UMBC’s Jack Suess and instructional tech team earn national awards for leadership, innovation

Sep 21, 2021 / 3 minutes of reading

“What makes this award special is that it truly recognizes the work of our entire Division of Information Technology (DoIT),” Suess says. “Our team’s work, particularly in helping the university quickly shift to remote learning last year, due to COVID, reflects a spirit of empathy and collaboration. This spirit has made IT true partners in the university’s success, not just technology experts.” Continue Reading UMBC’s Jack Suess and instructional tech team earn national awards for leadership, innovation

UMBC to receive $10 million from NASA to support sun and space environment research

Sep 14, 2021 / 4 minutes of reading

The new funding will “enable closer connections between NASA and universities, which simplifies sharing ideas and performing joint research and technology development,” Jan Merka says. He emphasizes, “Another significant benefit is connecting students with research opportunities and mentors in heliophysics.” Continue Reading UMBC to receive $10 million from NASA to support sun and space environment research

UMBC’s Matthew Baker gets to the root of how trees cool cities

Sep 13, 2021 / 5 minutes of reading

A new study describes nuances of how trees affect temperature in cities, which could help urban planners reap the greatest benefits from tree planting efforts and protect their most vulnerable residents. Continue Reading UMBC’s Matthew Baker gets to the root of how trees cool cities

UMBC’s Mercedes Burns to explore spider glues and silks with new $900K NSF grant

Sep 2, 2021 / 5 minutes of reading

Spider silks and glues are incredibly difficult to produce synthetically, but could have important medical or industrial applications. Mercedes Burns and Sarah Stellwagen will study sticky substances produced by other animals, which are “sticky like spider silk glues, but maybe their genetic architecture is easier for us to duplicate,” Burns says. Continue Reading UMBC’s Mercedes Burns to explore spider glues and silks with new $900K NSF grant

UMBC graduates more Black students who go on to earn doctorates in natural sciences and engineering than any other U.S. college

Aug 6, 2021 / 5 minutes of reading

“When we have greater diversity of representation, we also have greater diversity of information, knowledge, lived experience, and perspectives—each of which enhances discovery and innovation,” Freeman Hrabowski and Peter Henderson write. “When the science and engineering community looks like the United States, we find greater trust in and support for that community…” Continue Reading UMBC graduates more Black students who go on to earn doctorates in natural sciences and engineering than any other U.S. college

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Hurricanes, well-being, and AI: START Awards set up UMBC researchers for success

Aug 6, 2021 / 6 minutes of reading

Physicist Steve Guimond and collaborators have received a new $682,000 National Science Foundation (NSF) grant to develop, run, and analyze complex hurricane models on supercomputers. However, Guimond might never have received the grant if he hadn’t received a UMBC Strategic Award for Research Transitions (START) first. A new cohort of START funding recipients begins their projects this summer. Continue Reading Hurricanes, well-being, and AI: START Awards set up UMBC researchers for success

UMBC, State of Maryland launch Maryland Institute for Innovative Computing at cyber summit

Jul 30, 2021 / 3 minutes of reading

The MIIC will address pressing challenges related to computing, analytics, and workforce in state agencies, with a focus on cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and data science. “Maryland is showing the way by creating this innovative partnership that brings together experienced faculty and students…with state agencies that need support facing pressing challenges,” says Anupam Joshi, director of UMBC’s Center for Cybersecurity. Continue Reading UMBC, State of Maryland launch Maryland Institute for Innovative Computing at cyber summit

Major UMBC stream restoration will enhance ecosystems, stormwater management, and the community experience

Jul 13, 2021 / 5 minutes of reading

“This project will not only create and enhance wetland and stream habitats and functions, it will also provide recreational enhancements such as walking trails with stream access and connection to other existing trails,” says Lenn Caron. “The restored stream will elevate UMBC’s aesthetic appeal and provide a pleasant natural environment for members of the campus and local community for recreation, exercise and watershed education.” Continue Reading Major UMBC stream restoration will enhance ecosystems, stormwater management, and the community experience

UMBC launches Faculty Expert Search tool to connect scholars with the public and each other

Jul 7, 2021 / 3 minutes of reading

Every day UMBC faculty are hard at work testing antivirals in the lab, untangling the impacts of healthcare policy, and processing satellite data on Earth’s atmosphere. They are developing best practices for K-12 teaching, remediating water contaminants, and exploring how actors express intimacy on stage. But how can journalists, students, or the general public learn who these faculty are and what they study? And how can faculty connect with each other for innovative research collaborations? Anyone seeking UMBC experts can now find them through a new online tool that makes searches fast and easy. Continue Reading UMBC launches Faculty Expert Search tool to connect scholars with the public and each other

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NASA, Dept. of Energy grant prestigious research awards to UMBC physics Ph.D. students

Jul 2, 2021 / 6 minutes of reading

Noah Sienkiewicz, the NASA recipient, says UMBC’s partnerships with the agency helped set him up for success. “I’ve gotten to be more exposed to actual NASA work, and sit in meetings with NASA officials,” he says. “So, as far as the childhood dream of ‘I want to work for NASA,’ I feel like it’s been a great stepping stone to doing that.” Continue Reading NASA, Dept. of Energy grant prestigious research awards to UMBC physics Ph.D. students

UMBC researchers advance accessible COVID-19 testing technologies

Jun 24, 2021 / 4 minutes of reading

Two research teams led by UMBC engineering faculty are transforming COVID-19 testing technologies. Rather than making users choose either the fastest or most affordable COVID-19 test, or the most accurate test, they seek to offer tests that are rapid, accessible, and highly accurate, all in one. Continue Reading UMBC researchers advance accessible COVID-19 testing technologies

A brick building with many windows. The sky is blue, and there are some green trees and plants in front of the building.

UMBC and Georgia State receive $3M NIMH grant to improve data-driven diagnosis of mood disorders

Jun 22, 2021 / 2 minutes of reading

UMBC and Georgia State University have received a $3 million five-year grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) for research supporting the diagnosis of mood disorders. Tulay Adali, professor of computer science and electrical engineering and distinguished university professor, will lead UMBC’s portion of the research. She says, “We hope this will enable us to better define subtypes of mental disorders, and will help inform effective and personalized forms of therapy.” Continue Reading UMBC and Georgia State receive $3M NIMH grant to improve data-driven diagnosis of mood disorders