S-STEM Faculty and Students Attend the 2024 S-STEM Scholars and PI Meeting

A three-day event in Chicago, held from November 8–10, 2024, gave two of York’s S-STEM students the opportunity to shine off-campus, just as they do in their classes on campus.

^{York Faculty and students pose with poster presentation during S-STEM Conference in Chicago}

The S-STEM Scholarship program at York, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), supports academically talented students majoring in computer science, chemistry, mathematics, or physics.

At the event, two scholars showcased their research. Senior computer science major Darryl Nurse presented his poster, "Data Integrity in Large Language Model (LLM) Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG)." Farhan Rabbi, also a senior in computer science, shared his work on "Cross-Site Scripting." Additionally, the program’s Principal Investigator (PI), Dr. Thitima Srivatanakul, and Co-PI Dr. Radoslaw Wojciechowski presented a poster highlighting the achievements of the York College S-STEM program.

Senior Haider Ali, a computer science major, also attended the conference, taking advantage of the sessions and networking opportunities. The event left a lasting impact on all participants.

Student Reflections on the Experience

Darryl Nurse highlighted the diversity of the conference and the networking opportunities it provided:
"The AAAS S-STEM REC Conference was a great platform to showcase my project and explore fields outside of computer science. The highlight for me was connecting with people from different universities and backgrounds. And of course, experiencing the windy city of Chicago!"

Haider Ali shared how the conference broadened his perspective:
"I didn’t know what to expect when I boarded the plane to Chicago," he said. "But I left with a wealth of knowledge and a better understanding of the S-STEM program. Seeing so many innovative projects opened my mind to research topics I had never considered. It was an incredible opportunity, and I believe everyone should experience it."

Farhan Rabbi also expressed enthusiasm about presenting his cybersecurity research:
"The AAAS S-STEM REC Conference was one of the most impactful experiences of my academic journey,” he said. “Presenting my research on cybersecurity allowed me to share knowledge and connect with people who share my passion for the field. I’m grateful for this opportunity and look forward to contributing even more to the cybersecurity community."

Dr. Srivatanakul shared her thoughts on the event:
"The conference provided our S-STEM scholars with valuable opportunities to network, present their research, and explore new ideas in STEM. Their participation highlights York’s S-STEM program’s commitment to fostering academic and professional growth while encouraging engagement with the wider STEM community."

Dr. Wojciechowski added:
"The 2024 S-STEM Scholars & PI Meeting was a unique experience, allowing us to interact with scholars presenting their research projects and other PIs reflecting on their programs. This was especially relevant to us as we are applying for a new grant. The meeting provided valuable information and networking opportunities, answering several of our renewal questions and sparking new ideas for future approaches."

For more information about the program, visit the NSF S-STEM Scholarship website.