Research isn't just for graduate school. You can conduct high-level research from RCBC.
Program Contact
For additional information regarding this grant-funded initiative, please contact:
STEM Office
(856) 242-5635
stem@rcbc.edu
Through the RCBC Student Research Program, students can:
- Work closely with faculty to research topics that interest them.
- Learn to apply the scientific method in research.
- Gain experience that looks great on a resume.
- Have the potential to publish their findings. (Several RCBC students have had their work published in national journals.)
Research projects can relate to any academic program offered at RCBC. All proposals will be vetted by faculty in relevant fields prior to launch. Students who are accepted into the program will be guided by faculty throughout the project.
Four courses are offered for student research. These research courses do not satisfy any degree requirements; however, they may possibly be used as elective courses when transferring. In order to receive credit for a research course, a student must complete the required course outcomes specified by their faculty mentor within a specified time period.
Information about each student research course can be found in the college catalog.
The four research courses are:
SRS 150, 1 credit
SRS 250, 2 credits
SRS 260, 2 credits
SRS 270, 2 credits
The student time requirement per week depends on the number of credits and type of semester. These requirements are:
15-week (requires an average of 3.0 hours of project work per week per credit)
10-week (requires an average of 4.5 hours of project work per week per credit)
7-week (requires an average of 6.4 hours of project work per week per credit)
Project work may include any or all of the following: lab work, field work, literature searches, data review, calculations, and report/poster writing/oral presentation.
Each research project is unique, and the research mentor will decide on the requirements and type of work for the course grade.
Requirements & Expectations
- Accepted students are required to register after obtaining permission to do so.
- Research students will perform research activities each week for the duration of the project.
- Research students will be expected to present their research as a final report, poster, or oral presentation. The faculty mentor will decide the required form of the deliverable.
- It is anticipated that research students will participate in the Lunch and Learn sessions and the Undergraduate Research Poster Symposium.
Benefits of Student Research
- Student research provides the opportunity to gain hands-on experience with the Scientific Method. A SRS student’s experience may include literature searches, experimental design, experimentation, data interpretation, and presentation of the project.
- Student research provides the opportunity to improve laboratory techniques and learn new techniques.
- Student research enhances a student’s resume, which may lead to other opportunities after RCBC.
- Student research provides experience with and dedication to seeing a project through to completion.
Application Process
The student research courses typically run during the fall, spring, and possibly summer term. The availability of faculty mentors varies each term. Students can inquire about the Student Research Initiative by emailing the faculty members that they are interested in working with.
See below for a full list of Student Research Mentors.
Please Note: Soft-Skills Mentors are listed specifically. A soft-skills mentor can help a student with their presentation and professional skills.
Research Mentor and/or Soft-Skills Mentor: Edem Tetteh, Dean
Dr. Edem Tetteh, Dean of the STEM Division at Rowan College at Burlington County (RCBC), invites students to participate in his research initiatives focusing on artificial intelligence, human factors and ergonomics, and lean six sigma. With a strong educational foundation in manufacturing systems, industrial and systems engineering, and technology, Dr. Tetteh effectively combines theory and practice to address complex issues and enhance processes.
Students majoring in Engineering and Technology or Computing and Informatics are encouraged to work with Dr. Tetteh on meaningful research tackling real-world applications and impacts. Through mentorship and practical experiences, students will acquire essential skills in research methodologies, problem-solving, and advanced technology.
If you are enthusiastic about innovation and eager to engage in transformative research, consider becoming a part of Dr. Tetteh’s research team at RCBC.
Contact: Etetteh@rcbc.edu
Research Mentor: Jennifer Rienzi
Professor Rienzi teaches biology classes at RCBC. She has her M.S. degree in biology. Her research interests include environmental science, biology, and marine science. Some of her past research projects have included the study of water quality at the Rancocas Creek watershed, the bioaccumulation of mercury in Burlington County fish, the analysis of mercury in farm raised and wild caught salmon, and the analysis of mussel biodiversity using metabarcoding and qPCR techniques. Students interested in doing research with Professor Rienzi should be second-year students with a minimum GPA of C.
Contact: JRienzi@rcbc.edu
Research Mentor: Christopher Simber
Professor Simber teaches computer science classes at RCBC. He has a B.S. in computer science and a M.S. in Information systems. His research interests include object detection and recognition, the utilization of RF/audio frequencies in the treatment of diseases, and data science. Some of his past research projects have included work on object detection and recognition, data reduction and analysis, and neural networks. Students interested in doing research with Professor Simber should have a grade of B or higher in CSE 110, or CSE 135, or CIS 139, with an overall minimum GPA of 3.2 .
Contact: CSimber@rcbc.edu
Research Mentor and/or Soft-Skills Mentor: Marc Zamkotowicz
Professor Zamkotowicz teaches earth science classes at RCBC. He has a BS in geology/earth science, a MS in Geology, and a certification in Geospatial Technology. His research interests include investigating local geology and using geographic information systems (GIS) to analyze environmental changes, including those at Palmyra Cove.
Some of his past research projects have included mapping the invasive phragites at Palmyra Cove Nature Park, assessing potential fossil sites in Burlington County, the analysis of ambient ground-level ozone concentrations, and the geospatial modelling of the potential for macroalgae production in Barnegat Bay. Students interested in doing research with Professor Zamkotowicz should be second year students who have completed a minimum of 30-credits.
Contact: MZamkotowicz@rcbc.edu
Research Mentor: Wassila Guendouzi, Ph.D.
Dr. Guendouzi teaches computer science classes at RCBC. Her research interests include machine learning, meta-learning, ensemble methods, supervised learning, feature selection, optimization methods, and computational intelligence.
She has numerous publications in several different international journals, such as Evolutionary Intelligence, International Journal of Memetic Computing, and International Journal of Computational Intelligence Systems. She has published articles in international conference proceeding, and has served as a reviewer for international journals and conferences. Students interested in doing research with Dr. Guendouzi should have a minimum course grade of B in the appropriate computer science courses.
Contact: WGuendouzi@rcbc.edu .
Research Mentor: Laura Stewart
Professor Stewart teaches general chemistry classes at RCBC. She has a Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry. Her research interests include the measurement of chemicals in various substances.
Previous research projects have included the analysis of fragrances in air fresheners, the analysis of vitamin-C in mangos, the analysis of vitamin-B12, the creation of unique fragrances and the identification of compounds in those fragrances, and the comparison of commercially available lactase supplements. Students interested in doing research with Professor Stewart should have completed all general chemistry courses with grades of B or higher.
Contact: LStewart@rcbc.edu .