The John Jay College community annually gathers for a unique event highlighting the semester-long research projects completed by first-year students. Every year, the Office for Student Research & Creativity (OSRC) earmarks 10 OSRC Undergraduate Research/Creativity Assistant Scholarships, paving the way for greater research opportunities. Winners of the $1,000 scholarship conduct research throughout their second year at John Jay, working collaboratively with a faculty research mentor and expanding their research skills.
“We believe our first-year students can dive into justice-related research right as they begin their college experience,” says Nancy Yang, Director of First Year Programs. “They get mentoring from faculty, work collaboratively with peers, and create something that is their own to share with the entire college community. The OSRC Undergraduate Research/Creativity Assistant Scholarship incentivizes our students to immerse themselves in the college experience and builds a pipeline to research.”
“Our vision for the scholarship is to cultivate our students’ innovative, creative, and curious minds beyond the classroom as we foster the next generation of expert researchers and critical thought leaders,” says Bettina Muenster, Assistant Director of the Office for Student Research and Creativity. “Through the scholarship, students receive one-on-one mentoring, research support funds, and access to research workshops. As a result, they come away with a stronger sense of self, confidence in their intellectual capabilities, and a greater connection to research.”
To celebrate this year’s upcoming First-Year Showcase on December 10, and learn more about the impact of the OSRC Undergraduate Research/Creativity Assistant Scholarship, we spoke with three students who have presented and won the scholarship.
Research Topic: Understanding Intimate Relationships and Love
Erin Watkins ’26
Degree: B.A. in Forensic Psychology
Minor: Counseling and Law
Hometown: Glendale, New York
First-Year Showcase Mentor: Nancy Yang, Associate Director of First-Year Programs
Career Aspiration: Forensic Psychologist
My group’s project, “Romantic Research: A Peek into College Students’ Hearts and Desires,” centered on understanding students’ interests in topics related to intimate relationships and love. We interviewed students at the College, asking them about their perspectives on relationships and gathering insight into their attitudes about love. Speaking with other students and learning from them was so much fun. The project ignited my passion for research and significantly enhanced my networking and public speaking abilities. Before the first-year showcase, I had never presented in front of peers, and leading up to the presentation, I was a bundle of nerves. But Professor Nancy Yang, my mentor, helped me gain confidence and made me excited to present. Now, as a peer success coach for some of this year’s first-year showcase presenters, I’m sharing advice with my mentees.
I’m incredibly grateful to be a winner of the OSRC Undergraduate Research/Creativity Assistant Scholarship. I aspire to work as a forensic psychologist in the special victim’s unit, assisting victims of domestic and sexual violence get justice and support. Thanks to this scholarship, I’ll be able to deepen my skills, work with an expert in the field, and conduct research that aligns with my career goals. I’ll be working with my mentor, Dr. Elizabeth Jeglic, on “Unmasking Grooming Behaviors: A Comparative Analysis of Male and Female Perpetrators.” I’m excited to expand my knowledge and help people in need.
Research Topic: Revealing the Harms of Counterfeit THC Cartridges
Boris Krakovskiy ’27
Major: B.S. in Toxicology
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
First-Year Showcase Mentor: Adjunct Professor Yanara Macias-Cruz
Career Aspiration: Research Scientist
My project focused on the use of counterfeit THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) vape cartridges and the severe adverse health effects associated with them. After interviewing users of counterfeit cartridges and conducting an extensive literature review, I concluded that their use is directly linked to inconsistent regulations in cannabis product manufacturing. This lack of consistency makes it harder for consumers to access lab-tested cannabis products and, as a result, leads those who partake in the drug to buy from sketchy, unverified sources. Working on this project solidified my love of research. When presenting my project, I felt like a very important scientific researcher. It was gratifying to see people really engage in my presentation. They had thoughtful questions and expressed genuine surprise as they learned of the harms of using fake THC cartridges. I know multiple people who have sworn off using THC after seeing my presentation, which makes me very proud. Winning the OSRC Undergraduate Research/Creativity Assistant Scholarship has improved my confidence, helped me save money, and made it possible for me to focus on conducting new research.
Research Topic: Exploring the Common Good via Storytelling
Terry Holman ’27
Degree: B.A. in Forensic Psychology
Hometown: Amityville, NY
First-Year Showcase Mentor: Assistant Professor Elizabeth Yukins, Ph.D.
Our group’s first-year showcase project was on exploring the “common good.” We applied the theoretical ideas from our class readings, including Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and Alan Moore’s V for Vendetta, to real-life scenarios. We created a hero and put him in a relatable setting: a college campus. Through a comic book-style strip, we told the story of a student facing a moral dilemma. Our goal was to show the audience that the common good can be applied to almost any situation. Engaging in this creative research sparked a desire to explore research even more.
Winning the OSRC Undergraduate Research/Creativity Assistant Scholarship has improved my time-management skills and inspired me to explore the different types of research. Most of all, it has encouraged me to apply to all the opportunities available to me as a student at John Jay.
