Two scientists in protective suits stand next to a piece of equipment with a large lens

NASA, Dept. of Energy grant prestigious research awards to UMBC physics Ph.D. students


Science & Technology

Noah Sienkiewicz, the NASA recipient, says UMBC’s partnerships with the agency helped set him up for success. “I’ve gotten to be more exposed to actual NASA work, and sit in meetings with NASA officials,” he says. “So, as far as the childhood dream of ‘I want to work for NASA,’ I feel like it’s been a great stepping stone to doing that.” Continue reading NASA, Dept. of Energy grant prestigious research awards to UMBC physics Ph.D. students

UMBC grads share what inspires them: family, Baltimore communities, international experiences


Community, Policy & Society

“I had never been part of a university whose work was centered around social justice,” says Nicholas Nguyen ‘21, M.A. sociology. “The Peace Corps showed me how political systems work at an international level. UMBC’s Peaceworker Program is giving me an understanding from a social justice and antiracist perspective.” Continue reading UMBC grads share what inspires them: family, Baltimore communities, international experiences

Graduating Retrievers find joy and career inspiration in supporting K-12 students and families


Community, Science & Technology

“I was able to access excellent research opportunities in the humanities that I never thought would be available at the undergraduate level,” says Emily Rose Paul ‘21, global studies. “UMBC is known as a STEM school, but I have received the most amazing humanities education as a global studies student. You will be surprised at all that you can find here.” Continue reading Graduating Retrievers find joy and career inspiration in supporting K-12 students and families

Five rectangular pieces of white paper with red, black, and yellow prints.

UMBC expands arts opportunities for K-8 students in Baltimore through Charlesmead partnership


Arts & Culture, Policy & Society

Two UMBC projects have taken flight this spring, designed to support the academic, creative, and social success of Baltimore City students through arts opportunities. Both projects are funded through the UMBC-Charlesmead Initiative for Arts Education, which was established in 2018 with a $500,000, five-year gift from the Charlesmead Foundation. Continue reading UMBC expands arts opportunities for K-8 students in Baltimore through Charlesmead partnership

A diverse group of two dozen women poses in an informal cluster, along with a man in a tie and three children

This spring, UMBC’s Returning Women Student Scholars achieve dreams long deferred


Community, Policy & Society, Science & Technology2 Comments

This month Karla Gonzalez ‘20, social work, will become the first in her family to graduate from college, at age 34. For much of her life, college didn’t really seem like a possibility. “I never saw myself as a leader,” she says, “but at UMBC I learned that I was one.” Continue reading This spring, UMBC’s Returning Women Student Scholars achieve dreams long deferred

three people walking

UMBC receives $2.8M from NSF for master’s program to prepare a diverse environmental science workforce


Policy & Society, Science & Technology

“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

UMBC’s Qianqian Song receives FINESST Fellowship from NASA for research on dust clouds and climate


Community, Science & Technology2 Comments

“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 newest grads share what inspired their unique paths


Arts & Culture, Class of 2019, Policy & Society, Science & Technology1 Comment

When students come to UMBC, they bring with them life experiences that shape the program they choose, the mentors they find, the research questions they ask, and the communities they build on campus. Here, five UMBC students earning their degrees this month share experiences that shaped their paths. Continue reading UMBC’s newest grads share what inspired their unique paths

Biology graduate students from UMBC earn national honors for unique aquatic research


Community, Science & Technology

Whether wading in a cold stream or in the lab, mentors who foster independent thinking balanced with guidance—for research and for life—make the difference for UMBC graduate students on the national and international stage. A close-knit graduate student community adds a level of support that helps students succeed. Continue reading Biology graduate students from UMBC earn national honors for unique aquatic research

Alex Sestok, Ph.D. student in chemistry, at GRC 2018. Photo by Marlayna Demond '11 for UMBC.

New GEARS symposium offers professional development opportunities to grad students across disciplines


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

“We want to provide an avenue for people to learn skills that they’re not going to get in the classroom or the lab,” says Alex Rittle, Ph.D. student in geography and environmental systems and chair of the GEARS planning committee. Continue reading New GEARS symposium offers professional development opportunities to grad students across disciplines

UMBC recognizes Renetta Tull for transformative leadership advancing diversity in STEM


Community, Policy & Society, Science & Technology

Renetta Tull has worked with students, faculty, and staff across UMBC and the University System of Maryland to increase diversity in STEM disciplines for over a decade. At the end of March, Tull will begin a new role as vice chancellor for diversity, equity, and inclusion at UC Davis. Continue reading UMBC recognizes Renetta Tull for transformative leadership advancing diversity in STEM

UMBC launches PROMISE Academy with USM partners, to support diverse faculty in the biomedical sciences


Policy & Society, Science & Technology2 Comments

The PROMISE Academy will draw on the expertise of universities around the nation and evidence-based best practices to recruit and retain a diverse group of faculty members in STEM fields. “With so many top programs supporting the success of diverse students and faculty, UMBC has a strong foundation on which to build,” Renetta Tull said. Continue reading UMBC launches PROMISE Academy with USM partners, to support diverse faculty in the biomedical sciences

UMBC’s 6th Critical Social Justice Week focuses on passion and pathways to have an impact


Community

CSJ: Ignite takes place October 22 – 26, 2018. The week’s programs have been designed both to tap into the passion people already feel for issues that matter to them and to provide pathways for people who haven’t been engaged in traditional forms of activism to see opportunities to have an impact. “It’s about being able to share your strengths and skills for activism and social change, and being able to share the message with others,” says Jess Myers, director of UMBC’s Women’s Center. Continue reading UMBC’s 6th Critical Social Justice Week focuses on passion and pathways to have an impact

