by David Hoffman

The application for UMBC's STRiVE 2014 leadership retreat (January 13-17, 2014) is now available.  If you're a UMBC undergraduate interested in learning about yourself, building new skills, making new friends and becoming an agent of change on campus and in your community, you should consider applying.  Here are some of the Facebook status updates and tweets posted by participants in STRiVE 2013 the day they got back from the retreat last January:

• Back from an AMAZING 5 days at STRiVE. I honestly could not ask for a more awesome group of people to spend these past days with and I'm so grateful for all the effort everyone put into this to make it an experience of a lifetime. Although i'm sad it had to end, I can't wait to see all of you back at school next week!! Have a great rest of your break 

• Best week i've had in a LONG time!!! So many new friends and memories .Thanks Strive 2013 ♥ 

• If I had to describe this past week, I wouldn't know what to say. It was a complete blur, but an intense blur to my soul, heart, and mind. However, I do know that after this week, I can call all of the future leaders that attended STRiVE 2013 my family and that I can officially call UMBC not just my school...but my home away from home. 

• #STRiVE2013 was indescribable, unforgettable, and the best thing that could ever possibly happened in my life. 

• wow. words cannot describe what just happened - the easiest was to say it is that all I want to do is go back and do it all over again because it was so amazing. LETS GO BACK!! #STRIVE2013! 

• STRiVE was one of those times that made me wish life had a replay button.

• All I can say about STRiVE is YAAAAAAASSSS ! 

• What a week! It's unexplainable, but somehow things just got a lot better and life is much more explained :) STRiVE 2013 

• I've already had a good amount of faith in humanity and people but this whole STRiVE experience gave me that extra bump of reinforcement needed to start of this next semester right. Definitely one of the most amazing things I have ever been a part of.

• I honestly could not have asked for a more refreshing, enlightening, and inspiring week. Life changing is an understatement. How blessed I am to have been a part of STRiVE 2013! ♥ 

• SOOO I just got back from the leadership retreat known as STRiVE. The past 5 days have been some of the most memorable of my life thanks to the amazing people that I met, and I'm so happy to say that I'll be able to be around a lot of them for the next 4 or so years of my life. Thank you all for one of the best weeks of my life! 

• #STRiVE2013 was one of the best experiences of my life. Completely eye-opening, influential and absolutely perfect. They say the friends we made there are forever and I don't doubt it. What an incredible group of strong leaders. I cannot wait to see the change we can bring to the UMBC campus. 

• I was really not sure whether I wanted to go to STRiVE, but I'm soooo glad I went. It was such an amazing experience and I met so many great people. Thanks everyone for making it such a wonderful time :)  

• Five days, various new friendships, and countless new memories that I will always cherish STRiVE 2013 a truly unforgettable experience 

Learn more about STRiVE and complete the application here.

You can also read my post-STRiVE reflections and check out some photos from STRiVE 2013, STRiVE 2012, STRiVE 2011, STRiVE 2010, and STRiVE 2009.

The application is due by Thursday, November 15^th at 11:59 a.m. If you have questions about STRiVE, email Virginia Byrne: vbyrne@umbc.edu.

Co-Create UMBC is a blog for and about UMBC, written by David Hoffman and Craig Berger from the Office of Student Life. Join the Co-Create UMBC group on MyUMBC. Like Co-Create UMBC on Facebook. And follow David and Craig on Twitter. 

This morning, we opened the Fall 2013 “Dissertation House for Employees and Non-Traditional Students.”

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Here is the original announcement that went out via MyUMBC:

If you are an employee of UMBC (50% time or more) or a “Non-Traditional” student, and if you are working on your graduate school courses, proposal, or dissertation, then this event is for you! We’ve worked with our UMBC employees who are also graduate students at UMBC, College Park, Northeastern, and other institutions.  This year, we are extending this opportunity to non-traditional students who are coming back to school or working full-time. This time is for you! This session will have support, coaching, and food will be provided for you on both days.

You work hard every day to serve others on our campus! You may be supporting your family members, or you have decided to take some time for yourself to reach your goals.  Now, let us work with you to finish your graduate degree. This version of the “Dissertation House” was created just for you!

Dissertation House for UMBC Employees and Non-Traditional Students
Friday, 10/11/13,   9:00 – 5:00 PM (Part I), COMM 331
Saturday, 10/12/13, 10:00 – 3:00 PM(Part II), COMM 318/COMM 332

If you are a graduate student from another school within the University System of Maryland, you may apply to participate in this session, and your application will be considered. You are responsible for your own transportation and lodging. 

