Meredith Morse
'25 chemical engineering - biotechnology & bioengineering track, 

When did you start your research?

January 2021 in MartenLab at UMBC, Department of Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering

What is the focus of your research?

I am focused on characterizing the Aspergillus nidulans kinase deletion library for increased septation in response to cell wall stress. More broadly, I use microscopy techniques to investigate gene deletions in filamentous fungus in order to determine the gene products' role in the upkeep and repair of the cell wall. 

What advice do you have for students who are interested in getting involved in research or an internship?

Do not be afraid to reach out to professors, older students, or others for advice! Getting involved can seem overwhelming, especially when you do not know where to start. Turning to those with experience can be really helpful as they can provide guidance and mentorship. The real world advice and support they can provide is invaluable as you discover your own path. 

Are you a member of any clubs/campus organizations?

Center for Women in Technology (CWIT) Scholars Program, Phi Mu Fraternity for Women

What are your goals after graduation?

PhD in Chemical Engineering

Madison McLaren 

Where did you conduct your research: 

Dr. Hennigan's lab, UMBC

When did you start your research on campus?

I started my research in June of 2022. I was partnered with Dr. Hennigan through the LSAMP program, which I participated in during the summer of 2022. For the fall semester, I was hired under Dr. Hennigan as an undergraduate student researcher and I plan to continue to research in the lab until graduation in May of 2023.

What is the focus of your research/internship?

The focus of my research is to study brown carbon content in cloud water. Brown carbon is light absorbing organic material that has an effect on climate change.

What advice do you have for students who are interested in getting involved in research or an internship?

Reach out to professors and do your research on other clubs and organizations on campus. Your connections are your best bet in getting involved in a lab.

Are you a member of any clubs/campus organizations?

AIChE, Tau Beta Pi. 

What are your goals after graduation?

I will be attending Rice University to obtain a PhD in biomedical engineering starting Fall 2023

Learn more about Madison McLaren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mclrmadison/ 

John Velkey, '23 chemical engineering - traditional track, mathematics minor

When was the internship? 
Summer 2022

Where was the internship? 
Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS), a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries, in Newport News, Virginia

What was the focus of your research/internship?
As the Plant Utilities Operations Engineering Intern, John provided facilities and utilities engineering support. 

What advice do you have for students who are interested in getting involved in research or an internship?
Apply early, apply often, consider a wide range of internships/research fields

Are you a member of any clubs/campus organizations?
John works for the UMBC Undergraduate Admissions Office.

What are your goals after graduation?
John would like to pursue a career in industry after graduation. 

Learn more about John Velkey:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-velkey-2a3507189 

The Center for Women in Technology periodically receives donations from individuals and organizations who want to support students through scholarships. We are currently accepting applications for these Donor-Supported Scholarships for the 2023-24 academic year. Current COEIT undergraduate students of all genders in good academic standing are welcome to apply. The awards will be made by the beginning of the Fall 2023 semester, and range in amount from $1000 to $3000 for the academic year. Eligible students will be able to view the opportunity in Scholarship Retriever: https://umbc.academicworks.com/ 

The deadline to apply is May 31, 2023. Questions? Contact Dr. Seaman at cseaman@umbc.edu.  

Joana Hernandez

Degree: B.S., Chemical Engineering, biotechnology & bioengineering track
Hometown: Hyattsville, MD
Post-grad plans: Applying to biochemical engineering Ph.D. programs

McNair Scholar Joana Hernandez is a research enthusiast who found her interest in scientific exploration and mentorship while at UMBC. Since 2019, Hernandez has worked as a research assistant in the lab of Fernando Vonhoff, assistant professor of biological sciences. The lab uses fruit flies as a model to study human neurological diseases. It was in Vonhoff’s lab where she realized that there were opportunities to turn her love of learning into a career in research. 

Hernandez has taken her interest in conducting research to the next level by helping to guide fellow students who may be unfamiliar with the academic research process. As a teaching fellow in the McNair Scholars Program, Hernandez led workshops in a class dedicated to teaching students how to develop research proposals. During these workshops, she presented on topics ranging from how to give a research presentation to how to apply to Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs). 

Hernadez shares that she’s proud to be a McNair Scholar. “As a first-generation college student, it can be difficult to navigate academic spaces and obtain resources on applying to graduate programs,” Hernandez says. “McNair welcomed me with open arms and helped grow my confidence by providing me with opportunities to conduct research and present at national conferences.”

Has there been a mentor or fellow student who influenced your time at UMBC?

“My mentors Fernando Vonhoff and María Célleri, assistant professor of gender, women’s, and sexuality studies, have both had a positive influence on me. As a first-generation college student, I was unaware that undergraduates could participate in research or present at research conferences. When Dr. Vonhoff enabled me to join his lab my freshman year, it opened the doors to a lot of future opportunities. I am very grateful to have had a research mentor that was so understanding and encouraging.

