Regarding the recent market volatility and stock market uncertainty, we know it is helpful for employees to have resources to feel more at ease during such times. Please see some resources below, provided by TIAA:

Managing your retirement savings when the market is volatile:  3-minute read which offers tips from TIAA on how to handle unsettled markets.  

TIAA’s Quarterly economic and market update: hear from the experts in TIAA’s Wealth Chief Investment Office about the state of the U.S. economy, key market drivers, and factors influencing market volatility. 

Financial Essentials educational workshops: available on-demand. Employees can view and register for any webinars.

For help with everyday retirement plan questions or transactions, employees can speak with a TIAA representative by calling 1-800-842-2252.

For more in-depth help with investment strategy, savings goals, or retirement planning, employees should schedule a 1:1 consultation with a TIAA rep at 1-800-732-8353 or tiaa.org/schedulenow. 

All employees can access these resources, even if they do not have an account with TIAA.

Name:
Muhammad Abid Mirza

Pronouns:
He

Semester of Internship:
Fall 2024

Major:
Health Information Technology

Current Class Level:
Master's Student

This semester I completed a(n)...
Internship

Internship, Co-op, or Research Site (Company/Organization Name):
Storyline Health

Location of the Organization (City, State):
Cottonwood Heights, Utah

Title of position:
Health Informatics & AI Intern

Tell us about your internship, co-op, or research opportunity, including your day-to-day responsibilities:
As a Health Informatics & AI Intern at Storyline Health, I am working remotely with both the data science and business teams to develop and implement AI algorithms. My day-to-day responsibilities include conducting research on behavioral AI, optimizing AI models, and collaborating closely with team members to enhance the application of AI technologies within healthcare. Additionally, I work with the business team to align technical solutions with strategic goals, ensuring our AI initiatives support broader organizational objectives. This experience is providing me with hands-on exposure to the intersection of health informatics, artificial intelligence, and business strategy, allowing me to contribute to meaningful projects while honing my technical and collaborative skills in a real-world environment.

Describe the process of obtaining your position. When did you hear of the position and submit your application?
I discovered the Health Informatics & AI Intern position at Storyline Health through a LinkedIn post. The job caught my attention as it aligned perfectly with my background and interests in health informatics and artificial intelligence. The application process was straightforward — I utilized LinkedIn's Easy Apply feature to submit my application. Shortly after, I was offered the internship, providing me with an exciting opportunity to contribute to innovative projects at the intersection of healthcare and AI.

What resources did you use to find your current experience?
LinkedIn or other social media

What have you enjoyed the most about your position and organization?
What I enjoy most about my current role at StoryLine Health is the opportunity to work at the intersection of healthcare and cutting-edge technology. As part of a team focused on developing a behavioral AI application to diagnose Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) in neonates, I get to contribute to something truly impactful.

I find it incredibly rewarding to see how the application we're building—leveraging deep learning models and markerless pose estimation—could significantly improve the accuracy and timeliness of HIE diagnosis. Working on a project with such potential to influence neonatal care has been both challenging and fulfilling.

Additionally, the chance to collaborate with a team that's dedicated to improving outcomes in the NICU and working toward reducing the need for costly and invasive procedures like ECMO is exciting. It feels like we’re at the forefront of transforming how healthcare can integrate AI for better patient care, and it’s motivating to be part of that journey.

How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?
Through my work at StoryLine Health, I believe I’ve made a meaningful impact by contributing to the development of a behavioral AI application that could revolutionize the way we diagnose Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) in neonates. By integrating advanced technologies such as deep learning and markerless pose estimation, our team is working to make diagnoses faster, more accurate, and less invasive. This can potentially reduce the reliance on costly and invasive procedures like ECMO and Nitric Oxide administration in the NICU, improving both patient outcomes and healthcare efficiency.