UMBC’s graduate students: http://my.umbc.edu/groups/promise/events/18934

ALL applicants must adhere to the regular “Dissertation House Application” procedures: http://dissertationhouse.wordpress.com/apply/

This morning, we opened the Fall 2013 “Dissertation House for Employees and Non-Traditional Students.”

————————————————————————

Here is the original announcement that went out via MyUMBC:

If you are an employee of UMBC (50% time or more) or a “Non-Traditional” student, and if you are working on your graduate school courses, proposal, or dissertation, then this event is for you! We’ve worked with our UMBC employees who are also graduate students at UMBC, College Park, Northeastern, and other institutions.  This year, we are extending this opportunity to non-traditional students who are coming back to school or working full-time. This time is for you! This session will have support, coaching, and food will be provided for you on both days.

You work hard every day to serve others on our campus! You may be supporting your family members, or you have decided to take some time for yourself to reach your goals.  Now, let us work with you to finish your graduate degree. This version of the “Dissertation House” was created just for you!

Dissertation House for UMBC Employees and Non-Traditional Students
Friday, 10/11/13,   9:00 – 5:00 PM (Part I), COMM 331
Saturday, 10/12/13, 10:00 – 3:00 PM(Part II), COMM 318/COMM 332

If you are a graduate student from another school within the University System of Maryland, you may apply to participate in this session, and your application will be considered. You are responsible for your own transportation and lodging. 

UMBC’s graduate students: http://my.umbc.edu/groups/promise/events/18934

ALL applicants must adhere to the regular “Dissertation House Application” procedures: https://dissertationhouse.wordpress.com/apply/

Purdue University – Cluster Hire – STEM Education

Purdue Associate Professor Dr. Levon Esters, one of the mentors from the 2013 PROMISE Summer Success Institute and Co-PI of the Mentoring@Purdue (MAP) program, wants PROMISE to know that his university is hiring, and he wants you to apply!  Dr. Esters wrote the following in his note to PROMISE:

“The integrated STEM teacher education initiative at Purdue is focused squarely on the teaching and learning of science (includes life and agricultural sciences) and mathematics through the integration of engineering design and technological design. Successful candidates will be expected to make a strong contribution to advancing the integrated K-12 STEM teacher education initiative; build collaborative relationships with colleagues in the cluster hire and related disciplines; and provide leadership for ongoing efforts to transform K-12 teacher preparation in STEM disciplines.”

• SIX OPEN RANK, TENURE-TRACK POSITIONS
• Cluster Hire in K-12 Integrated STEM Teacher Education
• Joint Appointments in College of Education and College of Science, College of Technology, College of Engineering, or College of Agriculture

POSITION: Purdue University is transforming its STEM teacher education as it exists today—from a model of instruction in demarcated subject areas to a model in which teachers learn to integrate scientific inquiry, technological design, engineering design, and mathematical analysis as pedagogical approaches to STEM instruction. To this end, the Colleges of Education, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Agriculture at Purdue University invite applications for six full-time, tenure-track, jointly appointed positions at the level of assistant, associate, or full professor to join the new K-12 Integrated STEM Teacher Education Initiative.

READ THE FULL ANNOUNCEMENT HERE: http://www.education.purdue.edu/news/Integrated-STEM-TE-Cluster-Hire-Announcement.pdf

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PROMISE is one of the new awardees for the National Science Foundation’s AGEP-T program. Brookhaven National Labs is also one of the awardees. Leaders at Brookhaven came to UMBC last week to invite graduate students and postdocs from our AGEP-T (any campus within the University System of Maryland) to apply for their positions. We will be planning a system-wide trip to Brookhaven’s headquarters next year.  Please apply for these great opportunities.

