External Conferences

"Antimicrobial Properties of
Essential Oil Phytoncides" 

Team Members

Naya Batraki, Lily Caramagna, Mariella Vargas, Kaira Gutierrez

Prof. Tara Snyder (Project Mentor)

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effect of varying plant essential oils on the growth of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. Our plant species of study were Citrus sinensis (sweet orange), Citrus limon (lemon), Lavandula angustifolia (common lavender), Citrus paradisi (grapefruit), Cinnamomum verum (cinnamon), Chamaemelum nobile (chamomile), Cedrus atlantica (Atlas cedar), Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary), Mentha piperita (peppermint), Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree), Eucalyptus globulus (eucalyptus) and Juniperus virginiana (eastern red cedar).  We sought to determine if essential oil phytoncides could inhibit the growth of these bacteria. A Kirby-Bauer Assay was employed, and either Staphylococcus aureus or Escherichia coli were cultured on Trypticase Soy Agar (TSA). We positioned sterile discs coated with the essential oil into a quadrant of the TSA plate inoculated with either S. aureus or E. coli. After incubation at 37C for 24-26 hours, the size of the zone of inhibition surrounding the essential-oil coated disk was measured. We found essential oil phytoncides are more effective against S. aureus than E. coli (p<0.0001), Eucalyptus globulus had the highest rate of effectiveness (p<0.0001) against E. coli and S. aureus, and similar sized zone of inhibitions formed on agar plates containing E. coli and S. aureus (p=0.1040). Cinnamomum verum could have skewed these results since certain trials were unmeasurable due to no bacterial growth (and no assessable zone of inhibition). This information can be utilized for future applications promoting human health and the creation of antimicrobial preservatives on fruits and vegetables. 

"DT-10" 

Team Members

Nick Fiorillo, Jordan Rodriguez, Bartek Broclawik, Arthur Almore, Gursiman Kaur, Sebastian Mattio-Smith, Juan Ponce

Dr. Joe Sivo (Project Mentor)

Abstract

DT-10 is a compact, portable drop tower experimental apparatus designed for Physics I (PHY-280) laboratory courses. It aims to facilitate the study of three fundamental physics principles such as free-fall dynamics, aerodynamic drag, and impact physics. The initial phase focused on designing and constructing an electronic release mechanism to drop objects from 10 meters while recording their position versus time using integrated sensors in various subsystems: LiDAR, Gravity-gate (G-gate), Velocity-gate (V-gate), Impulse-catch (I-catch), and Ballistics. DT-10 will allow a minimum free fall time of 1.4s with ballistics achieving a max speed of 14m/s 2 assuming no aerodynamic drag. The LiDAR system, positioned at the tower records the object's position over the time of the fall, from which velocity and acceleration are derived. Coupled with an air density sensor, this data allows for the calculation of drag coefficients. The G-gate system is a spring-loaded trap door activated by solenoids, enabling free fall from rest. The V-gate uses laser beam break sensors to record instantaneous velocity at any height, with an adjustable grid for various object sizes. The I-catch mechanism safely captures dropped objects, establishing safety around the drop zone. Ballistics are mass modular and are arbitrarily shaped for drop experimentation and analysis. DT-10 is designed to be marketable and constructed from accessible materials such as standard sensors, microcontrollers, extruded aluminum, and 3D-printed components. A prototype of each subsystem is being finalized, with verification and validation of the complete prototype to follow. This paper aims to attract investors for future prototypes for DT-10 to be market viable. Future developments will focus on adding devices to measure impact forces, high repetition rate, and increased safety mechanisms, while also aiming to reduce costs on over-engineered designs. DT-10 is an advanced teaching tool for physics education with significant application for scientific experimentation and materials research in educational and industrial settings. Funding is essential to transform this drop tower into a commercial sale point.

"LabNose" 

Team Members

Nia Rodriguez, Roy Carello , Jordan Rodriguez

Dr. Ara Kahyaoglu(Project Mentor)

Abstract

Safety in college laboratories must always be considered a priority, yet there are still issues like expensive safety equipment, unreported chemical spills, and caustic spills. Our project develops a low-cost, high-performance VOC and CO2 gas sensor system to address these problems. Utilizing Adafruit sensors connected to the Arduino R4 Wi-Fi board, this system—which is based on the Arduino IoT Cloud—monitors temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide (CO2), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emissions in laboratory settings continuously. The technology sends out instant notifications when dangerously high amounts of CO2 or VOCs are found. Identified staff receive text messages, and the lab is visually and auditorily warned. By ensuring early notice and timely response, this dual-alert method helps to mitigate potential health hazards and environmental damage. The wireless communication capabilities and real-time data processing of our sensor array provide educational institutions a dependable and expandable safety solution. Our research seeks to increase the accessibility of sophisticated safety monitoring to more laboratories by emphasizing cost-effectiveness. It also improves incident reporting, which lowers the possibility of chemical mishaps going unreported and raises standards for overall lab safety procedures. This creative strategy aims to develop a culture of proactive safety and responsiveness in educational settings, making working conditions safer for both staff and students.