Transfer Students Launch into Research at Stony Brook University

Even before they started classes this fall, a group of community college transfer students got an up-close and personal look at undergraduate research opportunities at Stony Brook University.

Twenty-two students participated in a new summer pilot program designed to give transfer students a chance to explore and experience on-campus research. The program was only open to students transferring from Suffolk County Community College and Nassau County Community College.

The students came for different reasons: to facilitate their transition to Stony Brook or to propel themselves a bit closer toward achieving their academic and professional goals. All got to work alongside and talk to researchers at Stony Brook, including other undergraduate students, professional staff, and faculty members.

"Many high-achieving students from Nassau and Suffolk transfer here but they've never had the opportunity to participate in research," said Tracey Iorio, assistant director of the Stony Brook Academic and Transfer Advising Services (ATAS) Office. "This isn't just about academics and GPA. It's research. It's leadership. It's career preparation."

"It's giving them a whole different perspective on what Stony Brook can offer," she said.

The program, Research Entry Accelerator for College Transfers (REACT), was designed and coordinated by Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (URECA) and ATAS as a research orientation program for early engagement among transfer students.

A collaborative effort between the Division of Undergraduate Education, the Career Center in Student Affairs, and Undergraduate Admissions, the pilot program was funded through a State University of New York Jobs for the Future initiative with additional support from a grant from the American Talent Initiative from Bloomberg Philanthropies to support transfer student success.

"We're so grateful to SUNY and Bloomberg to be able to pilot this program, and to be able to collaborate with our colleagues across the university campus to support our new transfer students," said Rachelle Germana, senior associate provost for undergraduate education. "Transfer students often have different needs and expectations than traditional first-time undergraduate students, but they have the same desire to earn their degree and gain the experiences that will help them meet their personal and professional goals. Programs like the Summer Transfer Research Accelerator are another way to empower them to achieve those goals. This program is part of a larger effort across the university to expand undergraduate research opportunities for students from all majors and across academic disciplines."

Psychology major Sawaira Azam signed up for the program because a friend encouraged her to participate, and to ease her transition from Suffolk County Community College to Stony Brook. But it became much more.

"When I was starting at Suffolk, I was terrified. This program created a community for me at Stony Brook. I know if I need help, there are people I can ask," said Azam, whose family emigrated to Long Island from Pakistan when she was a toddler. "The idea of doing original research is such a new concept to me. I thought it was just scientists doing research, not any other major. Marina [Fandaros, assistant director of Undergraduate Research Engagement] went into depth about the opportunities available at Stony Brook. Everything connected with everything else and I hope I'm able to do more."

Less than one month into her Stony Brook career, Azam is involved in a brand new undergraduate research project: Wear-AI-able Futures, a vertically integrated project led by faculty from the Department of Technology and Society in the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

Students were invited to participate in one of two pilot sessions: a two-week session that involved visits to different labs and chances to meet and talk with researchers around campus, or a three-week session where students worked directly with a faculty member on an ongoing research project.

For Stanislav Kravchenko, the three-week program aligned perfectly with his work schedule and his professional goals. Already looking into MD/PhD programs, the biochemistry major used the program to jump-start his time at Stony Brook.

"The curriculum at SBU is very rigorous. They expect excellence and for you to be at the top of your game. They expect you to reach out for every opportunity.The program was one of those opportunities, and a way for me to build on what I already have and show medical schools that I'm willing to try new things," said Kravchenko, whose family emigrated from Ukraine when he was in grade school. "Every doctor talks about the problems with healthcare and how protocols and treatment plans should be better. I want to be the one who helps to change these methods. I want the opportunity to be a big change to medicine as a whole."

The program will be offered again to students transferring from Long Island's two community colleges during the summer of 2026.