Research

The unique research program at BCA, open to students from all academies, gives our aspiring students the opportunity to develop a research project based on their personal interests. Students at other high schools may have the opportunity to do research internships at cooperating professional labs, only students at our school have access to the latest scientific equipment to pursue their research interests internally, adjusted to their individual schedules.

Laboratory of Cell Biology

The students carrying out research in the Laboratory of Cell Biology are engaged in some unique endeavors using the state-of-the-art equipment found on our campus. Students in the Cell Biology Lab originate and investigate their own scientific questions that often focus on elucidating the biochemical and molecular underpinnings of various disease states using in vitro methods. In addition, students may also pose environmental questions, as well as questions related to developmental biology. Students have received high recognition from nearly every prestigious high school competition and have published their findings in peer reviewed journals. The Cell Bio Lab is also home to the BCA chapter of the Future Health Professionals. In addition, because of their passion for STEM and their desire to give back, these students facilitate the Bergen SciChallenge Middle School Science Fair affiliated with the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge and the Society for Science and the Public.

Chemistry

Student researchers are encouraged to conduct hands-on lab experiments to synthesize, manipulate, analyze and visualize chemical species at nanoscale with the help of the state-of-the-art equipment for interdisciplinary applications. Chemistry research projects may incorporate the utilization of Atomic force microscopy (AFM), Fluorescent spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry, Four-point probe, Optical 3D Profiler, Optical tensiometer, Oxygen and water-free environment Glove Box, Rheometer and/or UV/Vis-NIR spectrophotometry.

Students may submit grant proposals for external funding, i.e. New York Institute of Technology Mini Grant and compete in various science competitions such as Regeneron Science Talent Search, Junior Science and Humanities Symposium, New Jersey Academy of Science Junior Fair and BCA Research Expo.

Cancer Biology Research Laboratory

This laboratory is extremely well equipped. An array of state-of-the-art instrumentation is available to students. Students are encouraged to develop research projects based on their own interests and to develop the habit of selecting important scientific questions to answer. The main goal of the Cancer Biology Lab is to teach students to think deeply about science and understand how to apply the scientific method in a high-level manner. A critical question we attempt to answer in the Cancer Biology Lab is “What can I do if I develop an idea or make a discovery that has the potential to become a product?” Students in this program have also created a virtual biotech/pharmaceutical company and they get to interact with professional scientists, engineers, and government officials. This has given our students access to instrumentation and collaborations that have resulted in patent applications and the creation of new businesses.

Agriscience

This area of research utilizes the newly renovated environmental science center and greenhouse. Students from all Academies conduct research on the multifaceted discipline of agricultural science. Plants, animals, environmental resources, power and transportation, food science, and sustainability are areas for research within this broad discipline. Newly installed Coral Reef tanks allow for the additional area of marine science research.

All agriscience researchers become members of the student organization BCA Future Farmers of America and participate in competitive science fairs and national and international symposia at the culmination of their projects. In the short five years since its inception, BCA FFA students have won awards at both the NJ State and National FFA Agriscience Fair, the YSAP science fair, the Jersey Shore Junior Science Symposium, and our own BCA Research Expo (ISEF-affiliated).

Nano-Structural Imaging Lab

The mission of NSIL Biological Research is to introduce students to scientific inquiry, through research and instrumentation, and to provide transferable, hands-on experiences with the techniques, practices and perspectives of professional scientists; with an emphasis on microscopy as an analytical technique, especially electron microscopy. Students are eligible to participate in this program after completing one of the pre-requisite courses. Next, the student will develop a novel research project based on their own interests and current scientific literature, in cell biology, molecular biology, structural biology, biomedical research, or related fields. They will then learn the tools and techniques to carry out experiments on a topic of their choosing, acquire and analyze data, and present their results in written and oral form. Students have participated in the BCA Research Expo, Young Science Achievers Program, and Regeneron Science Talent Search, as well as publishing their findings in professional journals. Additionally, these students are well suited for careers in bio-imaging, histology, pathology, and other clinical research options.

Math Research

This year two BCA students advanced on to the Olympiad round of the Mathematical Association of America's competition series, the American Invitational Mathematics Examination. One student qualified for the USA Junior Mathematical Olympiad, a competition for those in grades 10 and below meant to help train future Olympiad contenders. A student earned recognition at Harvard MIT Math Tournament tying for 5th place in the Combinatorics round and the 6th place in the overall Individual standings. The Math Team placed in the top 20 of the Team Round and finished in 30th place.

Optics Research

Some of the projects completed in our Optics Lab include:

• Measurement of thermal expansion coefficient using Laser interferometry
• Writing a LabView program to analyze the FFT output of the optogalvanic spectroscopy signal in a CO2 enriched cell
• Simulation of Quantum Tunneling of Water in Beryl Crystal using Octave
• Set-up of the experimental system aimed at observing the double-slit effect and quantum entanglement with single photons
• Measurement of small-scale vibrations using Michelson interferometry
• Generating the standard operation procedures for Glucose sensing via mid-IR Spectroscopy

Submissions and competition entries include: AAPT Summer Conference, YSAP, Exploravision, AAPT Photo Contest and BCA Expo. A few students received the YSAP grant of $500 each.