Young Scholars Research Paper and Publications

The Young Scholars Program gives students the opportunity to publish original research through George Mason University’s official platforms, with support from faculty mentors and guided workshops.

Students gain experience in:

• Data collection and real-world research
• Critical thinking, analysis, and writing
• Collaboration and academic networking

Final papers are:

• Submitted for editorial review
• Published within 2–4 months
• Featured on:
  • Schar Young Scholars page
  • MARS Repository
  • Journal of Astro-Scholars Research (JASR)

Students retain full copyright. Authors are listed by initials, per university policy.

For questions or verification, email ExecEd@gmu.edu

The scholarly publication process involves a collaborative effort between our faculty and student groups. Our faculty members at George Mason work closely with each group of students and help guide them through their individual projects. In the span of two to four months, we proceeded to post their completed publications. We are dedicated to sharing the ideas and knowledge created by our students to promote a culture of learning and exploration. 

• Students’ Research Papers are listed in reverse chronological order, and them alphabetized by last name.
• Only first initials are provided follow by publication protocol.  Verification of participation can be provided by emailing ExecEd@gmu.edu.
• Each student's copyright is respected, and the students retain the copyright to their work.

• AI, BioScience, and Biomedical Data Research
• Research Internships
• NASA Data Science Internship: Exoplanets, Space Missions & Scholarly Research
• Journal of Astro-Scholars Research (JASR) at George Mason University

Our Biology and Medical Science Young Scholars proudly presented their research paper during the National Students Data Analytics and BioMedical Conference (NSDAB) at George Mason University. A committee of NIH, NSF, and BioMedical Industries experts has selected the best research project and top-performing team for scholarships and awards.

Year-by-Year Focus Highlights: AI, BioScience & Biomedical Data Research

• Each year, the Young Scholars program builds new skills in big data, AI, bioinformatics, and disease research. From biostatistics to lab work, each term adds fresh methods and goals.

BioScience: AI & Life Science in Disease Research- Summer 2025

• Focus on AI and life sciences in disease research. Students do lab work, present at GMU, and publish a final paper.

High School and College Student Internship: Data Analytics for Elite Young Scholars - Biology and Medical Science Experience - Summer 2024

• Advanced data analytics in biology and medical science. Teams publish findings and compete at a research symposium. 

Data Science Fall Internship: Machine Learning, ChatGPT, and Bayesian Statistics for Experimental Data Sciences - Fall 2023

• Students learn machine learning, ChatGPT, and Bayesian stats. Final papers show how AI supports real research.

Four-Month High School Student Internship: Bioinformatics Research and Big Data Analytics for Young Scholars - Fall 2023

• Bioinformatics and big data tools for biomedical questions. Projects link to real grant-supported research.

High School and College Student Internship: Data Analytics for Elite Young Scholars - Biology and Medical Science Experience - Summer 2023

• Biostatistics and visualization in biology and medical science. Students write team papers and present for awards.

Four-Week High School Student Internship: Bioinformatics Research and Big Data Analytics for Young Scholars - Summer 2022

• Combined biomedicine and AI for policy modeling. Students tackled real challenges with simulation and analytics.

High School Student Internship Program: Policy Research and Data Analysis - Fall 2021

• Focus on policy research and qualitative methods. Students learned coding, analysis, and theory for higher-level research.

This year’s student research projects spanned biomedical data science, AI applications, and public health equity. Topics ranged from using large language models to predict hospitalization risks in kidney and liver transplant patients, to analyzing racial disparities in complex organ transplants. Others explored microbiome networks in chronic kidney disease and how COVID-19 shifted organ donor trends.

• Project 1: Using Large Language Models (LLMs) to Predict One-Year Hospitalization Rates in Kidney Transplant Recipients
  Author Information: Kim, Rayna ;Pei, Celine; Riotto, Allen. (Editor: Wang, Zifu)
• Project 2: Using Large Language Models (LLMs) to Predict One-Year Hospitalization Rates in Liver Transplant Recipients
  Author Information: Li, Janice; Yang, Christopher (Editor: Wang, Zifu)
• Project 3: Bias in Large Language Models (LLMs) for Kidney Transplant Publications
  Author Information: Kligys, Kate; Kuppachi, Dhanvi; Shen, Selena; Sigurupati, Shriya; Veliveli, Sashmika (Editor: Wang, Zifu)
• Project 4a: Exploring Variations in Gut Microbiome Networks among Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
  Author Information: Caballero, Virginia; Liao, Josephyn; Yu, Alvin (Editor: Li, Meng-Hao)
• Project 4b: Exploring Variations in Gut Microbiome Networks among Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
  Author Information: Jun, Luke; Manik, Aryan; Zhang, Kevin (Editor: Li, Meng-Hao)
• Project 5a: Trend of Kidney Transplant Recipients and Donor Cause of Death Before vs During the Covid-19 Pandemic
  Author Information: Chloe Lee, Roy Shang, Ahan Tenneti (Editor: Koizumi, Naoru)
• Project 5b: Trend of Liver Transplant Recipients and Donor Cause of Death Before vs During the Covid-19 Pandemic
  Author Information: Gandhi, Mallika, Gupte, Sahil, Valluri, Medha (Editor: Koizumi, Naoru5)
• Project 6: Racial Disparity in Intestine-Alone and Liver-Intestinal Transplants 
  Author Information: Jung, Claire; Raja, Harshita; Weber, William (Editor: Li, Meng-Hao5)
• Project 7: Outcomes of Re-transplantation in Intestine-Alone and Liver-Intestinal Transplants
  Author Information: Paul, Krittika; Sankara, Veda; Yu, Claire (Editor: Li, Meng-Hao)