Brookhaven Postdoctoral Research Associate

Position Description

The Sustainable Energy Technologies (SET) Department at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate for a two-year study on the development of an innovative new control platform for micro-grids. Applicants for this position must have a PhD in electrical power systems with a strong focus on modeling and analysis of electrical networks, including distribution systems and microgrids.  Experience modeling electrical networks with integrated renewable energy sources, including solar, wind and grid-scale storage is required.  Applicants must have experience performing load flow and short circuit analyses, control system design and modeling, and power electronics analysis.  Experience with Matlab/Simulink and other common power system analytical software such as SimPowerSystems, PSS/E and/or PSLF is also required.  Candidates with PSCad experience, ETAP experience, C/C++ experience and statistics background are preferred.  Proficiency with MS Office software, including Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint is also required. Candidates must have good written and oral communication skills, be willing to take direction, and be able to work with others as part of a project team. The SET Department, in collaboration with others, is performing research to develop and demonstrate a Smart Micro-grid technology solution that is suitable for deployment at facilities that are large integral consumers of electricity and that would benefit from operation as a controlled micro-grid. The proposed Smart Micro-grid technology will employ an innovative new Smart Grid Sensor developed by one of the outside organizations collaborating on this project. This project will involve the deployment of a matrix of Smart Grid Sensors on the BNL campus to demonstrate and validate their performance.  The 5300 acre BNL campus is an ideal test bed for the demonstration of smart micro-grid technologies since it consists of a mixture of specialized facilities ranging from industrial/research installations, conventional office space, warehouses, and manufacturing shops, to childcare facilities and residential cottages, apartments, and dormitories. Upon successful demonstration of the technology, the basic Smart Micro-grid will be scaled up to expand and refine the capability of the Smart Micro-grid system to collect and analyze complete baseline data that will enable improvements in efficiency and reliability. A methodology will be developed for improved micro-grid modeling to support intelligent micro-grid design and implementation using collected baseline data. The successful applicant will work with other researchers on the project team in support of this two-year study. Responsibilities will include modeling and analysis of the BNL electrical distribution system; testing and evaluation of the Smart Grid Sensors; review and analysis of operational data obtained from the matrix of sensors; development and testing of smart micro-grid control software; and integration and control of smart micro-grid components. This position will be in the SET Department, reporting to the Renewable Energy Group Leader, Robert Lofaro. Please respond to position 15906 at the BNL web site www.bnl.gov under “Jobs”

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Brookhaven Project

Position Description

This  project seeks to understand basic chemistry and physics of molecular materials, especially conjugated polymers, for efficient capture of solar energy. The project examines electron, holes and excited states in long, conjugated molecules using transient techniques like pulse radiolysis and laser photoexcitation. It examines the natures of those carriers of charge or excitation, how they move and how electrons and holes escape from each other to give useful energy storage.   Candidates should have a Ph.D. in chemistry, physics, materials science or related fields and an ability and interest to work in a chemical laboratory with instrumental techniques.

Contact T. Buck, tbuck@bnl.gov

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Brookhaven Postdoctoral Research Associate

Position Description

Postdoctoral Research Associate – Electrochemical Assembly of Nanomaterials  - The Center for Functional Nanomaterials (CFN) at Brookhaven National Laboratory seeks to fill an opening for a Postdoctoral Research Associate in a project on the electrochemical assembly of nanoparticle heterostructures for energy-related applications.  The scientific focus will be on the fabrication and characterization of monolayers and multilayers of colloidal transition metal oxide nanomaterials to comprise energy conversion architectures (such as photovoltaic devices).  The research will utilize existing colloidal nanoparticle synthesis facilities and state-of-the-art electrophoretic deposition equipment, combined with a broad assortment of world-class nanomaterials characterization facilities within the CFN.  This project is laboratory intensive—much of the work involves colloidal chemistry, nanoparticle film fabrication, materials characterization, and measurement.  The qualified candidate will have a Ph.D. in an appropriate discipline (Chemistry, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or Physics) and significant experience with nanoparticle synthesis and materials characterization.  Expertise with nanomaterials, such as titanium dioxide nanoparticles, and with electrophoretic deposition is a plus.  Expertise in electronic device characterization, such as cyclic voltammetry, is essential.  Expertise in nanoscale materials characterization and analysis, such as electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, and others, is very important. The successful applicant will demonstrate an ability to work independently within broadly defined research directions, and an ability to supervise and to perform research and technical duties of the laboratory.  Applications should include a CV, a publication list, and a one page statement of your research experiences and interests as a single document (PDF or Word document).  This project is under the direction of James H. Dickerson, Center for Functional Nanomaterials.

Contact T. Buck, tbuck@bnl.gov

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Please apply for the positions.

Purdue University – Cluster Hire – STEM Education

Purdue Associate Professor Dr. Levon Esters, one of the mentors from the 2013 PROMISE Summer Success Institute and Co-PI of the Mentoring@Purdue (MAP) program, wants PROMISE to know that his university is hiring, and he wants you to apply!  Dr. Esters wrote the following in his note to PROMISE:

“The integrated STEM teacher education initiative at Purdue is focused squarely on the teaching and learning of science (includes life and agricultural sciences) and mathematics through the integration of engineering design and technological design. Successful candidates will be expected to make a strong contribution to advancing the integrated K-12 STEM teacher education initiative; build collaborative relationships with colleagues in the cluster hire and related disciplines; and provide leadership for ongoing efforts to transform K-12 teacher preparation in STEM disciplines.”

