The Jack Cary Eichenbaum Summer Scholars Program in NYU Langone’s Division of Neonatology, which started in 1999, provides medical and undergraduate students a unique opportunity to participate in neonatology research projects and clinical observational rotations. The goal of the eight-week program is to foster and encourage students’ interest in the importance of medical research and provide an introduction to the medical profession by allowing them to explore various aspects of neonatology. The program typically runs during the summer months, from June through August. Exact dates will be provided once applications open.

Through the program, students are paired with a faculty member and a neonatal–perinatal fellow who mentor them to perform basic science or clinical neonatology research. Many of these projects are used in future publications, and more than 95 percent of the scholars pursue careers in medicine and healthcare. The program also provides an introduction to patient care and ethical issues in neonatal medicine and offers various events for networking and professional growth.

The program directors are Pradeep N. Mally, MD, and Sean M. Bailey, MD. For more information, contact Lorayny Rodriguez at Lorayny.Rodriguez@NYULangone.org or 212-263-7286.

Program Application

Thank you for your interest in our program. Applications for the JCE Summer Scholars 2026 Program will be open for submission starting December 2025.

Past Scholar Projects

The following research projects were conducted in 2025.

Risk factors and clinical outcomes associated with AKI and recurrent   AKI in vulnerable preterm neonates

By Anne Yan, Olivia Ramos, and Misha Bankulla

Acute kidney injury (AKI) and recurrent acute kidney injury (rAKI) are understudied entities in the neonatal population. Patients with even a single episode of AKI can have a significantly higher risk of later developing chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) compared to other patients who have not previously experienced AKI. The primary aim of our study is to determine the prevalence of AKI and rAKI in a population of preterm infants. In addition, we set out to evaluate clinical outcomes of preterm neonates with AKI and rAKI, along with trying to determine potential risk factors for developing AKI and rAKI. Our goal is that this study can add to the literature of this understudied neonatal morbidity and serve as a basis of further research examining this aspect of neonatal intensive care.

The Glucose Divide: Pregnancy, Risk, and the Critical Line

By Noha Nizam Amy Sarker and Kelsey Miranda

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) a condition of abnormal glucose tolerance first recognized in pregnancy, has a prevalence of approximately 8 to 9 percent. At NYU Langone Health, GDM is diagnosed using the two-step Carpenter–Coustan method. Given that GDM treatment reduces the incidence of adverse neonatal outcomes—including LGA (Large for Gestational Age), macrosomia, and hypoglycemia—this study seeks to assess the performance of the Carpenter–Coustan diagnostic test at NYU Tisch Hospital.

Investigating GBS Serotype-Specific Responses to Intestinal Physiological Stress

By Annabel Guo and Mary Caroline Hagan

Streptococcus agalactiae [Group B Streptococcus (GBS)] is a leading cause of infectious morbidity in infants, manifesting as either early-onset (≤7 days of life) or late-onset (>7 days) disease. Late-onset GBS (LOGBS) is the predominant form of invasive disease in this population, typically presenting as sepsis, meningitis, or focal infections, and is associated with a high risk of long-term neurodevelopmental impairment among survivors. Gastrointestinal colonization is recognized as a key precursor to LOGBS. This project investigates the responses of various GBS serotypes to different intestinal stressors, with the goal of advancing our understanding of LOGBS pathogenesis and informing therapeutic strategies.