2016 UMBC Summer Survey
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us about your summer plans and earn a chance to WIN FOUR Premier O's
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2016!
The survey can be found HERE.
]]>Name: Jaelyn Bos
Internship, Co-op or Research Site: National Park Service
Position Title: Hemlock Monitoring Intern
Major(s)/Minor(s): Environmental Science (BS); Biology (BA)
Expected Graduation Year: Spring 2017
Briefly describe your internship, co-op, or research opportunity, including your day-to-day tasks, responsibilities, and assignments.
Last summer, I worked for the National Park Service's Inventory and Monitoring program in the National Capital Region. The role of this program is to routinely assess the state of natural resources in the region's parks. Two other interns from UMBC and I spent the summer studying the ecologic role of Eastern Hemlock trees, which are dying out due to an invasive pest. For the first half of the summer, we used a GPS to map the locations of patches of hemlock trees in all the region's parks. During the second half of the summer, we randomly selected points within the hemlock patches and monitored vegetation at these points by looking for invasive plant species, assessing ground cover, and measuring trees. Nearly all my days were spent out in the field.
Describe the process of obtaining your internship, research, or co-op opportunity.
I found my position through the Geography and Environmental Systems Department at UMBC. One of the professors in our department, Dr. Swan, sent out an email with information on the available positions and how to apply. After submitting my cover letter and résumé (which was previously reviewed by the Career Center), I interviewed with my now-supervisor over the phone.
What have you enjoyed the most about your position or organization/company?
I loved the opportunity to work outdoors every day, and to learn about forestry. I also appreciated the chance to do something small improve our understanding natural resource conservation in the Washington, DC region.
How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?
By researching the interactions of an imperiled tree species with the rest of the botanic community, we enabled natural resource managers of all types to make informed decisions on how to deal with infested hemlock trees. While I would love to save all the hemlocks, understanding the effects that their loss has on the ecosystem as a whole helps those in power balance the cost of saving trees with the benefits to biodiversity.
What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?
UMBC has connections to a huge variety of fascinating workplaces. When searching for internships, try to tap these connections by working with your department or the Career Center. Don't be afraid to try something new!
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]]>The Louis L. Kaplan Scholarship Fund was established in 1977 by the University of Maryland Baltimore County Student Government Association in recognition of Dr. Kaplan’s many contributions to UMBC during his tenure as Interim Chancellor.
It
was Dr. Kaplan’s wish, when the fund was first established, that
students who displayed academic promise be assisted financially in order
to continue their education at UMBC.
The purpose of the award is to recognize UMBC students with proven academic achievement (minimum 3.0 grade point average) who will hold junior or senior status (minimum 60 credits) the following fall (credits must reflect on transcript by the end of the application semester), demonstrate financial need, and have made valuable contributions to the UMBC community. While financial need will be a consideration, it WILL NOT be the deciding factor in granting the award (s).
Name: Frank Monney
Internship, Co-op or Research Site: Uconn Health
Position Title: Research Intern
Major(s)/Minor(s): Biological Sciences
Expected Graduation Year: August 2016
Briefly describe your internship, co-op, or research opportunity, including your day-to-day tasks, responsibilities, and assignments.
As part of my research position at Uconn health, we had 4 days of research and a day of medical shadowing. I was working in the department of Molecular Biology and Biophysics in Dr. Korzhnev lab and my mentor was a second year graduate student Alex Rizzo. Briefly, my project consisted of finding the interaction between TLS DNA Polymerases and PCNA (Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen) which is a DNA-sliding clamp very involved in DNA replication processes. We used Rev1 as TLS polymerase and finding that interaction with PCNA would be a great target for drug design purposes because the majority of mutations in cells is caused by TLS polymerases. Every day, I would go my lab and grow bacteria tagged with our proteins of interest, then isolate and purify the proteins for NMR sampling.Adjusting the conditions in which the proteins were being grown, gave us a great deal of flexibility in order to determine the the true conditions that would allow that protein interaction.
Describe the process of obtaining your internship, research, or co-op opportunity.
To obtain my research, I attended a seminar at UMBC "How to get started in research". After that, they had a follow up meeting to talk about how to navigate the research page and how to find useful links. After that, I did my personal research and applied to a couple of research sites. I later went to the Career center to polish my resume, and get it approved for UMBCworks. I had also started contacting professors early in the process for recommendation letters which I received in a timely manner.
What have you enjoyed the most about your position or organization/company?
I really enjoyed the connections. Besides the amazing research experience and the eye-opening shadowing opportunities, I really enjoyed the connections both professional and casual. Through my experience at UConn Health, I shadowed Dr. Zempsky a doctor specialized in sickle cell anemia and pain management. At the end of the program, he said he would connect me with one of his colleague at John Hopkins University for possible research/shadowing opportunities. I also made some friends in Connecticut. In the lab I worked with, I met a first year medical student (Ted). He introduced me to his friends, we got to learn about one another and they were all willing to give me counsel.
How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?
The bigger picture of my project is hoping to being able to design better cancer therapies via cells that avoid chemoresistance. At the end of the summer rotation, we presented our projects at a poster presentation and I received some great feedback. Looking at the interaction between Rev1 and PCNA, we found the results that we expected. At Ph 7 and at different mole ratios we noticed that there is change in chemical environment around peaks of the proteins using NMR spectroscopy. Although I won't be able to work on my project this fall, I am incredibly proud of what I accomplished with the help of my amazing mentor, (Alex Rizzo), my PI, Dr Korzhnev. Moving forward in finding the true interaction site of the proteins, I know that I contributed something to this project and helped take one small yet significant step towards containing cancer/tumor growths.
