Stevens Symposium For Undergraduate Research Showcases Innovation And Collaboration
Whether analyzing struggling MLB franchises, tracing the evolution of federal government powers or examining the use of blockchain in an online video game, the diverse array of work on display at the annual Symposium for Undergraduate Research demonstrated the intellectual curiosity and commitment to working across disciplines of Lawrence T. Babbio '66 Pinnacle Scholars.
The Pinnacle Scholars Program represents Stevens' investment in promising undergraduates, offering stipends up to $5,000 for summer research, international experiences and access to New York City's cultural offerings. However, the program's actual value extends far beyond financial support, striving to transform talented students into skilled researchers, critical thinkers and future leaders.
“Learning how to research is very important,” said Brady Solomon, a business and technology major who analyzed why Florida's two Major League Baseball teams consistently underperform financially. “Really, any career you’re going to go into, you're going to have to do that. It’s the same with formatting presentations and posters. Learning those skills is also very important. I never really thought about a career in sports, but this work opened my eyes to different areas of a career."
The idea of a potential new career path also resonated with Evan Carrier, a quantitative finance major. His project explored the collapse of network television and its parallels to today's streaming landscape.
"Now I know I want to go down the more traditional finance route rather than a quant route," he said. "I can really attribute that to my internships and the Pinnacle Scholars projects that I get to do."
The program's interdisciplinary nature was on full display. Many students mentored by School of Business professors, such as Don Lombardi, Ann Murphy Mooney, Aron Lindberg, Sibel Ozgen Novelli and many others, are working toward degrees from the Charles V. Schaefer, Jr. School of Engineering and Science. Alexander Cozzi, a mechanical engineering major, recognized that modern engineering careers require business acumen and chose to assist with research on strategic leadership and connections between boards of directors.
"In mechanical engineering, the normal coursework doesn't really go over business as much," Cozzi explained. "Obviously, nowadays most jobs are partially business. If you want to start your own startup, you need to learn about business. I wanted to look through a different lens that would help me in my career.”
Cleopatra Mozolewski, who is transitioning from her undergraduate degree in quantitative finance to a master's program in financial engineering, has completed multiple summer research projects under the guidance of Dr. Lombardi. This year’s work explored the federal government's expansion from its originally limited constitutional powers, not a typical quantitative finance subject.
“I continued developing the skills I've been building with Dr. L throughout all the projects I’ve done with him so far,” she said. “It’s important to know how to take a bunch of ideas and then limit them down in scope so you can produce a clean, clear narrative that's easily teachable.”
No two posters that filled the University Center Complex were the same, however, one theme clearly emerged. The Pinnacle Scholars Program enables curious students to blossom into confident researchers, equipped with the analytical skills, professional networks and interdisciplinary perspectives they need to thrive in today’s increasingly complex world.
