News
RE student-scientists present work at global physics conference
More than 20 Ransom Everglades students made the most of the opportunity to present their research at a global physics conference in Anaheim, Calif., for college and graduate students and working scientists. Five RE students gave talks, five teams presented research posters and one team of RE students came home with something extraordinary: one of 20 undergraduate poster prizes awarded to the best of the hundreds of research posters.
Gemma Bucci ’25, Dominique Cederberg ’26, Alexandra Russoniello ’26 and Leah Vela ’25 – and fellow authors and RE faculty members Dr. Heather Marshall, Dr. Kristine Stump and Dr. Emily Grace – earned the poster award for their poster Unveiling Toxic Heavy Metals in South Florida Ecosystems Using LIBS.
Gemma Bucci ’25, Dominique Cederberg ’26, Alexandra Russoniello ’26 and Leah Vela ’25 – and fellow authors and RE faculty members Dr. Heather Marshall, Dr. Kristine Stump and Dr. Emily Grace – earned the poster award for their poster Unveiling Toxic Heavy Metals in South Florida Ecosystems Using LIBS.
Judges evaluated them on the poster's design, content and their presentation; their study used Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) to determine the heavy metal composition of sargassum and soil in order to recognize the its harmful impact on the environment.
The RE students who attended the 2025 APS Global Physics Summit had to submit applications and won admission for the quality of their respective projects.
The summit drew 14,000 physicists from around the world, including 950+ undergraduate students, 5,500+ graduate students, 2,500+ early-career scientists, 5,000+ seasoned professionals from industry, academia, and major labs, and employers recruiting at all career stages. The March 16-21 event offered the opportunity for the exchange of research achievements and ideas.
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For a detailed look at the RE students's presentations, see below:
The RE students who attended the 2025 APS Global Physics Summit had to submit applications and won admission for the quality of their respective projects.
The summit drew 14,000 physicists from around the world, including 950+ undergraduate students, 5,500+ graduate students, 2,500+ early-career scientists, 5,000+ seasoned professionals from industry, academia, and major labs, and employers recruiting at all career stages. The March 16-21 event offered the opportunity for the exchange of research achievements and ideas.
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For a detailed look at the RE students's presentations, see below:
Talks
Democratizing Optical Tweezers: CAD Innovations for a Cost-Effective, 3D Printable Design of an Inverted Microscope with Laser Path Integration
Author: Jaral Arroyo-Jefferson ’25 and Dr. Emily Grace
Analysis of Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy through Python Coding: a high schooler-led research initiative
Author: Mia Campbell ’25 and Dr. Emily Grace
Open Source Tweezing: Developing a Cost-Effective Optical Tweezing Platform - Assembly, Control Systems and Replicability for Educational Access
Author: Mateo Heitner ’25 and Dr. Emily Grace
Dirty Physics: Applications of Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy in Soil Sample Analysis
Author: Carlos Horcasitas ’25 and Dr. Emily Grace
Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy for the Rapid Detection of Heavy Metals in Sargassum
Author: Dieter Manstein ’25 and Dr. Emily Grace
Sharks + Lasers: Engaging Students in Biophysics Research Through Physics Courses
Dr. Emily Grace with Dr. Heather Marshall and Dr. Kristine Stump
Sharks + Lasers: Engaging Students in Biophysics Research Through Physics Courses
Dr. Emily Grace with Dr. Heather Marshall and Dr. Kristine Stump
Posters
Integrated Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy and Pythonic Algorithms for Analysis of Penny Composition and Beyond
Authors: Mario Antonaccio ’25, Mia Escoto Cordova ’25, Minnie Zhou ’26, Dr. Heather Marshall, Dr. Kristine Stump, and Dr. Emily Grace
Laser Breakdown Spectroscopic Analysis of Soil and Sargassum
Authors: Gemma Bucci ’25, Dominique Cederberg ’26, Alexandra Russoniello ’26, Leah Vela ’25, Dr. Heather Marshall, Dr. Kristine Stump and Dr. Emily Grace
From Beams to Biomolecules: Calibrating and Constructing an IR Optical Tweezer for Shark Muscle Analysis
Authors: Anna Lavernia ’25, Paloma Lopes ’25, Sofia Rakhimi ’25, Ronja Stargala ’25, Dr. Heather Marshall, Dr. Kristine Stump and Dr. Emily GraceInfrared Optical Tweezer: Instrumentation and Data Acquisition System
Authors: Myles Gelber '25, Michael Mederos '25, Lily Namias '25, Dr. Heather Marshall, Dr. Kristine Stump and Dr. Emily Grace
Authors: Myles Gelber '25, Michael Mederos '25, Lily Namias '25, Dr. Heather Marshall, Dr. Kristine Stump and Dr. Emily Grace
Developing Affordable Optical Tweezers to Enhance Research Opportunities and Skills for Students
Authors: Nohan Gomez '25, Ian Villaraos '26, Neale Villaraos '26, Maximilian Wolfensberger '26, Robert DuBard, Dr. Heather Marshall, Dr. Kristine Stump and Dr. Emily Grace
Authors: Nohan Gomez '25, Ian Villaraos '26, Neale Villaraos '26, Maximilian Wolfensberger '26, Robert DuBard, Dr. Heather Marshall, Dr. Kristine Stump and Dr. Emily Grace
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Founded in 1903, Ransom Everglades School is a coeducational, college preparatory day school for grades 6 - 12 located on two campuses in Coconut Grove, Florida. Ransom Everglades School produces graduates who "believe that they are in the world not so much for what they can get out of it as for what they can put into it." The school provides rigorous college preparation that promotes the student's sense of identity, community, personal integrity and values for a productive and satisfying life, and prepares the student to lead and to contribute to society.