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)

NIH awards UMBC $5.6M to continue support of underrepresented graduate students in STEM. Dr. Jennie Leach is a co-PI on the new grant.

~~ excerpt from "NIH awards UMBC $5.6M to support underrepresented graduate students in STEM" ~~

UMBC’s College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences will receive $5.6 million over five years from the National Institutes of Health to fund the Graduate Research Training Initiative for Student Enhancement (G-RISE). The program will support graduate students from underrepresented groups in STEM with up to three years of funding and an array of training opportunities. The goal is to help participants select and prepare for a range of career paths, in academia, industry, government, entrepreneurship, or beyond.

G-RISE will replace UMBC’s Initiative for Maximizing Student Development (IMSD) Meyerhoff Graduate Fellows program, which the NIH also funded. IMSD, under the direction of Michael Summers, Robert E. Meyerhoff Chair for Excellence in Research and Mentoring and Distinguished University Professor, has proven highly successful at supporting students in completing Ph.D. degrees in STEM. 

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 -