ARESTY RUTGERS UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH JOURNAL, VOLUME I, ISSUE IV 

FOREWORD TO VOLUME I, ISSUE IV 
ARESTY RUTGERS UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH JOURNAL 

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Welcome to the fourth issue of the Aresty Rutgers Undergraduate Research Journal! This 

issue exhibits the accomplishments of a diverse set of bright minds emerging from the 

Rutgers undergraduate community. Their work focuses on tackling interdisciplinary 

challenges and contributing to dialogues at the frontiers of research in the sciences and 

humanities. Tracking the dynamic carbonate chemistry of our oceans, using in silico 

techniques to examine the pharmacological potential of specific medicinal plants, and 

assessing the social value of the American shopping mall - all of these topics and more - are 

explored within this issue. The Aresty RURJ is incredibly proud to showcase these students’ 

achievements through their writing and is eager to see what they achieve next. 

 

This issue marks the Aresty RURJ’s first iteration with a significant change in student 

leadership; all students involved with the journal at its inception in 2020 have moved on. Just 

as our submissions receive rigorous peer review, the Aresty RURJ is undergoing its own 

version of peer review as new minds on the editorial team evaluate and revise the journal. We 

are constantly striving to streamline our standard practices and procedures while seeking 

and developing new initiatives for the Aresty RURJ to grow. We are confident that the future 

of the Aresty RURJ is abundant in these opportunities.  

 

I would like to acknowledge and thank the many influential people whose efforts and 

commitment to the Aresty RURJ were paramount in the making of this issue. Thank you to the 

editorial team (Reviewer Program Director, Managing Director, Chief Copy Editor, and 

Marketing Director) for exceeding expectations in taking on and managing various 

responsibilities involved in running the Aresty RURJ. Thank you to the faculty and staff at the 

Aresty Research Center and Rutgers Libraries for their helpful mentoring and guidance 

throughout our transition. Lastly, thank you to all of our reviewers and copy editors who 

devoted their time to reading and polishing the manuscripts presented in this issue—

undergraduate students, graduate students, and faculty alike. Each and every reviewer is 

fundamental to the success of the peer review process. 

 

We hope you follow our journey as we continue to capture a glimpse into the exciting and 

expansive world of undergraduate research hosted across Rutgers. Thank you for reading! 

 

ARESTY RURJ EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, 

 

JASON KAWALEC