Two NJIT Students Are Among this Year's 128 Governor's STEM Scholars

NJIT students Aliya Laliwala and Mrunmayi Joshi have been selected to be part of this year’s Governor’s STEM Scholars class, which includes 128 scholars from 20 New Jersey counties — the program’s largest cohort ever.

The Governor’s STEM Scholars program was created to engage the next generation of research and innovation leaders in the state’s vast STEM economy early. Sixty-four percent of the class identify as female and 83% as students of color. When they graduate in May 2023, they will join an alumni cohort of over 700 Scholars.

Laliwala is a freshman majoring in computer science, while Joshi is a second-year student double majoring in biology and mathematical sciences.

“I am very excited to have this opportunity,” said Joshi, a member of NJIT’s Albert Dorman Honors College. “In particular, I’m looking forward to mentoring younger students and working on a project that means a lot to me.”

Joshi’s project proposal revolves around combating gun violence. “My team and I will be analyzing the firearm mortality rate in children ages 5-18 over the past twenty years and correlating that with legislation passed in order to find which law has been the most effective in preventing deaths due to firearms.

“The end goal of this project is to make a recommendation for which law should be passed in regions without strict gun regulations,” she added.

Laliwala, whose research project will examine how and which smart city technology needs to be implemented in low-income communities to better their living conditions, will also guide and lead ten high school students.

“During our first conference at Rutgers Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, the students were asking me questions and looking for advice. At this moment I realized that up to this point, I was always the one seeking academic guidance from others. Now, I’m capable of leading the next generation and sharing my past experiences,” said Laliwala. “Using the knowledge I have acquired in my years, I am excited to give back to those younger than me and help them to reach new heights of success.”

Laliwala looks forward to the rest of her time at NJIT and is already part of the Murray Center for Women in Technology. 

“During my time at NJIT, I hope to become more proficient in computer science and in the field of STEM. The great instructors and curriculum of the school will enable me to get the best education by gaining knowledge and building a community to thrive in,” she noted. 

“I would love to utilize NJIT’s great opportunities such as internships, research projects, and STEM conferences. Using the school’s facilities, I can work on independent projects in the Makerspace to innovate a helping tool while integrating both technology and science.”