I’m particularly proud of how our work could help clinicians make better, more timely decisions, especially when every second counts in neonatal care. The ability to detect subtle facial expressions in neonates and use that data for diagnostic purposes is an innovative approach that has the potential to change the standard of care for vulnerable infants. In a field where precision is crucial, I feel that my contribution helps bridge the gap between technology and healthcare to make a tangible difference in the lives of neonates and their families.

What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?
If you're seeking an internship or similar experience, my advice would be to stay curious and proactive. Start by identifying the areas you're most passionate about, and align your search with those interests. Whether it’s healthcare, technology, or something else, having a clear sense of what excites you will help you focus your efforts.

Next, don’t be afraid to network. Reach out to professionals, attend industry events, and use platforms like LinkedIn to connect with people in your field. Networking can open doors to opportunities you may not have found otherwise.

Also, be open to learning, even if the task feels outside of your comfort zone. Internships are all about gaining new skills and experience, so embrace challenges as learning opportunities. Don’t shy away from projects that push your boundaries—they can lead to the most valuable growth.

In addition, I strongly recommend pursuing relevant certifications. They not only enhance your resume but also give you the technical skills and knowledge that are often required in today’s competitive job market. Certifications are a great way to demonstrate your commitment to continuous learning and can set you apart from other candidates.

Finally, be patient and persistent. The process of finding the right internship may take time, but don’t get discouraged. Stay focused on your long-term goals, and remember that every experience is a stepping stone toward your future.

Please provide a short reflection or quote about what you liked most about your position / earning internship credit / working with the Career Center.
What I’ve enjoyed most about my position is the opportunity to work on innovative projects that have the potential to transform healthcare through technology. The Career Center played a crucial role in helping me navigate my internship search, providing valuable resources, guidance, and connections that led me to this incredible opportunity. Their support made a significant difference in shaping my career path.

Dear Pre-Law Members,

Thank you to everyone who submitted nominations! We’re excited to announce that the ballot for the 2025–2026 Pre-Law Society Executive Board is now officially open.

This is your chance to help shape the future of PLS by voting for the candidates you believe best embody leadership, commitment, and a passion for our mission. Your vote matters and will directly impact the direction of our society next year!

Voting Deadline:
Sunday, April 27th at 11:59 PM

Ballot Link:
https://forms.gle/hYYiTujHQzUzCpyg7

Please take a few minutes to read through each candidate’s platform before submitting your vote. Election results will be shared with the general body on Monday, April 28th.

If you have any questions or run into any issues with the form, don’t hesitate to reply to this email.

Thank you for your participation—and happy voting!

Sincerely,
The Pre-Law Society Executive Board

On April 4, 2025, 8^th grade students from Queen Anne’s County visited UMBC's campus as part of a broader campus tour. The youth visit was led by Dr. Sarah Gardenghi, Assistant Vice Provost of Educational Pathways and Partnerships at UMBC. The students met with current undergraduate students to hear their perspective on college and participated in an activity related to research going on at UMBC. For the activity, the students visited the Earth and Space Institute, where ESI scientist Dr. Brent McBride demonstrated how climate scientists use light to learn more about Earth’s climate (see photo).

Photo: Dr. Brent McBride chats with several students about the difference between corn syrup and vegetable oil under polarized light. Photo Credit:  Sarah Gardenghi/DPS.

Photo: The spoon observed in visible (top left) and between polarizing filters (top right), and the tape mosaic observed in visible (bottom left) and polarized light (bottom center/right). Rotating the observing polarizer (in front of the camera) to different angles creates a different color pattern. Photo Credit: Brent McBride/ESI.

The tape, transparent plastic, and corn syrup can act as wave plates. These filters alter how much and the content of the light that passes through based on the wavelength of the light. The differing index of refraction between the objects and the air, as well as their molecular composition and surface shape, can also impact how much color or brightness is observed.

Polarization imaging technology is currently used by ESI’s HARP2 instrument on NASA’s Plankton Aerosol Cloud ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission. Climate scientists can use HARP2 polarized imagery to distinguish dust vs. smoke, liquid water droplets vs. ice crystals, and surface or ocean signals from the atmosphere in both familiar and new ways.