Annual Report 2017-18 - UMBC

UndergraduateResearchandPrestigiousScholarshipsDivisionofUndergraduateAcademicAffairsur.umbc.edu

2017-18AnnualReport

MissionMissionUndergraduateResearchandPrestigiousScholarshipsprovidesacademicsupportandadvising,mentoring,andfunding,tostudentsinvolvedinresearchandcreativework,orwhoarepreparingtoapplyforprestigiousscholarships.OurmissionistopromoteengagementandexperientiallearningthatenrichestheeducationalexperienceofUMBCundergraduatesinalldisciplines,andpromotesacultureofscholarshipthroughouttheuniversity.

VisionOurstudentsareexposedtoopportunitiesthatpreparethemtoachievetheiracademicgoalsandmakethemcompetitivecandidatesforgraduateandprofessionalschool,employment,andprestigiousawards.WecontributetoUMBC’sstrategiccommitmenttothetwingoalsofresearchandadistinctiveundergraduateexperiencebyfosteringacademicexcellencebothinsideandoutsideoftheclassroom.

SharedValuesAsaunitoftheDivisionofUndergraduateAcademicAffairs,wearecommittedtoUMBC’scorevaluesofdiversity,integrity,socialresponsibility,andlifelonglearning.Wedefineexcellenceinhighereducationthroughaninclusiveculturethatconnects innovative teachingandlearning,researchacrossdisciplines,andcivicengagement.

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MessagefromtheDirectorI’vebeenastaffmemberandpart-timefacultyatUMBCforabout14years,but2018marksthecloseofmyfirstfullyearastheDirectorofUndergraduateResearchandPrestigiousScholarships.ThisunithasastrongfoundationthatwasbuiltbyFoundingDeanDianeLee,InterimDeanSimonStacey,andformerDirectorJanetMcGlynn.Thegoalsforthispastyearweretomaintaincontinuityofprogrammingandtoensureasmoothtransitiontonewleadership.Thisyear,Ihavealsobeenassessingourpracticesandbuildinguponthemwiththegoalofimprovingstudentoutcomes.Inthecaseofprestigiousscholarships,Iamworkingtoestablishprotocolsandformingcommittees,givingstructuretotheinstitutionalnominationprocess.Thisyearwasalsoaboutformingandenergizingconnectionsoncampusandbeyond,buildingtrustwithstudentsandfaculty,andimprovingthevisibilityoftheunitandthedivision,asmajorcontributorstostudentsuccessatUMBC.

ThisacademicyearsawacontinuedincreaseinthenumberofUMBC’sundergraduatestudentswhoareengagedinresearchandcreativework.Throughourvariousprogramsandinitiatives,studentshaveobtainedfundingfortheirprojects,presentedtheirresultstofacultyandpeersbothoncampusandatnationalconferences,publishedtheiracademicwritinginpeer-reviewedjournals,participatedinoff-campusREUs,andcompetedforprestigiousscholarships. AfewoftheaccomplishmentsIammostproudofforthisyearincludesuccessfullynominatingandadvisingNaomiMburu,UMBC’sfirstRhodesscholarinschoolhistory,throughtherigorousapplicationandinterviewprocess.Otherhighlightsincludetakingoverasthefacultyrepresentativeforsevenprestigiousscholarshipsandstreamliningprocessesforapplicants,developingfacultycommitteestoimprovethequalityofapplications,andcreatinganarchiveofUMBC’spastwinners.I’veattendedtheannualNationalAssociationofFellowshipsAdvisors(NAFA)conferenceandlearnedaboutbestpracticesinthefield,metwithGoldwaterpresident,JohnMateja,andTaraYglesias,DeputyExecutiveSecretaryoftheHarryS. Truman ScholarshipFoundation,toidentifystrategiesforputtingforwardsuccessfulcandidatesforthesescholarships.AsanalumnaofUMBC’svisualartsprogram,ithasbeenapersonalgoaltoincreaseparticipationfromtheartsandtoshowcasecreativescholarshipatURCADside-by-sidewithtraditionalresearchfields.We’veimprovedassessment,andre-brandedourprogramswithanenergythatissupportive,professional,andstudent-focused.

IampleasedtoreportsignificantgrowthinalloftheprogramsIoversee,intermofthenumbersofstudentsandfacultywhoparticipate,aswellasthequalityofresearchandcreativeworkthesestudentsareproducing.Forthesesuccesses,theprogramsareindebtedtothesupportofUAAleadership,especiallyDeanKatharineCole,andthefundingthatcomesfromavarietyofcontributors,includingtheDeansofallfivecolleges,theOfficeofVicePresidentforResearch,andProvostPhilipRous.ThesuccessofstudentsinvolvedinourprogramsisanintegralpartofupholdingUMBC’sreputationasanationalleaderinacademicexcellence.Ihopetobuildonthisyear’sstudentsuccessesnextyearandbeyond!

AprilHouseholder,Ph.D.DirectorofUndergraduateResearchandPrestigiousScholarships

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UndergraduateResearchPrograms

Gettinginvolvedinresearchasanundergraduatehelpsstudentsnetworkwithfacultybothonandoffcampus,strengthentheirresumesforgraduateschool,professionalschool,andemployment,supporttheirartisticvision,andhelpsthemapplywhatthey’velearnedintheclassroominaresearchsetting.UMBChasseveralprogramsthataffirmUMBC’scommitmenttothetwingoalsofresearchandadistinctiveundergraduateexperience:

UndergraduateResearchandCreativeAchievementDay(URCAD) featuresresearch,scholarship,andcreativeworkcarriedoutbyUMBCundergraduates.Studentworkissharedthroughoralpresentations,posters,artisticexhibits,performances,andfilm.

UndergraduateResearchAwards(URA) provideupto$1,500toundergraduatestudentstosupporttheirresearchorcreativeworkwithaUMBCfacultymentoronanoriginalproject.UMBCstudentsofallyearsanddisciplinesareinvitedtoapply.

UMBCReview (JournalofUndergraduateResearch) Publishedannually,thispeer-reviewedjournalfeaturesacademicpaperswrittenbyUMBCundergraduates.

TravelAwards Studentswhoareinvitedtopresenttheirworkataconferenceorfestivalmayapplyforfundstosupporttheirtravel.

ResearchOpportunities AssistancewithfindingandapplyingtosummerREUsandotherresearchopportunities.

PrestigiousScholarships SupportforstudentsapplyingforprestigiousscholarshipssuchasRhodes,Gates-Cambridge,Marshall,TrumanGoldwater,andothers.

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Campus- wideDataon2018UndergraduateDegreeRecipientsWhoEngagedinResearch

Datawascollectedon1,266undergraduatedegreerecipients(2018)fortheUMBCCareerCenter’sFirstDestinationReport.

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2018ExceptionalGradswhoparticipatedinundergraduateresearchandprestigiousscholarships

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“ThisSeptemberIwillbetravellingtoRomaniaasaFulbrightscholar,conductingresearchonRomancoinimageryintheancientRomanprovinceofDacia.AsIbeginthenextchapterofmyacademiccareer,IcannothelpbutreflectontheopportunitiesIhavehadatUMBC,withoutwhichmyFulbrightapplicationwouldhavebeenseverelylacking.Byallowingmetopursuemyresearchinterestsandapplytoprestigiousscholarships,UMBChaspreparedmenotonlyforthisupcomingproject,butforyearstocome. MyURCADpresentationwasattendedbystudentsandfacultyalike.Iwasabletousefeedbackfrommypresentationtofurtherrefinemyprojectandsubmititasmyhonorsthesis.IalsoappliedtotheMarshallScholarshipunderthementorshipofDr.AprilHouseholder.Thoughtheapplicationwasarduous,requiringfiveseparateessays,Ifoundtheexperiencerewarding.Aswellasenhancingmywritingskills,theapplicationprocessmademetrulyreflectonthereasonsIhadchosenthisfieldofstudy,whyIwantedtopursuearchaeology,andhowIwantedtoproceed.ThankstothisintrospectivenatureoftheprocessIwasabletonarrowdownmyplansforafterFulbright,choosingtomarrymyresearchwithafutureinmuseumscuration.”

