UMBC scientist receives Maryland Innovation grant from TEDCO to advance the development of a vaccine to combat a deadly fish virus

May 28, 2014 / 3 minutes of reading

Professor Vikram Vakharia, Professor of Marine Biotechnology at the Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology (IMET) in Baltimore, received a $100,000 grant from the Maryland Innovation Initiative (MII). Vakhria will use the funds to develop a vaccine against viral infections in fish populations. Such viruses can be devastating to fish populations world-wide. A vaccine could have tremendous implications for hatcheries and rearing ponds that provide high-protein fish to tens millions of people. Many viral diseases in fish have been reported worldwide. Of particular concern is infections caused by nervous necrosis virus (NNV). This virus is of concern because it impacts… Continue Reading UMBC scientist receives Maryland Innovation grant from TEDCO to advance the development of a vaccine to combat a deadly fish virus

Howard Hughes Medical Institute Takes UMBC’s Meyerhoff Program On the Road

May 20, 2014 / 2 minutes of reading

Today, UMBC and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) announced the Meyerhoff Adaptation Project, a five-year partnership between the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), Penn State, UNC Chapel Hill and UMBC. This project will expand UMBC’s innovative Meyerhoff Scholars Program — which has seen dramatic results in successfully preparing minority students for STEM careers — to Penn State and UNC Chapel Hill. Since 1993, the Meyerhoff program has graduated more than 900 students in STEM disciplines; alumni have earned 144 PhD degrees, 39 MD/PhD degrees, 1 DVM/PhD degree, 239 Masters degrees, and 107 MD degrees. The program is built on… Continue Reading Howard Hughes Medical Institute Takes UMBC’s Meyerhoff Program On the Road

Announcing Our New Dean of COEIT, Dr. Julia Ross

May 6, 2014 / 3 minutes of reading

A UMBC Community Message from Provost Philip Rous I am delighted to announce the appointment of Dr. Julia Ross as Dean of the College of Engineering and Information Technology (COEIT). Dr. Ross will begin her new role on August 4, 2014. Dr. Ross’s appointment brings to a successful conclusion a national search that was begun at the start of this academic year. Dr. Ross received her Ph.D. from Rice University and joined UMBC’s faculty in 1995. Dr. Ross is currently the Constellation Professor of Information Technology and Engineering and professor of chemical, biochemical and environmental engineering. From 2006 to 2013,… Continue Reading Announcing Our New Dean of COEIT, Dr. Julia Ross

UMBC Celebrates Grand Opening of Science Learning Collaboratory

May 2, 2014 / 1 minute of reading

On April 28, UMBC celebrated the opening of the Science Learning Collaboratory in a festive event featuring remarks by Senator Barbara Mikulski, Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) President Robert Tijan, President Hrabowski and CNMS Dean Bill LaCourse. Located in the Meyerhoff Chemistry Building, the Science Learning Collaboratory is an innovative, interdisciplinary lab created through a partnership between UMBC and HHMI. The event’s speakers discussed how important hands-on lab experience is to inspiring and preparing students in the sciences. Senator Mikulski remarked, “Right here at UMBC, you’re teaching the warriors of the future to go out and do things that no… Continue Reading UMBC Celebrates Grand Opening of Science Learning Collaboratory

Manil Suri, Mathematics, to Present Lecture at “The Inclusive City” Forum

Apr 25, 2014 / 1 minute of reading

On Thursday, May 1 and Friday, May 2, The Fletcher School at Tufts University and The MasterCard Center for Inclusive Growth are hosting “The Inclusive City,” a conference to study the economic growth of city populations. Mathematics Professor Manil Suri is giving a lecture at the conference and will also participate in a problem-solving session on creating affordable housing in India. The conference aims to answer such questions as: How can we develop and plan cities so that they respond to the unique needs of the urban poor while ensuring that opportunities are open to people of all socioeconomic strata? And what is the state of urban… Continue Reading Manil Suri, Mathematics, to Present Lecture at “The Inclusive City” Forum

