ALEXANDRIA, VA (November 2019) – Alexis McKittrick, Ph.D., a research staff member in the Science and Technology Policy Institute (STPI) at the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) has been named a recipient of the 2019 Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Emerging Leader Award in recognition of her STEM achievements and community contributions. 

According to SWE Conference 2019 issue of SWE Magazine, McKittrick is recognized “for demonstrating technical expertise and insight in shaping science policy; for consistent leadership and technical excellence across varied research environments and scientific topics; and for leadership in cultivating an inclusive environment.” 

“I extend my congratulations to Alexis on her outstanding achievement, commitment, and leadership in the engineering community,” said Acting STPI Director Mark Taylor, Ph.D. “I look forward to her ongoing contributions here at STPI and impact in the community she serves.” 

McKittrick was recognized at WE19, the world’s largest conference and career fair for women engineers, November 7-9, 2019 in Anaheim, California. The conference gathered more than 16,000 professional and collegiate men and women in engineering and technology for professional development, education, and networking. She accepted the award at the WE Awards banquet on November 8, 2019. 

“The men and women recognized have lived and learned through significant contributions to the engineering community, and they continue to lead in their careers and personal lives,” said Cindy Hoover, president of SWE. “They are leaders paving the way to empower and inspire future women engineers across the globe.” 

McKittrick (Hillock) earned her bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County in 2001 and her doctor of philosophy degree in chemical engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology in 2005. She currently serves as the Speaker of the Senate on the SWE Board of Directors. 

About the Institute for Defense Analyses 

IDA is a nonprofit corporation that operates three Federally Funded Research and Development Centers in the public interest. IDA answers the most challenging U.S. security and science policy questions with objective analysis leveraging extraordinary scientific, technical, and analytic expertise.

·      Talk Box – an assistive device for non-verbal children and adults

·      Power Assisted Leg – energy harvesting device to power a prosthetic leg

·      Mutoscope – collaboration between Mechanical Engineering and Visual Arts to recreate an early moving picture device

·      Downspout Power – energy harvesting device to use rainwater to generate and store electricity for emergency lighting

·      Lacrosse Face-off – face-off training device for the UMBC Lacrosse team

·      Spartan Pivot – checking training device for the UMBC Lacrosse team

·      Virtual Reality Facility Cable Management System – system to minimize the effects of cables to VR facility users

·      Miracle’s Bicycle – adaptive bicycle for a girl with multiple leg/back disabilities

·      Regal Beloit Coupling Monitor – diagnostic monitoring device to detect imminent coupling failures

Name: Valerie Lee

Internship, Co-op or Research Site: The National Aquarium in Baltimore

Position Title: Aquarist Intern

Major(s)/Minor(s): Biological Sciences

Current Class Level: Senior

Work Term: Summer 2019

Tell us about your internship, co-op, or research opportunity, including your day-to-day responsibilities.

At the National Aquarium, I was responsible for the day-to-day tasks of maintaining 4 exhibit tanks and several backup tanks. These tasks included taking parameters of all tanks every morning, cleaning tanks, performing water changes, performing backwashes on filters, and preparing diets for my animals. I would also assist with small procedures on animals, such as debridement of a wound on one of the turtles. This is a procedure where essentially I would capture and hold her while the vets cleaned the wound.

Describe the process of obtaining your position. When did you hear of the position and submit your application?

I heard from the Career Center that the National Aquarium was looking for UMBC students to hire. So, I had my resume reviewed and learned how to write a cover letter for my application. After doing that, I submitted my application and did a phone interview before being offered a position.

What have you enjoyed the most about your position or organization? 

I loved learning about the animals I was working with and how the systems they lived in functioned. Even the most mundane task was enjoyable for me. I'm actually still there as a volunteer currently and I'm looking at becoming an aquarist post-graduation. I'm about to take a class in the biology department on the physiology of marine animals to gain more insight into marine and estuarine animals to help with my career search.

How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?

I helped to maintain the exhibits that hundreds of visitors come to and appreciate every day. By doing this, I know that I was part of the public learning and appreciating our natural world as well as what animals need our help.

What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience? 

Even if it's scary, go for it. I applied to the National Aquarium last summer and I wasn't offered a position, but I still applied this year. Because I took the chance, I was offered the position of a lifetime and a new career focus.

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Computer Science Professor

Two tenure-track, open rank positions

University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)
Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering

The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering (CSEE) invites applications for two, open rank, tenured/tenure-track positions in Computer Science (CS) to begin in the Fall of 2020. Applicants should have or be completing a Ph.D. in a relevant discipline, have demonstrated the ability to pursue a research program, have a strong commitment to undergraduate and graduate teaching, and a strong commitment to diversity and inclusive excellence. Candidates will be expected to build and lead a team of student researchers, obtain external research support, and teach both graduate and undergraduate courses.

We welcome candidates in all areas of specialization in Computer Science. Some areas of interest for applicants include but are not limited to: information assurance and cybersecurity; mobile, wearable, and IoT systems; big data with an emphasis on machine learning, brain-inspired methods, and high-performance computing; knowledge and database systems; and graphics and visualization.