--FloraKirk2018Graduate,AncientStudies

URAScholar,URCADParticipant,FulbrightScholar

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BytheNumbers

5,664membersoftheresearchcommunityreached

246NIST

applicantsadvised

1stRhodesScholar

inschoolhistory

67URA

Scholars

2,448URCAD

attendees

1/3ofstudentswhoparticipateinURprogramsareunaffiliated

2,000copiesofthe

UMBCReview

distributed

18TravelAwards

1GoldwaterWinner

1HonorableMention

20Student

workshops

481REU

databaseentries

350URCAD

presenters

30%ofallundergraduatedegreerecipients

engagedinresearchwhileat

UMBC

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FacultySupportURCADCommittee

StephenMiller,ChairBiologicalSciences

DianeAlonsoPsychology

SongAnChemistryandBiochemistry

IanAnsonPoliticalScience

BradleyArnoldChemistry

RichardChangComputerScienceandElectricalEngineering

LindsayDiCuirciEnglish

AmyEverhartInformationSystems

AprilHouseholderUndergraduateResearchandPrestigiousScholarships

MollyJones-LewisAncientStudies

Hye-WonKangMathematicsandStatistics

JodiKelber-KayeHonorsCollege

JasonKestnerPhysics

JackieKingMARCU*STARProgram

CharlesLabergeComputerScienceandElectricalEngineering

HuaLuBiologicalSciences

GalinaMadjaroffManagementofAgingServices

NagarajNeerchalMathematicsandStatistics

TimothyNoheVisualArts

CherylNorthEducation

CorrieParksVisualArts

SaraPoggioModernLanguages,Linguistics,andInterculturalCommunication

NeilRothmanMechanicalEngineering

FelipeFilomenoPoliticalScienceandGlobalStudies

KathySutphinCollegeofNaturalandMathematicalSciences

URACommittee

GregorySzetoChemical,Biochemical,andEnvironmentalEngineering

J.Vanderlei MartinsPhysics

EricBrownInterdisciplinaryStudies

TimOatesComputerScienceandElectricalEngineering

Mariajose CastellanosChemicalEngineering

MicheleOsherowEnglish,JudaicStudies

DanielRitschelHistory

BrycePeakeMediaCommunicationStudies

VivianaCordovaVisualArts

MarcusZupanMechanicalEngineering

ThomasCroninBiologicalSciences

BradPeercyMathematicsandStatistics

CarolynForestierePoliticalScience

E.MichaelRichardsMusic

JeffreyGardnerBiologicalSciences

DavidRosenbloomAncientStudies

VinGrabill,ChairVisualArts

AnneSarahRubinHistory

DougHambyDance

DenaSmithSociologyandAnthropology

AprilHouseholderUndergraduateResearchandPrestigiousScholarships

PaulSmithChemistry

ReneeLambert-BretiereModernLanguages,Linguistics,and InterculturalCommunication

ColinStuddsGeographyandEnvironmentalSystems

AndreaKleinsmithInformationSystems

LauraTingSocialWork

AlanKreizenbeckTheatre

ShariWaldsteinPsychology

BernardLohrBiology

Chunming YuanEconomics

CriticalPed.a.go.gy:FacultyreviewcommitteesareanintegralpartofnotonlyevaluatingandselectingURCADpresenters,URArecipients,andprestigiousscholarshipsapplicants,butalsoprovidefeedbacktostudentstoimprovetheirresearchandwriting.

URCADMentor,Dr.MichaelSummers

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GoldwaterCommittee

AprilHouseholderCommitteeChairUndergraduateResearchandPrestigiousScholarships

LeeBlaneyChemical,BiochemicalandEnvironmentalEngineering

DavidEisenmannBiologicalSciences

StephenFreelandInterdisciplinaryStudies

JasonKestnerPhysics

BradPeercyMathematicsandStatistics

MarcinPtaszekChemistryandBiochemistry

CynthiaWagnerBiologicalSciences

Mitsue WiggsMeyerhoff ScholarsProgram

TravelAwardsCommittee

DevonFickUndergraduateAcademicAffairs

TimothyPhinAncientStudies

Bedrich SousedikMathematicsandStatistics

LauraTingSocialWork

“I'veenjoyedthe15yearsI'veservedasURAcommitteechair. Itwasmygoaltoworkwith

facultymembersonthecommitteetoencourageproposalsfromasmanystudentsas

possibleacrossthecampus. IalsoenjoyedworkingwithDeanDianeLee,ProvostRous,andotheradministratorsinanefforttosecuremorefunds,whenpossible. I'mgladtosaythatURAfundingandprojectcompletioncontinuesonanupwardtrend,andIlook

forwardtoreturningtoURCADintheyearstocometowitnesstheresearchproducedbyourtalentedandmotivatedstudentsatUMBC.AsIstepdownfrommyrole,theURAinitiativeand

URCADareinverygoodhandswithAprilHouseholdernowdirecting.”

-- VinGrabillOutgoingURACommitteeChair

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MentoringStudentsreportedfeelingmoreconnectedtothefaculty

• advice,encouragement• Studentsbetterunderstandthecultureofthediscipline• Studentsdevelopskillssuchas

• self-confidence,communication,technicalabilities,changemanagement,leadership,teamwork,abilitytoworkindependently

• Studentsmadeconnectionstoclassroomlearning• Professionalization:networkedtofaculty/institutionsoutsidetheuniversity• Facultyprovidedopportunitiestopresentandpublish

Dr.LeeBlaney andURAScholarDanielOcasio

“WhenIwasanundergraduatestudent,Ilackedcontextformystudies. Igotgoodgrades,butIwasn'tpassionateaboutwhatIwasstudying. Aftergettinginvolvedinundergraduateresearch,IbegantoseehowIcouldimpactandimprovetheworld. Myundergraduateresearchexperienceallowedmetoworkongrandchallengesrelatedtocleanwaterandpublichealth. Thatworkchangedmylife. So,forme,itisimportanttomentorundergraduateresearcherstohelpignitethatflameofcuriosityandhelpourstudentsbecomeleaderson globalissues. But,Ialsogetalotfrommyundergraduateresearchers. Itisimmenselygratifyingtowatchastudentpresenttheirworkforthefirsttime,topublishtheirfirstpaper,ortoreceiveamajoraward. Theirexcitementiscontagiousandhelpstopushmyself,andtherestofourresearchgroup,forward.”

-- Dr.LeeBlaneyDepartmentofChemical,BiochemicalandEnvironmentalEngineering

URAandURCADMentor

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BenefitsofEngagingStudentsinResearch

23.2% ofgradswhoengagedinundergraduateresearcharepursuingadvanceddegreesvs.4.6%whodidnot

Enhancedacademicperformance:

URstudentsgraduate

withhigherGPAs(3.6vs.3.0campus-wide)

Betterpositionedforprestigiousscholarships

(5/5,or100%ofprestigiousscholarshipswinnerswereengagedinundergraduate

research)

Graduatesoonerthanstudents

withsimilaradmissioncriteria

(75.6%4-yrand90%5-yr)

Increasedidentification withothermembersofanintellectual

cohortandhighlevelsof

satisfaction withtheircollegeexperience(esp.amongminority

students)

UR Mentorsreportbeingmoreengaged/satisfiedwiththeirwork

*Total%ofstudentswhoareemployedand/orpursuinganadvanceddegree.

Unaffiliatedstudentsgetengagedwiththeirintellectualcommunity

(about1/3ofURparticipantsareunaffiliatedwithotherscholarsorhonorsprograms)

Highercareeroutcomerate*

(89.9%vs.81.8%)

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Greateracceptanceratestograduateandprofessional

school(84.2%vs.16%campus-wide)

UndergraduateResearchAwards(URA)For2017-18,98 applicationswerereceived(intherequestedamountof$126,281)and66 URAprojectswerefunded(67students,includinggroupprojects),foratotalof$78,496.

Unaffiliatedstudents(studentsnotparticipatinginanhonors/scholarsprogram)continuedtorise,indicatingthatwearereachingstudentswhoaren’tbeingservedbyotherprograms.

