UMBC’s Top 12 Highlights of 2017
UMBC celebrated so many milestones in the past year. In thousands of ways, big and small, the UMBC community made their mark on 2017. Here are 12 top highlights. Continue Reading UMBC’s Top 12 Highlights of 2017
Research
UMBC physicists’ finding has potential to springboard quantum computing to major advances
The new finding “is attacking the bugaboo of this whole class of possible quantum computers,” says Jason Kestner. And yet, like so much in science, the finding “is something we stumbled across almost by accident,” says Michael Wolfe ’17. Continue Reading UMBC physicists’ finding has potential to springboard quantum computing to major advances
UMBC study challenges established paradigm, suggests males pickier than females in mate choice
“The scientific community thinks that the way this works is that females prefer the bells and whistles of their own species, and that’s how species stay apart,” Tamra Mendelson says. “And our research contradicts that.” Continue Reading UMBC study challenges established paradigm, suggests males pickier than females in mate choice
UMBC students take flight to study weather, pollution in multi-institution initiative
Handling in-flight challenges on the spot showed the students “how the science gets done in real life,” Brian Carroll says. The flight experience met the initiative’s goal to provide experiential learning opportunities to expand students’ perspectives. Continue Reading UMBC students take flight to study weather, pollution in multi-institution initiative
UMBC biologists discuss human health applications of studying plants’ circadian rhythms in The Conversation
Improper circadian clock function has already been linked to illnesses from diabetes to depression in humans. Plant science could grow our understanding. “As researchers continue to untangle more about how these clocks work—including how they influence interactions between hosts and their invading pathogens and pests—new forms of specially-timed precision medicine could be on the horizon,” write Lu and Wiratan. Continue Reading UMBC biologists discuss human health applications of studying plants’ circadian rhythms in The Conversation
Idea competition serves as springboard for young entrepreneurs
“I think this competition is an amazing opportunity to help young adults have the confidence and ambition to go beyond just spitballing ideas,” said Karla Negrete ’19, participant and winner in the 8th annual Alex. Brown Center for Entrepreneurship Idea Competition. Continue Reading Idea competition serves as springboard for young entrepreneurs
UMBC upgrades High Performance Computing Facility through new NSF grant, expanding possibilities for data-intensive research
UMBC received an NSF award to expand its High Performance Computing Facility (HPCF). The funding will go toward upgraded hardware and increased computing speeds for the interdisciplinary core facility, which supports scientific computing and other complex, data-intensive research. Continue Reading UMBC upgrades High Performance Computing Facility through new NSF grant, expanding possibilities for data-intensive research
UMBC scientists measure plant productivity from space, with applications from farming to forest conservation
“We’re laying the groundwork for developing ways of monitoring vegetation,” says Fred Huemmrich. His and Petya Campbell’s new research uses images captured by instruments on the international space station to reveal global photosynthesis rates in unprecedented detail. Continue Reading UMBC scientists measure plant productivity from space, with applications from farming to forest conservation
Charissa Cheah receives Fulbright award to research identity development of Muslim Tunisian immigrant adolescents in Sicily
“My colleagues and I who are cultural developmental scientists are trying to expand, diversify, and challenge people to think critically about culture and behavior,” says Cheah. “In the process, we aim to more accurately represent the world in which we live.” Continue Reading Charissa Cheah receives Fulbright award to research identity development of Muslim Tunisian immigrant adolescents in Sicily
UMBC participates in national study on Ph.D. career pathways at pivotal moment for new grads
“The assumption that the Ph.D. is primarily a pathway to the professoriate is just not the case,” says Janet Rutledge, dean of the Graduate School. “We’re hoping that by being part of this study, we will determine the best ways to focus our time and our resources to most effectively guide our students.” Continue Reading UMBC participates in national study on Ph.D. career pathways at pivotal moment for new grads
UMBC researchers win USDA grants to improve safety and efficiency of fish farming industry
Yonathan Zohar, professor and chair of marine biotechnology, explains that the two UMBC teams’ research “makes the point of how you can use advanced approaches and strategies of biotechnology to open some of the major bottlenecks in the aquaculture industry.” Continue Reading UMBC researchers win USDA grants to improve safety and efficiency of fish farming industry
UMBC marine biologist Colleen Burge works to save world’s oysters from deadly herpes virus
“It may only be a matter of time until [deadly strains of the herpes virus] reach U.S. coastal bays,” Colleen Burge writes. That means finding a way to prevent massive oyster die-offs, which have already happened in other parts of the world, is important to save the species—and Burge is on the task. Continue Reading UMBC marine biologist Colleen Burge works to save world’s oysters from deadly herpes virus