UMBC receives $2.8M from NSF for master’s program to prepare a diverse environmental science workforce
“The primary mission of UMBC is inclusive excellence, and our program applies that mission to the environmental sciences,” says Tamra Mendelson. “Our main objectives are to bring a diversity of backgrounds to the environmental workforce and to improve the way that scientific research is applied to environmental problems.” Continue reading UMBC receives $2.8M from NSF for master’s program to prepare a diverse environmental science workforce
New UMBC study shows powerful effects of road salt and urban infrastructure on waterways
The relationship between urbanization and water chemistry was “more complex than we thought,” Matthew Baker says. Overall, though, he says, “We need to pay closer attention to the materials we’re using in and on infrastructure,” and “we definitely have to lower the amount of road salt we’ve been applying,” to keep our local ecosystems healthy. Continue reading New UMBC study shows powerful effects of road salt and urban infrastructure on waterways
Meet six Retrievers who went from internship to career success with UMBC Career Center support
Decades after the start of the internship boom, internships continue to be invaluable for both undergraduate and graduate students. As UMBC students demonstrate, gaining real-world experience and networking within an area of interest can have a lasting impact when it comes time to search for a full-time position. Continue reading Meet six Retrievers who went from internship to career success with UMBC Career Center support
UMBC’s Sander Goossens determines structure of Mercury’s core as part of NASA team
Sander Goossens and his team used their new analysis “to see if there was anything we could say about the planet’s deep interior that people hadn’t been able to say before.” There was: The team discovered the percentage of the planet’s core that was solid versus molten, which provides clues to the evolution process for Mercury and other planets. Continue reading UMBC’s Sander Goossens determines structure of Mercury’s core as part of NASA team
Times Higher Ed and Wall Street Journal again name UMBC a leading global and U.S. university
Just days after U.S. News again recognized UMBC as one of the nation’s top universities for teaching and innovation, the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings have named UMBC a top global university. UMBC is listed as among the top 800 universities worldwide, and #130 among U.S. universities on the global list. UMBC performs particularly well on an important measure that reflects the visibility of UMBC faculty research on a global stage. Continue reading Times Higher Ed and Wall Street Journal again name UMBC a leading global and U.S. university
UMBC’s Erle Ellis crowdsources global archaeological research to trace the history of human impacts on Earth
“Our hope is that this is only the first achievement of what will become a new, massively collaborative scientific approach to understanding the global environmental changes caused by humans over the long term,” shares Erle Ellis, professor of geography and environmental systems. Continue reading UMBC’s Erle Ellis crowdsources global archaeological research to trace the history of human impacts on Earth
Sherman Center for Early Learning in Urban Communities hosts literacy-focused institute for Baltimore teachers
UMBC’s Sherman Center for Early Learning in Urban Communities recently welcomed to campus early childhood educators from four Baltimore City public schools. They gathered for a Summer Teacher Institute designed to enhance their expertise on improving reading and writing instruction and outcomes for young English language learners. “These strategies support and build on the skills students have and open worlds of unexplored possibilities,” says Olivia Grimes ‘19, individualized study, an early childhood teacher at Maree G. Farring Elementary/Middle School and a presenter at the event. Continue reading Sherman Center for Early Learning in Urban Communities hosts literacy-focused institute for Baltimore teachers
National Institute on Aging funds UMBC’s Erin Green to investigate how cells do “quality control” as we age
The project will explore the function of an enzyme called Set6, about which little is known. Erin Green hopes to “break open a broader understanding in the field of what its role is, especially in the context of protein quality control,” which could inform pharmaceutical development for treatment of diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Continue reading National Institute on Aging funds UMBC’s Erin Green to investigate how cells do “quality control” as we age
UMBC partners with Latino Racial Justice Circle and Maryland Humanities in community-engaged research in Baltimore
“Our goal as researchers was to use dialogue and digital stories as two ways to bring different communities together around religion, race, and immigration,” explains Felipe Filomeno, professor of political science and global studies. Continue reading UMBC partners with Latino Racial Justice Circle and Maryland Humanities in community-engaged research in Baltimore
Six Baltimore City Schools in UMBC Math Project partnership see math test score gains