Overthelastyear,theseURAscholarsconductedresearch,engagedinentrepreneurialprojects,andpreparedcreativeart,withtheguidanceoftheirmentors,andwiththesupportofURAfunding(upto$1500).TheypresentedtheirfindingsatURCADonApril25,2018.The URAScholarsandtheirmentorsfor2017-18are:

ShreyaAgarwalDevelopingNewTherapeuticsforProstateCancer:InhibitionofRNAPolIinMouseModelsofProstateCancerDr.CharlesBieberich

Tsola AkuyaHip-HopDance:Foundationalvs.CommercialstylesMs.CarolHess-Vait

Yafet ArafeayneSynthesizingFlexiblePurinesforInhibitionoftheNucleocapsid ProteinNCp7inHIV-1Dr.KatherineSeley-Radtke

HannahArisIsolatingPhosphorusfromPoultryLitterviaMembranePotentialsDr.LeeBlaney

EmmaAyalaStrataAnimation:LayersinTimeandSpaceMs.CorrieParks

HaleyBastMalariainDevelopedNationsDr.J.LeeJenkins

Siya BhagatDendriticDrugDeliverySystemforDeliveryofCisplatinDr.Marie-ChristineOnuta

Jayati BhavsarDesignofNano-engineeredMaterialsforLaserHostandBoneApplications:NovelHydroxyapatitesDrs.BradleyArnold,N.B.Singh

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JessicaBlackSexDifferencesinBrainResponsestoPaininMigraineursDr.Raimi Quiton

Peter BraunschweigStudyingtheSt.LouisUrbanHeatIslandDuringthe2017TotalSolarEclipseDr.Jeffrey Halverson

ThomasBurnettInvestigatingAdaptationofMelanopsin ActivationDr.Phyllis Robinson

Anya ByrdEffectofEnvironmentalColoringonReflectanceofNeogonodactylus oerstediiDr.Thomas Cronin

Jolee CohenSummerShakespeareanStudyMs.Eve Muson

Kelly DunnNarrativeConstructionsofCollectiveMemory:RepresentingtheArmedConflictinColombiaDr.Tania Lizarazo

Arissa FalatAStructure-ActivityRelationshipstudyofFlex-acyclic2,4-diaminopyrimidinenucleosidesDr.Katherine Seley-Radtke

Jair FloresRoleofPhosphatasesinintrisically photosensitiveRential GanglionCellDr.Phyllis Robinson

Sam GiannakoulisDevelopmentofaLightAdaptationModelfortheMelanopsin Phototransduction CascadeDr.Kathleen Hoffman

JasmineGimChineseandKoreanImmigrantMothers’SocialSupportNetworksandParentingStylesDr.Charissa Cheah

Jennifer HewittCharacterizingHotspotsofExtragalacticJetsandtheConnectionBetweenJetSpeedandJetPowerDr.Eileen Meyer

Lisa HongSynthesisofNearInfraredImagingDendronforuseinTheranostic SystemsDr.Marie-Christine Onuta

Anthony HuynhDissectingDynamicSpatialLocalizationofmTOR inLivingCellsDr.Minjoung Kyoung

Temitope IbitoyePhotolysisofMacrolideAntibioticsat253.7NMDr.Lee Blaney

Zakari JaworskiMeaninginMovement:UnderstandDanceThroughResearchProf.CarolHess-Vait

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MarcusJordanSynthesisofNovelWater-solubleSelf-assemblingBacteriochlorophyllcMimicsDr.MarcinPtaszek

MatthewKaneNestPredationoftheBahamaOriole:ExaminingtheEffectofInvasiveRodentsonaCriticallyEndangeredSongbirdDr.KevinOmland

MichaelLaScolaGenerationandanalysisofdp1mutantsinthegreenalgaVolvox carteriDr.StephenMiller

AndrewLeGenome-scaleMetabolicReconstructionofthePurinsome Multi-enzymeComplexDr.Songon An

RichardLinkousCharacterizationofthePathogenicBacterialIronUptakeProteinFeoADr.AaronSmith

Samiksha ManjaniAnalyzingtheSociologicalandLegalImpactsontheState-wideOccurrenceandReportingofRapeDr.Jeffrey Davis

JasonMascelliCanLocalGovernmentsandNonprofitsAffectImmigrantSettlement?Dr.FelipeFilomeno

CourtneyMattsonBehaviorofDartersinResponsetoOlfactoryCuesDr.Tamra Mendelson

LucasMcCullumInvestigatingtheFeasibilityofPZTPlatesTowardsDevelopingaTransducerforTumorDetectionDr.Soobum Lee

SarahMillerWomen’sRolesinAffordableHousingCommunitiesinRiodeJaneiroDr.SarahChard

Ijaz MohamedHeme RegulationofArginineTransferasesDr.AaronSmith

EmmanuelMonesAlt-Masc:DefyingToxicMasculinitythroughFashionandPhotographyProf.MarkDurant

RachelMorinDocumentaryofCatholicMissionsinPeruMs.SarahSharp

HeatherMortimerTheEffectof Immersive,Interactive,andParticipatoryExhibitExperiencesonVisitorInteractionsintheLibraryRotundaMs.SandraAbbott

JamarNashEndofLifeCareamongEx-prisonersinNursingHomeFacilitiesDr.BronwynHunter

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Tziona NessAiverCommunicatingViaEEGandSoundDr.CharlesLaBerge

AngelaOssanaLaser-inducedPlasmaInfraredSpectroscopyDr.BradleyArnold

EzraPailerAnimatedDocumentaryExploringPoetryasaToolofActivismProf.CorrieParks

AlexisRamseyFunctionalCharacterizationofthe Aspergillusnidulans,nrc2geneDr.MarkMarten

PriyankaRanadeUsingCognitiveComputingtoImproveCybersecurityDr.Anupam Joshi

MiaRickenbachCobaltStudiosSummerScenePaintingProf.NateSinnott

NicoletteRigginVlog:ADiscourseandEthnographicAnalysisofVlogging anditsEffectsonRomanticRelationshipsDr.BrycePeake

KwameRobertsonUsingCognitiveComputingtoImproveCybersecurityDr.Anupam Joshi

JoelRonningTheSuccessandFailureofLanguageintheWorksofBenJonsonandSamuelBeckettDr.RaphaelFalco

MichaelRowleyInvestigatingRelativeHabitatDensitiesoftheBahamaOrioleDr.KevinOmland

ImanSaidTheEffectofSocioeconomicStatusontheRelationshipBetweenMarginalizedIdentitiesand PsychologicalDistressDr.JasmineAbrams

WilliamSheltonAnalyzingtheEffectivenessofCrowd-sourcingClassificationTasksDr.MatthewFagan

EmilySlabyBoostingImmuneCellsusingPlasmaMembrane-insertingDrugstoCombatCancerDr.GregorySzeto

SavannahSteinlyDirectandIndirectPhotolysisofOrganometallicCompoundsDr.LeeBlaney

GeorginaStephanieAnalyzingtheDynamicsofIntracellularTraffickingandProcessingofLipid-tailedPeptidesinImmuneCellsDr.GregorySzeto

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JacobStreetPayingDividends:ExaminingthePoliticalViabilityofUniversalBasicIncomeDr.CynthiaHody

Donnel ThomasPutativeAutophagyProteinsAffectMorphologyinAspergillusNidulansDr.MarkMarten

Mekha ThomasCharacterizingEnzymaticComplexesinMetabolicallyStressedImmuneandTumorCellstoGuideCancerimmunotherapyDr.GregorySzeto

GarrettTignallComputationalStudiesoftheRotationalStateofCometNucleiDr.SusanHoban

Mai-HanTrinhACreativeApproachtoMeasuringEmpathyDr.SimonStacey

Yeerfan TuerdiAnEfficientParallelizingCompilerfortheMany-coreArchitectureDr.Tinoosh Mohsenin

Adaku UchenduNumericalSimulationofVibrationsofMechanicalStructuresDr.Bedrich Sousedik

AustinVongMammalSpeciesRichnessandAbundanceAcrossBaltimoreForestPatchesDr.ColinStudds

TheodoreWeinbergFastImplementationofMixedFiniteElementsandApplicationstoFlowinPorousMediausingMATLABDr.Bedrich Sousedik

Majuwana WijesekaraDeterminingtheImpactoftheREACHInitiativeonHighSchoolStudentsDr.MarianoSantoDomingo

LindaWiratanInvestigationofEffectsofElicitor-inducedDefenseActivationontheCircadianClockinArabidopsisDr.HuaLu

ClaudiaXieTheEffectsofMothers'EmotionSocializationPracticesonChildren’sEmotionalRegulationandProsocialBehaviorsinChineseAmericanFamiliesDr.Charissa Cheah

Yuwanyum ZhuParentingControlinEuropeanAmericanmothers,ChineseandKoreanImmigrantMothersDr.Charissa Cheah

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“IhadanideaofthedirectionmyacademiccareerwastakingpriortoparticipatinginundergraduateresearchatUMBC.WhenIreceivedtheURA,thosegoalsandthenewdirectionbecamemuchmoretangible.Themanifoldsupportwasnotonlyfinancial,butalsoinmentorship,andthecommunityoffellowresearchers.Thecollectiveofstudentresearcherswasoneofmyfavoritepartsoftheexperience;aswegatheredtoshareaboutourprocesses,Ifeltequallyawedatothers'workandencouragedinmyown.IhavefeltfueledtocontinuedownapathIwouldhaveotherwisebeenintimidatedtopursueonmyown,largelythanksto theseURAs.”

