Mini-Research Grant Award

New York Tech is pleased to announce the Seventh Annual Mini-Research Grant Award (7th Annual MRGA) and invites applications for high school research project proposals or continuing projects in STEM disciplines for a $300 award intended to offset the cost of research materials and related expenses. Proposals should be for research projects pursued in the 2024 calendar year.

About MRGA

Applicants (one student or student group) will be considered if they meet the following requirements:

  • Must be a high school student(s) conducting a STEM-based research project
  • The High School STEM discipline or Research Teacher/Mentor must include a completed form of endorsement for school support to the applicant, and confirm that the students will carry the project to completion
  • Students must complete summary (continuing project or proposal) sections in their own words.
  • Must have plans to compete in a related research competition (i.e. LISEF, Intel, Sigma Xi, etc.) and/or present work in progress at a New York Tech campus in-person or remotely.

Topics of the research project must be related to the following fields:

  • Biology, Molecular Biology
  • Biotechnology
  • Engineering and Computer Science, Biomedical Engineering
  • Chemistry
  • Health related research, i.e. medicine, rehabilitation, aging, community health concerns, Alzheimer's disease, healthy lifestyles, diabetes, etc. *Preference is given to student projects conceived and implemented with high school faculty mentors, and for project proposals that have preliminary data.

The next application cycle will reopen in Nov, 2024.

Questions? Send inquiries to MRGA committee (mrga@nyit.edu) or directly to:

  • Dr. Niharika Nath – Professor, College of Arts and Sciences
    Email: nnath@nyit.edu
  • Dr. Rosemary Gallagher – Associate Professor, School of Health Professions
    Email: rgalla01@nyit.edu
  • Dr. Wenjia Li – Associate Professor, College of Engineering and Computing Sciences
    Email: wli20@nyit.edu

View Frequently Asked Questions

View Program Flyer

VIEW FEEDBACK FROM OUR TEACHER-PARTNERS

Send inquiries to the MRGA committee at mrga@nyit.edu.

Learn more about our prestigious Mini-Research Grant Award committee members

Dr. Niharika Nath
Professor
Department of Biological and Chemical Sciences
NYIT College of Arts and Sciences
nnath@nyit.edu

Dr. Rosemary Gallagher
Associate Professor
Department of Physical Therapy
NYIT School of Health Professions
rgall01@nyit.edu

Dr. Wenjia Li
Associate Professor
Department of Computer Science
NYIT College of Engineering and Computing Sciences
wli20@nyit.edu

Past Awards

January 2023: The Sixth Annual MRGA 2023 program received research projects from 18 high schools in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut; awards were granted to 28 projects from 15 high schools. The $300 awards, made possible through the support of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), are applied to expenses the high school student-researchers incurred during new or continuing research in STEM and related disciplines this academic year.

Research projects selected include:

  • Simplistic Manipulative Accelerated Airfoil Control (Cold Spring Harbor High School)
  • Bacterial Growth in Different Types of Water (Queens High School for the Sciences)
  • Effects of Gyro-Stabilization on Hand Stability and Dexterity (Roslyn High School)
  • Using Zeolite Clinoptilolite to Reduce Methane Emissions from Food Waste (Norwich Technical High School)
  • How Agricultural Runoff Affects the Oceans Biodiversity (Norwich Technical High School)
  • Evaluating the impact of Carbon – Nitrogen Levels in Phragmites Australis Rhizomes of Restored and Invaded Wetlands (Brentwood High School)
  • The Effects of Varying Nitrate Concentrations on Tritia obsoleta (Brentwood High School)
  • Microplastic Consumption in Alpheus randalli (Bergen County Academies)
  • Synthesis of Stable MXene and Filtration by GO-MXene Hybrid (Bergen County Academies)
  • Creating a Cost-Effective Device for the Translation of ASL to English (Bethpage High School)
  • Building an Arduino Powered Water Purity Sensor that can test pH, Turbidity, and Dissolved Oxygen (Bethpage High School)
  • Investigating the Role of Sunlight and LEDs in Planarian Regeneration (Bethpage High School)
  • Effects of Nitrogen Oxide and Particulate Matter on Respiratory Health (Uniondale High School)

January, 2022: The 5th Annual MRGA 2022 program received 127 research project submissions from 20 high schools. The committee, assisted by a team of graduate and undergraduate students, reviewed the proposals and awarded 30 project proposals (or continuing projects) with grant awards. Voya Foundation funded this program.

  • No. of students who applied: 176
  • No. of project submissions: 127
  • No. of high schools represented: 20
  • States where high schools are located: NY, NJ, CT, MO

Research projects selected include:

  • What is the Effect of Dietary Carbohydrate Intake on Performance in Female Endurance Athletes?
  • Biodegradation of Polystyrene by Bacteria Found in the Gut of Tenebrio Molitor Larvae (mealworm beetle)
  • Developing a Hydroponic System with the Recycling of Greywater
  • Combating Covid with an Electroceutical Plant-Based Textile
  • Numeracy and the Communication of Medical Risk
  • The Effect of External Factors on the Perception and Taste of Food
  • Effect of Organic Fertilizers vs. Synthetic Fertilizers on Cyanobacteria
  • Investigating Factors that Could Alter the Genetic Impact of APOE on Alzheimer's Disease
  • Effect of Ionic Liquids on Perovskite Solar Cell Stability
  • The Impact of Eutrophication on the Ribbed Mussel (Geukensia Demissa) and Their Host Plant Spartina Alterniflora
  • "The Crumb Rubber Conundrum: The Effects of Heavy Metal Leaching on Terrestrial Invertebrates"
  • Cost-Effective Air Quality Monitoring Using Readily Available Programming Interfaces
  • Smart Mask Respiratory Protection, Air Quality Monitoring, and Reporting System
  • Effects of Plant Substances in Inhibiting Prominent Pathogenic Oral Bacteria
  • RAMOSA3 Undergoes Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation to Modulate Inflorescence Development in Maize

Graduate and undergraduate student assistants: Aissa Beaton, Wilber Parada (D.P.T.); Ajin Varghese, Dono Shodieva (Biology); Mary Sanchez (Biomedical Engineering)

January, 2021: The Fourth Annual Mini-Research Grant Award program application had an impressive 82 students submitting 55 research projects from 19 New York metropolitan area high schools. The Mini-Research Grant Award program selection committee reviewed all applications and selected 29 projects across 18 schools to fund with generous support from Voya Foundation.