Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

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Designing an HPV-specific compartmental epidemiological model to examine HPV transmission, disease progression, and cancer outcomes across New Jersey counties.

Posted in Computational & Integrative Biology, SPARK! 2026

Author: Zion Harris | Computational and Integrative BiologyAbstract: Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a leading cause of cervical and other anogenital cancers in the United States, with persistent disparities in incidence and mortality across socioeconomic, racial, and geographic groups. Unequal access to vaccination, screening, and preventive care contributes to sustained HPV-related cancer burden, particularly in… continue reading

Help-Seeking Attitudes and Intention Among Black Women: The Moderating Role of Self-Alienation

Posted in Psychological Sciences, SPARK! 2026

Author: Kuteara Jamison | Psychological Sciences Abstract: In a nationally representative study of college students, about half of Black college students reported clinically significant mental health symptoms during 2020–2021, but only 30% received mental health treatment (Lipson et al., 2022). Overall, Black college students are less likely to use mental health services, in part because… continue reading

Short Can Also Be Sweet: Student Success from a Condensed Summer Bridge Program

Posted in Prevention Science, SPARK! 2026

Author: Jasmaine Allen | Prevention ScienceThis mixed-methods study examined student success outcomes from a condensed Summer Bridge pilot program implemented in Fall 2024 at Rutgers–Camden, with a focus on first-generation college students. Given that first-generation students comprise over half of college enrollees yet experience lower retention and graduation rates, this study explored whether a shorter… continue reading

School Connectedness and Adolescent Mental Health in the Context of Frequent Social Media Use

Posted in Prevention Science, SPARK! 2026

Author: Morenike Alugo | Prevention ScienceAdolescent mental health and social media use remain central public health concerns. Although frequent social media use has been linked to poor mental health, less is known about whether protective social environments, particularly at school and at home, are associated with adolescent well-being in this context. This study examined the… continue reading

Blessed or Biased? Religious Identity, Sexism, and Contraceptive Access

Posted in Prevention Science, SPARK! 2026

Author: Alexis Richeson | Prevention SciencePublic conversations about birth control are often framed as medical or political, yet they are shaped by culture, religion, and gender ideology. Religious teachings and interpretations of sacred texts have historically influenced how individuals understand women’s bodies, sexuality, and gender roles. Sexism continues to shape reproductive attitudes. A 2025 meta-analysis… continue reading

Neighborhood Violent Crime as a Developmental Stressor: Within-Adolescent Evidence from a National Longitudinal Cohort

Posted in Prevention Science, SPARK! 2026

Author: Joseph Abbas | Prevention ScienceAdolescents in economically disadvantaged U.S. communities are disproportionately exposed to persistent neighborhood violent crime rooted in structurally segregated environments. Although community violence is consistently linked to youth distress, most studies compare different youth or neighborhoods rather than examining how changes in violence exposure affect the same adolescents over time. Guided… continue reading