We are committed to inclusive excellence and innovation and welcome applications from women, minorities, veterans, and individuals with disabilities. UMBC is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer.

The CSEE department is research-oriented and multi-disciplinary with programs in Computer Science (CS), Computer Engineering (CE), Electrical Engineering (EE), Data Science, and Cybersecurity. Our faculty (37 tenure-track, 16 teaching, and 18 research) enjoy collaboration, working across our specializations as well as with colleagues from other STEM, humanities and the arts departments, and external partners. We have more than 2,000 undergraduate CS and CE majors and more than 560 M.S. and Ph.D. students in our CS, CE, EE, Data Science, and Cybersecurity graduate programs. We have awarded 340 Ph.D. degrees since our establishment in 1986. Our research is supported by a growing and diverse portfolio from government and industrial sponsors with over $6M in yearly research expenditures. We work to help new colleagues be successful by providing competitive startup packages, reduced teaching loads, and active mentoring.

The College of Engineering and Information Technology (COEIT) at UMBC crosses the boundaries of engineering, computing, and information disciplines to develop research and educational programs that engage faculty, students, and staff from all of the disciplines. COEIT is deeply committed to the success of all of our faculty. We have formal programs including “launch committees” to encourage regular and structured mentorship for faculty to start successfully, mentoring programs to provide support in the longer term, shared services for grant finance support, grant writing and editing support, monthly gatherings in which faculty share lunch and community, and we encourage all of our faculty to participate in the university’s eminent scholar mentor program to build relationships with leaders in the field beyond UMBC. You can read more about these programs and our Diversity & Inclusion initiatives on our website at https://coeit.umbc.edu.

The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) community redefines excellence in higher education through an inclusive culture that connects innovative teaching and learning, research across disciplines, and civic engagement. We advance knowledge, economic prosperity, and social justice by welcoming and inspiring inquisitive minds from all backgrounds (http://facultydiversity.umbc.edu). According to the 2020 US News and World Best Colleges Report, UMBC placed 9th in the Most Innovative Schools category and 12th in the Best Undergraduate Teaching category. To continue to support this goal, the Faculty Development Center leads the Nation in supporting and guiding faculty in their educational mission with regular workshops and pedagogical demonstrations. The 2018 Chronicle of Higher Education also named UMBC as a Great College to Work For, for the ninth year in a row.

UMBC is a research-intensive university that is leading the world in inclusive excellence in research and teaching. We are redefining how to teach, and we are one of the most innovative universities in the Nation, according to US News. Our research is bold, cross disciplinary, and leverages our location near to the hospitals in Baltimore, NIH, NASA, NSF, and the USGS. Inclusive excellence also means being a strong community partner in Baltimore, and the UMBC Shriver Center and Center for Democracy and Civil life help forge and maintain connections. Social justice is core to our role in Baltimore, Maryland, and beyond.

UMBC’s campus is located on 500 acres just off I-95 between Baltimore and Washington DC, and less than 10 minutes from the BWI airport and Amtrak station. The campus includes the bwtech@UMBC research and technology park, which has special programs for startups focused on cybersecurity, clean energy, life sciences, and training. We are surrounded by one of the greatest concentrations of commercial, cultural, and scientific activity in the nation. Located at the head of the Chesapeake Bay, Baltimore has all the advantages of modern, urban living, including professional sports, major art galleries, theaters, and a symphony orchestra. The city’s famous Inner Harbor area is an exciting center for entertainment and commerce. The nation’s capital, Washington, DC, is a great tourist attraction with its historical monuments and museums. Just ten minutes from downtown Baltimore and 30 from the D.C. Beltway, UMBC offers easy access to the region’s resources by car or public transportation.

Qualifications

Applicants should have or be completing a Ph.D. in a relevant discipline, have demonstrated the ability to pursue a research program, and have a strong commitment to undergraduate and graduate teaching. Candidates will be expected to build and lead a team of student researchers, obtain external research support, and teach both graduate and undergraduate courses.

We welcome candidates in all areas of specialization. Candidates that have research interests in collaborative areas between CS, CE and Electrical Engineering are encouraged to apply.

Some areas of interest for CS applicants include but are not limited to: information assurance and cybersecurity; mobile, wearable, and IoT systems; big data with an emphasis on machine learning, data science, brain-inspired methods, and high-performance computing; knowledge and database systems; visualization.

Some areas of interest for CE applicants include but are not limited to: hardware focused applicants in Digital, Analog, Mixed-mode VLSI design and test, integrated sensors and processing, SoC, new and emerging design technologies, hardware implementations for neuroscience and health-related wearables, cyber physical systems, hardware security and assurance.

Application Instructions

Applicants should submit a cover letter, a statement of research experience and interests, a statement of teaching experience and interests, a statement of commitment to diversity and inclusive excellence, a CV, and three letters of recommendation via interfolio. For full consideration, please submit application materials by January 15th, 2020. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Please send questions to *protected email* and see http://csee.umbc.edu/jobs for more information.

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