Maryland PARCC test results, released last week, reveal that Baltimore City schools partnering with UMBC have seen dramatic growth in student math performance. The Baltimore Sun has called this trend one of the “bright spots” at a challenging moment, when many schools across the state are struggling to move the needle on student learning in math. Continue reading Six Baltimore City Schools in UMBC Math Project partnership see math test score gains
Retriever Nation welcomes another class to its ranks
The start of the school year is invigorating for the whole university community, whether you’re starting your first year in college, transferring from a different institution, or gearing up to teach for the tenth year. And UMBC is channeling all that energy in classic Retriever ways. Continue reading Retriever Nation welcomes another class to its ranks
UMBC’s Minjoung Kyoung to help develop first 4D map of a cell’s metabolic pathways
“I’ve always been interested in how proteins are working in the real system, in real time, in real action,” Minjoung Kyoung says. She’ll get to explore those dynamics with funding from a new five-year, $1.6 million grant from the National Institutes of Health. The pathways she’s studying are relevant to some of the most pervasive diseases in the country. “My dream is to be able to predict disease before symptoms occur,” she shares. “That would be the best.” Continue reading UMBC’s Minjoung Kyoung to help develop first 4D map of a cell’s metabolic pathways
Preminda Jacob focuses on building connections as new associate dean of research and community engagement
Scott Casper, dean of CAHSS, is excited about the level of expertise Jacob brings to the team. “Preminda Jacob brings a wealth of experience as a scholar, teacher, and UMBC citizen, and leader to the Dean’s Office,” says Casper. “I am delighted that she has joined our leadership team and look forward to her continued contributions to the College and the University in this new role.” Continue reading Preminda Jacob focuses on building connections as new associate dean of research and community engagement
UMBC’s Lee Blaney and federal, state partners publish landmark study on contaminants in the Chesapeake Bay
UMBC’s Lee Blaney and research partners have published a landmark study on contaminants of emerging concern in the Chesapeake Bay that quantifies concentrations of antibiotics, estrogenic hormones, and UV-filters in multiple locations of the Bay. The work highlights the importance of understanding how previously unexamined chemicals impact the environment. Continue reading UMBC’s Lee Blaney and federal, state partners publish landmark study on contaminants in the Chesapeake Bay
Open spaces nurture open minds in UMBC’s new Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Building
“When you share a kitchenette with a biologist, a chemist, an engineer and somebody from public policy, it’s inevitable that new things will brew,” says Greg Szeto, who is moving in to the ILSB with the new Translational Center for Age-Related Disease and Disparities. The ILSB “is a total game-changer for me,” adds Chris Hawn. With its state-of-the-art instrumentation, “There are protocols where I can get ‘level unlocked.’ It just opens things up for me and my students.” Continue reading Open spaces nurture open minds in UMBC’s new Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Building
Wind, solar, and…flutter? UMBC’s Justin Webster is using math to move this emerging tech forward
“There’s no such thing as free energy, but there are lots of situations where there’s ambient energy available,” like a flapping flag, Justin Webster says. “You just have to find an efficient mechanism for turning it into meaningful, useful energy.” That’s what Webster and colleagues from Duke and Carnegie Mellon hope to help make happen with their new grant from the NSF. Continue reading Wind, solar, and…flutter? UMBC’s Justin Webster is using math to move this emerging tech forward
Princeton Review lauds UMBC as one of the best colleges in the nation
UMBC is once again featured in the Princeton Review guide, The Best 385 Colleges, for 2020. This is widely considered one of the leading guides for prospective undergraduate students in North America. Continue reading Princeton Review lauds UMBC as one of the best colleges in the nation
Team of UMBC grad students takes first place at 2019 BMEidea competition
UMBC’s team competed in the biomedical and bioengineering innovation student category of the competition, and presented a device called ASTEK, which allows physicians to more effectively treat bacterial infections. Continue reading Team of UMBC grad students takes first place at 2019 BMEidea competition
NASA and DoE fund UMBC’s Zhibo Zhang to pursue ambitious atmospheric research
“You can look at the data and you see discrepancies between the climate models and the observations,” says graduate student Kylie Hoffman. “Some of it we can explain, and some of it we can’t. Identifying the discrepancies and being able to modify the climate models to be more accurate down the road is very important.” Multiple projects in Zhibo Zhang’s lab are helping labs all over the world address questions like this. Continue reading NASA and DoE fund UMBC’s Zhibo Zhang to pursue ambitious atmospheric research
UMBC’s Stephen Freeland receives Trotter Prize for pioneering origins-of-life research
