Watch: A recap of URCAD 2024

UMBC’s Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement Day (URCAD) returned earlier this month for its 28th year, bringing together more than 400 student presenters and the broader university community for a day filled with posters, performances, demonstrations, and much more. 

With excitement and energy in the air of the University Center, undergraduate students—many accompanied by faculty mentors—presented a broad range of research and creative projects to peers, family, friends, and inquiring minds of all kinds. The day included a film festival, interactive video game demonstrations, musical performances, a photography and painting exhibition, as well as poster board and oral presentations from students across colleges. 

Among this year’s group of presenters was Chiad Onyeje ’24, chemical engineering, who explained the research he’s worked on for nearly three years to develop “spherical shells that we can use as internal Band-Aids” he said in this URCAD 2024 recap video. 

“URCAD is different from any other presentations that I’ve been able to give on my research thus far. It really felt like a celebration in comparison,” said Onyeje. “I could go in, have a good time, talk about my research to interested parties, and share why I love this project so much—because it can help people.”

Congratulations to all CBEE students who participated in the URCAD 2024!

Read more about all CBEE participants: https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/cbee/posts/141053

The UMBC LSAMP 2022-2023 Annual Report highlights involvement in the UMBC LOUIS STOKES ALLIANCE FOR MINORITY PARTICIPATION (LSAMP) program. LSAMP participants have access to individualized advising, campus workshops, funded research experiences, and national and international conferences to strengthen their STEM identity and promote entry into top graduate programs. 

We want to specifically celebrate the achievements of those pursuing their bachelors of science in chemical engineering and the departmental faculty supporting their efforts. 

ANNUAL BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH CONFERENCE FOR MINORITIZED STUDENTS (ABRCMS) (Page 11)

Name| Major| Topic | Faculty Advisor

Evalynn Ellison | Chemical Engineering | Molecular Biotechnology | Dr. Brandon DeKosky

Ariel Wilson-Gray | Chemical Engineering | Bioengineering | Dr. Tamara Kinzer-Ursem 

SUMMER 2023 RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM (Page 27)

Name and Class | Major |Topic| Faculty Mentor | University

Nhyira Ghunney ‘24 | Biological Sciences | Tissue Engineering | Dr. Erin Lavik | UMBC 

Amaya Johnson ‘25 | Biological Sciences | Tissue Engineering | Dr. Erin Lavik | UMBC

CLASS OF 2023 GRADUATING FELLOWS AND POST-GRADUATION PLANS (Page 34-35)

Joana Hernandez Chemical Engineering Prospective Graduate Student

Diego Iglesias Vega Chemical Engineering Graduate Student at MIT

Rachel Myers Chemical Engineering PhD Student at Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The UMBC LSAMP 2021-2022 Annual Report highlights involvement in the UMBC LOUIS STOKES ALLIANCE FOR MINORITY PARTICIPATION (LSAMP) program. LSAMP participants have access to individualized advising, campus workshops, funded research experiences, and national and international conferences to strengthen their STEM identity and promote entry into top graduate programs. 

"...sometimes you feel as if you're not making much progress but then you come to understand that your data can be helpful to others. My PI has taught me that my role in the research lab is valuable and that routine observations can lead to progress in an experiment. "

- Excerpt From A Chemical Engineering Major '23 Research Reflection -

FALL 2021 RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM (Pg 26 )

Name and Class | Major | Topic | Faculty Mentor | University

• Kaiya Meggett '25 | Pre-Chemical Engineering | Genetics | Dr. Jeff Leips | UMBC

SPRING 2022 RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP  PROGRAM (pg 27)

• Makayla Headley ‘22 | Chemical Engineering | Engineering Education | Dr. Jamie Gurganus | UMBC
• Ouriel Ndalamba ‘23 | Chemical Engineering | Toxicological Chemistry | Dr. Lee Blaney | UMBC
• Diego Iglesias Vega ‘23 | Chemical Engineering | Toxicological Chemistry | Dr. Lee Blaney | UMBC 

"As I increase my involvement in my research project, I begin to appreciate the knowledge I have acquired over my academic career. Knowledge that I previously thought would be unnecessary began to gain purpose in my head as I used it everyday in the lab. Even topics that I knew would be important in my future career were very abstract. But to my surprise and relief, I was able to apply the concepts earlier than expected as an undergraduate researcher. This turned these abstract ideas and theoretical concepts into a useful tool that made my job possible and easier." 

