URCAD is Wednesday, April 22, 2026 in the RAC!
For the full schedule see:urcad.umbc.edu

Sara Abbas | Intelligent Fault Detection and Risk Management for Autonomous Spacecraft Operations | Anthony Campbell | Computer Science and Electrical Engineering | RAC Arena, 10-11am, Poster #3  

Yanyu Arias | Development of a Vagina-on-a-Chip Model for Studying Recurrent Bacterial Vaginosis | Corine Jackman Burden | Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering | RAC Arena, 10-11am, Poster #30 

Naomi Aruna and Tammy Hong | Asian American Adolescents' Internalized Stereotypes Moderates the Socioemotional Impact of Racial Discrimination | Charissa Cheah | Psychology | RAC Arena, 10-11am, Poster #13 

Djina Awungnjia | Impact of APPL Gene Mutation on Food Preference Behavior in Aging Drosophila Melanogaster | Fernando Vonhoff | Biological Sciences | RAC Arena, 10-11am, Poster #14 

Shrikant Bhatnagar,Kalei Kai, Ben Bazarsuren, Daniel Shin, Jonah Malcolm, Austin Wagener,Nebiyu Mammo, Murali Indukuri, William Vandenberg | UMBC AIAA DBF and SUAS Aircrafts | Joseph Washington | Mechanical Engineering | Special Exhibit | RAC Upper Track, 1st Floor 

Francheska Burrola | Automated Monitoring Sensors for Process Analytical Technology Applications in Cell and Gene Therapy | Venkatesh Srinivasan | Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering | RAC Arena, 10-11am, Poster #24 

Faridah Folorunsho | Structural and Functional Analysis of the KH-Domain Protein FLK in Regulating Arabidopsis Defense and Development | Hua Lu | Biological Sciences | RAC Arena, 2-3pm, Poster #20 

Emily Hernandez| Testing Ethanol Treatment for the Reduction of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) In Drosophila | Fernando Vonhoff | Biological Sciences | RAC Arena, 2-3pm, Poster #28 

Kiara James | Exploring Chinese American Adolescents' Experiences of Barriers to Civic Engagement | Charissa Cheah | Psychology | RAC Arena, 2-3pm, Poster #37 

Amarachukwu Onaga | The Effects of Sex and Age on Sleep in Drosophila Models of Autism | Fernando Vonhoff | Biological Sciences | RAC Arena, 10-11am, Poster #70 

Irene Teye | Investigating Extracellular Matrix-derived Factors in the Activation of Adipose Tissue T-cells During Severe Obesity | Diana Elizondo | Biological Sciences | RAC Arena, 10-11am, Poster #102 

Maia Turman Cooke | The Language of Decriminalization: Drug Policy Rhetoric and Public Health in 21st Century Canada | Earl Brooks | English | RAC 106 | 11:00-11:15am

Anelsy Valencia | Immigration Vulnerability and Self-Rated Oral Health Among Latin* Adults: A Pilot Study | Dina Garcia | Public Health | RAC Arena, 2-3pm, Poster #71 

URCAD is Wednesday, April 22 in the RAC!Come see these special exhibitions including theatrical costumes, airplane prototypes, and handmade stuffed animals.

Special Exhibits (RAC Upper Track- 1st Floor)

https://urcad.umbc.edu/agenda/special-exhibits/

2:00-2:30

Michael Duffy and Christian Price-Burnett, "Voyages: Chapter Seven"- Costumes and puppets from the water dance ensemble at the National Aquarium in Baltimore.

Mentor: Nigel Semaj

2:30-3:30

Sydney Spradlin, "Anywhere, Nowhere, Everywhere, Somewhere: The Effects of Nostalgia and Anemoia on Memories and Emotions"- Documenting nostalgia and family memories through photographic negatives.

Mentor: Bryan O'Neill

All Day

Shirkant Bhatnagar, Kalel Kai, Ben Bazarsuren, Daniel Shin, Jonah Malcom, Austin Wagener, Nebiyu Mammo, Murali Indukuri, William Vandenberg, "UMBC Design, Build, Fly (DBF) and Student Unmanned Aerial Systems (SUAS) Aircrafts"- Aircraft designed by undergraduate-led aerospace competition group.

Mentor: Joseph Washington

9am-12:00pm

Timothy Clark, "Hadestown Theoretical Costume Design"- Costume design of Hadestown, a musical by Anais Mitchell. The story is a retelling of the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice which focuses on class inequity.

Mentor: Becca Janney

10:00-11:00am

Lama Mohamed, "Imagining Science"- Illustrations exploring how using creative methods can inspire greater thought and wonder in younger viewers' first exposure to elementary science.

Mentor: Chung-Wei Huang

Leila Cron, "Old Lenses"- Handmade stuffed animals exploring themes of nostalgia and childhood

Mentor: Andrew Liang

All Day

Isabel Kendall, "Missionary Position: Power and Cultural Mediation through the Lens of 16th Century Missionaries and Postwar Sex Workers"- Artistic exhibit exploring cultural and linguistic mediation.