-- MiaRickenbachTwo-timeURAScholarandURCADPresenter

MiaisaLinehan ArtistScholarandTheatreDesign&Productionmajor,withanEntrepreneurship&Innovationminor.SheusedherURAawardtostudymuralpaintingtechniquesatCobaltStudioinNewYork.Sheappliedtheseskillstocreatelarge-scalemuralpaintingsdepictingstoriesfromwomeninvolvedinhumantrafficking,astoldinthebook,HalftheSky (alsotheUMBCNewStudentBookExperiencebook).SheexhibitedherpaintingsatURCAD.Miaearnedasecond,ENTRURAfor2018-19.Shewillberesearchingherideatostartabusinesscalled,“CreateFreedom”,anorganizationtoraiseawareness,empowerchange-makers,andtofundactivistsinthefightagainsthumantrafficking.

URASpotlight:MiaRickenbach (Theatre)VisualStorytellingAppliedtoHumanTraffickingAwareness

OUE’s2017NSBEbook,HalftheSky

LearningscenicpaintingtechniquesatCobaltStudio

ExhibitingherfinishedworkatURCAD2018

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URASpotlight:Arissa Falat (Chemistry)

URASpotlight:Samiksha Manjani (PoliticalScience)AnalyzingtheSociologicalandLegalImpactsontheState-wideOccurrenceandReportingofRapeMentor:Dr.JeffreyDavis

Thisresearchanalyzesandrevealstheinequities insentencingsexualassaultconvictions.Ithighlightsvariouscases,butmostnotablyanalyzesthesentencingin PeopleoftheStateofCaliforniav.BrockAllenTurner (2016).BrockAllenTurnerwasconvictedofthreefelonysexualassaultchargesyetwasonlysentencedtosixmonthsconfinementinacountyjail.Hewasthenreleasedafterservingthreemonths,andsubsequentlyonprobationforthreeyears.Thepublicoutcryinresponseraisedquestionsregardingsentencingleniencyforsomesexoffenders;especiallywhenfactorsofraceandsocialclassareconsidered.TheCalifornianlegislaturerespondedin2016withthepassageofmandatoryminimumsentencesforsexualassaultoffensesasanattemptatadequateanduniformretribution.Thisresearchanalyzestheconsequencesofmandatoryminimumsentencesonminoritypopulations,anditsconstitutionality.Furthermore,itanalyzesandsuggestsalternativesentencingapproachesincludingnon-bindingsentencingguidelines,restorativejustice,andrehabilitation.

URASpotlight:SarahMiller(InterdisciplinaryStudies)

AStructure-ActivityRelationshipstudyofFlex-acyclic2,4-diaminopyrimidinenucleosidesMentor:Dr.KatherineSeley-Radtke

Severaldeadlypathogenshaveemergedrecentlyforwhichtherearenocuresavailable.TheseincludethecoronavirusessuchasSevereAcuteRespiratorySyndrome(SARS)andMiddleEastRespiratorySyndrome(MERS);filoviruses,liketheEbola(EBOV),Sudan(SUDV),andMarburg(MARV)viruses;andflaviviruses,includingDenguevirus(DENV)andZika virus(ZIKV).Withhighmortalityrates,thepotentialreemergenceofSARS,recentoutbreaksofMERS,EBOV,DENV,andseveresideeffectsofZIKV,itisimperativethatsafeandeffectivetreatmentsaredeveloped.Onepotentialoptioninvolvestheuseofnucleosideanalogues,long knowntoexhibitpotentantiviralactivity,todisruptviralDNAorRNAsynthesis.TheSeley-Radtke labhasdevelopedseveraltypesofflexiblenucleosideanalogues,termed“fleximers,”whichhavedemonstratedtheabilitytoincreaseinteractionsinthebindingpocketthatwerepreviouslyunattainable.Preliminaryresultshaverevealedpotentactivityforseveralacyclicfleximers againstalloftheseviruses invitro.Unfortunately,bioavailabilityisanobstacletonucleosidedelivery;however,thismaybeovercomebyusingprodrugmoietiessuchastheMcGuigan ProTides.Aseriesofnucleotideprodrugsweresynthesizedinordertomoreeffectivelydeliverthemonophosphateformofthenucleosideintothecell.

DonadeCasa:Women’sRolesinAffordableHousingMovementsinRiodeJaneiroMentor:Dr.SarahChard

Forthisproject, Iwas researchingtherolesthatwomenplayinaffordablehousing movements,specificallythoseintheBraziliancityofRiodeJaneiro.Myresearchfocusedonthewaysinwhichwomen’sparticipationinthepublicandpoliticalsphereappeartosubverttraditionalBraziliangenderroleswhileactuallycrystallizingthoserolesinmanyways.Ialsoexploredtheuseofcollaborativephotographymethodstogivemoreagencytomysubjectinregardstotheirrepresentation.

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(2017-18)

(1999-2018)

URAData

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Feedbackfromthe2018post-URAScholarSurvey“TheURAgavemeanopportunitytoexploreaninterestIwouldnothavebeenabletootherwise.ThroughtheURA,Ifeltmorepreparedtofaceresearchinmyclassesandpursuepersonalresearchaftergraduating.TheURAopenedupnewgradschool,Ph.D.,andcareeropportunitiesformethatIwasn'tconsideringbefore.”

“TheURAhelpedmeformalizemyresearchprojectsuchthatithadaclearendgoal,pointsofself-assessmentandreflection,andamanageablesizesothatitcouldbecompletedinoneyear.ThishasgreatlystreamlinedwhatIwasabletoaccomplishasaresult.”

“I'mprettysurehavingcompletedtheURAprocessguaranteedmeafullscholarshiptothepatentlawschoolI'mgoingto.Italsoshowedmethetediousnessanddifficultyofresearch.Ihaveamuch,muchgreaterdegreeofrespectforthoseinbasicbiologicalresearchnow.”24

“ConductingtheresearchwithoutagraduatementorandbeingabletothinkoutthenextstepsofwhatIshouldbedoinginmyexperimentstrengthenedmycriticalthinkingskills.”

UndergraduateResearchandCreativeAchievementDay(URCAD)The22ndAnnualURCADeventfeaturedpresentationsbyarecord350students(up50fromlastyear),andanattendanceofalmost2,500 (up300).Studentspresentedoralandposterpresentations,danceperformances,films,music,theatreperformances,andcomputerengineeredvideogames.AlumnusIsaacKinde (BiologicalSciences,‘05)providedthekeynoteaddress.90unaffiliatedstudentsparticipated.

“Itmademeunderstandmoreofthecriticalthinkingbehindtechniquesbutalsohowto

interpretmydata.”

.

“MyURCADpresentationforcedmetolookatwhymythesisresearch

matteredtosomeoneoutsideofmydiscipline.Italsohelpedmetogaina

betterunderstandingofandconfidenceintheimportanceofmy

areaofresearch.”“Ilearnedhowtocompilemyresearchintoconcisetextsandgraphics,displayitinanorganizedway,andthenhowtoverballypresentmymaterialandguidepeoplethroughmyposter.InowfeelpreparedandconfidentthatIcouldpresentresearchatafuturejobthanbeforeIpresentedatURCAD.”

“Ilearnedtohandle

questionsbetterandthinkonthe

spot.”

“Itwasexcitingandunitingforsomanydisciplinestobepresentingatoneevent.Theenvironmentwas

encouragingandfun.”

“MymentorandIdefinitely

communicatedmorethanwewouldhaveifI

wasjustastudentinherclass.”

“AtUMBCeveryoneistaughttocontinuouslylearn,andURCADisagreatwaytolearnabouttheresearchthatotherdisciplinesaredoingoncampusandtoeducateyourselfonvariouspartsofthe

world,justthroughourcommunityhereatUMBC.”

URCADpresenter,PriyankaRanade

URCAD

“URCADservedasawarm-upformyINDScapstone

presentation.”