• SIX OPEN RANK, TENURE-TRACK POSITIONS
• Cluster Hire in K-12 Integrated STEM Teacher Education
• Joint Appointments in College of Education and College of Science, College of Technology, College of Engineering, or College of Agriculture

POSITION: Purdue University is transforming its STEM teacher education as it exists today—from a model of instruction in demarcated subject areas to a model in which teachers learn to integrate scientific inquiry, technological design, engineering design, and mathematical analysis as pedagogical approaches to STEM instruction. To this end, the Colleges of Education, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Agriculture at Purdue University invite applications for six full-time, tenure-track, jointly appointed positions at the level of assistant, associate, or full professor to join the new K-12 Integrated STEM Teacher Education Initiative.

READ THE FULL ANNOUNCEMENT HERE: http://www.education.purdue.edu/news/Integrated-STEM-TE-Cluster-Hire-Announcement.pdf

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PROMISE is one of the new awardees for the National Science Foundation’s AGEP-T program. Brookhaven National Labs is also one of the awardees. Leaders at Brookhaven came to UMBC last week to invite graduate students and postdocs from our AGEP-T (any campus within the University System of Maryland) to apply for their positions. We will be planning a system-wide trip to Brookhaven’s headquarters next year.  Please apply for these great opportunities.

Brookhaven Postdoctoral Research Associate

Position Description

The Sustainable Energy Technologies (SET) Department at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate for a two-year study on the development of an innovative new control platform for micro-grids. Applicants for this position must have a PhD in electrical power systems with a strong focus on modeling and analysis of electrical networks, including distribution systems and microgrids.  Experience modeling electrical networks with integrated renewable energy sources, including solar, wind and grid-scale storage is required.  Applicants must have experience performing load flow and short circuit analyses, control system design and modeling, and power electronics analysis.  Experience with Matlab/Simulink and other common power system analytical software such as SimPowerSystems, PSS/E and/or PSLF is also required.  Candidates with PSCad experience, ETAP experience, C/C++ experience and statistics background are preferred.  Proficiency with MS Office software, including Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint is also required. Candidates must have good written and oral communication skills, be willing to take direction, and be able to work with others as part of a project team. The SET Department, in collaboration with others, is performing research to develop and demonstrate a Smart Micro-grid technology solution that is suitable for deployment at facilities that are large integral consumers of electricity and that would benefit from operation as a controlled micro-grid. The proposed Smart Micro-grid technology will employ an innovative new Smart Grid Sensor developed by one of the outside organizations collaborating on this project. This project will involve the deployment of a matrix of Smart Grid Sensors on the BNL campus to demonstrate and validate their performance.  The 5300 acre BNL campus is an ideal test bed for the demonstration of smart micro-grid technologies since it consists of a mixture of specialized facilities ranging from industrial/research installations, conventional office space, warehouses, and manufacturing shops, to childcare facilities and residential cottages, apartments, and dormitories. Upon successful demonstration of the technology, the basic Smart Micro-grid will be scaled up to expand and refine the capability of the Smart Micro-grid system to collect and analyze complete baseline data that will enable improvements in efficiency and reliability. A methodology will be developed for improved micro-grid modeling to support intelligent micro-grid design and implementation using collected baseline data. The successful applicant will work with other researchers on the project team in support of this two-year study. Responsibilities will include modeling and analysis of the BNL electrical distribution system; testing and evaluation of the Smart Grid Sensors; review and analysis of operational data obtained from the matrix of sensors; development and testing of smart micro-grid control software; and integration and control of smart micro-grid components. This position will be in the SET Department, reporting to the Renewable Energy Group Leader, Robert Lofaro. Please respond to position 15906 at the BNL web site www.bnl.gov under “Jobs”

———————————————————————————————————————————————————-

Brookhaven Project

Position Description

This  project seeks to understand basic chemistry and physics of molecular materials, especially conjugated polymers, for efficient capture of solar energy. The project examines electron, holes and excited states in long, conjugated molecules using transient techniques like pulse radiolysis and laser photoexcitation. It examines the natures of those carriers of charge or excitation, how they move and how electrons and holes escape from each other to give useful energy storage.   Candidates should have a Ph.D. in chemistry, physics, materials science or related fields and an ability and interest to work in a chemical laboratory with instrumental techniques.

