Princeton Student Aims To Inspire Immigrant Peers Through STEM Project

PRINCETON, NJ — Along with her sister, high school senior Daniela Gonzalez moved to Princeton from Guatemala in 2019. As an asylum seeker, she faced quite a few challenges especially when the pandemic hit in 2020.

But her love for science and hopes for higher education saw Gonzalez undertake science and entrepreneurship projects under the mentorship of Princeton High School educator Mark Eastburn. Gonzalez has presented her projects at the Junior Science and Humanities Symposium and at the Mercer County Science and Engineering Fair.

For her science project, Gonzalez is studying the improved walking habits of the gray bichir fish, also known as the Polypterus Senegalus.

“They are the type of fish that can walk and breathe air. I really love animals, especially aquatic animals. So, I took up the project, and have been working on it since the summer of 2022,” Gonzalez said.

The student researched the three mutations of the gray bichir - the short-bodied type, a variety that has longer than normal fins; the short body type and those that are found in the wild.

Through her research, Gonzalez found that the short-bodied fish can walk more efficiently on land, probably because it's able to direct more of their energy forward.

The gray bichir is similar to the land-walking salamanders and Tiktaalik said Gonzalez. The Tiktaalik is the first fossil fish known to walk on land and was discovered by Ted Daschler of the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia and Neil Shubin at the University of Chicago.

Gonzalez initially wrote her paper in Spanish and later translated it into English, before presenting it at the New Jersey Junior Science and Humanities Symposium.

She plans to attend Salisbury University to study biology. And to fund her tuition, Gonzalez has turned entrepreneur.

The student sells handmade, artisanal soap at Princeton Makes, an artist cooperative. Meanwhile, she is also trying to refine the process of creating soap made from bug oil, particularly the black soldier fly.

The project evolved from last year’s Samsung "Solve for Tomorrow" contest where students used the black soldier fly to address food waste and combat greenhouse gas emissions in local landfills. The oil extracted from the soldier fly larvae is being used as a substitute for palm oil in soap.

“I still haven’t found a way to refine the bug oil. But I’m looking to make oils from other sustainable products,” Gonzalez said. “It’s important for preserving the environment and protecting natural habitats.”

She recently presented her business idea at the Mercer County Science and Engineering Fair.

The soaps she currently produces are made of coconut and jojoba oil and other sustainable products.

“I want to be independent and partly pay my way through college,” Gonzalez said.

Growing up in Guatemala, Gonzalez did not have many opportunities to learn. But after moving to Princeton, a whole new world of learning opened up for the student. “Now I think I can do anything. Going to school here has helped expand my mind,” Gonzalez said.

The student is all praise for the Princeton community who have helped her in various ways. “There are so many nice people here who help you to do better. There are so many opportunities here and you can really make your life better,” she said.

Gonzalez hopes to inspire other immigrant students who are currently struggling with language barriers, housing insecurity, and other issues.

"Through my work I want to inspire my peers and tell them there are so many opportunities here if they work hard,” Gonzalez said. “If I can do it, so can they.”

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