Biology graduate students from UMBC earn national honors for unique aquatic research

Apr 9, 2019 / 5 minutes of reading

Whether wading in a cold stream or in the lab, mentors who foster independent thinking balanced with guidance—for research and for life—make the difference for UMBC graduate students on the national and international stage. A close-knit graduate student community adds a level of support that helps students succeed. Continue Reading Biology graduate students from UMBC earn national honors for unique aquatic research

UMBC’s Bradley Arnold develops laser-based technology to safely and quickly detect IEDs and other hazards in combat zones

Apr 2, 2019 / 5 minutes of reading

You’re a U.S. soldier, motoring across the desert at 60 miles an hour in an Army truck. Suddenly, a red light flashes on your dashboard—an instrument has detected traces of explosive material on the road surface ahead. You divert around the hazard and continue safely toward your destination. “There is currently nothing available to do this at this speed,” says Bradley Arnold. But that could soon change. Continue Reading UMBC’s Bradley Arnold develops laser-based technology to safely and quickly detect IEDs and other hazards in combat zones

Alex Sestok, Ph.D. student in chemistry, at GRC 2018. Photo by Marlayna Demond '11 for UMBC.

New GEARS symposium offers professional development opportunities to grad students across disciplines

Mar 27, 2019 / 4 minutes of reading

“We want to provide an avenue for people to learn skills that they’re not going to get in the classroom or the lab,” says Alex Rittle, Ph.D. student in geography and environmental systems and chair of the GEARS planning committee. Continue Reading New GEARS symposium offers professional development opportunities to grad students across disciplines

UMBC’s Chris Swan contributes to landmark global stream ecology study

Feb 27, 2019 / 4 minutes of reading

The experimental design at each site was simple, “but to manage and deploy it across the globe to all seven continents was a Herculean task that could only be done with a network of colleagues,” says Swan. “The key here is true partnerships and global coverage.” Continue Reading UMBC’s Chris Swan contributes to landmark global stream ecology study

Letitia Dzirasa to serve as Baltimore City health commissioner

Feb 25, 2019 / 3 minutes of reading

“As I’ve grown in my career, I’ve begun to understand just how blessed I was to be afforded the opportunity to attend college and pursue my dreams,” Letitia Dzirasa ’03 says. “As I was fortunate, it is my responsibility to reach back and help others, especially those most under-resourced.” Continue Reading Letitia Dzirasa to serve as Baltimore City health commissioner

Two faculty members talking at a university research event, with three additional faculty members having a separate conversation in the background.

UMBC chosen to host AAAS science and faith dialogue project

Feb 1, 2019 / 4 minutes of reading

“UMBC is blessed with such diversity in every imaginable dimension that it is an exciting place to experience a scholarly exploration of the interface between science and faith,” says event co-organizer Steve Freeland. Continue Reading UMBC chosen to host AAAS science and faith dialogue project

UMBC scientists tackle persistent hurdles in the aquaculture industry with new NOAA grant

Jan 31, 2019 / 4 minutes of reading

The grant will support efforts to optimize an innovative procedure for growing fish that can’t reproduce. “Everybody has been looking for another way to develop reproductively sterile fish,” Yonathan Zohar says. Sterile fish produce higher-quality meat and can’t breed with local populations if they escape from net pens. Continue Reading UMBC scientists tackle persistent hurdles in the aquaculture industry with new NOAA grant

UMBC’s Ivan Erill finds resistance to modern drug in ancient bacteria

Jan 30, 2019 / 5 minutes of reading

“The drug you design ten years from now may already be obsolete,” Ivan Erill says. In a new study in Frontiers in Microbiology, Erill and colleagues describe how bacteria that existed hundreds of millions of years ago were already resistant to an antibacterial drug not invented until the 1930s. Continue Reading UMBC’s Ivan Erill finds resistance to modern drug in ancient bacteria

UMBC biologist Phyllis Robinson recognized for research, advocacy, and mentorship

Jan 28, 2019 / 4 minutes of reading

At UMBC, “I’ve been able to do my science and also put energy into the social justice aspects of the world that are important to me,” Phyllis Robinson says. “One doesn’t exclude the other.” Continue Reading UMBC biologist Phyllis Robinson recognized for research, advocacy, and mentorship

Aaron Smith working at lab bench, smiling at camera.

UMBC’s Aaron Smith works toward developing new antibiotic targets with NIH grant

Jan 28, 2019 / 4 minutes of reading

“We have to think about more strategic and clever ways of attacking bugs,” says Aaron Smith. His work studies nutrient uptake mechanisms, specifically how bacteria acquire iron, as potential targets for new antibiotics. Continue Reading UMBC’s Aaron Smith works toward developing new antibiotic targets with NIH grant

UMBC’s Amy Lien helps NASA unravel the mystery of an unusual blast from across the universe

Jan 22, 2019 / 4 minutes of reading

“We’ve never seen anything exactly like the Cow,” Amy Lien says, “which is very exciting.” Her team at NASA’s Swift Observatory hypothesizes that a black hole tearing apart a white dwarf star caused the blast. Continue Reading UMBC’s Amy Lien helps NASA unravel the mystery of an unusual blast from across the universe

UMBC’s Colleen Burge helps show oyster aquaculture can limit disease in wild oysters

Jan 22, 2019 / 4 minutes of reading

“Oyster aquaculture is growing in Maryland,” says Colleen Burge. As long as growers employ proper management techniques, “This paper suggests this growing aquaculture industry could actually support restoration efforts and also the wild fisheries.” Continue Reading UMBC’s Colleen Burge helps show oyster aquaculture can limit disease in wild oysters

All posts by: Sarah Hansen, M.S. '15

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