Two student scientists representing Bay Path’s undergraduate science department were invited to present at the Biophysical Society’s 70th Annual Meeting, held in San Francisco last month. The international conference is hosted by the Biophysical Society, a nonprofit organization with more than 7,000 members worldwide across academia, industry, and government, all dedicated to advancing knowledge in biophysics. The meeting is the largest global gathering of biophysicists and regularly attracts more than 5,000 scientists working at the intersection of the life, physical, and computational sciences.
Arushi Patel '26, a biology major from West Springfield, Massachusetts, and Lara Cadete '26, a medical science major from Ludlow, Massachusetts, presented their respective projects: “Behavioral and Mitochondrial Effects of Early Nicotine Exposure in Zebrafish with Antioxidant Rescue” and “Comparative Skin Permeation of Cosmetic and Medical-Grade Vitamin A Derivatives Utilizing an Artificial Skin Model.” Their work illustrates the level of inquiry and rigor that Bay Path’s science programs instill in women pursuing careers in STEM fields.
In addition to the student presentations, Bay Path’s undergraduate science department was featured in a five-minute documentary produced by Biophysical Society TV. The film explores how Bay Path prepares women for careers in science by helping them connect personal experiences to research objectives and positioning them to make an impact in their communities through science and medicine.
The documentary was made possible through the generous support of longtime donor Eileen Stern, a dedicated advocate for women in science. Her sponsorship helped fund both the production of the film and the students’ conference attendance.
Since 2014, Biophysical Society TV has produced documentary features highlighting institutions and researchers making significant contributions to the field. Being selected for inclusion in the conference broadcast provides international visibility for Bay Path University’s work in biology education and its leadership in advancing opportunities for women in science.
“This opportunity allowed our students to share their work with a global community of scientists,” said Dr. Yadilette Rivera-Colón, Department Chair of the Undergraduate Science Programs and Associate Professor of Biology at Bay Path. “It also highlights the innovative teaching and mentorship happening in our classrooms and laboratories.”
