Catalysts of Change
Ideas Shaping Tomorrow
Volume 2, Issue 1 — July 2026
Published July 2026
ISSN: 3069-8200
The Princeton Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (PJIR) proudly presents its third issue, Catalyst of Change, continuing the journal's commitment to showcasing exceptional interdisciplinary scholarship from undergraduate and early-career researchers around the world.
This issue reflects the transformative power of research to challenge assumptions, advance understanding, and inspire meaningful change across disciplines. Catalyst of Change brings together an exceptional collection of papers spanning fields including artificial intelligence, molecular biology, psychology, environmental science, public policy, law, economics, history, philosophy, literature, art history, biomedical engineering, cybersecurity, aerospace engineering, and global development. Together, these contributions demonstrate how today's most pressing questions are increasingly addressed through interdisciplinary perspectives and innovative approaches.
This issue also highlights the truly global nature of student research. The published papers represent student researchers from institutions around the world, including Phillips Academy, Northeastern University, Dartmouth College, Pennsylvania State University, Harvard Graduate School of Education, and many other leading secondary schools and universities across North America, Europe, Asia, and beyond.
In recognition of outstanding scholarly contributions, Catalyst of Change presents two Best Paper Awards. The first Best Paper Award is presented to "The Relationship Between Adolescents' Likelihood to Judge, Assist, and Punish Under Omission Neglect" by Seojin E. Ban of Phillips Academy, with Dr. Alireza Soltani of Dartmouth College, for its thoughtful experimental investigation into adolescent decision-making and cognitive bias. The second Best Paper Award is presented to "Nascent vs. Steady-State Sequencing Reveals Extensive but Unstable Antisense Transcription in Yeast" by Nishant Chaparala for its rigorous biological research and original contribution to understanding gene transcription dynamics. These papers exemplify the intellectual curiosity, methodological rigor, and interdisciplinary excellence that define the mission of the Princeton Journal of Interdisciplinary Research.
All accepted articles are published online under ISSN 3069-8200.
Editor’s Note
The beginning of a new volume offers an opportunity to present new scholarship and reflect on the purpose of research. As the Princeton Journal of Interdisciplinary Research enters its second year, we are reminded that knowledge advances through curiosity, collaboration, and a willingness to question established ideas.
Today’s most pressing challenges—from technological change and public health to climate resilience and global inequality—rarely belong to a single discipline. Addressing them requires researchers who can connect diverse perspectives, methods, and fields of study.
The articles in this issue reflect that interdisciplinary spirit. Each examines a distinct question, yet together they demonstrate how rigorous scholarship can deepen our understanding of complex problems.
As PJIR continues to grow, we remain committed to supporting undergraduate and early-career researchers whose work challenges assumptions and contributes to meaningful academic dialog. We thank our authors, reviewers, and readers for making this publication possible.
We hope this issue inspires curiosity, encourages new conversations, and highlights the power of building connections across disciplines.
PJIR Editorial Team
Articles in This Issue
Understanding Developmental Disorders through the Lens of Gene Editing and Stem Cells
Author: Nisa Defne Bayram
Affiliation:
Abstract: Due to their role in influencing behaviour, language, learning, as well as bodily health, developmental disorders have considerable concerns. Stem cell therapies as well as gene editing technologies such as CRISPR-Cas9 have been addressed in this research as promising directions toward enhanced understanding as well as treatment.
Keywords: gene editing, stem cell therapy, developmental disorders, autism spectrum disorder, Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Creating Affordable Housing in Seattle
Author: Alexander H. Lee
Affiliation: Lakeside School
Abstract: Housing affordability is a critical issue in Seattle as the demand outpaces the new housing construction. This research paper examines the effectiveness of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) as a strategy to address Seattle’s housing shortage and affordability crisis. ADUs have popularized following Seattle’s 2019 zoning reforms, which eased restrictions on size, standards, and owner occupancy.
Keywords: affordable housing, Seattle, housing policy, zoning reform, accessory dwelling units (ADUs)
Harnessing Riemannian Geometry to Predict Spotting
A Novel Model for Wildfire Embers
Author: Arth Dalsania
Affiliation: Newbury Park High School, Newbury Park, California, United States
Abstract: Operational wildfire spread models are crucial to informing the decisions made by wildfire responders. However, current models for wildfire spread through spotting (the transport of embers by wind) have limited accuracy, particularly in conditions of irregular terrain and wind. This study introduces a novel spotting prediction model that incorporates wind speed, relative humidity, and topography by employing differential geometry.
Keywords: wildfire model, spotting, ember transport, pyro-convection, topography
Measuring Division: The Language of Dissent in the Supreme Court and American Polarization
Authors: Rohan Srivatsa¹, Katherine Ireland Ph.D.², Sophia Nguyen³, Jason Eappen⁴
Affiliation: University of Georgia Athens, Georgia, United States
Abstract: Political polarization in the United States has been widely examined through legislative behavior, electoral politics, and mass political discourse. Far less attention, however, has been paid to how polarization is discursively constructed within elite judicial institutions. This paper examines how ideological conflict is enacted and negotiated through the language of dissenting opinions in the U.S. Supreme Court.
Keywords: Diachronic Corpus Analysis, Supreme Court Dissents, Institutional Discourse, Political Polarization, Evaluative Language
Citation for This Issue
Princeton Journal of Interdisciplinary Research. (2026). Volume 2, Issue 1 — Catalysts of Change. PJIR.
https://www.princeton-press.com/pjir/issues/vol-2-issue-1
Open Access Statement
This journal is fully open access. All articles are freely available to read, download, and share without subscription or access barriers. We encourage scholars to cite and engage with the research published here, as such scholarly exchange plays an important role in supporting emerging and early-career researchers and advancing ongoing academic conversations.