. Photo provided

“The main motivation was to create an affordable, in this case free, student research conference inclusive of all nursing degree programs (ADN, BSN, MSN, DNP, PhD),” Altay said. "One of the most fun parts of professional conferences is the connections made and side conversations with peers. We wanted to create that opportunity for students here and all students around D.C., Maryland, and Virginia."

Altay also added that they also wanted to provide doctoral students with a supportive space to practice presenting their research—one where peers fostered meaningful discussions that enriched and strengthened their work.

The 67 student participants who registered for the conference came from the University of Maryland, Shenandoah University, University of Virginia, George Washington University, Johns Hopkins University, and Virginia Commonwealth University.

“This conference was a great networking opportunity, as well as a chance to learn what other doctoral students are doing during their final year project and what they plan to do with their degree afterwards,” said Kathryn Oliver, an attendee and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) student.

As a self-described young, aspiring health care professional of color, Ka'Lise Benson, a direct-entry Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) student who is a University Scholar in the Honors College, was thrilled to engage with those with similar aspirations. “I left feeling so grateful and so encouraged. I felt that the conference, having placed me in a space full of like-minded individuals, confirmed the call I already felt so led to answer,” she said.

Meghan Stough presenting her research on opiod use disorder interventions. Photo by Rene Ayala

The conference featured doctoral research in both poster and podium presentations, offering bachelor’s and master's-level students the opportunity to observe the trajectory of their future careers. Meghan Stough, another DNP-FNP student, was one of 18 student presenters. She utilized the conference to share her DNP project on evidence-based interventions to expand access to medications for opioid use disorder in the pre-hospital setting.

“The conference allowed me to practice translating complex clinical work into a concise, accessible format—an essential skill in nursing leadership and advocacy. Presenting and receiving feedback enhanced my confidence in scholarly communication and solidified my role as a nurse leader committed to knowledge dissemination,” Stough said.

Community practitioners were invited to share their field experiences and the innovative ways they apply their nursing degrees to serve diverse populations beyond hospital and primary care settings, including keynote speaker Terri-Ann Thompson from Ibis Reproductive Health, who spoke about her work on reproductive justice. Thompson was joined by four nurse practitioners as co-panelists in breakout sessions. Additionally, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences Women and Gender Studies department adapted their Intersectionality 101 program into a nurse-specific presentation and discussion panel for attendees in support of the conference’s theme, “Equity.”

“I'm so proud of our student chapter members for organizing this impressive event. It was inspiring to spend the day among such motivated students, and I hope this is just the start of an ongoing tradition at George Mason,” said Karen Trister-Grace, assistant professor in the School of Nursing and faculty advisor for NSRH.

Attendees from across the Washington, D.C.-area gather for George Mason student-led nursing conference. Photo by Rene Ayala

Topics

Nursing Research

Master of Science in Nursing

bachelor of science in nursing

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Michelle S. Williams, PhD, MSPH

The opportunity to conduct research is fueling this community health student to discover life-saving cancer treatments

Taylor Thomas — Tue, 13 May 2025 13:18:27 +0000

The opportunity to conduct research is fueling this community health student to discover life-saving cancer treatments Taylor Thomas Tue, 05/13/2025 - 09:18

During her sophomore year at ��, College of Public Health student Paris Stephens sought to gain more experience as a research assistant, but knew not just any project would suffice.

Paris Stephens, BS in Community Health with a concentration in Clinical Science student. Photo provided.

Stephens, who was working on a Bachelor of Science in Community Health with a concentration in Clinical Science, was adamant her work not only contribute to her growth as a researcher, but also aligned with her desire to create meaningful impact. After speaking with her professors about the array of opportunities available, she found her perfect fit with Associate Professor Michelle Williams’s research, developing a culturally relevant breast cancer education intervention for young African American women.

“I felt compelled to be part of research that educates, advocates, and drives change,” Stephens said. "The focus on breast cancer awareness and disparities deeply resonated with my passion for advancing health equity, especially among young Black women. I wanted my efforts to matter."

Black women, at any age, are more likely to die from breast cancer than any other race or ethnic group. Stephens’s work included conducting comprehensive literature reviews, identifying key gaps in research, data collection and analysis, participating in community education campaigns, and communicating with survey participants.

“I’ve gained valuable learning the ins and outs of research protocols, such as how to work ethically with human research participants,” Stephens said. "I also learned how to collect, organize, and publish data—skills that have made me more confident and capable as an aspiring public health professional. Overall, this experience has allowed me to support evidence-based practices that promote community health and drive real-world impact."

Stephens presenting her research at the 2025 National Conference on Undergraduate Research. Photo provided

Stephens was thrilled by the opportunity to work with Williams, absorbing an abundance of knowledge from her as a cancer prevention and control expert. Stephens presented her work at the 2025 National Conference on Undergraduate Research in Pittsburgh.

