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
Contemporary Feminist Art: How Artists Convey Ideas and How Chinese Adults (18-55) Understand Them
Author: Yi-Chin Lee
Affiliation: Shanghai American School Puxi Campus, Shanghai, China
Abstract: Contemporary art is often criticized for not exhibiting 'true art' values and incapable of addressing social issues effectively despite its historical role as a powerful medium for catalysing social change and articulating complex ideas. This study strives to answer 2 fundamental questions: how do contemporary artists attempt to convey feminist ideas through their work, and how are adults aged 18–55 living in China,
Keywords: contemporary art, feminism, audience interpretation, Shanghai adults
Predicting Drag Coefficient from Automotive Design Parameters Using Machine Learning
Author: Aarush Mohan
Affliation: Cambridge Centre of International Research
Abstract: This study explores the application of machine learning (ML) to predict the drag coefficient (Cd) of vehicles using design parameters, offering an alternative to conventional wind tunnel and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods. Using the publicly available DrivAerNet dataset, which contains over 4,000 vehicle configurations, the research focused on the 15 most influential geometric parameters identified through feature importance analysis.
Keywords: machine learning, drag coefficient prediction, vehicle aerodynamics, neural networks, automotive design
Evaluating Sentiment Analysis Models on Telugu-English Code-Mixed and Monolingual Texts
Author: Pranav Nimmagadda
Affiliation: Carnegie Mellon University
Abstract: The increasing prevalence of code-mixing in non-English languages presents a significant challenge for traditional sentiment analysis tools, which are designed to handle monolingual text. The complexities of grammar, syntax, and cultural context introduce challenges that are not sufficiently addressed by existing English-centric models.
Keywords:
Recent Advances in Stem Cell-Based Therapies for Skin Regeneration
Author: Kichiro Rayden Djohari
Affiliation: Cardiff Sixth Form College Cambridge
Abstract: Severe deep tissue injuries, including extensive traumatic injuries, burns, physicochemical damage, or other primary skin loss conditions, continue to present significant clinical challenges. Skin tissue engineering provides promising solutions by developing bioengineered skin substitutes that promote tissue regeneration and enhance patient care. This review paper aims to examine recent advancements and innovations in skin tissue engineering (STE) by exploring traditional treatments and capitalizing on their weaknesses, utilizing stem cell-based therapies in conjunction with biomaterials and scaffolds to enhance skin regeneration.
Keywords: skin tissue engineering, mesenchymal stem cells, epidermal stem cells, hydrogels, 3D bioprinting
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.