FeedbackfromPost-URCADPresenterSurvey

25

MaiaSchecter’s dancepiece,“NowElsewhere”,wasalsofeaturedattheKennedyCenter

FilmmakerEzraPailer collaboratedwithD.C.poet,Jordann Allentocreateananimated

documentaryfilm

MusicianEllingtonCarthan performed,“BlackRadio:TheRobertGlasperExperiment”

Guestsinteractedwithstudent-designedandengineeredvideogamesatURCAD

AlumniKeynoteSpeaker

IsaacKinde’05BiologicalSciences

M.D./Ph.D.,JohnsHopkinsUniversitySchoolofMedicine

Dr.IsaacKinde isanationallyrecognizedinnovatorofmolecularcancerdiagnostics.HeholdsanM.D./Ph.D.fromtheJohnsHopkinsUniversitySchoolofMedicine.HisdoctoralresearchproducednovelcancerdiagnosticsbasedonimprovementsinDNAsequencingtechnologyandwasawardedtheHansJoaquimProchaskaResearchAward.Notableapplicationsofhisworkincludeaprototypescreeningtestforovarianandendometrialcancersfromliquid-basedPaptests,anoninvasivemethodofmonitoringbladdercancersfromurine,andarevelationinthedevelopmentoftreatmentresistancefromanalyzingthebloodofpatientswithcoloncancer.Descriptionsofhisinventionsandtheirapplicationsappearinprominentscientificjournals– suchasScienceTranslationalMedicine,ProceedingsoftheNationalAcademyofSciences,andNature– andarethesubjectofseveralpatents.Hisworkhasattractedconsiderableattentionfromindustry,spurringpartnershipstofacilitateitscommercialization,includingPapGene,Inc.,amoleculardiagnosticstartupwherehecurrentlyservesaschiefscientificofficer.HehasbeenrecognizedasoneofForbesMagazine’s‘30under30’inScienceandHealthcareanda‘GameChanger’byMen’sFitness.IsaacreceivedaB.S.inBiologicalSciencesfromtheUniversityofMaryland,BaltimoreCountyin2005,whereheworkedwithresearchmentor,Dr.MichaelSummers.AtUMBC,hewasanUndergraduateResearchAward(URA)ScholarandURCADpresenter(2004-05),aMeyerhoff Scholar,andreceivedtheFacultyAwardofExcellenceintheBiologicalSciences.

UNDERGRADUATERESEARCHCREATIVEACHIEVEMENTDAY

URCADXXIURCAD

26

Note:Studentscouldidentifymorethanoneaffiliation.

2018

URCADData

27

URCADPresentationsbyYearandDiscipline

28

• “Ilearneddisappointmentandtroubleshooting.Ihadtoaskwhydidthisgowrong?Whydidthatcontributetoerror?HowcanIfixit?”

• “Itgavegreatpracticeintryingtoexplaincomplextopicstosomeonewhoisnotinyourfieldofexpertise.”

2018

2018Post-URCADPresenterSurveyResults(n=67)

29

Whatdidyoulearnaboutdeliveringaneffectivepresentation?• “TheoralpresentationprepsessiongivenbyDr.Phinwasveryhelpfulinexplaininghowtotomakeslidesand

presentationsaccessibleandeasytounderstand.”• “Itisimportanttospeakintoabroadaudienceandemphasizewhatyourresearchmeansandwhyitisimportant

whenintroducingandconcludingit.”

How?• “ParticipatingatURCADrequiresyoutotraceyourstepsbackwardsinyourresearchinordertogiveagood,concise

presentation.Youendupcatchingthingsyoumightnothavepaidattentiontobefore,oraskyourselfmorequestionssinceyou'reconsideringanaudience.”

• “Thequestionspeopleaskedmeatmyposterhelpedopenmymindaboutthingstoconsiderinfutureresearch.”30

How?• “Thishelpedmyrelationshipwithmymentorassheprovidedmewithgood,constructivefeedbackandencouragement.”• “Iwasabletomeetotherprofessorsbecauseofmypresentation,whichwadnicebecauseIdon'tattendMainCampusso

I'mlimitedinwhatprofessorsIgettomeet.”• “Iwasabletotalktomymentormoreaboutresearch(howit'sdone,whyit'sdone,etc.)whichwasnice.Ialsobumped

intoalotofpeoplewhowerepresentingatURCADthatwerealsoinalotofmyclassessoitwasnicegettingtoknowthemandtheirresearchbetter.”

How?“Ilearnedhowtocompilemyresearchintoconcisetextsandgraphics,displayitinanorganizedway,andthenhowtoverballypresentmymaterialandguidepeoplethroughmyposter.InowfeelpreparedandconfidentthatIcouldpresentresearchatafuturejobthanbeforeIpresentedatURCAD.”

31

UMBCReviewJournalofUndergraduateResearchTheUMBCReviewisapeer-reviewedpublication,completelydirectedbyUMBCundergraduates.AllofthearticlespublishedinTheReviewgothrougharigorouspeereditingprocess,andarereviewedbyoff-campusfacultytoassurethehighqualityofthepublication.Astudentgraphicdesignerisresponsibleforthecreativedesign.Weareproudtoproducethepublicationinprintformat.ItpremiereseveryApril,atURCAD.

FacultyAdvisor,Dr.SusanMcDonough

Samual Buettner (GraphicDesigner),Ioana Petricel(STEM),andManishaVepa (A/H/SS) 33

TravelAwardsStudents,departments,andtheuniversitybenefitwhenundergraduateresearcherspresenttheirworkatdiscipline-specificconferencesorappropriateartisticvenues.Tosupporttravelbystudentswhoarepresentingtheirscholarlyorcreativework,andwhohaveexhaustedallotheroptionsforfullyfundingtheanticipatedcostsofconferenceparticipation,weprovidenew(upto$500)andmatchingfunds(upto$750).Studentsmustbedegree-seekingundergraduatesingoodstandingandthestudent’sworkmusthavebeenacceptedforpresentationattheconferenceorartsevent.Fundingisforpresentationofresults,notforcollaboration,training,orprofessionaldevelopment,andmustbesupportedbyfacultyrecommendation.• Fundingreducedfrom$12,500to$2,500inFY17• FY18:5studentsfunded($3,000).Additionalfundsrepurposedtosupport

anadditional11students(16total),intheamountof$7,630.

“Thankstothetravelaward,IattendedtheAmericanOrnithologySociety’sconferenceatMichiganStateUniversity,whereIpresentedmyindependentresearchprojectforthefirsttime.Sincetherewerenumerousornithologists,Iwaspresentedwithgoodquestionsthatfurtherdevelopedmyideasontheprojectandprovidedmewithfurtherknowledgeonthesubject.Listeningtootherpresentationswasalsoverybeneficial,asitinspiredpotentialresearchprojectsthatIhopetoinitiateinthefutureforeithermyM.S.orPhD. Thiswasahugeopportunityformetoconnectwithotherresearchersatvariousinstitutions,especiallysinceIwasintheprocessoflookingatgraduateprograms.Inaddition,IlearnedaboutonelabwhiletalkingwithsomeoftheresearchersthatIwillbejoiningatSalisburyUniversitythiscomingFallsemesterforaM.S.I’mverygratefulfortheopportunitytoattendthisresearchconference.MyjobasanHonorsCollegeTransferTeamLeaderhasallowedmetosharemyexperiencetoothertransferstudentscomingInsothattheyalsomayhavesuchanexperience.SincepresentingmyresearchatAOS,IhavealsonoticedthatIammoreconfidentpresentingmyresearchatUMBC.Overall,myexperiencehasbeenverypositive,andIlookforwardtoattendmoreconferencesinthefuture.”