Mentor: Julie Oakes

**Fine Arts Hallway Gallery, 2-3:30pm (Exhibit is open all day through May 20, 2026)

Dorothy Thompson-Pino, Rayanna Morris, Jamie Choi, Ian Cruz, Duncan Winger, Sarah Lopes Dos Santos: "From the Madness"- Student-led gallery exhibition exploring the theme of cultural unity, highlighting how art and creative expression reveal our commonalities rather than the differences that divide us.

Mentor: Corrie Parks

URCAD is Wednesday, April 22 in the RAC!

URCAD is more than scientific posters- come see original short films made by UMBC students!

https://urcad.umbc.edu/agenda/film-festival/

Film Festival

9:45am-12pm 

Location: RAC Track (first floor)

Moderator: Kendyl Walker

9:45-10:00am

Taylor Watson- "Visualizing Natural Disaster Inequality in America"

Mentor: Dena Aufseeser

10-10:20am

Precious Nwanna- "Beyond the Gates: A Guide to Reentry Reform in Urban America"

Mentor: Elaine MacDougall

10:20-10:40am

Gwyneth Watson - "Synthesis of Motion: Navigating the Interdisciplinary Roles of Choreographer, Director, and Editor in Screen Dance"

Mentor: Ann Sofie Clemmensen

10:40-11:00am

Mike Mentley- "New Heights of Terror: Material Character Antagonists in the Science Fiction Ascent"

Mentor: Colette Searls

11-11:20am

Muhammad Fazeel Khan, Branden McGuire – "Vison-Based Rover Control Using ArUco Markers"

Mentor: Tsehuai Wu

11:20-11:40am

Uzochukwu Iloanya – "The Underrepresentation of People of Color in Fashion"

Mentor: Kathlene Razzano

11:40am-12pm

Camryn Sydnor- "From Page to Space: Reinterpreting 20th-Century Spanish Literature with Augmented Reality"

Mentor: Erin Hogan

URCAD is Wednesday, April 22 in the RAC!
Besides the poster and oral presentations, URCAD has some exciting exhibits.Come play interactive video games created by UMBC students! Talk to the makers about how they created their virtual worlds and the art and engineering behind it.

https://urcad.umbc.edu/agenda/video-games/

Time: All Day
Location: RAC Arena (Ground Floor)

Interactive Video Games

Joanna  Pedro, "User Perspectives On AI-Assisted Dance Training: An Iterative Design And Qualitative Evaluation

This study explores the evolving relationship between kinesthetic skill acquisition and human-computer interaction. Current digital dance resources, such as video-sharing platforms, often lack the technical specificity and real-time feedback required for rigorous dance education. This study investigates the potential of Augmented Reality (AR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to serve as assistive tools that supplement traditional pedagogy by increasing both accessibility and instructional precision. While preliminary research on movement-based technology exists, its application in dance studios remains underdeveloped. This research utilizes an iterative design methodology to develop an application prototype that employs AI-driven motion analysis and AR overlays to demonstrate specific dance skills. To evaluate user interaction with such a tool, a qualitative study was conducted using a structured questionnaire to gauge dancers' perspectives on the prototype's pedagogical value, design, and its impact on the learning process. The findings aim to demonstrate that integrated technology can act as a significant asset in refining technical execution and democratizing high-level instruction.

 Mentor: Ann Sofie Clemmensen

Rick Jenkins, Cristian Uribe, Daniel Lee, Henry Walenczyk, Ben Varga, Lacey Wilburn, Unchisa Kitisook, "Against the Grain"

Created as part of the Capstone Games Group Project course, Against the Grain is a two-dimensional top-down game that blends elements of strategy and farming games, creating unique logistical challenges for the player to overcome. The project was built in Unity using C#. The programmers were tasked with creating the tile system that lays the foundation for the entire game. They then worked hard to implement the different units of the game, whether that be the farmers, animals, or robots. Creating multiple variants of each unit to grant the player more options when it comes to strategy, and more challenges they will have to overcome. The enemy units are programmed to create mounting positional pressure without randomness, creating a solid threat to the players' troops. The farmer units not only can attack but can also grow and harvest crops, with crops being used as currency to get the animal units to move and attack. The artists worked diligently to create a visual style that was charming and easy to read and understand. The game promotes a strategy of managing crop production, converting harvest into combat units, and defeating enemies.

