MSJC Honors Student Roice De Castro Presents National Research and Earns Multiple Academic Publications
11/21/2025
MSJC is proud to announce that Honors Enrichment Program student Roice De Castro has achieved significant national recognition for her original undergraduate research, presenting at a major academic conference and publishing in two prestigious scholarly journals.
De Castro presented her research at the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) Annual Conference in Boston, Massachusetts, one of the nation’s largest and most respected gatherings of chemical engineering professionals and researchers. Her presentation, titled “Experimental and Computational Development of Carbonate-Activated Alginate Capsules for Tunable, pH-Response and Targeted Drug Delivery,” explored innovative approaches to creating pH-sensitive alginate capsules designed for targeted therapeutic applications.
Her work focuses on the precision engineering of biomaterials that respond to specific pH environments, with potential implications for more efficient, patient-specific drug-delivery systems—particularly in conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
In addition to her conference presentation, De Castro’s research was published in
the National Collegiate Honors Council’s Journal of Undergraduate Research & Creative
Activity (UReCA) under the title:
“Precision Engineering of pH-Sensitive Alginate Capsules for Targeted GERD Therapy:
An Exploratory Study of pH-Dependent Breakdown.”
De Castro’s findings were further recognized with publication in the 2025 edition of Think You?!, an online academic journal featuring exemplary student scholarship selected for presentation at the Bay Honors Research Symposium.
“Roice’s achievements represent the highest level of academic excellence within undergraduate research,” said Dr. Roger Schultz, MSJC Superintendent/President. “Her innovative work in targeted drug delivery not only reflects her dedication and talent but also showcases the world-class mentorship and opportunities our Honors Program provides. We are incredibly proud of her accomplishments and the national attention she has brought to MSJC.”
De Castro’s research was guided by a team of MSJC faculty mentors who provided scientific expertise and instructional support throughout her project: Professor Michael Plotkin, Professor Lilia Briones, and Trinidad Barreto.
The MSJC Honors Enrichment Program offers academically motivated students enhanced coursework, faculty-guided research opportunities, and avenues for regional and national scholarly engagement. De Castro’s success highlights MSJC’s commitment to fostering high-impact learning experiences that prepare students for transfer and future academic and professional pursuits.