This fall internship introduced high school students to the intersection of bioinformatics, big data, and health policy through hands-on research projects. Under the mentorship of GMU faculty, students explored organ transplantation outcomes using real-world clinical data and statistical tools. Projects ranged from evaluating immunosuppressive therapies to analyzing rare donor risk factors and outcomes of pancreatic re-transplantation.

• Project 1. Evaluation of Antithymocyte globulin (ATG) + Basiliximab (Simulect) as Induction Therapy in Kidney Transplant Recipients
• Project 2. Evaluation of Pancreatic Re-transplantation Outcomes
• Project 3. Evaluation of Transplanting Organs from Drowned Donors

This summer internship engaged elite high school and undergraduate students in team-based biomedical research with an emphasis on data analytics. Participants collaborated with GMU faculty on projects addressing real-world challenges in public health, organ transplantation, and medical science. 

• Project 1: Racial & Sex Disparities in Lupus & Transplant Outcomes
• Project 2: Optimal Immunosuppressive Regimen for Pediatric Liver Transplant Recipients
• Project 3: Geographical and Familial Factors in Engagement of Advance Directives
• Project 4: Gut Microbiome and Kidney Transplant
• Project 5: Regional and Seasonal Variation of Cyanotoxins
• Project 6: Kidney Sales and Trafficking
• Project 7: Viruses and Host Membranes

The NASA Young Scholars Internship is a competitive, research-intensive summer program where high school students dive into astronomy, exoplanet science, and NASA mission data analysis. Guided by faculty and NASA collaborators, students conduct independent research and write professional-quality papers using real data from missions like TESS and the James Webb Space Telescope.

 Key Program Features:

• Analyze real data from NASA’s TESS and JWST missions
• Operate GMU’s 32-inch telescope — one of the largest on the East Coast
• Learn data analysis tools: Python, AstroImageJ, Jupyter Notebooks
• Gain hands-on experience in observational astronomy and statistical inference
• Work on individual research projects and present at a live conference
• Final research papers are published on official GMU platforms

Each year, the NASA Young Scholars Internship explores new research directions and tools in exoplanet science and space missions. From TESS discoveries to James Webb data, every summer offers a fresh theme and hands-on challenge.

• Three-month Internship - NASA Data Science Analysis and Scholarly Research Paper Writing - Summer 2025
  • Focuses on advanced exoplanet validation using ground-based follow-up plus new James Webb Space Telescope atmospheric data, pushing students into professional-level spectral analysis.
• Two month Internship - NASA Data Science Analysis and Scholarly Research Paper Writing - Summer 2024
  • Centered on large-scale TESS data science — students analyze thousands of potential exoplanets and contribute directly to NASA’s official candidate vetting process.
• High School Astronomy Data Analysis and Space Research for NASA Missions - Summer 2023
  • Highlighted remote telescope operations and expert panels — students explored how exoplanets are found, observed, and studied, building foundational skills for future space science work.

Student research papers are published through the Journal of Astro-Scholars Research (JASR) at George Mason University. Each paper represents the student’s independent work using real astronomical data and modern scientific techniques. Papers are not edited by faculty, ensuring authorship remains fully student-driven and authentic.

This group of papers looks at how students used ground-based telescopes to follow up on possible exoplanets found by TESS. Each project checks a different target and shows how students put real data and methods to work. Together, they highlight practical research and new discoveries by our young scholars.

View details of the research projects from the Physics and Astronomy Department.

Astro-Scholars Program Student Publications

• Volume 1 (PDF, 24MB)

This inaugural edition of the Journal of Astro-Scholars Research features research papers from the Summer 2023 Cohort. 

• You can find individual student research papers in the Mason MARS Repository, which collects and preserves student work online.
• You can also see student projects organized by year, volume, and cohort on the College of Science website.