UMBC places 10th at Pan-Am Team Chess Championship


Community

UMBC Chess competed in the 2018 Pan-American Intercollegiate Team Chess Championship, held in San Francisco, California, December 27 – 30. “The Pan-Am tournament was great for all of the players on the team,” says team member Ewa Harazinska ‘20, chemistry. “We take a great pride in representing UMBC in a national competition, and we were delighted to place in the top 10 chess teams.” Continue reading UMBC places 10th at Pan-Am Team Chess Championship

Student scientists take center stage at UMBC’s largest-ever Undergraduate Research Symposium


Science & Technology

“It is so inspiring to see hundreds of undergraduate researchers from over 40 colleges and universities and nearly a dozen states coming together to present research to fellow students, mentors, and faculty judges,” shares CNMS Dean Bill LaCourse. Continue reading Student scientists take center stage at UMBC’s largest-ever Undergraduate Research Symposium

UMBC and community colleges collaborate to boost transfer student success in STEM


Community, Science & Technology

“I was really interested in looking at transfer from an asset-based perspective,” says UMBC’s Sarah Jewett. “Transfer students bring so many experiences and talents to this campus, just like every other student, and I think those strengths need to be recognized and tapped.” Continue reading UMBC and community colleges collaborate to boost transfer student success in STEM

South Africa to Colorado: Summer research helps UMBC STEM BUILD students chart their course


Community, Science & Technology

Traveling far from home for an immersive research experience can be transformational for an undergraduate. Living and working in a completely new environment, with new colleagues, can be intimidating, but it also offers powerful opportunities for growth. Five STEM BUILD students from UMBC took that plunge this summer, and all made lasting memories that will inform their paths forward. Continue reading South Africa to Colorado: Summer research helps UMBC STEM BUILD students chart their course

UMBC’s Summer Undergraduate Research Fest 2018 spotlights talents of emerging scientists


Science & Technology

More than 30 faculty mentors, 120+ undergrad and high school students, and dozens more attendees celebrated the students’ achievements at the conclusion of their summer research experiences. “The experience helped us to think like scientists,” says Olufolake Majekodunmi ’21. Continue reading UMBC’s Summer Undergraduate Research Fest 2018 spotlights talents of emerging scientists

New UMBC initiative celebrates exceptional faculty dedication to teaching and scholarship


Policy & Society, Science & Technology

UMBC’s Office of the Provost has launched a university-wide initiative to celebrate faculty who go above and beyond as educators, scholars, and leaders on campus and in their fields. This initiative strives to highlight tenure-track junior faculty, lecturers, and adjunct, research, and clinical faculty whose work is essential to UMBC’s success. Continue reading New UMBC initiative celebrates exceptional faculty dedication to teaching and scholarship

UMBC’s Songon An discovers new molecular mechanism likely involved in cancer cell metastasis


Science & Technology2 Comments

For the first time, An and his students have determined a function of a particular signaling pathway associated with metastasis. “Looking at this metabolic switch—which pathways are in use during metastasis versus when the cell is attached—may be where our research goes in the future,” says An. Continue reading UMBC’s Songon An discovers new molecular mechanism likely involved in cancer cell metastasis

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program honors 18 UMBC students and alumni


Community, Science & Technology

The large number of honorees “shows the quality of student we have here at UMBC and what they’re doing,” says Keith Harmon, director of the Meyerhoff Scholars Program. “It also shows the quality of their research experiences at UMBC, and the commitment of the faculty to mentoring these students as undergraduates.” Continue reading NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program honors 18 UMBC students and alumni

Daniel Morris to pursue microbiology Ph.D. at Penn without losing sight of love for the arts


Class of 2018

From theatre productions to HIV research, Daniel Morris has taken advantage of the breadth of opportunities UMBC offers. “Being involved with performing and social student groups helped me to appreciate the value of being a well-rounded individual,” he says. Continue reading Daniel Morris to pursue microbiology Ph.D. at Penn without losing sight of love for the arts

UMBC scientist opens a “new chapter for biochemistry” with $1.5 million NIH grant to study sugar metabolism


Science & Technology

“I’m hoping that in the future many people will be working in this area of cellular biochemistry, studying many metabolic enzymes in living cells,” says Songon An, whose work is on the leading edge of “the next stage in biochemistry.” Continue reading UMBC scientist opens a “new chapter for biochemistry” with $1.5 million NIH grant to study sugar metabolism

UMBC launches program to prep students for biotech careers in partnership with Montgomery College and The Universities at Shady Grove


Science & Technology2 Comments

“As the biotechnology industry translates basic research from ‘bench to bedside,’ it needs a well-trained workforce,” says Dean Bill LaCourse. “The TLST program is designed from the ground up to meet that need through a flexible and interdisciplinary approach with intensive industry-inspired laboratory skills training.” Continue reading UMBC launches program to prep students for biotech careers in partnership with Montgomery College and The Universities at Shady Grove

Undergraduate Research Symposium award winners embody success of UMBC STEM BUILD program


Community, Science & Technology

“The BUILD participants at URS exemplify the objectives of the program,” says Laura Ott. “By participating in the BUILD program, they’re helping us explore novel strategies to increase participation in undergraduate research for all students.” Continue reading Undergraduate Research Symposium award winners embody success of UMBC STEM BUILD program

20th Undergraduate Research Symposium shines a light on students’ diverse contributions to science


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On October 14, more than 300 students from across the East Coast descended on campus to share their research with each other, participate in workshops, and learn about UMBC. The event celebrated the diversity among young scientists and the potential for their work to have a positive impact on the world. Continue reading 20th Undergraduate Research Symposium shines a light on students’ diverse contributions to science

UMBC faculty awarded NSF grant to shrink tumors with heat and nanoparticles


Science & Technology1 Comment

“This strategy, if successful, will not only ensure delivering high payloads of anticancer drugs directly to tumors where they are needed the most, but also result in an overall reduction of drug dosage, and thereby reducing systemic toxicity in other body organs,” explains Liang Zhu, professor of mechanical engineering and PI of the grant. Continue reading UMBC faculty awarded NSF grant to shrink tumors with heat and nanoparticles

2017 Alumni Awards celebrate impressive contributions across disciplines from UMBC alumni and faculty


Arts & Culture, Community, Policy & Society, Science & Technology

“You see this great cadre of people who represent the best of our university, the best of our country and the best of humankind. They are solving the problems of humankind,” said President Hrabowski. “This is by far the best of UMBC.” Continue reading 2017 Alumni Awards celebrate impressive contributions across disciplines from UMBC alumni and faculty

UMBC’s 20th Summer Undergraduate Research Fest spotlights emerging science talent from across the nation


Science & Technology

“It is a privilege to have so many students coming from far and near to participate in the authentic research experience UMBC provides,” shared Dean Bill LaCourse. “I assure you that your discoveries have added to scientific knowledge, which in the end benefits society through empowerment.” Continue reading UMBC’s 20th Summer Undergraduate Research Fest spotlights emerging science talent from across the nation

Legends of Excellence Awards celebrate UMBC faculty and staff who inspire black and Latino students


Community

The work these legends did to support minority students “made a positive difference, and our students not only survived, but thrived,” shared Cynthia Hill, and President Hrabowski pointed out that UMBC now serves as a national model for elevating people from all backgrounds. Continue reading Legends of Excellence Awards celebrate UMBC faculty and staff who inspire black and Latino students