“Dr. Celleri, my McNair mentor, is someone I can always count on to give me advice about navigating academic spaces as a Latina, and how to balance my life between my immigrant household and school. I appreciate all the wisdom I have gathered from her.”

What academic achievement are you most proud of?

“I am most proud of when I presented the research I did in the Vonhoff lab at the 2019 Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists (ABRCMS). That was the first time that I had attended a national conference and flew out to the West Coast. It was an eye-opening experience being able to see other undergraduate researchers from diverse backgrounds who were also just as passionate about communicating their work.”

Applying philosophy to excel in chemical engineering

Max Bobbin 

Degree: B.S., Chemical Engineering; B.A., Philosophy
Hometown: Joppa, MD
Post-grad plans: Ph.D. in chemical engineering, University of Delaware

Max Bobbin may still be an undergraduate, but he’s already made significant research contributions in the Artificial Intelligence and Theory-Oriented Molecular Science (ATOMS) lab, led byTyler Josephson, assistant professor of chemical, biochemical, and environmental engineering. Bobbin was the first in the research group to develop expertise in the programming language Lean. He took on a leadership role, teaching other lab members, including Josephson, about new ways to use Lean. He also selected appropriate projects for new team members, helped the group prepare for Josephson’s parental leave, and initiated new directions for the lab’s work.

Bobbin believes his additional philosophy major supported his engineering work in important ways. “For an engineer, the most important skills are problem-solving, critical thinking, and communication,” he says, “and philosophy is a major built around those three ideas.”

Bobbin also served as vice president of the UMBC American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) student chapter and led UMBC to the AIChE Jeopardy national championship in 2022.

Photo credit: L-R, Max Bobbin, Dr. Mark Marten, Colin Jones, Catherine Wraback, Dr. Neha Raikar, Pavan Umashankar, Alex Von Gunten B.S. '20 chemical engineering

Photo credit: Max Bobbin (Marlayna Demond '11/UMBC)

UMBC chemical engineering students win first place in the 2023 Mid-Atlantic Regional AIChE ChemE Jeopardy Competition. Thus, qualifying for the 2023 National AIChE ChemE Jeopardy Competition in Orlando, FL in November as part of the AIChE National Conference. This is the fourth year in a row a UMBC team qualified for the National AIChE ChemE Jeopardy Competition.

Eighteen teams competed during the AIChE ChemE Jeopardy Mid-Atlantic Competition held at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA, including two teams from UMBC. After the preliminary rounds, the UMBC teams placed first and second in the semi-finals, tied at 9 points each. The semifinal round was a knockout round, and UMBC’s ‘Team One’ advanced to the finals. The final round of competition was between UMBC, Johns Hopkins University (2nd place) and Stony Brook University (3rd place). 

The success of both teams is the result of consistent hard work and support from the teams’ faculty advisors are Dr. Neha Raikar and Dr. Mariajosé Castellanos as well as other students. Taylor deSilva, chemical engineering ‘23, is instrumental in preparing the teams for competition by organizing weekly practices including setting up sample game boards. 

Team One

• Ethan Banks, chemical engineering, traditional track ‘24
• Paul Loberg, chemical engineering, biotechnology and bioengineering track ‘24
• Max Bobbin, chemical engineering, environmental engineering & sustainability track ‘23
• Catherine Wraback - chemical engineering, traditional track ‘23

Team Two

• Pavan Umashankar, chemical engineering, biotechnology and bioengineering track ‘24

• Colin Jones,  chemical engineering, biotechnology and bioengineering track ‘25

• Jacob Craft, chemical engineering, environmental engineering & sustainability track ‘24
• Zachary Bogart, chemical engineering, environmental engineering & sustainability track ‘23

UMBC CBEE students and advisor at the AIChE 2023 Mid-Atlantic Student Regional Conference, April 22-23

Photo Credit: Max Bobbin

Back to front;  Pavan Umashankar, Paul Loberg, Caton , David Ni, Zachary Bogart, Ben Willing, Catherine Wraback, Jacob Craft, Colin Jones, Neha Sian, Dr. Neha Raikar, Sarah Donyaee, Afrah Ahmed, Ethan Banks, Max Bobbin. 

AIChE Conference Chem-E Jeopardy Competition Bracket 

UMBC teams placed 1st and 2nd in the Semi Finals round, tied at 9 points. 

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ENCH 333: CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SEMINAR:PHARMA CAREERS AND DRUG DEVELOPMENT

MONDAYS 5:00 PM-6:30 PM