What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?
For anyone looking to do something similar, I would say first and foremost, go with an open mind. It is amazing how much you can absorb when you leave your mind to be attracted to different things. As far of the research goes, attending the seminar at UMBC was of great help. Further down the application process, I would recommend contacting professors for recommendation letters very early. Through the whole process, be very thorough and persistent, don't take no for an answer and do not be discouraged. There is always someone that can provide guidance you at UMBC.
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]]>Name: Jenette Phillips
Internship, Co-op or Research Site: Future Renewable Electric Energy Delivery and Management (FREEDM) Systems Center
Position Title: Undergraduate Research Scholar
Major(s)/Minor(s): Mechanical Engineering
Expected Graduation Year: May 2017
Briefly describe your internship, co-op, or research opportunity, including your day-to-day tasks, responsibilities, and assignments.
The FREEDM Systems center is located at NC State but has partner universities that will are also participants of the same program. I was the only member of the FREEDM REU to be researching out of MS&T. Because I was the only member of my REU at this location I was paired up with a sister program through MS&T. Since I was with the sister program I would also participate and complete their requirements while doing my required tasks for FREEDM. So on Monday's and Wednesday's I would go on an online meeting and video conference the FREEDM center and other partnering universities and businesses. Friday's would alternate between a meeting with the MS&T student researchers and faculty and a field trip to various renewable energy related sites.
The best visit was when the sister program took a visit to the Anheiser-Busch Beer facility in St. Louis. After touring the grounds, looking at the horses and Dalmatian, and smelling beer waft through the air, we then went to their water treatment facility. If I recall correctly they take the waste water from the factory (from cleaning out beer tanks and such) and use bacteria to eat the particles left inside. They can produce energy at a high efficiency , treat the water to be reused by the facility, and produce about 7% percent of the energy needed to make the beer during the brewing process. Almost every week I wrote a reflective essay for FREEDM. I had to create an elevator pitch to be presented for FREEDM. I had to create a poster which I presented twice, once for FREEDM and the next for a poster symposium at MS&T.
My assignment was to develop a simulink model of an internal combustion engine. MS&T currently house an electric vehicle simulation that compromises essentially of 4 motors, 2 capacitors, and a GUI for the user to "drive " the vehicle with. Developing a simulation of an internal combustion engine, it could be integrated in the original electric vehicle model in varying different ways and could test which power train configuration would be the most efficient and environmentally sensitive model. Before going into this program I knew nothing about cars; the first three weeks were dedicated to nothing but trying to understand them! After reading over 100 papers and watching countless YouTube videos I realized how difficult my task would be. It's not because there aren't current models for the public to see, it's because of how much effort is needed to create one that actually makes sense.
Describe the process of obtaining your internship, research, or co-op opportunity.
I found this REU program through NSF's website. I knew that I wanted to do something mechanical and related to renewable energy, so I was sifting through all types of options : materials engineering, solar, wind, vehicular and animal safety, simulation, ect. This program caught my eye due to how long it has been running and how impressive the previous students' research projects were. I'm not very good at electrical engineering concepts, and that's what the program mainly focuses on, but I felt that I could utilize my strengths in mechanical engineering and love for thermodynamics to help me if I were to be accepted for the position. (Shout out to Dr. Sanchez for being so clutch at teaching thermodynamics, a seriously great professor!)
What have you enjoyed the most about your position or organization/company?
First of all, I am one of three UMBC undergraduates that were accepted into this program, and that's awesome! Just from that alone I felt confident from the beginning. I've gained a lot of insight that can help guide me to my future career. Like that I hate sitting behind a computer all day, so simulation engineering won't be for me, but that I love combustion. I also love teaching others about cars (and I'm really proud of myself for learning so much on my own) and am now seriously considering going to Graduate's school in order to become a professor. At first I was really nervous about being in Rolla, MO. It's a huge culture shock, coming from the DC metropolitan area, but it really opened my eyes to the shear impressiveness that other universities have to offer. I definitely think that students should take the opportunity to leave their hometowns to learn through research or industry experience.
How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?
What I am working on right now has seldom done before. Car companies produce their own engines (I mean , it is the heart of the car. They wouldn't be able to survive if they didn't) and because of that, highly protect their products. The information that can be accessed by the public is readily used by researchers, but used without understanding what the information is actually providing. Basically, it's like if someone tried using an engine from a Honda Hybrid in a big pick up truck. It wouldn't drive the way it was mean to. Most of my work has been focused on the lack of attention given to these models and finding an easier, accessible and more accurate solution.
What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?
Do something different every summer, but at least do something. This a chance for you to discover what you're passionate about. Last summer I taught literature and engineering to kindergarten through fourth grade students at the Lakeland Elementary-Middle School. Lessons learned: I love teaching, but I do not love the public school system. This summer I did research. The next I plan on becoming a company's intern. That way I have a multitude of varying experiences to reflect upon while deciding what to do post-graduation.
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Want to be the next Intern of the Week? Make sure to fill out this form and stay tuned. New interns are announced every Friday!
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