UMBC’s Pelton and Daniel are developing light-driven chips to enable super-fast computing

Jan 16, 2020 / 5 minutes of reading

Physicist Matt Pelton and chemist Marie-Christine Daniel are both engaged in photonics research, which is “the idea of using light—photons—to do information processing instead of using electrons like you do in electronics,” explains Pelton. The work poses challenges, but if Daniel, Pelton, and their students succeed, they’ll be setting the stage for a revolution in computing. Continue Reading UMBC’s Pelton and Daniel are developing light-driven chips to enable super-fast computing

UMBC researchers work to support first responders through NSF-funded stress-response technology

Jan 15, 2020 / 5 minutes of reading

Through a $370,000 grant from the National Science Foundation, UMBC researchers are using a wristband to collect stress level information from first responders during simulations that mimic on-call situations. They are developing a visual display system to aid first responders in understanding and reflecting on how they react to stressful situations. Continue Reading UMBC researchers work to support first responders through NSF-funded stress-response technology

UMBC receives NSF support to enhance data science courses, research, and student experiences

Dec 18, 2019 / 4 minutes of reading

Data science has rapidly grown at UMBC, and faculty are now working to enhance data science courses, research, and student experiences. The goal is to ensure they are inclusive, empowering, and effective in preparing students to tackle the urgent problems our society is working to solve, and can scale up to meet student and workforce demands. Continue Reading UMBC receives NSF support to enhance data science courses, research, and student experiences

UMBC’s Lisa Kelly receives NSF grant to develop a safer, greener chemical production method

Dec 17, 2019 / 4 minutes of reading

“The approach that we propose will induce chemical reactions that would otherwise need a lot of harsh reagents and organic solvents, and just a lot of nasty stuff,” Lisa Kelly says. “This is a greener route.” The technique could support efforts from drug development to synthetic materials production. Continue Reading UMBC’s Lisa Kelly receives NSF grant to develop a safer, greener chemical production method

UMBC students confront ethical challenges through new computing curriculum

Dec 17, 2019 / 3 minutes of reading

“We want to capitalize on this curiosity and diversity of perspectives,” says Helena Mentis. “Alongside technical skill development, every week we want to introduce challenges around ethics, equality, human behavior, and societal impact, reiterating that a fundamental component of development is thinking through implications.” Continue Reading UMBC students confront ethical challenges through new computing curriculum

UMBC’s Mustafa Al-Adhami wins national Three-Minute Thesis competition

Dec 13, 2019 / 2 minutes of reading

Al-Adhami earned first place in two qualifying rounds of the competition, on his path to claiming the national title. In Nashville, Al-Adhami and nine other finalists presented their three-minute talks in front of a live audience that selected the ultimate winner. Continue Reading UMBC’s Mustafa Al-Adhami wins national Three-Minute Thesis competition

Team led by UMBC’s Mehdi Benna is the first to map a planet’s global wind patterns, and they weren’t Earth’s

Dec 12, 2019 / 5 minutes of reading

The research was made possible by “a clever reengineering in flight of how to operate the spacecraft and the instrument,” Mehdi Benna says. “And by doing both—the spacecraft doing something it was not designed to do, and the instrument doing something it was not designed to do—we made the wind measurements possible.” Continue Reading Team led by UMBC’s Mehdi Benna is the first to map a planet’s global wind patterns, and they weren’t Earth’s

UMBC broadens international learning opportunities: Stories from five continents

Nov 19, 2019 / 8 minutes of reading

“It is one thing for international partners to hear how UMBC is diverse and inclusive, it is another to actually see how it works in person,” reflects Rashed. “The success of this program, one we hope to continue, depends on the continued committed of the entire campus to the preparation of teachers from all over the world. This is where the real-life implementation of diversity and inclusion is invaluable.” Continue Reading UMBC broadens international learning opportunities: Stories from five continents

UMBC Cyber Dawgs are named CyberForce national champions

Nov 18, 2019 / 3 minutes of reading

UMBC’s Cyber Defense Team, known as the Cyber Dawgs, has emerged the national champion team in the U.S. Department of Energy’s fifth annual CyberForce Competition. The Cyber Dawgs earned first place overall out of more than 100 teams from universities across the country. Continue Reading UMBC Cyber Dawgs are named CyberForce national champions

UMBC’s Aaron Smith examines molecular role of iron in human health with $1.5M in new grants

Nov 12, 2019 / 5 minutes of reading

“Metals open up the toolbox for the protein to be able to accomplish so much more,” Aaron Smith says. His new NSF and NIH funding will allow Smith’s lab to increase understanding of how one metal, iron, is involved in adding molecules to proteins after they are made. This process can significantly change a protein’s function and play a role in disease. By focusing at the molecular level, “We think that we fit in very nicely in this research space,” Smith says. “We’re filling a niche that remains really uncovered at this point.” Continue Reading UMBC’s Aaron Smith examines molecular role of iron in human health with $1.5M in new grants

We have liftoff! UMBC-developed mini satellite launched into space to study climate, air quality

Nov 8, 2019 / 6 minutes of reading

“As an engineer, I’m looking to develop technology that can make the science happen,” says Dominik Cieslak. That’s exactly what Cieslak and the rest of the team have accomplished with their cubesat, HARP. When it is released from the International Space Station in about a month, it will collect new kinds of information about clouds and tiny particles in the atmosphere to increase our understanding of climate and air quality. Continue Reading We have liftoff! UMBC-developed mini satellite launched into space to study climate, air quality

UMBC expands offerings at The Universities at Shady Grove to grow Maryland’s STEM workforce

Nov 7, 2019 / 4 minutes of reading

The new Biomedical Sciences and Engineering Facility at The Universities at Shady Grove is a big piece of the expansion. “This building symbolizes an opportunity to bring the disciplines together to address societal problems,” Annica Wayman says, “and to discover how they can work together to address the biggest challenges.” With state-of-the-art scientific equipment and ample opportunity for interaction among students, faculty, and biotech professionals, the facility will enhance programming at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Continue Reading UMBC expands offerings at The Universities at Shady Grove to grow Maryland’s STEM workforce