About The Student Sphere

Cultivating a Community of Bright, Capable Youth

The Student Sphere Academic Journal is a platform for young researchers to publish their work and establish their place in the broader scientific community. Designed and reviewed by high school students in partnership with mentors, our journal aims to create a community of bright, ambitious scholars that want to make an impact on the world around them.

In addition to our journal, the student sphere team also supports our community with The Sphere, a blog/information hub for high school students looking to find unique opportunities, internships, academic programs, and more. The Sphere aims to provide guidance, support, and opportunities to students looking to enrich themselves and their communities. As students who have been through the process ourselves, we know that things can quickly feel overwhelming, and our blog aims to prevent others from facing the same obstacles.

Meet the Team

Meet the Student Sphere executive board! (Please note, peer reviewers are not publicly disclosed to preserve anonymity in the editorial process)

Founders/Editors-in-Chief

Hyuna Kang

Hyuna is an avid student researcher studying the role of the AR and MAPK signaling pathways in melanoma metastasis and proliferation. She is currently conducting projects in molecular/cellular biology research as well as social science research. She holds lab experience and completed coursework at Brown University, Montclair University, and Johns Hopkins youth program.

Afreen Akhtar

Afreen Akhtar is a student researcher engaged in cell biology studies focused on Parkinson’s disease and is the author of publications examining pediatric nephrotic syndrome, with an emphasis on health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Beyond the laboratory, she is the founder of a teen-focused medicinal blog, The Remedy Report, and holds leadership roles in organizations dedicated to supporting children with special needs.

Mentors

Jonathan Lancaster

Jonathan Lancaster is a PhD candidate in the Teacher Education and Teacher Development program at Montclair State University, an Assistant Editor for The Educational Forum journal, an Institutional Review Board (IRB) Chairperson, and a Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Research recipient (Vietnam, 2022). He is the author of multiple peer-reviewed journal articles, publishing in Theory and Research in Social Education, The Atlantic Journal of Communication, and Teaching Social Studies. His broader writing portfolio includes contributions to Kappan magazine, EdSurge, the NJEA Review, Getting Smart, amongst others.

Daniel Vollenweider

Daniel Vollenweider is a molecular biologist and educator with over 14 years of teaching experience. He holds master’s degrees in Molecular and Cellular Biology and Biomedical Science, providing a strong interdisciplinary foundation for both his instruction and editorial work.

Daniel’s research spans membrane biology, metabolic regulation, and RNA-mediated immune processes. His work has been published in leading journals including PNAS, Cell Metabolism, Genes and Immunity, and Molecular Immunology. Before transitioning to education, Daniel worked in industry as a Molecular Biology Research Scientist at XTL Biopharmaceuticals, a Research Scientist at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, and a Research Technologist at Bio-Reference Laboratories, contributing to therapeutic development and molecular assay design.

Igor Zubov

Igor Zubov holds a Ph.D. in Physics and Mathematics from Moscow State University. He is currently a physics teacher at Bergen County Academies.

Daniel Olivo

With 20 years in education, Daniel Olivo holds degrees in Biology and Science Education and teaches at Bergen Tech-Teterboro. He specializes in independent research-based courses like AP Capstone, guiding students to think critically, ask big questions, and develop as independent scholars. Over the last decade, Daniel has mentored hundreds of students, ten of whom have successfully published in The Young Researcher, a globally recognized, blind peer-reviewed journal with a 5% acceptance rate and over 240,000 readers worldwide. Known for his flexibility, Daniel has embraced his students' passion for social science and humanities research, developing qualitative and quantitative coursework tailored to original inquiry at the high school level. He seeks to inspire the next generation of thinkers to turn their curiosity into tangible results and spread their message.