--DerekCross2017TravelAwardRecipient34

2017-18TravelAwardRecipientsSummerAkhtar,$500"UMBCMockTrial"DukeUniversityTobaccoRoadInvitationalDurham,NC

HannahAris,$280"RelationshipBetweenCoordinationVariabilityandTibiaStressGulfCoastUndergraduateResearchSymposiumHouston,TX

CatherineBarwulor,$500iConference 2018Sheffield,UK

Jayati Bhavsar,$500"DesignandCharacteristicsofHydroxyapatites:EffectofRadiation"SPIE:Commerical andScientificSensingandImagingOrlando,FL

DerekCross,$500"MigratoryReturnRatesandBreedingFidelityinEasternBluebirds"2017AmericanOrnithologyJointMeetingEastLansing,MI

AmandaFernandez,$500"PollenDynamicsofFieldBindweedandCompetitiveReleaseinPollenLoadsofaGeneralistPollinatorintheMediterranean"TheSocietyforIntegrativeandComparativeBiologyAnnualMeetingSanFrancisco,CA

GregoryFurletti,$500"GoldSupportedonMulti-WalledCarbonNanotubesforBiochemicalEnergyHarnessing"IEEEInternationalConferenceonNano/MicroEngineeredandMolecularSystemsSingapore

AlexHoltschneider,$500"FabricationofaTemperatureMonitoringSystem"IEEEInternationalConferenceonNano/MicroEngineeredandMolecularSystemsSingapore

Jaedon Huie,$500YaleUniversityMockTrialInvitationalNewHaven,CT

Manpreet Kaur(canceledtrip)

AlisonLarsen,$350"ExposuretoLowDosesofHeliumParticlesDisruptsNeuronalFunctionandCognitivePerformance"Neuroscience2017Washington,DC

LucasMcCullum,$500"TrackingAirPollutionintheCityofBaltimore,MarylandUtilizingLightDetectionandRanging(LiDAR)"20172nd AsiaConferenceonEnvironmentandSustainableDevelopmentTokyo,Japan

DavidSachs,$500"GrowthofBioSensorMaterialsbyPhysicalVaporTransportMethod"SPIEDefenseandCommercialSensingOrlando,FL

Ressa Sarreal,$500"DualGlucoseandLactateElectrochemicalBiosensor"IEEEInternationalConferenceonNano/MicroEngineeredandMolecularSystemsSingapore

ArmanSetser,$500"LocalGradientOptimizationofModularEntanglingSequences"APSMarchMeetingLosAngeles,CA

Amulya Shrestha,$500"TheFabricationofaTemperatureMonitoringSystem"IEEEInternationalConferenceonNano/MicroEngineeredandMolecularSystemsSingapore

EmilySlaby,$500"EnhancingImmuneCellsUsingPlasmaMembrane-InsertingDrugstoCombatCancer"2017BiomedicalEngineeringSocietyAnnualMeetingsPhoenix,AZ 35

ResearchOpportunitiesStudentswhoparticipateinappliedlearningactivitiessuchasresearch,havehigheracademicoutcomes,includingearninghigherGPAsandmorecredits,graduatingwithhonors,andachievinghighergraduationrates.1• URprovideshelpwithidentifyingREUs,completingapplications,preparingresumes,

andpersonalstatements,askingforlettersofrecommendation,etc.• URmaintainsadatabaseofsummerresearchopportunitiesgrowingtoover500

entries.We’vepartneredwithCareerServices,Meyerhoff,andotherstomaintaintheentries.

• WithhelpfromtheOfficeofSponsoredPrograms,studentapplicationsaresubmittedtothesummerresearchprogramattheNationalInstituteofStandardsandTechnology(NIST)SummerUndergraduateResearchFellowships(SURF):2018SURFstudentsadvised: 246;Applicants: 23;Accepted:4;Attending: 3(ZacharyClifford,Temiloluwa Okusolubo,VandaLuu).

1 Penniston,Thomas.(2014).TheImpactsofServiceLearningParticipationUponPost-Secondary Students’AcademicandSocialDevelopment.Dissertation,UniversityofMaryland,BaltimoreCounty.

36

PrestigiousScholarshipsPSprovidessupportforstudentstostudywithintheU.Sandabroad,byprovidingfundingforgraduateschoolandresearchopportunities.Thesescholarshipsarerecognizedassomeofthemostprestigiousintheworld,andtheirpurposeistodevelopoutstandingstudentsintoleaderswhoseresearchandcareerswillhavefar-reachingimpactsontheworld.Wefocusonthefollowingawards:Rhodes,Gates,Marshall,Truman(publicservice),Goldwater(STEM),butalsoadviseforotherscholarshipssuchasUdall,Schwarzman,Douglass,Fulbright,etc.,whenstudentscomeforward.

2018RhodesScholar,NaomiMburu

In2017-18,PSdevelopedandsentforward:• NaomiMburu forRhodes,Gates-Cambridge,and

Marshall (wonallthree)• LindaWiratan (Winner)YasminGraham(Honorable

Mention),ElianaCrentsil,and PujaTrivediforGoldwater

• FloraKirk forMarshall.Won Fulbright(Romania)• ManishaVepa forSchwarzman (interviewed,

waitlisted)andCarnegieEndowmentforInternationalPeaceJuniorFellowship.WonFulbright(SouthKorea)

• RebeccaMann forTruman• KatiePoteet forRangle• Eyal Handelsman Katz (graduate exchangestudent)

forGates-Cambridge andErtegun (Cambridge)

GoldwaterScholarLindaWiratan

GoldwaterHonorableMentionYasminGraham

37

• Establishedaprotocolforrecruitingcandidatesforprestigiousscholarships

• Institutionalnominationandselectionprocessesestablished

• MetwithGoldwaterPresidentandimplementedrubricsforinternalreviewofcandidates

• MetwithTrumanRegionalRepresentativetogatherinformationthatwillstrengthenourcandidates

• Heldfirstinformationsessionsforstudents

• Coordinatedmockinterviews,diningandinterviewetiquetteseminar fornominees,supportforstudentstravelingtointerviews

• DevelopedwebsitewitharchiveofUMBC’spastrecipients

• PartneredwithHonorsCollegetocreatelistofrunnerup/honorablementionandbiosofpost-graduateachievements

• DirectorattendedInterweek ProgramatUniversidade doPorto,Portugalandrepresented UMBCinthecontinuingdevelopmentofthisinternationalpartnership

• DirectorattendedNAFA’sannualconference

• Establishedaprojectcodeandbudget($1500)forprestigiousscholarships

• Co-nominatedvaledictorian(NaomiMburu,finalist)

• RestructuredGoldwatercommitteeandaddedCynthiaWagner(Biology),JasonKestner(Physics),BradPeercy (MathandStatistics).Developedinternalevaluationrubricsandranking/feedbackprocess.

NewImplementationsforPrestigiousScholarships

38

PartnershipsThisyear,we’veforgedpartnershipswithmanyUAAprograms,andbeyond.

UAA• StudentscompletingcapstonesforINDS arestronglyencouragedtoapplyforURAsinordertofundtheirwork,

andsubmittheirfinalprojectsforpublicationintheUMBCReview.3/10articlespublishedinthe2018editionarewrittenbyINDSstudents.5/10ofthearticlesarebyURAScholars.AprilHouseholderalsoservesasamemberoftheINDSCommittee(ISC),whereshereviewsandapprovesINDSdegreeproposals.

• MiaRickenbach,isatwo-timeURArecipientandherURCADpresentation,alarge-formatscenicpainting,wasbasedonstoriesfromthewomenintheOUE newstudentbookexperiencebook,HalftheSky,whoinspiredhertoadvocateforawarenessabouthumantrafficking.

• SupportfromtheHonorsCollegecontinuestohelpourstudentsandstafftosucceed- HChelpedfacilitatemockinterviewsandfundednomineesforprestigiousscholarshipstoattendregionalinterviewsandprofessionalizationworkshops.TheyalsofundedtheprofessionaldevelopmentoftheUR/PSDirector,withmembershipinNAFA(NationalAssociationofFellowshipAdvisors)andattendanceattheirannualconference.HCstudentsareamainstayinURandPS.AprilHouseholdermakesmultiplepresentationseachyearforHonorsCollegestudents.

• TheShermanSTEMTeacherScholarsProgramwasintegralinbringinghighschoolstudentstoURCAD.FutureeffortswillassessURCADattendancebyhighschoolstudentsasarecruitmenttool.

• ThedirectorworkscloselywithstafffromtheMeyerhoff ScholarsProgramtorecruitandadvisecandidatesfortheGoldwaterscholarship.Meyerhoff studentscontinuetobethelargestgrouptopresentatURCAD,andmakeupalargenumberofGoldwater(20/30),andotherprestigiousscholarshipsapplicants.

• WearecurrentlydevelopingworkshopsfortheWomen’sCenter‘sreturningwomenscholars.JessMeyerscontinuestobeanadvocateforoverlappingstudents(helpeddevelopBeccaMannforTruman).

• LRC hadseveralstudentswhoconductedresearchforcertificationforcollegereadingandlearninglevel3.SupplementalInstruction(SIPASS)leadersandtutorsareagrowingpresenceatURCAD(9).

INDSstaffatURCAD

39

Campus-widePartnerships• ThereisgreatsynergybetweentheInternationalEducationServicesOfficeandUR/PS.