- Excerpt From A Chemical Engineering Major '23 Research Reflection -

SUMMER 2022 RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM (pg 34)

FALL 2022 RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM 

Faculty Spotlight (pg 33)

CLASS OF 2022 GRADUATING FELLOWS AND POST-GRADUATION PLANS (pg 40)

CBEE faculty and students are highlighted for their innovative and impactful work in the areas of 'Climate and Environment' and 'Health and Life Sciences' in the inaugural issue of Inquiring Minds: UMBC Research and Creative Achievement. 

Front Page (bottom right)

Matthew Stromberg, Environmental Engineering PhD student, under the guidance of advisors Dr. Upal Ghosh, professor of chemical, biochemical and environmental engineering and Dr. Yonathan Zohar, professor of marine biotechnology.

Global Leadership in Sustainable Aquaculture Research - Page 1

Matthew Stromberg's work with Dr. Yonathan Zohar, professor of marine biotechnology, on land-based aquaculture is highlighted. Dr. Zohar has been a driving force behind decades of research into land-based aquaculture, which has taken off in the U.S. and abroad in recent years. These operations produce fish for human consumption in land-based facilities that are less susceptible to disease and result in fresher fish for locals. They also remove the risk of releasing waste or farmed fish into the environment and reduce costs and the carbon footprint associated with shipping. Plus, they create jobs and help decrease American reliance on seafood imports.

Centering Communities in Climate Action - Page 3

Dr. Claire Welty, professor of chemical, biochemical and environmental engineering, is featured for her leadership role in the Baltimore Social-Environmental Collaborative (BSEC), a project funded by the U.S. Department of Energy to address urban environmental challenges. Welty and her UMBC colleagues received $2.3 million of the $24.5 million grant awarded to the BSEC. The project aims to generate solutions to environmental concerns through community engagement and collaboration with organizations in three American cities. The team brings decades of experience in environmental monitoring and has received awards from the U.S. Forest Service and the National Science Foundation to support their work. Welty emphasizes the importance of partnering with local communities to address their needs and concerns and finding effective ways to implement solutions. She describes the project as a giant puzzle to put together and looks forward to seeing how it all unfolds.

Developing Nanoparticles That Stop Internal Bleeding - Page 17

The groundbreaking work conducted by Dr. Erin Lavik, professor of chemical, biochemical and environmental engineering and Dr. Nuzhat Maisha, Ph.D. '21, chemical and biochemical engineering and colleagues to develop nanoparticles that can stop internal bleeding is highlighted in the story on page 17. 

The article discusses the challenges of controlling bleeding in trauma patients and the need for faster delivery of medication to control the bleeding. The researchers developed a novel approach to modifying the surfaces of nanoparticles used in lifesaving medications to provide infusions that can be delivered more quickly and with a reduced risk of negative reactions.

The article goes into detail about the researchers' findings and how they focused on the core material of the nanoparticles to reduce infusion reactions, which limit the treatments available to patients. The article also discusses how this groundbreaking research lays the groundwork for future testing of preclinical models using nanocapsules to stop internal bleeding.

Read full articles:  Inquiring Minds: UMBC Research and Creative Achievement. 

The UMBC LSAMP 2020-2021 Annual Report highlights involvement in the UMBC LOUIS STOKES ALLIANCE FOR MINORITY PARTICIPATION (LSAMP) program. LSAMP participants have access to individualized advising, campus workshops, funded research experiences, and national and international conferences to strengthen their STEM identity and promote entry into top graduate programs. 

