Hello, UMBC Grad Students!

We know the feeling: the initial new car smell of grad school has faded, and you're staring at a mountain of literature or a complex research project. Whether you are a PhD student building a new castle in the sandbox of knowledge or a Master's student building a professional portfolio, as we transition from the figuring it out phase to the getting it done phase, the stakes change.  

The Office of Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Development (GSPD) is here to help you move from student to expert.  We are thrilled to announce the Spring lineup for our Decoding Graduate School series. These workshops are designed to make the implicit expectations of graduate school explicit.

Sessions 6 & 7 will be on Tuesdays, Sessions 8 - 10 will be on Thursdays.  All sessions are from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM. RSVPs are appreciated but not required.

Session 6 - Tuesday 2/17/26 (UC 115) - Decoding the Literature: From Information Overload to Critical Synthesis

Session 7 - Tuesday 2/24/26 (UC 115) - Decoding the Argument: Writing for Graduate-Level Seminars

Session 8 - Thursday 3/26/26 (UC 115) - Decoding the Room: Presenting Your Ideas with Confidence

Session 9 - Thursday 4/23/26 (UC 115) - Decoding Your Summer: A Strategic Plannig Workshop

Session 10 - Thursday 4/30/26 (UC 115) - Decoding Your Potential Venture: Innovation, IP, and Entrepreneurship

Why Join us this Spring?

• Tame the Information Firehose: Learn advanced search strategies and how to use reference management software like Zotero to organize your life.
• Write Like a Scholar: Shift from "reporting information" to constructing original, persuasive arguments for your seminars and thesis.
• Protect Your Ideas: Understand who owns what you create at UMBC (Pro-tip: You are often entitled to a share of revenue from your inventions!).
• Avoid the Burnout: Our "Summer Plan on a Page" workshop helps you balance high-octane productivity with necessary downtime.

GSPD Pro-Tip: Graduate school is a journey to generate new knowledge. Don't just survive it—decode it.

How to Register

Click on the links for the individual sessions to register on myUMBC. Every session includes a Resource Guide to help you implement these skills immediately.

Spring semester can be a lot — classes, research, work, life. Retriever Integrated Health (RIH) is offering support groups and skill-building workshops this semester to help you feel grounded, focused, and connected.

Whether you're looking to manage anxiety, strengthen relationships, improve executive functioning, or connect with other grad students, there's a space for you.

This Spring, RIH is offering:
• Anxiety Toolbox workshops to help you understand and manage anxious thoughts
• Executive functioning skill-building workshops focused on time management and organization
• Graduate student support groups to connect in a confidential, supportive space
• Interpersonal and relationship-focused groups
• Healing-centered groups for navigating family challenges

Most groups require a brief initial consultation, while workshops are open to all UMBC students with no intake required.

Spring 2026 | In-person & virtual options available
Learn more, view dates, and register through the RIH myUMBC page or your RetrieverCare portal.

Taking care of your mental health is part of your success — you don't have to do it alone.

UMBC Community,

Please see the dining hours below for Thursday, January 29 and Friday, January 30.

True Grit's Dining Hall

• Breakfast: 7:00 AM – 9:30 AM

• Continental Breakfast: 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM

• Lunch: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM

• Dinner: 4:30 PM – 8:00 PM

• Late Night: 9:00 PM – 12:00 AM

True Grit's Market

• Open from 8:00 AM – 2:00 AM

Retail Locations

• Chick-fil-A: 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM

• Starbucks: 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM

• Einstein Bros. Bagels: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM

For the most up-to-date dining hours and any additional changes, please visit Dine On Campus.

Thank you!

Graduate school can be rewarding, but it can also feel overwhelming at times. Join the Graduate Student Support Group to connect with fellow grad students in a safe, confidential, and supportive space. This group is designed to help you ask questions, talk through challenges, explore solutions, and work toward your personal and academic goals alongside peers who get it.

When? Tuesdays | February 17 – April 28 | 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
Where? Virtual, scan the QR code 

All graduate students are welcome to participate.

To learn more or get started, call 410-455-2542 or visit your RetrieverCare portal to schedule an initial consultation appointment.

This program is open to full participation by all individuals in accordance with UMBC's nondiscrimination policies. 

The Center for Social Science Scholarship is pleased to continue our workshop series on generative AI, LLMs, and computational social science methods.

This series began with the basics of computing in R and how to use generative AI/LLMs in social science research workflows. Each session will be focused on getting faculty and students comfortable with deploying AI and generative AI models in their research, but with a deeper understanding of the ethical, equity, and environmental consequences of these models.

This series, which is supported through the Elkins Professorship, features several new speakers this spring. 