AprilHouseholderservesontheFulbright interviewselectioncommittee.ManishaVepa(UMBCRevieweditor)andFloraKirkappliedforprestigiousscholarshipsbutwonFulbrights thisyear,asdidMorganZepp (URCADpresenter).DavidDiMaria andBrianSouders alsoparticipatedinmockinterviewsforinternationalprestigiousscholarshipsawards(U.K.andSchwarzman).HouseholderandSouders teamedupforpresentationstotheHonorsCollege,andforstudentsinterestedininternationalscholarships.

• AnewpartnershipwithCareerServiceswasforgedthisyeartoenrollthe2018-19URAsintheResearchInternshipPracticum(PRAC).Expectationsare:increasedstudentandfacultyaccountability;trackingofworkshopattendance;anorientationtoconductingresearch;settingoflearninggoals;mid-semestercheckinwithmentor;endofsemesterfinalreports;andformalevaluations.ThePRACwillbemarkedonstudents’transcripts,asameansofformalizingtheURAexperience.

• WehaverecentlypartneredwithVivianArmor,Director,Alex.BrownCenterforEntrepreneurship,toofferENTRURAs(fundedseparatelybytheAlexBrownCenter)whichsupportstudentsinthedevelopmentofasolutiontoeitheratechnicalorsocialproblemincollaborationwithaUMBCfacultymentor.TwostudentssuccessfullyproposedandwereawardedENTRURAsfor2018-19(Drue NixonandMiaRickenbach).

• WehaveanewpartnershipwithOIA forpromotionofourprogramstoalumni,prospectivestudents,andUMBC-wideadvertising.Thisisveryhelpfulforwidervisibilityandpromotingourbrand.

• TheMARCU*STARandMcNairScholarsProgrambothcontributedfundingtosupportURCAD.

“URCAD,URA,andtheUMBCReviewrepresentthreefacesofanimportantconnectionforINDStothebroaderactivitiesofUAAandUMBC.Theseinitiativesofferperfectavenuesforbringingourstudentsintodeepercontactwithotherstudents,otherfaculty,andtheexperthelpofferedbytheofficeofundergraduateresearch.Togetherwearenotonlystronger,butweexemplifythatasthepointofUAA- tointegratebetterforthebenefitofall.”

--- Dr.StephenFreelandINDSDirector

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One-on-oneSupportAfterapresentationaboutresearchopportunitieswasgiventoElaineMacDougal’s(ENGL/LRC)TechnicalWritingclass,anunaffiliatedstudentwrotethefollowingemail.Shethencameintotheofficeforhelpwithwritingherresearchabstract,whichshesubmitted,andwasacceptedatURCAD2018.

“Ireallyenjoyedallthepresentationssofarthissemester, butthepresentationIenjoyedthemostwastheonegivenbyDr. AprilHouseholder. Ifeltveryengagedduringtheentirepresentation, heruseofthePowerPointbehindherandvisualsmadeherspeakingveryeffective. Ithinkvisualsareveryimportantandtheyhelpyouraudienceunderstandwhatyouaresaying; IknowwhenIpresentIloveusingvisualsbecauseitgivesmesomethingtorelateto.Listening toherpresentationreallygotme thinkingaboutURCAD,andthatitissomethingIamthinkingaboutdoing. Itisagreatopportunity,anddoingthisprojectwilldefinitely furthermyacademiccareer.ItrulybelievethatifDr.Householder'spresentationskillswerenoteffective,thatIwouldnotbethinkingaboutURCADlikeIamnow. Herpresentationsskillswereveryeffectiveandgotmethinkingoutsideoftheclassroom. Thatshouldbethegoalofeveryspeaker,tomaketheiraudiencethinkaboutwhatwastalkedaboutevenwhenitsover. IjustwantedtothankyouforallofyourhelpthispastsemesterwithgettingmeinterestedinURCAD.ThoughIamgraduatingthissemesterfromtheMediaandCommunication(MCS),IwillbebackthroughtheAppliedSociologyM.A.Program.”

• In2017-18,therewereover120walk-insorappointmentsmadeforone-one-oneadvisingwithstudentstohelpthemidentifyandpursuetheiracademicgoals.

• URhostednumerousstudentworkshopsontopicssuchas:EffectiveOralandPosterPresentations,HowtoGetStartedinResearch,HowtoWriteaResearchProposal,ApplyingtoPrestigiousScholarships,andmore.

• 90studentspresentedatURCADwhowereunaffiliatedwithscholarsorhonorsprograms,liketheonequotedabove.

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PublicityandMarketingURwebsite(ur.umbc.edu)

TheURwebsiteservesasacentralized,comprehensivesiteforstudents,faculty,andstafftolearnaboutundergraduateresearchingeneral,andmorespecifically,aboutresearchopportunitiesthroughUMBCprograms,andexternally.Ourwebsitereceived62,295visitsin2017-18,and46,078uniqueviews.OurREUdatabasecontainsalmost500entriesforstudentstosearchinavarietyofwaystofindsummerresearchopportunities.Wehostaseparatewebsite(urcad.umbc.edu)forURCAD-specificinformation,suchassneakpeeksofstudentpresentations,searchparametersforfindingstudentsbydisciplineorpresentationformat,studentabstracts,schedules,guestspeakerbios,andarchivingphotos.Itwasviewed11,986timeslastyear,and2,030timesonthedayofURCAD.

OurURwebsiteisupdatedfrequentlytoprovidestudentsatallstagesofresearchinvolvementwithnews,resources,andinformation.Weutilizemanyphotos,videos,andlinkstoexternalresources,tobeusedbycurrentandprospectivestudents.Thewebsitealsohousestheonlineformsforregisteringandapplyingtoourprograms,alongwithdetailedinformationontopicssuchashowtowritestrongresearchproposalsandabstracts,effectivepresentations,andhowtogetstartedinresearch.PagesforPrestigiousScholarshipswerenewlyaddedthisyear.UpdatesandImprovementstothewebsiteareanongoingeffort,andaremanagedbyMichaelMower,IT,Web,andGraphicDesignSpecialist.

ProfessorGalinaMadjaroff andhermentees,winnersoftheURCADselfiecontest

FY17-18webpageanalyticsforURandURCADwebsites42

FacebookandSocialMediaSocialmediacomplementandreinforceemailandwebcommunicationsandprovideapreferredmethodofinformationdisseminationtomanystudents.Socialmediaoutreachisanexpectedfeatureofanyacademicofficeintoday’sdigitallyconnecteduniversityenvironment.SocialmediausageincreasesURvisibilityatUMBCandelsewhere.InadditiontoFacebook,wehavealsoaddedTwitter(325followers)andInstagramaccountsthisyear.Giventhefocusonsocialmediaaroundthemen’sbasketballwin,wehavebeguncollaboratingwithOIAtouse#UMBChashtagsforpostsaboutourprograms.Facebook,Instagram,andTwitterhavealsoprovidedvenuesforustointerfacewithothercampusorganizationsandoffices.Weannounceevents,deadlines,highlightstudentresearch,and“share”and“retweet”withotherofficesacrosscampus.TheURCADSelfieContestgeneratesheavytraffictooursocialmediapages.

SampleFacebookpostwith118peoplereached

OurFacebookpagehas773followers(up60fromlastyear),andinthelastyear,hasgenerated792“likes” onposts.OurpeakviewshappeninthemonthsleadinguptoURCADinApril(seebelow).

TweetActivity

SampleTweetwith2,695impressionsand8retweets

Facebookmonthlyviews

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myUMBC GroupTheUndergraduateResearchmyUMBC grouphasmorethan2,400membersand1,000followerscomprisedoffaculty,staff,students,andalumnifromeverydiscipline.OncepartofthemyUMBC group,thesemembersreceiveemailsannouncingupcomingUndergraduateResearchevents;postsrangefromworkshopsandinformationaboutURAandURCAD,tostudentresearcherspotlightsandinformationaboutresearch-relatedinternships/programs.Studentscanfollowthegrouporsign-uptobeamemberatanyoftheUndergraduateResearchhostedevents.ThosewhoareURAstudentsorURCADparticipantsareautomaticallyaddedasmemberssothattheycanreceivethelatestupdatesaboutupcomingeventsanddeadlinesrelatedtoURAandURCAD.Onedistinctivefeatureisthe“ResearcheroftheWeek”,whichhighlightsstudentaccomplishmentsandresearchinaprofilethatincludesaQ&Awiththestudent.DirectemailstogroupsandthemyUMBC grouparetheprimarymethodsusedtonotifystudentsabouteventsanddeadlines,aswellastopostsign-upinformation.