Helena Mentis, IS, Co-Edits a New Book on Computing in Healthcare

Apr 25, 2014 / 1 minute of reading

The Department of Information Systems is proud to announce the release of a new book co- edited by IS Faculty Helena Mentis, PhD. The book is a “first of two volumes designed as a collective graduate guidebook for conducting fieldwork in healthcare. This volume brings together the experiences of established researchers who do fieldwork in clinical and non-clinical settings, focusing on how people interact with healthcare technology, in the form of case studies. These case studies are all personal, reflective accounts of challenges faced and lessons learned, which future researchers might also learn from.” “Fieldwork in Healthcare: Case Studies Investigating… Continue Reading Helena Mentis, IS, Co-Edits a New Book on Computing in Healthcare

Marie desJardins, CSEE, Named an American Council on Education Fellow

Apr 23, 2014 / 1 minute of reading

Marie desJardins, computer science and electrical engineering, has been selected as a participant in the American Council on Education’s (ACE) Fellows Program. desJardins was one of just 31 faculty and administrators chosen from across the United States this year. The ACE Fellows Program is the premier program for “identifying and preparing the next generation of senior leadership for the nation’s colleges and universities.” More than 300 past ACE fellows have served as chief executive officers of colleges or universities and over 1,300 have served as provosts, vice presidents and deans. During the year-long program, desJardins will work with the president… Continue Reading Marie desJardins, CSEE, Named an American Council on Education Fellow

UMBC scientists receive Maryland Innovation grant from TEDCO to advance bioremediation of PCB-contaminated sediments

Apr 23, 2014 / 4 minutes of reading

Professor Kevin Sowers, Professor of Marine Biotechnology at the Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology (IMET), and Professor Upal Ghosh, at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, have received a $100,000 grant from the Maryland Innovation Initiative (MII). The grant will fund research to that will ameliorate the environmental harms of PCB’s. The program is an initiative of the Technology Council of Maryland (TEDCO) created in 1998 to spur commercialization of scientific research in Maryland as part of the state’s efforts to foster economic development through academic research. Sowers is a global leader in environmental science and has pioneered a… Continue Reading UMBC scientists receive Maryland Innovation grant from TEDCO to advance bioremediation of PCB-contaminated sediments

Curtis Menyuk, William Streifer Scientific Achievement Award, COEIT

Apr 22, 2014 / 2 minutes of reading

Curtis Menyuk recently received the The IEEE Photonics Society William Streifer Scientific Achievement Award. The award is given to recognize an exceptional single scientific contribution which has had a significant impact in the field of lasers and electro-optics in the past 10 years. The award is given for a relatively recent, single contribution, which has had a major impact on the Photonics Society research community. It may be given to an individual or a group for a single contribution of significant work in the field. Menyuk received the award, “For seminal advances in the fundamental understanding and mitigation of polarization effects in… Continue Reading Curtis Menyuk, William Streifer Scientific Achievement Award, COEIT

Justin Jacobs, Statistics Ph.D. student, receives Presidential Early Career Award in Science and Engineering

Apr 12, 2014 / 1 minute of reading

Justin received the award from Director of National Intelligence James Clapper on January 23, 2014, and he will be recognized by President Obama in a ceremony at the White House later this month. Continue Reading Justin Jacobs, Statistics Ph.D. student, receives Presidential Early Career Award in Science and Engineering

Ant Ozok, Information Systems, on The Kojo Nnamdi Show

Apr 9, 2014 / 1 minute of reading

Technological advancements such as direct deposit, ATMs and cell phone apps have changed the way people bank. A recent news report found that 50% of the population had not visited a bank branch in the last month. Ant Ozok, associate professor of information systems, visited WAMU’s The Kojo Nnamdi Show to discuss technological innovations that have transformed personal banking. Ozok, who specializes in human computer interaction, emphasized the importance of a positive user experience, saying, “Banks need to take the precautions that are necessary so that users do what they need to do in an efficient way.” Click here to… Continue Reading Ant Ozok, Information Systems, on The Kojo Nnamdi Show

Yonathan Zohar, Marine Biotechnology, on NPR’s The Salt

Apr 8, 2014 / 1 minute of reading

Despite the popularity of seafood, fish farming is not a common practice in the United States due to concerns about waste and disease. However, recent technological innovations could offer solutions to those problems. Yonathan Zohar, marine biotechnology, was interviewed by NPR about his work with the Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology. Zohar has found a way to farm fish without the risk of disease or need for antibiotics, explaining, “The idea is to have the entire life cycle in completely clean and controlled conditions that are disease-free, so you don’t introduce anything from the outside.” Zohar is also working… Continue Reading Yonathan Zohar, Marine Biotechnology, on NPR’s The Salt