“Working with Dr. Williams has been an incredible experience. She is a brilliant researcher and she’s helped me grow into a more thoughtful and skilled researcher myself. Her mentorship has been both inspiring and transformative,” she said.

Stephens was the recipient of the Undergraduate Award for Excellence in Research at the 2025 College of Public Health Degree Celebration.

Stephens recently accepted a position with Shady Grove Fertility as a patient service representative, where she will deliver patient support by resolving concerns, coordinating with departments, guiding patients on insurance and financial options, and ensuring compliance and data accuracy while maintaining confidentiality and professionalism. Following her graduation in spring 2025, she intends to pursue a Master of Science in Management.

Stephens aspires to continue pursuing breast cancer research as a clinical research coordinator or work within hospital or pharmaceutical settings focused on breast cancer treatments, ensuring that new drugs and medical devices are safe, effective, and beneficial for communities.

Her ultimate goal is to serve in roles that allow her to contribute to life-saving innovations and clinical advancements.

“I want to be part of the team that makes sure we are not only innovating—but doing so responsibly and ethically,” Stephens said.

In This Story

Research at George Mason

George Mason researchers receive $1.78M from NIH for work improving the health of mothers, children

Shayla Brown — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 16:57:43 +0000

George Mason researchers receive $1.78M from NIH for work improving the health of mothers, children Shayla Brown Wed, 06/05/2024 - 12:57

�� scientists, nurses, and researchers in the College of Public Health have just entered the second cycle of a National Institutes of Health (NIH) program called Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO).

The NIH grant provides ECHO teams across the country with a total of $7 million a year for seven years to research five outcomes of women and children: pre-, peri-, and postnatal outcomes; upper and lower airways; obesity; neurodevelopment; and positive health. George Mason will receive $1.78 million every year throughout this cycle.

An ECHO researcher taking measurements of a child participant. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding.

The cohort, which includes Boston Children’s Hospital, is led by the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. George Mason is the only university in Virginia participating in the project. The research being done for the ECHO project is part of a new set of research initiatives made possible with the opening of the Population Health Center on the Fairfax Campus.

They are currently re-recruiting participants from the first cycle. They have confirmed just over 300 participants out of 1,512. The youngest participant is under one year old and the oldest is 12.

“We’re aiming to gather information about women and children in a longitudinal manner to compare to our data to that of Omaha, Nebraska, or Iowa. Learning about the regional disparities will then allow us to use them to influence national policy,” said principal investigator Kathi Huddleston, PhD ’08, an associate professor in the College of Public Health.

Huddleston said George Mason’s robust PhD nursing program and her dissertation research on pediatric emergency preparedness helped to prepare her for this extensive project.

The team studied the effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as “forever” chemicals, as well as air pollution modeling, sleep patterns, nutrition, and COVID-19, gathering real-time data and look at their associations with child health outcomes, such as child obesity, immunization rates and more.

This research from the first cycle of ECHO revealed that school lunch consumption was associated with increased obesity in children and prompted policy change that strengthen the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (HHFKA). This resulted in a significant decrease in the overall body mass index among school-aged youths and will have substantial health benefits on generations of children.

More results from the first cycle included changes in sleep patterns due to COVID-19 and disparities in sleep patterns between children of different racial/ethnic backgrounds. The team also found that there is a strong relationship between the health of the mother at pre- and early conception and the overall health of children. For example, babies born to mothers with higher levels of toxic metals were more likely to be underweight, which could lead to future health issues.

“If we want to have healthy kids, we have to have healthy moms,” said Huddleston.

As part of cycle two, the researchers will recruit more pregnant women to gain additional insight, including women who were patients at Inova Health System and have also been working with a lot of the same kids for many years, said Grace Lawrence, PhD ’18, director of research clinical operations for the ECHO project.

Student researchers Daisy Posada, Seema Poudel, and Shiva Zarean. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding.

Also on the team are Alma Fuller, nursing student Shiva Zarean, and research project administrators Daisy Posada BA ’13, MA ’18, and Bruna Mayen, a biology major who also acts as the project and lab manager. Mayen’s role as lab manager includes collecting teeth, hair, and urine samples to test the progression of health and well-being in the participants as they grow.

“I ensure samples are stored at required optimal conditions and freezers are monitored daily,” said Mayen. “I also perform data entry and quality assurance/quality control of all data and samples.”

“Each interaction with the participants is so special, it brings potential for new connections and enriches the overall experience and impact they have on the study and us on their development,” said Mayen.

The families come into the research facility once a year so researchers can record each family member’s weight, height, and head and waist circumferences, as well as their body fat percentage.

“We were in the ECHO study when my first child was a newborn. Then my second child was born, and we just kept going,” said Cassie Gallagher, a mom of three young children, all of who participate in the ECHO study. “We’ve been very active in the study, we send in nails, teeth, everything.”