UMBC, NASA, and partners mount intensive Chesapeake Bay air-quality study


Science & Technology

“My favorite part of this project is giving the students hands-on experience,” says Ruben Delgado. “They get to contribute to the process from start to finish.” Delgado is the UMBC lead on the project, in partnership with the NASA lead John Sullivan, Ph.D. ’15, atmospheric physics. Continue reading UMBC, NASA, and partners mount intensive Chesapeake Bay air-quality study

UMBC’s 40th Graduate Research Conference to focus on communication and collaboration


Community, Policy & Society, Science & Technology3 Comments

“GRC gives graduate students training on how to ace professional conferences in the field, and by participating, students practice how to communicate their research in an accessible way,” says Morgan Bunting, a gerontology Ph.D. student and member of the GRC planning committee. “It’s also just a wonderful way to engage the community and learn what amazing work is going on in the Graduate School.” Continue reading UMBC’s 40th Graduate Research Conference to focus on communication and collaboration

Man and woman look at equipment in a lab. Both wear lab coats and protective glasses.

UMBC a founding partner in coalition to increase transparency on life science career prospects


Community, Science & Technology

UMBC is among nine U.S. research universities and a major cancer institute that just announced plans to give would-be life scientists clear, standardized data on graduate school admissions, education and training opportunities, and career prospects. Continue reading UMBC a founding partner in coalition to increase transparency on life science career prospects

UMBC participates in national study on Ph.D. career pathways at pivotal moment for new grads


Community, Policy & Society, Science & Technology

“The assumption that the Ph.D. is primarily a pathway to the professoriate is just not the case,” says Janet Rutledge, dean of the Graduate School. “We’re hoping that by being part of this study, we will determine the best ways to focus our time and our resources to most effectively guide our students.” Continue reading UMBC participates in national study on Ph.D. career pathways at pivotal moment for new grads

UMBC Ph.D. candidate Kavita Krishnaswamy receives Google and Microsoft awards for robotics research


Science & Technology

The honors recognize emerging scholars in computing who are dedicated to increasing diversity in the field. Krishnawamy’s awards will support her research on “Smart Algorithms via Knowledge Management of Safe Physical Human-Robotic Care.” Continue reading UMBC Ph.D. candidate Kavita Krishnaswamy receives Google and Microsoft awards for robotics research

Grad students explain complex research simply through UMBC storytelling workshop


Arts & Culture, Policy & Society, Science & Technology

“Failure is a great theme for storytelling,” said Laura Wexler from The Stoop Storytelling Series. She explained that sharing struggles on the path to success can help a researcher explain what motivates them and why their work matters. Continue reading Grad students explain complex research simply through UMBC storytelling workshop

UMBC support for STEM grad students from underrepresented groups featured as a national model


Community

UMBC’s Summer Success Institute creates opportunities for mentorship and community building among graduate students, supplementing academic programs to “[make] sure students have the emotional and community support they need to thrive,” says Renetta Tull. Continue reading UMBC support for STEM grad students from underrepresented groups featured as a national model

New research highlights Dissertation House as an effective support model for minority STEM Ph.D. candidates


Science & Technology3 Comments

Students in the program were 92 percent more likely to complete their degrees than peers not in the program. “We’re pleased that the model has helped so many students to reach their goals,” says Renetta Tull. Continue reading New research highlights Dissertation House as an effective support model for minority STEM Ph.D. candidates

Congressman Elijah Cummings discusses UMBC’s research leadership and commitment to Baltimore during campus visit


Community

Faculty speak about UMBC’s well-rounded research portfolio and focus in on research strengths in physics, geosciences, space science, and bioengineering; students share career goals and experiences working with local communities. Continue reading Congressman Elijah Cummings discusses UMBC’s research leadership and commitment to Baltimore during campus visit

Renetta Tull presents LSAMP program as model for improving STEM education in high schools


Science & Technology

Renetta Tull, associate vice provost for graduate student development and postdoctoral affairs, presented at the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Learning for All forum supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) on November 9, 2015. She discussed the University … Continue reading Renetta Tull presents LSAMP program as model for improving STEM education in high schools

Renetta Tull selected as one of three finalists for GEDC Airbus Diversity Award


Science & Technology

Renetta Tull, associate vice provost for graduate student development and postdoctoral affairs, has been selected as one of three finalists for the GEDC Airbus Diversity Award. Dr. Tull has been invited to present her work and ideas to a jury of experts at the annual … Continue reading Renetta Tull selected as one of three finalists for GEDC Airbus Diversity Award

Renetta Tull shortlisted for GEDC Airbus Diversity Award


Science & Technology3 Comments

Renetta Tull, associate vice provost for graduate student development and postdoctoral affairs, is one of ten impressive candidates shortlisted for this year’s GEDC Airbus Diversity Award. The GEDC Airbus Diversity Award honors people and projects worldwide that “have encouraged students of all … Continue reading Renetta Tull shortlisted for GEDC Airbus Diversity Award

Robert Deluty, Graduate School, Publishes his 49th Book


Community

Robert Deluty, associate dean of the graduate school, has published a new book, “A Mingled Yarn.” In his review, Ronald Pies writes: “Robert Deluty’s wonderful new collection of poems draws its title and inspiration from Shakespeare’s line, ‘The web of our life is of a mingled yarn, good and ill together.’ In Deluty’s poems, there is certainly the recognition of evil — e.g., ‘neo-Nazi teen/ planning to change his surname/ from Brown to White’ — but also the eternal force of good, as in, ‘in the mailbox/ finding her lost wallet/ with extra cash.’ Also evident in these poems is … Continue reading Robert Deluty, Graduate School, Publishes his 49th Book