Molecular Biology Students Present Research at Poster Symposium

Last week, Upper School science students presented their original research at the annual Rutgers Prep Molecular Biology Poster Symposium.

The posters were made by students in our two molecular biology research classes. 

The Student Research - Molecular Biology class, which is part of Rutgers University's Waksman Student Scholars Program (WSSP), analyzed gene sequences from Landoltia punctata, a freshwater plant studied for its role in biofuel production and environmental clean-ups. Each group from the class researched a specific protein in the plant and presented their findings. One group will be selected to represent RPS at the WSSP symposium at Rutgers University in June.

The Advanced Student Research - Molecular Biology students designed and carried out their own experiments. One group exposed fruit flies to varying levels of UV radiation and observed the impact it had on mutation rates, fertility, mortality, and DNA integrity. A second group examined how pesticides affect the expression of Brassinolide, a hormone crucial for plant reproduction, in plants grown in the school’s greenhouse.

Congratulations to all involved for the months of research and lab work, and for the outstanding presentations shared with peers and teachers at the symposium.

Special thanks to junior Buyu Lyu ’26 for contributing photos from the event.