A recent posting on our Inventiveness Creativity and Entrepreneurship (ICE) blog highlights the research of Dr. Yong Shi and his patented active nanomaterials. One of the unique aspects of this work involves the substantial contribution of students who play an integral role in research advancement and idea generation while gaining critical hands on experience.

Now, through a coordinated effort between the Liberty Science Center and Stevens Institute of Technology, the Partners In Science program allows high school students to have this same opportunity and work as interns on Stevens campus alongside these world renown professors.

Roseana Souza is a senior at Technology High School in Newark, NJ who spent the summer working with Dr. Shi in the analysis of Dye Sensitized Solar Cells which can dramatically improve solar energy conversion and efficiency rates leading to marked improvements in green technology. After applying for an internship through the program, Roseana soon found herself heavily involved in these innovative efforts. She highlights the willingness of Dr. Shi to serve as her mentor as an invaluable asset to her experience, and goes on to say “Dr. Shi not only treated me as one of his students, but also helped me understand what needs to be done in order to accomplish a task in the best way possible. He helped me identify what aspects of an engineering degree suit my interests, and I have a very clear understanding of what I must do as I begin the college experience.”

The experience has been so rewarding in fact, that Roseana now plans on attending Stevens as an undergraduate and her future goals include a career in the aerospace engineering and business discipline.

For more information, please visit Dr. Shi’s Lab Page!