2023-2024 Scholars Across the University reflect on research

(SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – JULY 9, 2024) Assistant Professors Rodlyn Hines and Julie Parato concluded their terms as Scholars Across the University for the 2023-2024 academic year. Both faculty members had the opportunity to present their research, findings, and academic interests to the university community through a community conversations series. 

Assistant Professor Rodlyn Hines presented research focused on immigrant groups and fundamental aspects of culture across transnational living behaviors and practices.

Hines’ work focuses on African immigrants and different aspects of African culture as it applies to living in the U.S. Her studies analyzed transnational living, relationship quality, and gender differences.

“I had a great time presenting my research on African immigrants and culture across the institution and found that people have a real interest in learning about African immigrants and its culture,” Hines said.

Hines said opportunities like the Scholars Across the University program allow the university community to collaborate and continue to learn through individual scholarship. She said the ability to present her work also fueled her commitment to examining transnational relationships among immigrant communities in the U.S.

Hines is also examining a topic closer to her home in Central New York, the impact of homeschooling in the region on children and families amid the rise of homeschooled children over the last few decades and since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study examined homeschooled families across Central New York and the reasons they chose to participate, as well as the impact homeschooling had on the social and emotional health of children.

“Despite criticisms for lack of emotional and social development for homeschooled children, more families have, since the pandemic, continued homeschooling or have begun homeschooling their children after all schools have reopened,” Hines said.

Assistant Professor Julie Parato focused on cellular and molecular neuroscience. As part of her research, Parato analyzed the role of microtubule cytoskeleton in Alzheimer’s Disease and importance of synaptic pruning during adolescent development.

“During my talks, I discussed some of the experiments we performed that demonstrated how the microtubule cytoskeleton is pathologically changed in Alzheimer’s disease and that these changes can help drive many of the disease-related cellular alterations in Alzheimer’s disease,” Parato said.

While Parato’s research is highly specific, she said her goal was to give the university community a chance to take a closer look at neurobiology and understand how scientists work to answer different questions using emerging technology that mimics protein activity and allows them to observe changes at the microscopic level.

“It was important to show people outside the field just how varied our toolkit has become in addressing important biological questions,” Parato said.  

Parato said the Scholars Across the University program shed light on how she can connect her research with others’ academic interests within the university.

“I realized that there are a lot of people at SUNY Empire who share research interests with me, both broadly in neuroscience and specifically in cellular and molecular neuroscience,” Parato said. “I hope this leads to many fruitful collaborations and fun projects between us all.”