“I also appreciate how thorough the questions are in the surveys that they send us because they’re trying to get the important answers. Especially when they ask about our stress level and different environmental aspects,” said Gallagher.

The project encompasses the concept of citizen science as the participants provide all of the information being used to create an impact in public health. They also receive quarterly updates with the researchers’ findings.

“One of the understated benefits of this study is that children are encouraged to participate firsthand in science and gather an understanding of science in a very personal way,” said Huddleston. “We have received wonderful feedback from the kids about how they feel giving new information to better all children’s health.”

In This Story

Dr. Kathi Huddleston, PhD, MSN

Discover more research from the College of Public Health

Ageism research helped prepare these social work grads for the workforce

Shayla Brown — Tue, 21 May 2024 20:42:16 +0000

Ageism research helped prepare these social work grads for the workforce Shayla Brown Tue, 05/21/2024 - 16:42

In This Story

Emily Ihara, PhD, MSW, FGSA

While working on their master’s degrees in social work at ��, College of Public Health alumni Kendall Barrett, Madeline Holden, and Harveen Pantleay took part in field research on ageism in health care and are now using those skills in their careers.

They are also co-authors on the paper “’Don’t treat us like fragile babies:’ Mentors’ perspectives of an intergenerational mentoring program for medical students,” which was published online in the Journal of Intergenerational Relationships in February 2024.

�� is a leader in graduating workforce-ready students, and its College of Public Health—the first in Virginia—is dedicated to helping meet the critical need for health workers in Virginia.

Kendall Barrett. Photo provided.

The three, working under the guidance of Emily Ihara, professor and chair of the Department of Social Work, and co-PI of George Mason’s Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program, studied the effects of ageism in health care and how both education and intergenerational contact can decrease this form of discrimination. As the students learned, the research improves empathy and understanding from both younger and older individuals within the health care system.

For the study, the students went to assisted living facilities to interview residents using open-ended questions and took detailed notes.

“This was a very important research project to me because there was a lot of focus on alternative and creative ways to support older people, which is a particular interest of mine,” said Barrett, MSW ’22, who was paired with Ihara as a student research assistant at George Mason’s Social Work integrated Research Lab (SWiRL).

“It was very interactive, and we were trying to show that we heard them and that their contribution was important,” said Barrett, who is now works as a psychotherapist with people of all ages.

Harveen Pantleay. Photo provided.

“I was really nervous in the beginning because we were going into somebody's private space and didn't always know what [to expect], but it ended up being a wonderful experience and great for my own personal growth about sitting with things that can be uncomfortable,” said Barrett.

Both the George Mason students and the older adults benefitted from the Senior Mentor Program approach, and Ihara said the college hopes to expand it to other health professional students.

“One of the biggest things that I took away from my time in George Mason’s social work program was seeing people as individuals before you see whatever their struggle is,” said Barrett.

Pantleay, MSW ’22, also worked alongside Barrett and Ihara in SWiRL and was involved in many projects specifically focusing on gerontology.

“I gained a lot of valuable knowledge about qualitative data and how to classify that data into categories [through] analyzing the data and identifying what codes would be associated with the responses that were given by the mentors and participants,” said Pantleay.

Pantleay’s favorite part about the research project was learning about gerontology as it was a part of social work that she did not have much experience in at the time, she said.

Madeline Holden. Photo provided.

“A lot of what I learned through the work and research in SWiRL wasn't covered in my classes necessarily, so this experience allowed me to learn a lot more about this community and the negative effects of ageism in health care,” said Holden, MSW ’22.

“I think the main takeaway from the research is that people make a lot of assumptions about older adults that they shouldn’t,” said Holden, who also conducted clinical research for Inova Hospital for three years before enrolling for her master’s of social work at George Mason.

Holden said now uses her experience from this project in her work at an affordable housing corporation. “I work with all ages, including seniors, providing wraparound services to them. The empathy and understanding the team had for their participants throughout this project was great practice for that.”

Topics

College of Public Health

Department of Social Work

Healthcare Workforce Development

CPH research

master of social work

CPH Experience

At Fuse topping out ceremony, student researchers predict malicious intent from drone flight patterns

Sarah Holland — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 14:54:24 +0000

At Fuse topping out ceremony, student researchers predict malicious intent from drone flight patterns Sarah Holland Mon, 02/12/2024 - 09:54

With today’s use and demand for all-access video, small Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), colloquially known as drones, are commonplace tools in everything from defense contracting to filming backyard barbeques.

While useful technology, UAVs can pose a serious security risk. �� systems engineering and operations research undergraduates Dyar Aziz and Markus Garretson are working with professor Ali Raz to develop a methodology for inferring UAV intent based on sensor data.

Tell us about your project.

