Interdisciplinary Honors Thesis (IHT) and the Interdisciplinary Research Teams (IRT)
The School of Arts and Sciences Interdisciplinary Research Conference features student presentations of our 2020 Interdisciplinary Honors Theses (IHT) and the Interdisciplinary Research Teams (IRT). IHT presentations include scholarly monographs and substantial written work based on defined thesis questions developed into a sustained argument. The work incorporates extensive original research, supported by evidence and critical reasoning, and demonstrates mastery of a subject field. IRT presentations showcase interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary projects that expand traditional notions of research through collaborative work.
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Presenters for 2020: (Click on the image to see the one-page slide in full size.)
First name Last Name Project Title Rebecca Chanin At the Hands of Others: Stories of Holocaust Survival Salma Emara Think with your Heart: The Heart’s Ability to Store Memory, Emotion, and Personality 
Video link: https://youtu.be/vLadb6S8Mc0Saleh Houshmand The Genetic and Biochemical Predisposing Factors of Hepatomegaly Jordan Levy The Intangible: Making Sense of Essense 
Matthew Jaffe The History of Islamic Narratives and Contemporary Usage by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria Abstract: The history of Islam is long, complex, and rich with meaning for many people. For others, such as those in Western countries, Islam is an enemy to democratic ideals and institutions. The reality is that much of what Westerners understand as “Islam” is, in fact, the result of radical rhetoric that has twisted and appropriated narratives associated with Islam for hundreds of years. Specifically, in recent years, ISIS has proven itself very effective in this way, especially by using aforementioned narratives to attract Muslims living in Western countries. My paper examines the history of these narratives, and how they have been altered to fit into the Islamic State’s (ISIS) notion of “true Islam” and the space it claims right to, in order to attract otherwise moderate Muslims like no other terrorist group has done before. ISIS, and its ability to recruit globally, is an unprecedented international security threat.
Sophia Angelica Nitkin Music as Creative Activism: A Theoretical Framework 
Sophia’s Website: http://sophiaangelica.com/wp_sophia/
Sophia’s youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OL4mLUtBCLINishita Patel An Analysis of Preventive Medicine Practices in Gujarat: Instances of Differing Attitudes on Healthcare Systems in Gujarat Andrew Rears SnowTunes Island: An Exploration of Music’s Influence in Video Game Design Usman Toor Evaluating the Genetic Interplay between Alcohol Exposure and Social Stimulation within the Entorhinal Cortex of CD-1 Mice -
Presenters for 2020: (Click on the image to see the one-page slide in full size.)
Indigenous Languages IN/OF New Jersey
Advisors: Becky Schulthies, Kathleen C. Riley & Pilar Rau, Anthropology
Team members: Jusleen Basra (2022), Bing’en Lin (2020), Devin Natishyn (2021)
The Missing Bones
Advisor: Dan Cabanes, Anthropology
Team members: Chelsea Carriere (2020), Natalie Lau (2021), Sandra Paredes (2021)
Cryptozoology project
Advisor: Angus Gillespie, American Studies
Team members: Nadine Blank (2020), Kristen Thomas (2020), Lailitha Vallabhanei (2021), Samantha Waldman (2020)
How Do We Know What They Know?Advisors: David Vicario and Mimi Phan, Psychology
Team members: Leah Cherukara (2022), Giorgia Merolli (2022), Saikiran Venkata Nakka (2021), David Natanov (2021), Karl Waldron (2020)Supplementary materials are available for download.
Modeling Crowd Diversity to Design Inclusive Environments
Advisor: Mubbasir Kapadia, Computer Science
Team members: Rhyan Moghe (2022), David Xue (2022)