REGISTER

February 20 | 12-1:30pm | PUP 438 
Social Network Analysis: Building Web-Based Applications for Experiential Learning
Led by:  Dr. Steve McDonald, Professor of Sociology, NC State University

February 27 | 12- 1:30pm | PUP 438
A City in Motion: How Everyday Routines Channel and Control Crime in Baltimore
Led by: Dr. Brian Soller, Associate Professor of Sociology (SAPH), UMBC 

April 10 | 12-1:30pm | PUP 438
Geospatial Analysis: Integrating GIS, R, and GeoAI
Led by: Krishna Mummadi, CS3 Graduate Assistant & GES Graduate Student

April 14 | 2-4pm | Walker Avenue, Suite 130 & Webex (hybrid)
Foundations of Large Language Models
Led by:  Dr. Josephine Namayanja, Executive Director, iHARP, UMBC
Rhoda Nankabirwa, iHARP Research Assistant and PhD Student, UMBC

April 29 | 12-1:30pm | Webex
Evaluating LLMs for Credible and Rigorous Social Science Research
Led by:  Dr. Michael Overton, Associate Professor of Political Science and Public Administration, University of Idaho

May 6 | 12-1:30pm | PUP 438
ML Models for Causal Inference Analysis + HPC Led by:  Dr. Eric Stokan, CS3 Director and Associate Professor of Political Science, UMBC
Roy Prouty, Assistant Director for Research Computing, DoIT; UMBC Ph.D. Candidate, Computer Science, CSEE
Sai Vikas Amaraneni, iHARP Research Assistant and UMBC Ph.D. Student

Hosted by the Center for Social Science Scholarship. Cosponsored by the Division of Information Technology, the Center for Scalable Data and Computational Science, and CGC-SCIPE.

Name: Harshal Chauhan

Pronouns: He/Him

Semester of Internship: Fall 2025

Major: Information Systems (Health Informatics)

Current Class Level: Doctoral Student

This semester I completed a(n): Internship

Internship, Co-op, or Research Site (Company/Organization Name): Maryland Department of Health (MDH) – Public Health Workforce Internship Program Money Follows the Person (MFP) Demonstration Team

Location of the Organization (City, State): Baltimore, MD

Title of position: Public Health Intern (Quality Measure Set (QMS) Survey and Data Research Intern)

Tell us about your internship, co-op, or research opportunity, including your day-to-day responsibilities:

As a Quality Measure Set (QMS) Survey and Data Research Intern with the Maryland Department of Health, I support statewide quality improvement initiatives focused on Medicaid beneficiaries receiving Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS). My day-to-day responsibilities include administering and analyzing the Experience of Care Survey for participants enrolled in programs such as Community First Choice, Brain Injury Waiver, and Community Personal Assistance Services. I conduct participant outreach, track survey responses, and ensure compliance with federal and state guidelines. Additionally, I assist with data analysis to identify trends and performance gaps, contribute to the development of quality metrics, and help prepare summary reports and recommendations used for internal planning and policy decision-making. This role allows me to work at the intersection of data analytics, public health research, and health policy implementation.

Describe the process of obtaining your position. When did you hear of the position and submit your application?

I first learned about the Maryland Department of Health during a UMBC career fair in 2023, where I spoke with a representative and was introduced to the Public Health Workforce Internship Program. I applied for the internship in January 2025. In August 2025, I received two follow-up calls for 2 internships from MDH to confirm my interest and availability, followed by a second-round virtual interview with my direct supervisors. I received my formal acceptance later that same month. The process reinforced the importance of persistence and staying engaged, even when opportunities take time to materialize.

What resources did you use to find your current experience?

UMBC Career Center, Career Fairs

What have you enjoyed the most about your position and organization?

What I have enjoyed most about this position is the flexibility and genuinely supportive work environment. My team has been welcoming, understanding, and deeply committed to mentorship and learning. I have been encouraged to ask questions, contribute ideas, and grow both technically and professionally. The organization values collaboration and provides meaningful exposure to real-world public health challenges, making this an exceptional learning experience. 

How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?

I believe I have made a meaningful impact through my work. By supporting survey administration, response tracking, and data analysis, I have contributed to improving the accuracy and usability of quality measurement efforts within Maryland Medicaid's HCBS programs. The tracking tools and analytical support I provided helped ensure timely follow-up, better data integrity, and actionable insights that can inform quality improvement and policy decisions affecting vulnerable populations.

What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?

My advice to other students is to remain persistent and patient. Continue applying and believing in your goals, even if responses take longer than expected. I initially applied for this role for Spring 2025 and did not hear back until Fall, but staying consistent paid off. Networking, following up, and trusting the process are just as important as submitting applications.

Please provide a short reflection or quote about what you liked most about your position / earning internship credit / working with the Career Center.

Favorite Quote: "You worry about the results, but have you ever paused to ask—what if?" What I valued most about my internship was the supportive and flexible environment that allowed me to apply my academic training to real public health impact. The UMBC Career Center played a vital role by connecting me to this opportunity and supporting me early on with resume formatting and career guidance.