Contact T. Buck, tbuck@bnl.gov

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Brookhaven Postdoctoral Research Associate

Position Description

Postdoctoral Research Associate – Electrochemical Assembly of Nanomaterials  - The Center for Functional Nanomaterials (CFN) at Brookhaven National Laboratory seeks to fill an opening for a Postdoctoral Research Associate in a project on the electrochemical assembly of nanoparticle heterostructures for energy-related applications.  The scientific focus will be on the fabrication and characterization of monolayers and multilayers of colloidal transition metal oxide nanomaterials to comprise energy conversion architectures (such as photovoltaic devices).  The research will utilize existing colloidal nanoparticle synthesis facilities and state-of-the-art electrophoretic deposition equipment, combined with a broad assortment of world-class nanomaterials characterization facilities within the CFN.  This project is laboratory intensive—much of the work involves colloidal chemistry, nanoparticle film fabrication, materials characterization, and measurement.  The qualified candidate will have a Ph.D. in an appropriate discipline (Chemistry, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or Physics) and significant experience with nanoparticle synthesis and materials characterization.  Expertise with nanomaterials, such as titanium dioxide nanoparticles, and with electrophoretic deposition is a plus.  Expertise in electronic device characterization, such as cyclic voltammetry, is essential.  Expertise in nanoscale materials characterization and analysis, such as electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, and others, is very important. The successful applicant will demonstrate an ability to work independently within broadly defined research directions, and an ability to supervise and to perform research and technical duties of the laboratory.  Applications should include a CV, a publication list, and a one page statement of your research experiences and interests as a single document (PDF or Word document).  This project is under the direction of James H. Dickerson, Center for Functional Nanomaterials.

Contact T. Buck, tbuck@bnl.gov

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Please apply for the positions.

During the 2013 PROMISE AGEP Summer Success Institute, Dr. Christine Grant (Associate Dean for Faculty Development and Professor of Chemical Engineering, http://www.che.ncsu.edu/people/faculty-pages/grant.html), led the following session:

• Making the transitions (grad student to PhD, postdoc, professor), keeping your cool, and addressing the issues: How do you deal with the lack of respect on the new job that may come from subtle discrimination based on age, gender, or race?
• Dr. Christine Grant, Professor, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering; Associate Dean of Faculty Development and Special Initiatives, College of Engineering, North Carolina State University; and Founder of “Creative Growth Solutions for You!” 
• • Seminar Synopsis: You can now be called “Dr. ____,” but how do you deal with situations where people question your credentials and experience? This topic was requested by PROMISE alumni and postdocs who found that themselves excited about starting their new positions, but were continually being challenged about their credentials. Often, their hiring supervisors were very supportive and acknowledged their expertise, but when they had to work with others in the department or on a different campus, they received comments like:  ”Did you really do enough work to get a PhD?”  (Even though you’ve won international awards in your field.) -OR- “I need to know if you can teach this class.” (Even when you’ve taught the class to stellar reviews on a sister campus.) How do you handle situations when people argue with you (about being in your own lab) because they think that you’re a student, or support staff? What do you do when other professors try to “steal” your grad students, or when students challenge your authority? These are questions that have been posed to PROMISE by PhD alumni who are underrepresented minorities, and women of all races. Dr. Christine Grant brings to PROMISE her experiences as a full professor of engineering, as a national speaker and leader within the NSF ADVANCE community (winner of many grants to assist women faculty), and as a professional coach. [Dr. Grant, winner of a U.S.Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring, was guest at the PROMISE SSI 2004, and she returns as part of the 10th anniversary celebration, courtesy of her company, "Creative Growth Solutions for You!"] 

Dr. Grant sent us a “recap” of that session:

I hosted a lively event at my roundtable that focused on making transitions and keeping your cool in the presence of microaggressions , lack of respect and both subtle and overt discrimination based on age, gender and race.  Interestingly – there were different issues raised by the men and women in the group.  We discussed topics associated with one’s physical presence (e.g., natural hair, wardrobe) and the importance of knowing the culture of your department/working environment to determine how far to push the envelope. It was also clear that there were challenges for both men and women in terms of welcoming environments and communication norms.  We brainstormed effective strategies to develop academic allies, mentors and most importantly how to empower oneself on the upward professional climb.  We generated lists of actual challenging situations and then discussed potential approaches to selectively address different ones in the academy.

 NEXT STEPS – Opportunity to connect with Dr. Grant, October 24:

Dr. Grant is hosting an “On My Own Terms” E-workshop/tele-teaching on Thursday, October 24, 2013, 7:15 – 8:45 PM.  The website with registration information can be found here: http://creativegrowth4u.com/index.html

The first workshop in the series will focus on Empowerment Outside the “Academic Box” and provide an overview of the five concepts associated with OMOT for current and aspiring academics.  There is a $10 discount for EARLY BIRD Registration.

Related articles

• Professional development seminars for graduate students: FALL 2013 (promiseagep.wordpress.com)