Freeland’s research has always centered on how and why living things evolved a system of genetic coding, which has taken him from biology to astrobiology and has inevitably led him to grapple with one of the big questions many people ask themselves: “Where do we come from?” Continue reading UMBC’s Stephen Freeland receives Trotter Prize for pioneering origins-of-life research
UMBC ranks in top 3.3% of universities worldwide
UMBC has again been named one of the top universities in the world for 2019-2020. Rankings released this week by the Center for World University Rankings (CWUR) place UMBC in the top 3.3% of universities worldwide, as well as among … Continue reading UMBC ranks in top 3.3% of universities worldwide
UMBC’s Qianqian Song receives FINESST Fellowship from NASA for research on dust clouds and climate
“When I visited UMBC, I felt like everyone knows each other and supports each other in the physics department,” Song remembers. “That’s why I chose here.” Now, she’s rising to become a leader in the field of dust aerosols, which play a role in climate change. Continue reading UMBC’s Qianqian Song receives FINESST Fellowship from NASA for research on dust clouds and climate
UMBC’s Baja SAE team finishes with second highest total points in program’s 30-year history
The team ended this year’s season strong, finishing in the top 12 overall at each of three competitions across the country. Continue reading UMBC’s Baja SAE team finishes with second highest total points in program’s 30-year history
Inaugural Maryland Arts Summit convenes at UMBC
On June 6–8, UMBC hosted the inaugural Maryland Arts Summit. During the three-day event, five hundred artists, educators, advocates, and arts administrators from across the state convened for workshops, award programs, networking sessions, performances, and more. Continue reading Inaugural Maryland Arts Summit convenes at UMBC
UMBC’s Mejdulene B. Shomali receives Woodrow Wilson Foundation fellowship for research on gender and sexuality in transnational Arab culture
“Most people don’t know there are twenty-two countries in the Arab league. These countries share Arabic as the primary national language. Many are Muslim-majority nations,” shares Shomali. “Many, but not all.” She notes, “There is great linguistic, cultural, ethnic, and religious diversity within the Arab world.” Continue reading UMBC’s Mejdulene B. Shomali receives Woodrow Wilson Foundation fellowship for research on gender and sexuality in transnational Arab culture
Jessica Berman is named the 2019 UMBC Lipitz Professor for her global radio research
“Jessica Berman’s new book will be an important contribution to the growing academic literature on a previously ignored medium,” shares Jason Loviglio, “pushing radio studies and modernist studies in important new directions.” Continue reading Jessica Berman is named the 2019 UMBC Lipitz Professor for her global radio research
UMBC partners with five universities in the US, UK, and Japan to launch International Cybersecurity Center of Excellence
UMBC has partnered to create a global university network dedicated to securing critical systems against cyber threats: the International Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (INCS-CoE). Continue reading UMBC partners with five universities in the US, UK, and Japan to launch International Cybersecurity Center of Excellence
UMBC’s Tom Cronin, mantis shrimp vision expert, receives international Rank Prize for Optoelectronics
The mantis shrimp visual system “is just extraordinarily strange,” says Tom Cronin. His study of this remarkable system alongside colleague and co-winner Justin Marshall over the last 30 years has led to applications such as guided breast cancer surgery and detection of otherwise camouflaged objects, among others. Continue reading UMBC’s Tom Cronin, mantis shrimp vision expert, receives international Rank Prize for Optoelectronics
UMBC’s Erickson School celebrates new grads as innovators in aging services
“Our ceremony provides an opportunity to reflect upon the tremendous personal growth of each of our graduates,” explains Dana Bradley, dean of the Erickson School. “We celebrate the amazing opportunities our graduates have as leaders in aging services to ensure that our society is ready to embrace the longevity economy.” Continue reading UMBC’s Erickson School celebrates new grads as innovators in aging services
New ranking names UMBC among world’s top universities for faculty research
According to the recent QS World University Rankings 2020, UMBC is one of the top 500 universities in the world overall and among the best of the best in a key measure of faculty scholarship. Continue reading New ranking names UMBC among world’s top universities for faculty research
Leadership Montgomery recognizes UMBC’s Annica Wayman and Sunil Dasgupta
Wayman and Dasgupta are the first members of the UMBC community to be selected since the program’s inception in 1990, an indication of UMBC’s growing presence in Montgomery County through the Universities at Shady Grove. Christopher Steele shares, “These two remarkable leaders perfectly reflect the fact that UMBC offers its very best to Montgomery County.” Continue reading Leadership Montgomery recognizes UMBC’s Annica Wayman and Sunil Dasgupta
