**from the Graduate Student Association**

Manpreet Singh is our inaugural Student of the Month for the Graduate Student Association for the Month of October/November-2019. Presently, Singh is a 2nd year PhD candidate in the department of Mechanical Engineering working at Bioheat Transfer Laboratory, UMBC under the supervision of Dr. Liang Zhu (Principal Investigator) on a National Science Foundation project title “Mild Hyperthermia to enhance delivery of therapeutic nanocarriers in tumors: imaging, in vivo study, and simulation”. Singh is presently developing integrated computationally-predictive models based on in-vivo laboratory experiments on PC3 tumors to understand the interplay between different nanoparticle-mediated heat and mass transport mechanisms. His research explains the correlation among blood perfusion, permeability, porosity, interstitial fluid pressure, diffusion, accumulation, retention, penetration, and vascular tortuosity affected by heating and providing means to extrapolate the in-vivo results from mouse models to clinical applications.

Singh added that the clinical translation of cancer nanomedicine may become feasible by targeting tumour pathophysiological micro-environment with nanoparticles. Tailoring nanoparticles with chemotherapeutics induce synergistic effect which may be considered as “paradigm shift” in cancer invasion. Heterogeneous perfusion, increased vascular tortuosity, inhomogeneity, and high interstitial fluid pressure impairs nanoparticles in their uptake, accumulation, retention and penetration inside deep-seated tumours. This thereby hampers the delivery of targeting moieties at effective concentrations. Under normothermic temperature conditions (34°C-39°C), nanoparticles do not cross vascular wall while mild hyperthermia (40°C-42°C) significantly improves extravasation by dilating the vessels and thereby increase the tumour vascular pore size and reduce interstitial fluid pressure. The ultimate goal of his research is to develop a drug delivery method that can be customized for the needs of individual cancer patients to enhance quality of life.

Manpreet came from a small village, Mullanpur Garibdass, Mohali district, Punjab in India. Despite several other offers and opportunities around globe, he chose UMBC because of the high research impact of the Bioheat Transfer Lab. One of his favorite things about UMBC is that the administration is very approachable and listens to the concerns of students.

Manpreet is also working as Assistant Medical Physicist at Maryland Proton Treatment Center (MPTC), University of Maryland School of Medicine in evenings through the UMBC, Career Center’s authorized Curriculum Practicum Training program. Singh is independently providing clinical professional service to ensure that right amount of dose to be delivered to right location as part of treatment planning. Also, Singh is doing patient-specific plan verification measurements/ calculations ensuring safety, quality assurance and assists the interdisciplinary medical physics team with the development of customized software tools. Maryland Proton Treatment Center, is one of the fewer radiation oncology clinics throughout the USA providing thermal therapy at 40-44°C (thermotherapy) and proton therapy under one roof. Apart from his PhD responsibilities, in the Summer of 2019, he worked under the supervision of Dr. Dario Rodrigues, Assistant Professor Radiation Oncology, UMD to design hyperthermia applicators with his computational learnings at UMBC.

Further, Singh shares his interests to file a patent for “Glioblastoma- a deadliest brain cancer” through his device “CeriseEnov” which is capable of simplifying cancer care. He said bringing interdisciplinary disciplines to collectively act together will definitely help in better prognosis and thus better treatment outcomes in near future.

Manpreet was chosen because of his outstanding work ethic, sincerity and upon recommendation by his peers, as well as Dr. Jeff Halverson, Associate Dean of the Graduate School. He was also recently featured in National Newspapers in India (Hindustan Times, Tribune).

Two of his favorite quotes are “Arise, Awake, and Stop Not Until your Goal is Achieved” and “Dream is not that you see in sleep, Dream is something which does not let you sleep”.

You can follow GSA on Twitter @umbcgsa, Instagram @umbc_gsa, and Facebook @UMBCGSA. Manpreet will be hosting a social media takeover day in the near future for us to learn about his typical day in the lab. So stay tuned!

If you know of a graduate student who is doing amazing work—either for the community or towards their studies– please send an email to gsa@umbc.edu to nominate for a future Graduate Student of the Month.

Image, Left to right: Deanna Cerquetti, GSA Vice President; Manpreet Singh, Alex Rittle; GSA President

More on how to nominate students: https://gsa.umbc.edu/gsa-awards/

Recruiting McNair Scholars!