PrintedMaterials• Flyers- Wefrequentlypostflyersaroundcampusandsendthemtodepartments

andprogramstopostintheirareastoadvertiseworkshopsandeventshostedbyouroffice

• NewStudentOrientationandAdvisingGuide- weadvertiseourprogramsinthebookletgivenoutatfreshmanandtransferorientations,andintheslidepresentationgiventoparentsatorientation

• PostersandBanners- weworkcloselywithCommonvision andPureImpressionstodesignadvertisementsfortheCommonsbreezeway,iNet,theCommons,RACjumboscreen,library,UC,andotherhigh-trafficstudentareas

• News- weadvertiseinTheRetrieverstudentnewspaperandarefrequentlyfeaturedinstoriesinUMBCNewsandalumnipublications

• PromotionalItems-WeprintneckwalletnametagsforstudentspresentersatURCAD,pens,programs,buttons,andstaffteeshirts

AV• Radio- weadvertiseURCADandotherprogramsonWMBCradio• Video- wecreatevideosforpromotingprograms,givingadvice,andcelebrating

studentsuccesses

WorkshopsandTabling• TransferStudentNetwork(TSN)workshopandbreakfast• Over20studentworkshops throughouttheyeartogeneralstudentbody,or

directedtospecificgroups(HonorsCollege,Meyerhoff,artsmajors,etc.)• Presenceatnewstudentorientations

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InadditiontoNaomiMburu beingselectedasthefirstRhodesScholarinUMBC’shistory,the historicMen'sBasketballupsetof#1seededUVAin theNCAAtournamenthas shinedalightonUMBCfornotonlyitssuccessonthecourt,butalsoacademically.Theyswim!Theyrun!Theyscore!ButdidyouknowthatUMBC'sStudentAthletesalsoconductresearchandcreateart?CheckouttheseStudent Athleteswho presentedtheirresearchandcreativeworkatURCADorwhoareURAScholars:

2018URCADPresentersHannahAris,Engineering (CrossCountry/TrackandField)URAScholarCharacterizationofCMI-7000MembraneforImplementationinResourceRecoverySystemsCourtneyCulp,VisualArts(Soccer)ColorofMe(Animatedfilm)MatthewKane,BiologicalSciences(CrossCountry/TrackandField)URAScholarScratchingthe SurfaceofBahamaOriolePineForestNestingCourtney Mattson,BiologicalSciences(CrossCountry/TrackandField)TheRoleofOlfactoryCuesinMaleMateChoicein Etheostoma zonaleJethroSsengonzi,Engineering(Swimming)SurfacePhenomenaDrivingNaturalSurfaces

2018-19URAScholarsMilesSmith,MechanicalEngineering(CrossCountry/TrackandField)MultidisciplinaryPiezoelectricEnergyHarvestingResearchforWindTurbineMonitoringSystemsMatthewKane,BiologicalSciences(CrossCountry/TrackandField)CatsandRatsvs.theBahamaOriole:AssessingtheThreatofInvasiveSpeciestoaCriticallyEndangeredSpecies

StudentAthlete,MatthewKaneatURCAD

“WhenIthinkaboutwhoweareasaninstitutionandwhathappenedlastnight,itrepresentswhatwetellourstudents:Ifyouworkhard,therecanbethesespecialmomentswhereyou’removingtowardgreatness,”saidtheuniversity’spresident.Morethanthewinlastnight,Dr.Hrabowski saidhewasproudofwhatelsewasondisplay:adiversegroupinthestands,intheband,onthedanceteam.“YousawintheUMBCcommunitywhatAmericawantstobe.”

-- Dr.FreemanA.Hrabowski,III,UMBCPresidentoninclusiveexcellence,quotedintheNewYorkTimes

2018… itwasaverygoodyear

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HistoryTheideaforTheOfficeofUndergraduateEducation(OUE)camefromtheHonorsUniversityTaskForceReport,“EducatingUndergraduatesinaPublicHonorsResearchUniversityintheTwenty-FirstCentury”,inMay,2000.TheHonorsUniversityTaskForcewaschargedtouseUMBC’svision:Weaspiretocontinueourdevelopmentasanhonorsuniversitywhichseekstocombinethetraditionsoftheliberalartsacademy,thecreativeintensityoftheresearchuniversity,andthesocialresponsibilityofthepublicuniversitytoguideitindefiningelementsofanHonorsUniversityexperienceandinrecommendingthemeanstotransformtheaspirationsintoaprogramofaction.TheTaskForcewastoconsiderwhatopportunitiesandexperiencesUMBCshouldoffereachofitsundergraduatestudents.OUEwasformallyestablishedin2005,butmanyofitscurrentprogramspre-date2005.Duringthatpre-OUEperiod,(1996-2005),Dr.DianeLeeandBethPenningtonwereworkingwithsomeactivitiesthatbecamecomprehensiveOUEprograms.ForerunnersofOUEprogramsthatpre-dateOUEinclude:IntroductiontoanHonorsUniversity(1994)andFirstYearSeminars(1996);activitiesfosteringundergraduateresearchincludingUndergraduateResearchAwards(1996),UndergraduateResearchandCreativeAchievementDay(1997),TheUMBCReview(2000);theWomen’sCenter(1999);andTheNewStudentBookExperience(2004).Manyoftheseinitiatives,suchasUMBC’sannualUndergraduateResearchandCreativeAchievementDay(URCAD)wererareandinnovativeactivitiesonuniversitycampuseswhentheybeganin1997.URCADisnowanintegralandsuccessfulpartoftheUMBCculture.

Whilemanyuniversityunits,includingdeans’offices,academicdepartments,specialtyprogramssuchasMcNairandMeyerhoff,andtheOfficeoftheVicePresidentforResearch,playessentialrolesinsupportingundergraduateresearch,UAA’sinvolvementservesstudentsfromallcollegesanddepartments.UR/PSprogrammingtakesfourforms:providingvenuesforstudentstodemonstratetheirresearch,scholarship,andcreativework;allocatingfinancialsupporttoindividualstudentsfortheirresearch;facilitatingstudentengagementinresearch;andsupportingstudentswhoareapplyingforprestigiousscholarships.

InJanuary,2017,OUEDeanDianeLeeandJanetMcGylnn,DirectorofCommunicationsforOUEbothretired,andInterimDeanSimonStaceytookleadershipforoneyearbeforeDeanKatharineColewaspermanentlyhiredinAugustof2017.McGlynn’s positionwasfilledbyDr.AprilHouseholder,withthetitleofDirectorofUndergraduateResearchandPrestigiousScholarships.Thisisthefirsttimethattherehasbeenadedicatedstaffmemberwho’srole(10%)isfocusedonprestigiousscholarshipsactivities.InJune,2018,undertheleadershipofDeanKatharineCole,OUEdissolvedintotenunits,undertheDivisionofUndergraduateAcademicAffairs(UAA):AcademicEngagementandTransitionPrograms;AcademicStandardsandPolicyAdministration;HonorsCollege,InterdisciplinaryStudies;LearningResourcesCenter;Meyerhoff ScholarsProgram;OfficeofAcademicOpportunityPrograms;ShermanSTEMTeacherScholarsProgram;UndergraduateResearchandPrestigiousScholarships;Women’sCenter.

Passingthetorch:JanetMcGlynn andAprilHouseholder

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StaffTheOfficeofUndergraduateResearchandPrestigiousScholarshipsoffersyear-roundprogrammingtofacilitateandpromoteundergraduateresearchandnationallycompetitivescholarships.Weareasmallofficewithalargemissionthatcontributestorecruitingandeducatinghighlymotivatedstudentsinallfieldsofstudy.Supportforon-goingprofessionalizationandtrainingofpersonnelcomesfromwithinthedivision.TheprogrammingbudgetforFY2017-18was$101,000.

Full-timeAprilHouseholder(90%UR,10%PS)DirectorofUndergraduateResearchandPrestigiousScholarships

SupportStaffDevonFick(SharedwithUAA)AdministrativeAssistantII

MichaelMower(SharedwithUAA)IT,Web,andGraphicDesignSpecialist

DeniseKedzierski (SharedwithUAA)AdministrativeAssistantI

KelseyHood(SharedwithUAA)StudentOfficeAssistant

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UndergraduateResearchandPrestigiousScholarshipsDivisionofUndergraduateAcademicAffairs114ShermanHall,A-wingContact:[email protected]

Annual Report 2017-18 - UMBC

Documents

Transcript of Annual Report 2017-18 - UMBC