UMBC convenes research forum on immigration and mobility in higher education
“The research results showed that for each undocumented student that graduates from a four-year college, who would not have gone otherwise, the net benefits to the state were $350,000,” explains Gindling. “Providing access to higher education and financial aid to undocumented youth is a good investment for the individual, for the state, and for the government as a whole.” Continue reading UMBC convenes research forum on immigration and mobility in higher education
Phage Hunters: Popular UMBC research program opens doors to biotech careers
“All the techniques we learned in Phage Hunters directly translate to the work we do in the lab on a daily basis,” says Anna Kawa ’18. “Being on the cutting edge of biotech is really exciting,” adds Viet Dang ’18. “Just being right there, potentially changing history, is really exciting.” Continue reading Phage Hunters: Popular UMBC research program opens doors to biotech careers
UMBC honors social work students for commitment to social change
“You committed to academic excellence,” said Carolyn Tice, associate dean of social work at UMBC, “but you also demonstrated a commitment to community and overwhelming service to people—people who are often left behind.” Continue reading UMBC honors social work students for commitment to social change
UMBC celebrates student achievement in the arts, humanities, and social sciences
“CAHSS’s amazing students do it all: think and learn across boundaries and borders, develop their identities as scholars and citizens, and contribute their imagination and expertise to local and global communities,” says Scott Casper, dean of CAHSS. “Given all they’ve already accomplished, it’s exciting to envision what they’ll do next.” Continue reading UMBC celebrates student achievement in the arts, humanities, and social sciences
CNMS celebrates a year of growth in partnerships to support student success
“The college has laid the foundation, and now is really in a strong position for growth,” says Dean Bill LaCourse. “It’s all about paying attention to the people and their needs,” he explains, so faculty, staff, and students can do their best work and create a thriving community together. Continue reading CNMS celebrates a year of growth in partnerships to support student success
UMBC’s Jeff Leips receives NIH grant to explore how genes affect immune system function as we age
With this new NIH grant, Jeff Leips says, “Ideally, I want to understand the mechanisms—what goes wrong with age and immunity? Once we know that, the next question is whether we can find ways to try to ameliorate the effects of aging on those traits.” Continue reading UMBC’s Jeff Leips receives NIH grant to explore how genes affect immune system function as we age
UMBC’s Hua Lu works to decode plant defense system, with an eye on improving farming and medicine
“It’s quite cool,” Hua Lu says, “because, in both plants and animals, people are beginning to study the crosstalk between the circadian clock and the immunity system.” Continue reading UMBC’s Hua Lu works to decode plant defense system, with an eye on improving farming and medicine
UMBC’s Sarah Stellwagen first in world to sequence genes for spider glue
Sequencing spider glue genes is like, “picking a needle from a haystack,” says UMBC postdoc Sarah Stellwagen. She is the lead author of a new G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics article on sequencing two spider glue genes for the first time. They’re massive — the largest has a coding sequence over 42,000 bases long. Continue reading UMBC’s Sarah Stellwagen first in world to sequence genes for spider glue
UMBC’s Glenn Wolfe develops new method to gauge atmosphere’s ability to clear methane, a potent greenhouse gas
“Hydroxyl radicals control the lifetime of nearly every reactive gas,” including methane, explains Glenn Wolfe. However, “globally, we don’t have a way to directly measure them.” His new research puts scientists on the path to changing that, and toward improving global climate models. Continue reading UMBC’s Glenn Wolfe develops new method to gauge atmosphere’s ability to clear methane, a potent greenhouse gas
UMBC communications team wins CASE writing award for research news coverage
UMBC’s communications team has earned an Excellence in News Writing Award for research, medicine, and science news writing from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. UMBC was one of just two universities to receive the award in the mid-Atlantic, CASE’s largest district, representing 700 U.S. and Canadian colleges and independent schools. Continue reading UMBC communications team wins CASE writing award for research news coverage
Festive COEIT Celebration honors achievement, service, and community
The COEIT Celebration has quickly become a defining annual event for the community of faculty, staff, and students in UMBC’s College of Engineering and Information Technology (COEIT). The celebration showcases the achievements of COEIT’s numerous highly active student organizations. It’s also an opportunity for community members to reflect on the year and to honor those whose work has been essential to the College’s impact and growth. Continue reading Festive COEIT Celebration honors achievement, service, and community