"...sometimes you feel as if you're not making much progress but then you come to understand that your data can be helpful to others. My PI has taught me that my role in the research lab is valuable and that routine observations can lead to progress in an experiment. "

- Excerpt From A Chemical Engineering Major '23 Research Reflection -

FALL 2020 RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM (Pg 32 )

Name and Class | Major | Topic | Faculty Mentor | University

Sahaadat Hammed-Owens ‘23 | Chemical Engineering | Biomaterials & Tissue Engineering | Dr. Jennie Leach | UMBC

SUMMER 2021 RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM (pg 34)

CLASS OF 2021 GRADUATING FELLOWS AND POST-GRADUATION PLANS (pg 40)

Excerpt from UMBC NEWS: 

UMBC's new AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellows focus on STEM workforce inclusion, youth justice

Published: Sep 8, 2022 | Dinah Winnick

Erin Lavik, professor of chemical, biochemical, and environmental engineering at UMBC, is an innovator in developing  nanoparticles to stop internal bleeding. She's also hard at work on a very different challenge: building STEM workforce development programs that are more inclusive and equitable.

Lavik and Erika Fountain, assistant professor of psychology, will serve as 2022-23 Science and Technology Policy Fellows (STPF) with the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), in the prestigious program's 50th class. 

"AAAS policy fellows have been demonstrating excellence in science policy for the past half-century -- defining what it means to be a scientist and engineer in the policymaking realm," said Rashada Alexander, STPF program director. 

The 300 fellows chosen for the 2022-23 class will serve in a range of government offices, working to inform actionable, science-based policies. Lavik will be based in the Advanced Manufacturing Office of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, known as Manufacturing USA. Fountain will be hosted by the American Psychological Association (APA), serving as a Congressional Fellow.

The 2022-23 fellowship class is sponsored by AAAS, the Moore Foundation, and partner societies, with an eye on both the value of this experience for participating fellows and the impact fellows will have throughout their careers.

Inclusive high-tech workforce

"With the CHIPS Act passing, I'll be focusing on building workforce development programs that are equitable, inclusive, diverse, and accessible," says Lavik.

"CHIPS" stands for Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors -- legislation that will provide nearly $53 billion to support semiconductor production in the U.S., supporting both research and high-tech jobs. The goal of CHIPS, the White House notes, is "to sustain U.S. leadership in the sciences and engineering as the engine for American innovation." 

Lavik, who is also associate dean for research and faculty development in UMBC's College of Engineering and Information Technology (COEIT), will play an important role at NIST in shaping the programs that will generate these high-tech jobs, maximizing their benefit. At the same time, she will learn about federal policymaking and implementation first-hand.

"Dr. Lavik has worked as both a researcher and as an associate dean elevating research and advancing faculty development. This combination has given her a broad insight into product development," says COEIT Dean Keith J Bowman. "I am certain that expertise will serve her well in supporting advancement of our nation's manufacturing enterprises. I know from direct experience that Manufacturing USA has changed how we think about and carry out manufacturing, and Dr. Lavik's strategic and innovative mindset is a great match for this opportunity."

[Read full article]

Photo credit:  Erin Lavik (left) works with then-graduate student Adam Day (right) in her lab, 2018. (Marlayna Demond '11/UMBC)

A DoD-funded postdoctoral position is available for a postdoctoral fellow to start immediately in the area of targeted nanoparticles for delivery of drugs in models of trauma. Experience with nanoparticle synthesis, characterization, and drug delivery studies is desirable. The Laviklab works as a team collaborating with each other to support the development of novel drug delivery systems, hemostatic nanoparticles, and high throughput tissue models. Our goal is to find colleagues who are interested in being part of a collaborative team.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Please email a cover letter highlighting your experience and career goals along with your cv to elavik@umbc.edu. Women and people from marginalized groups are especially encouraged to apply.

