“I’m really interested in how the brain integrates a lot of different kinds of information to regulate complex behaviors, such as seeking rewards,” LeGates says. Her findings published in Nature, and her lab’s continuing work, pave the way for new treatments for disorders such as addiction and depression. Continue Reading UMBC’s Tara LeGates is first runner-up for prestigious international neurobiology prize
Fungi play an important role in the development of pharmaceuticals and enzymes, and agriculture. By understanding how fungal cells work and respond to stress, Mark Marten and his collaborators hope to help reverse-engineer processes that could have a broad range of applications. Continue Reading Research team led by UMBC’s Mark Marten studies how fungal cells respond to stress, repair broken cell walls
A team of researchers led by UMBC psychology professor Charissa Cheah has found that a high percentage of Chinese American parents and children have witnessed and experienced an increase in racial discrimination since the outbreak of COVID-19. The researchers’ findings are now published in Pediatrics. Continue Reading Chinese American parents and children have experienced increased racism due to COVID-19, report UMBC researchers in Pediatrics
“My goal for the students was to capture what I think is the most important part of scientific research—curiosity through observation,” Chris Hawn says. By training their eyes and learning to see in new ways, Hawn says, “People were making discoveries literally inside their houses, or on a walk, or in their yard. It was really wonderful to see that transformation.” Continue Reading UMBC engages Howard Community College students with environmental science—online and in their own backyards
UMBC’s Dipanjan Pan, professor of chemical, biochemical, and environmental engineering, and collaborators have published a seminal study in Nature Communications that demonstrates for the first time a method of biosynthesizing plasmonic gold nanoparticles within cancer cells, without the need for conventional bench-top lab methods. It has the potential to notably expand biomedical applications. Continue Reading Dipanjan Pan demonstrates new method to produce gold nanoparticles directly in cancer cells with possible applications in x-ray imaging, cancer treatment
Salamanders regenerate their tails. Sea stars regenerate their arms. Most species of planaria, a type of flatworm, can regenerate everything from their brains to their digestive organs. But if you lose part of a finger in a shop class accident, or while chopping vegetables for dinner, you’re out of luck—for now. “Why can the worm do it, and we cannot?” asks Daniel Lobo, assistant professor of biological sciences. That’s not really the question, though, he explains. Continue Reading UMBC’s Daniel Lobo receives $1.9 million NIH grant to explore genetic control of development and regeneration
Ten recent UMBC alumni are recipients of 2020 – 2021 Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards, including seven from UMBC’s Class of 2020. Each year over 11,000 students apply and just over 2,000 are selected from hundreds of colleges and universities across the United States. The award secures funding for U.S. students to pursue international graduate study, research, internships, or teaching. Continue Reading UMBC celebrates 2020 – 2021 Fulbright recipients
UMBC is leading an eight-institution effort to improve our understanding of Earth’s critical zone (from bedrock to treetops) in urban contexts. Most critical zone research happens in more pristine wilderness areas, because the added effects of urban processes make the research more complicated. But, Welty says, “that’s the most interesting part.” Continue Reading Bedrock to treetops: NSF awards $4.8M to urban environment study led by UMBC’s Claire Welty
UMBC’s Tulay Adali, professor of computer science and electrical engineering (CSEE) and distinguished university professor, has received the prestigious Humboldt Research Award. Continue Reading UMBC’s Tulay Adali receives prestigious Humboldt Research Award for advanced data analysis at Paderborn University
“It was different,” says instructor Maria Cambraia, “but we kept the main goal. We wanted to offer them an authentic research experience, and we did.” Continue Reading UMBC STEM BUILD students conduct and present viral research in reimagined summer program
“I believe this paper is a great example of how diversity expands the type of research scientists are doing,” says Casey Haines ’19. “A diverse pool of researchers may result in new questions being asked and new approaches to answering those questions. I would love to see this type of research applied in other areas of STEM.” Continue Reading UMBC study reveals gender bias in bird song research and impact of women on science
“While there will be important materials and engineering questions that will need to be addressed before scaling up to a commercial reactor, we will address the most important physics questions that could put us in a path to a demo reactor in years, not decades. We are very excited to be working on a truly transformational technology that will enable a virtually inexhaustible energy source with very small impact to our planet,” says Romero-Talamas. Continue Reading UMBC-led team receives Dept. of Energy grant to advance nuclear fusion energy research
