WELCOME
Welcome to the Miami Dade College School of Science
STEM Interdisciplinary Research Symposium 2024.
This year’s Symposium marks another exciting chapter in our ongoing commitment to academic excellence and student achievement through undergraduate research. For over a decade, Miami Dade College has led the way in supporting students in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). In 2024, we are proud to once again expand our Symposium to include disciplines beyond STEM, integrating research from Humanities which deepens our interdisciplinary approach.
Our Symposium has become a pivotal platform for our students to explore, challenge, and innovate. By engaging in authentic research, they gain valuable skills that extend beyond the classroom, preparing them for the demands of a rapidly evolving global workforce. This hands-on approach not only nurtures curiosity but also promotes critical thinking, encouraging students to push the boundaries of knowledge in their respective fields.
We invite you to experience firsthand the outstanding work our students have produced. Their projects span diverse subjects and showcase their ability to apply cutting-edge technology, materials, and innovative thinking. Our goal is to help students cultivate a toolkit of skills essential for success in a variety of career paths, from STEM fields to the arts and humanities.
None of this would be possible without the unwavering support of our research mentors, faculty, and staff, whose dedication helps our students excel. We are immensely proud of our faculty mentors, who have played a crucial role in guiding students through this journey of discovery.
I would also like to extend our deep appreciation to our funding agencies, including the US Department of Education, the US National Science Foundation, and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Furthermore, we are grateful to our collaborators and industry partners such as the Florida Atlantic University, Florida International University, Nova Southeastern University, St. Thomas University, University of Florida, University of Miami, Galatea Bio, Inc., Kaycha Labs and New Vision Pharmaceuticals, Inc., whose support has been integral to the success of our Symposium and our students’ development.
We would like to thank the North Campus for graciously hosting our symposium. We would also like to extend our gratitude to the entire MDC administration, faculty, Bioscience Advisory Committee, School of Science staff, and the many departments and programs across the college, including Media, Communications, Learning Resources, Campus Services, the STEM SMART, STEM PACTS, STEM AISLE, Engine of Progress, and the Humanities Edge grant teams. Your collective effort has been invaluable in bringing this important gathering to life.
We are confident that the 2024 Symposium will provide an inspiring and engaging experience for all participants. Thank you for joining us in celebrating the incredible achievements of our students.
Sincerely,
Pablo Sacasa, PhD
Dean of the School of Science
Nelly Delessy-Gassant, Ph.D.
Dr. Nelly Delessy-Gassant is a Professor at Miami Dade College (MDC), where she led the development of the Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity, which seamlessly embeds various hands-on experiences, including immersion sessions at the cyber range. She is now the lead instructor for this program, which is a National Security Agency (NSA) validated program that is part of Miami Dade College’s designation as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD).
She is also the advisor of the cybersecurity club at the North campus and serves as a coach to the National Cyber League competition, where
MDC’s team placed in the 94th percentile for its first participation.
She has been a PI/co-PI on National Science Foundation (NSF) grants aimed at providing opportunities for underrepresented minorities to enter the cybersecurity workforce and advancing women in high technology fields. She conducted research in cybersecurity while mentoring undergraduate students during the summer.
In 2023, Dr. Delessy-Gassant received an endowed teaching chair, recognizing her exceptional contributions to education and her field.
Dr. Delessy-Gassant holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Florida Atlantic University and several industry certifications, including CISSP, CEH, CCSP, and AWS Certified Solutions Architect.
Thank you to the funding agencies that help to support our undergraduate research programs at Miami Dade College.
Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in the research material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the funding agency. The original research represented at our MDC Undergraduate Symposium is funded in part by:
U.S. Department of Education
STEM AISLE (Advanced Institute for Scholastic Leadership Experience), PR# P120A200007
STEM PACTS (STEM Pathways for Acceleration, Completion, and Transfer Success), Award: P031C210035
STEM SMART (STEM Strategies for Maximizing Achievement, Retention, and Transfer), Award: P031C210028
Engine of Progress, PR# PO31A220012
National Science Foundation
S-STEM (Florida Pathways to Success), Award: UFDSP00011889
CUREs (Building Capacity Hispanic Student Success from 2 year to 4-year Institutions through CUREs), Award: 1832436
Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
Humanities Edge is funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation as part of a three-year Community College Pathway Partnership with Florida International University (FIU).
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