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

UMBC LSAMP 2019-2020 Annual Report

3rd Annual USM LSAMP Undergraduate Research Symposium - Poster Presentation Award Recipients

• Kendal McWilliams, CENG MS '21 (pg 16) 
• Joana Hernandex, CENG MS '22 (pg 16)

Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS) (Page 21)

• Award Winners: Hana Flores
  Major: Chemical Engineering
  Topic: Structural Biology Faculty
  Advisor: Dr. Michael Summers

Fall 2019 Research Fellowship Program (page 29)

• Name and Class: Makayla Headley '21
  Major: Chemical Engineering
  Topic: Analytical Chemistry Faculty
  Mentor: Dr. Chengpeng Chen | UMBC
• Name and Class: Howard Nicholson '21
  Major: Chemical Engineering
  Topic: Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering Faculty
  Mentor: Dr. Jennie Leach | UMBC

Summer 2020 Research Fellowship Program (pg 31)

• Name and Class: Corleigh Forrester '23
  Major: Chemical Engineering
  Topic: Solid state materials
  Faculty: Dr. Efrain Rodriguez | UMBC
• Name and Class: Sydney Haywood '22
  Major: Chemical Engineering
  Topic: Drug Delivery to the Eye Faculty:
  Dr. Erin Lavik | UMBC

Summer 2020 Research Fellowship Program (pg 32)

• Name and Class: Ouriel Ndalamba '23
  Major: Chemical Engineering
  Topic: Sustainability Engineering
  Faculty: Dr. Lee Blaney | UMBC
• Name and Class: Jameka Wiggins '21
  Major: Chemical Engineering
  Topic: Microbiology
  Faculty: Dr. Sheldon Broedel | UMBC

Students reflect on their LSAMP experiences and its influence on the development of their its influence on the development of their personal, academic, and professional goals. (pg 33)

Joana Hernandez '22 - Chemical Engineering LSAMP has opened the door to so many LSAMP has opened the door to so many opportunities that I didn't think were possible. opportunities that I didn't think were possible. When I was a senior in high school, I had no When I was a senior in high school, I had no idea that college students could be part of a lab idea that college students could be part of a lab and do undergraduate research. Through and do undergraduate research. Through LSAMP, I was able to join the Vonhoff lab my LSAMP, I was able to join the Vonhoff lab my freshman year, and ever since, I have seen how freshman year, and ever since, I have seen how much progress I have made. The program even much progress I have made. The program even helped me go to California last fall for the helped me go to California last fall for the ABRCMS conference, which was really fun! I'm ABRCMS conference, which was really fun! I'm glad that I was able to be a part of the LSAMP glad that I was able to be a part of the LSAMP community and find a great support system. community and find a great support system.

Ndeh Tadzong '23 - Chemical Engineering I first learned about LSAMP at the USM I first learned about LSAMP at the USM LSAMP Summer Bridging Conference and I am LSAMP Summer Bridging Conference and I am grateful that I did because it set me on a grateful that I did because it set me on a great path. It has helped me stay motivated great path. It has helped me stay motivated with my school work and understand what I with my school work and understand what I want to do with my future. I have learned so want to do with my future. I have learned so much about what continued engagement in much about what continued engagement in Chemical Engineering could look like following Chemical Engineering could look like following graduation. With all this in mind, I can graduation. With all this in mind, I can confidently say I am in a better position to confidently say I am in a better position to succeed with a purpose and passion because of succeed with a purpose and passion because of my engagement with LSAMP. my engagement with LSAMP.

LSAMP Faculty Research Mentors (pg 36)

Name | Title | Department | Research Focus | University

• Dr. Lee Blaney | Associate Professor | Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental l Sustainability Engineering | UMBC 
•  Dr. Erin Lavik | Professor | Chemical and Environmental Engineering | Drug Delivery to the eye | UMBC 
•  Dr. Jennie Leach | Associate Professor | Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering | Biomaterials | UMBC 
•  Dr. Dipanjan Pan | Professor | Chemical and Environmental Engineering | Nanotechnology | UMBC 
• Dr. Peng Xu | Assistant Professor | Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering | Metabolic Engineering | UMBC

"All in all, my time in the Leach lab has allowed me to further develop and grow my skills as a researcher and engineer. Additionally, I have been able to apply chemical engineering principles that I learned in the classroom into a lab environment which gives me a deeper understanding of the material. I will be able to use these skills in any lab that I join in the future and this opportunity has also allowed me to establish strong connections with a faculty member in the department of my major." - Howard Nicholson '21 -