 Mentor: Eric Jordan

Karlos Lorenzo Veloso, Caleb Moesner, Damon Gullion, Adam Tran, Jasmine Kareem-Robinson, Liam Scott, Daniel Noonan, "Turtle Thrashing"

Turtle Thrashing is a game about a silly turtle in a two-dimensional auto-shooter in the Godot game engine. In this game, the player is a turtle who is just minding their own business until a bunch of enemies start coming to attack them. Utilizing an arsenal of attacks that range from fun to goofy to absurd, the turtle fends off an increasing horde of enemies until they finally face and take down the final boss to make them stop bothering them. Artists were able to use any Art/Animation-based Program they were accustomed to, allowing players to choose through a diverse range of stylized upgrades/attacks, and various enemies to tactically evade and take down. Programmers were tasked to balance the power of these various and diverse attacks and enemies, allowing players a plethora of playstyles to either counter specific enemies, do as much damage as possible, or whatever random array of attacks they think are the coolest. This game will showcase the combined efforts and challenges both our Artists and Programmers faced in creating a fun and dynamic experience.

 Mentor: Eric Jordan

Mino Yevdayev, Elijah Manning, William Zendgraft, Megan Gregory, Tim Reiss, Priscila Herrera, Alex Mosko, "Potions, Please!"

Created in UMBC's Team-Based Game Development course, Potions, Please! is a two-dimensional (2D) crafting game developed in the Godot 4 game engine and art assets created in art programs Procreate, Krita, and ibis Paint X. The player is a witch apprentice, Yasmeen, who must run her mentor's potions shop after mysterious business requires her to travel away. Yasmeen must decipher her mentor's scatter-brained recipes to collect the correct ingredients and complete potion orders. The entire team collaborated to come up with interesting ideas for gameplay and storytelling. The artists developed a warm and whimsical style that suits the game's content, designing original characters, objects, and environments. The coder integrated gameplay mechanics and user-interface (UI) as well as coding compelling ingredient collection minigames that would not be too difficult for the average player while still being engaging. Between puzzles to solve, non-playable character (NPC) story lines, and a fluffy feline familiar, Potions, Please! is a fun and creative game for our team to develop and foster a deeper understanding of programming, visual design, and team-based game development.

Mentor: Eric Jordan

Amanda Negrete, Kristen Sauder , Rachel Fonder, Michael Moore, Ryan Whitfield, Adrian Jovel , Leila Cron, "MouseHouse"

Created in a Team-Based Game Development class, Mouse House is a game that explores both three-dimensional environments in collaboration with 2D character style developed in the Unity game engine. The game utilizes and explores Unity gravity mechanics and a first-mouse point of view as you maneuver around enemies that can affect the player's health using mechanics like radial enemies and fright systems through Unity C# Scripts. Playing as a mouse, Mouse House reimagines everyday household objects at a massive scale, transforming ordinary spaces into immersive and dynamic environments. A 3D environment was constructed with Autodesk Maya to provide an intricate world full of ample hiding spaces, and player interface and 2D assets were created in Krita and edited in Adobe Animate to create a hand-drawn sense of whimsy to contrast the large and harsh environment the player must maneuver. Development of this game provided for a uniquely engaging collaborative experience that allowed for cross-discipline exploration of programming, visual design, and overcoming challenges in a team-based setting.

Mentor: Eric Jordan

Ky DeSilva, Sophie Suit, Chloe Hradek, Riley Heath, Luke Schultz, Maria Diaz, Derek Levey, "Sandwich Dog"

Sandwich Dog is a virtual reality (VR) video game createdwith Unity engine as part of the Capstone Games Group Project course. The game makes core use of the XR interaction toolkit package and native physics systems from Unity engine to immerse the player in a world where they have to do a mundane task in an unfamiliar way. The goal of the game is to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with the dexterity challenges that come with being an ordinary dog. This project encouraged visual art majors who were previously unfamiliar with 3D software to learn how to create game-ready assets, and challenged programmers to encapsulate and test gameplay systems without having access to the VR hardware at all times.

 Mentor: Eric Jordan

Dear UMBC Community,

We are pleased to announce that nominations are now open for several awards recognizing outstanding contributions within our UMBC community. We encourage you to nominate individuals, faculty, staff, organizations, and student athletes who have demonstrated excellence, leadership, and meaningful impact.

Please use the appropriate form below for the specific award you would like to nominate someone for. You only need to complete the form for the award you are submitting a nomination for.

Submit nominations by April 1st, 2026. 

All awardees will receive a plaque and a $250 honorarium

1. The Jessica Soto Perez Memorial Award. Open to all graduate students EXCEPT E-Council or Senators: Award Nomination Form 

1. Community Leadership Award. Open to GSA E-Council and Senators with multiple roles: Award Nomination Form
   

2. Current GSA Senator Award: Current GSA Senator serving a full academic year in good standing:Award Nomination Form

1. Graduate Student Athlete Award Nomination. Open to UMBC graduate students who demonstrate excellence in both academics and athletics: Award Nomination Form

1. The Donald Creighton Outstanding Faculty Award. UMBC faculty who actively mentor and support graduate students: Award Nomination Form

1. The Outstanding University Staff Award: Award Nomination Form
   

2. The Outstanding GSO Award. Graduate Student Organization (GSO) that significantly enhances the graduate student experience: Award Nomination Form

Thank you for helping us recognize the outstanding members of our community.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out.