The team led by UMBC's Dr. Dipanjan Pan (twitter: @ProfDipanjanPan) is the only academic group selected as a finalist for the Rapid Testing Innovation Award at the Advanced Lateral Flow Conference 2021.

Rapid Detection of SARS-CoV-2 via Oligonucleotide Based Molecular Lateral Flow Assay 

One postdoctoral research associate position is available starting early 2022 in the Department of Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. The selected candidate will be expected to work with Dr. Chris Hennigan on a DoE-funded research project focused on atmospheric multiphase chemistry. The project will characterize light-absorbing organic compounds (brown carbon) in atmospheric cloud water. The candidate will be expected to work closely with a Ph.D. student and undergraduate students, and to help in the training and mentoring of the students. The employee will also assist in drafting project reports, making presentations, writing new proposals, and drafting publications. Candidates with a PhD in Environmental Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, or Environmental Science are preferred. Research experience in one or more of the following fields is desirable: aerosol chemistry, atmospheric trace gas measurements, organic aerosols, and environmental analytical chemistry.

Review of applications will begin December 1, 2021 and will continue until the position is filled. 

Interested candidates should send a cover letter highlighting their relevant experience and research interests, curriculum vitae, and a list of three references as a single .pdf to Dr. Chris Hennigan (hennigan@umbc.edu).

~~ UMBC is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. ~~

by Asmaa Hasan, chemical engineering '22  

Last week, I completed my second summer internship as a STEM Student Employment Program (SSEP) intern at Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA). Over the past 13 weeks, I had the opportunity to be involved with various unique experiences in the Chemical, Biological, and Radiological (CBR) Defense Division.
 
I helped plan and execute a week-long test event that analyzed new chemical and radiological detection equipment. The event tested the new equipment capabilities against current equipment. Marines were outfitted with the developmental equipment provided by various government agencies to perform test scenarios. I co-lead the training of the marines on the new gear. I also wrote a safety brief for the event that was presented to over 75+ military and civilian personnel on a daily basis for the duration of the event. I was the Data Collection Lead during the test event and managed a small team of 4. I worked directly alongside the Test Director and marine officers to coordinate and run the trials of the test scenarios.
 
Additionally, I worked on a project in relation to CBR defense efforts at the Pentagon for a couple days. I obtained my 1st challenge coin from this project!
 
Opportunities like this are few and far between. I am grateful I was able to have this experience where I grew both personally and professionally. Not only was this a great learning experience, but also a fun one! I was able to ride and drive around on a Polaris vehicle with some marines (we got it to its top speed!) and had a tour of the Pentagon.
 
I may have had the job title of an intern, but I was treated as a fellow engineer. Towards the end of the summer, I was pleasantly surprised to find out I was promoted within the year since I started in this role in 2020. Now, I am looking forward to starting my senior year at UMBC this week and hope to apply the new skills and knowledge I learned to my coursework and future opportunities!

[Originally posted on LinkedIn, reposted with permission]