RUTHERFORD, NJ – For the eighth consecutive year, Felician University is honored to be represented by an outstanding undergraduate STEM student at the Independent Colleges and Universities of New Jersey Undergraduate Research Symposium. Brianna Manning, along with her faculty advisor Dr. Alfredo Castro, will attend the Research Symposium in March 2023, where Manning will be recognized as a student researcher and Dr. Castro will act as a project judge.

The Independent Colleges and Universities of New Jersey Undergraduate (ICUNJ) Research Symposium provides students with research opportunities early in their undergraduate years in order to encourage STEM major retention rates and research lab experience. Held annually for its fourteen members – all regionally accredited, four-year degree granting colleges and universities in New Jersey – the ICUNJ Symposium will take place on Tuesday, March 28, 2023 at the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City.

Following a rigorous research proposal and application process, ICUNJ organizers selected Brianna Manning, an undergraduate senior at Felician University, to attend the Symposium in order to present her research project, approved by the ICUNJ. Manning’s project examines the differing betalain contents and resulting nutritional values of various colors of beets, which she tested spectrophotometrically for the purpose of understanding their health implications. She will present her research, hypothesis, and test findings before a panel of judges.

“It is Brianna’s and my honor to represent Felician University once again at the ICUNJ Research Symposium,” said Dr. Castro, Associate Professor of Natural Sciences at Felician University. “The presence of our university at this event supports Felician’s growing reputation as a research institution to be counted among the leading STEM colleges and universities in the State of New Jersey.”

Upon selection by the ICUNJ committee for attendance at the Research Symposium, Manning also received an Undergraduate Research Symposium scholarship to support her research process. Advised by Dr. Castro, also her former professor in the School of Arts and Sciences, Manning was selected for Symposium attendance in January of 2023. To learn more about the ICUNJ Research Symposium, click here: https://njcolleges.org/undergraduate-research-symposium/

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About Felician University

Felician University inspires and engages more than 2,100 undergraduate, graduate, and adult education students through programs in the Schools of Arts & Sciences, Business & Information Sciences, Nursing, and Education. Over the past five years, Felician University has ranked 3rd among private institutions in New Jersey for best value according to payscale.com and #1 Safest College Campus in New Jersey according to niche.com. The Master of Science in Nursing program is ranked one of the best online graduate nursing programs in the nation by U.S. News and World Report. Felician University was designated as a Military Friendly School (Gold Status) for the ninth year recognizing its strong support for Veteran students.  The university is recognized for its diversity as an HSI (Hispanic Serving Institution) and MSI (Minority Serving Institution), having underrepresented students comprise more than half of the student population. With campuses in Rutherford and Lodi, New Jersey, the Franciscan values of social justice, compassion, and respect for human dignity serve as an inclusive foundation for transforming the lives of tomorrow’s leaders. For more information, please visit https://felician.edu.