UAVs are becoming ubiquitous for commercial, defense, and hobbyist operations, but pose a serious security risk to various defense and state installations (such as airports and military bases). While sensors can provide detection and tracking information for UAVs, it is vital to infer any potential malicious intent of the UAV so that counter measures can be put in place in a timely manner.

Our project focuses on predicting the state and intent of UAVs from uncertain sensing data. This work shows how an inference engine for UAV state-estimation and intent can be built by exploiting sensing and tracking data from a multisensor installation, using state-of-the-art, high-level information fusion and systems engineering tools. We are applying model-based systems engineering techniques to simulate multisensor fusion and determine a UAV’s (specifically drones) movement and behavior.

What inspired you to select this topic?

We were introduced to the project by our former professor Raz and decided to work on it as we are both interested in aerospace.

What has been your greatest success thus far?

We have been able to develop multiples models and scenarios simulating both drones and real-world use cases of drone tracking such as a radar installment at an airport.

What is one thing you’ve learned while working on this project that will be useful to you in the field?

We have developed our knowledge and ability to apply model-based systems engineering (SysML), as well as building simulations in MATLAB. Additionally, we have learned about data fusion, fusion techniques, sensor types, and potential uses for them. Finally, we have been able to gain insight into the future of counter drone system development and high-level data fusion as it is at the cutting edge of technology.

How would dedicated research space, such as the plans for Fuse at Mason Square, help sustain your project?

A dedicated research space would enable us to collaborate amongst our team and with other teams with similar experience and knowledge, as well as with teams from other disciplines.

Read about the recent celebration at Fuse at Mason Square

Discover the Systems Engineering and Operations Research program at Mason

Topics

College of Engineering and Computing

Volgenau School of Engineering

Fuse at Mason Square

Tech Talent Investment Pipeline (TTIP)

TTIP

Tech Talent Investment Program

In This Story

Ali K. Raz

At Fuse topping out ceremony, student researcher uses satellites to better predict storm surges

Sarah Holland — Mon, 05 Feb 2024 17:44:31 +0000

At Fuse topping out ceremony, student researcher uses satellites to better predict storm surges Sarah Holland Mon, 02/05/2024 - 12:44

Satellites aren’t just for pinging cell service across the globe: They’re also a critical resource for observing areas as large as Earth’s oceans.

Soelem Aafnan Bhuiyan, PhD student in civil engineering at ��, is working with College of Engineering and Computing professor Viviana Maggioni to improve coastal water level predictions with satellite observations in the hopes of better predicting storm surges amidst rising sea levels. We spoke with Bhuiyan about his research and his personal connection to the impacts of rising sea levels.

Tell us about your project.

I am working on improving the water level estimation in coastal areas. Nearly 40% of the world's population lives within 10 miles of coastlines. Coastal regions worldwide are frequently impacted by hurricane storm surges, and the risk increases in the face of climate crisis. Thus, accurately predicting coastal water levels is of utmost importance. I am developing a novel approach that rectifies numerical model-generated water levels with satellite observations dynamically, producing superior coastal water level estimation. This innovation will augment our capability to produce robust coastal storm surge and flood warning schemes globally.

What inspired you to select this topic?

I come from Bangladesh, which lies at the forefront of the climate crisis. Each year, Bangladesh battles natural hazards like hurricanes and coastal floods, which are projected to exacerbate the climate risks for the low-lying Bengal delta. With the successful implementation of my research on improved coastal flood forecasting, the coastal communities, such as the ones in Bangladesh, will benefit enormously from a more robust disaster preparedness program.

What is one thing you’ve learned while working on this project that will be useful to you in the field?

If there is one thing that my PhD training has taught me so far, it is perseverance. A PhD project is often similar to a puzzle, and as PhD students, we often have to spend hours, days or even months on trying to solve just a single piece of that puzzle. In those situations, dedication and perseverance are the keys. I believe these traits will be beneficial to me in the long run in my professional career too.

How would dedicated research space, such as the plans for Fuse at Mason Square, help sustain your project?

The impact of having a dedicated research space like Fuse at Mason Square would be significant. Such spaces would provide access to state-of-the-art research equipment and facilities that may otherwise be hard to come by elsewhere. Being in a dedicated research facility would put me in proximity to other research groups from similar/different research fields. This would foster the chances of collaboration between the groups, providing the opportunities to trade innovative ideas and share resources, ultimately increasing the quality of my project. The interdisciplinary nature of such facilities also attracts perspectives and expertise from different fields, helping the holistic characteristics and overall sustainability of my project. Additionally, a dedicated space like this means more networking opportunities among peers and greater access to educational and skill-building opportunities, immensely beneficial for personal growth and career development.

In This Story

Viviana Maggioni

Read about the recent celebration at Fuse at Mason Square

Delve into Civil Engineering research at Mason

Topics

Fuse at Mason Square

College of Engineering and Computing

research and insight