The McNair Scholars Program focuses on the preparation of undergraduate students (who qualify as either low-income/first-generation college students or members of groups underrepresented in graduate education) to pursue doctoral degrees.

The program offers a number of benefits, such as summer and academic year research funding, assistance connecting with faculty research mentors, hands-on guidance and navigation through the graduate school application process, first-hand exposure to individuals who have earned Ph.D.’s in their field of study, and the opportunity to attend research conferences (fully funded).

Note: Rising Seniors & Rising Juniors must have had research experience and one of their recommendations must be from a faculty member (not necessarily from UMBC) who mentored them in their research experience. 

McNair Open Houses/Informational

For any students interested in the UMBC McNair Scholars Program, attend one of the open houses on Nov 18th, Dec 4th, January 29th, 12 pm - 1 pm, Sondheim 101. Missed the event(s)? Please reach out to staff mcnairs@umbc.edu to set up a 1on1 meeting.  Sign up now on the Interest Form to receive updates (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf2Mj0Bd9kiunv_S7i-ERwd3x8YoNTxqdQIfCngPzcol3Rtxg/viewform)

Become a McNair Mentor or Faculty Research Mentor

UMBC faculty and staff are invited to mentor a McNair Scholar. There are two options: McNair Mentor and McNair Research Mentor. For details, please read the attached Mentor Informational for McNair Scholars Program, open to UMBC faculty and staff who have a graduate degree. To apply to be a mentor, please complete the form at www.tinyurl.com/mentorsumbcmcnair.

For more info, review the attachments and the website link below:

The Basics

The Choice Program's AmeriCorps Member position is a one-year, paid, service-learning opportunity through UMBC's The Choice Program and The Shriver Center. Our AmeriCorps Members serve as advocates and work to connect families to self-identified, needed resources and reinforce a strengths-based, anti-racist, approach to youth development.

The Choice Program’s guiding principle is anti-racism, which we uphold through our accountability to the following values: 1) being youth-centered, 2) dismantling hierarchies, 3) practicing holistic development, and 4) believing in humanity. AmeriCorps Members collaborate on teams that serve youth through individualized, strengths-based services and focus on restorative practices.

Choice has served Maryland’s youth for over 30 years and currently has several exciting service opportunities based in the Greater Baltimore area, Prince George's County, Howard County, and Montgomery County.

What You’d Do

Serving within a team model, AmeriCorps members share case management responsibilities for program youth, including welcoming them into the program through intake meetings, helping them to set goals for their time with Choice, checking in with them along the way through service plans, connecting them with community resources, and offering classroom and/or legal support. You’ll make meaningful connections with the young people you serve, offering informal counseling/mentoring on recreational outings, community service activities, arts programming, home visits and beyond.

To us, youth development means: being available to our youth consistently, often making visits to meet with them on a daily basis; using a strengths-based approach to promote positive self-image; using a holistic approach to honor every aspect of a person’s life; developing high expectations and holding youth accountable to their own progress on goals; forming a mentoring relationship that is built on trust and rapport; engaging with families and assisting as a communication link; fostering self-sufficiency by building life-skills; providing opportunities for meaningful engagement through structured after-school, weekend and summer activities.

Service is completed collaboratively at Choice, from case management of youth to organizational decision making. In addition to day-to-day case management responsibilities, you’ll participate in cooperative projects, team-based decision making, and organizational committees.

Due to the nature of the workflow and youth needs, AmeriCorps members must be flexible with their schedules. Members should expect some weeks to include serving hours beyond a 40-hour week.position is a one-year, paid, service-learning opportunity through UMBC's The Choice Program and The Shriver Center. Our AmeriCorps Members serve as advocates and work to connect families to self-identified, needed resources and reinforce a strengths-based, anti-racist, approach to youth development.

The Choice Program’s guiding principle is anti-racism, which we uphold through our accountability to the following values: 1) being youth-centered, 2) dismantling hierarchies, 3) practicing holistic development, and 4) believing in humanity. AmeriCorps Members collaborate on teams that serve youth through individualized, strengths-based services and focus on restorative practices.

Choice has served Maryland’s youth for over 30 years and currently has several exciting service opportunities based in the Greater Baltimore area, Prince George's County, Howard County, and Montgomery County.  

For more info, and/or how to apply, go to: