Excerpt from from UMBC News: Finding The Harmony Within Art And Science - UMBC: University Of Maryland, Baltimore County

At UMBC, undergraduate students are redefining the boundaries of scientific and artistic pursuits. From a chemical engineer who graces the stage with his cello to a bioinformatician who paints and a biochemist who ignites the dance floor with Latin rhythms, these scholars thrive in an environment that celebrates their diverse passions.

This spring, several U-RISE Scholars—NIH’s Undergraduate Research Training Initiative for Student Enhancement—shared their multidisciplinary interests with their U-RISE advisors. As a result, the advisors started asking how the arts and science blend in these students’ lives, and presented the findings at an academic conference this spring. What they learned was that here, rigorous research and creative expression intertwine, fostering a vibrant community where students explore every dimension of their talents.

For Joshua Dayie, a senior chemical engineering major, both discipline and creativity are required for his research and his art—playing the cello. “You really have to strike a balance between them to make any meaningful progress,” he says. Practicing cello requires hours of repetition, until technical passages flow out of his fingers from muscle memory alone. In the lab, sometimes experiments must be repeated many times before they’re successful—that’s the discipline. 

Dayie applies that discipline to his research with Mark Marten, professor of chemical, biochemical, and environmental engineering, on characterizing signaling pathways in fungi that activate in response to environmental stressors.

Then comes the creativity. Only after someone masters the fundamentals can they explore nuance in the tone or emotion conveyed on the cello, Dayie says. Similarly, in science “a lot of the innovation that you generate is really only meaningful after you’ve spent a lot of time understanding the core scientific concepts behind everything.”

“I think that’s been the most surprising thing: The creativity that comes from a very sound foundation of discipline is something that is translatable pretty much anywhere,” Dayie reflects. 

As an added bonus, “Music has been a really nice outlet for me to use a different part of my brain, just to express myself in a different way,” he adds. “I feel like it makes me a little bit more whole.”

Happy last day of classes! From all of us at The Mosaic, we wish you the best on your finals. The Mosaic will close for the Spring 2025 semester at 5pm on Wednesday, May 21. We will provide further information concerning our summer hours here on our myUMBC. 

Hours for this week through the end of the semester:

• Wednesday, May 14 (Reading Day): 12 pm - 8:15 pm
• Thursday, May 15: 9:45 am - 12 pm 
• Friday, May 16: 9:45 am - 5 pm 
• Monday, May 19: 9:45 am - 12 pm 
• Tuesday, May 20: 9:45 am - 12 pm 
• Wednesday, May 21: 9:45 am - 5 pm

The Mosaic is open for full participation by all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other protected category under applicable federal law, state law, and the University's nondiscrimination policy.

The Career Center will be closed on Tuesday, May 13, for a staff professional development planning day. We will reopen on Wednesday, May 14, at 8:30 AM.

Thank you for your understanding. We look forward to assisting you when we return.

Best wishes on your exams.

Enjoy breakfast with other UMBC commuters and get connected with on-campus resources! There isn't a better way to start your day!

Join us for the final Good Morning Commuters of the semester on Tuesday, May 13, from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Sports Zone. We're closing out the spring with a traditional breakfast and one last opportunity to engage, unwind, and build community before the semester ends.

Good Morning Commuters is complimentary with your Commuter Gold Card.

Gold Cards are a one-time per academic year purchase and are available to be purchased at every GMC with cash only.

Gold Cards at  $5 for Commuters

$10 for Residential & Graduate Students 

**if you purchased a Gold Card in Fall 2024 then it is still valid! 

This event is open for full participation by all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other protected category under applicable federal law, state law, and the University's nondiscrimination policy.

Happy End of the Semester!!

The following are the hours for the end of the semester and going into the summer for the Women's, Gender, & Equity Center! 

Hours for this week through the end of the semester:

• Monday May 12: Regular 9:30-5 hours
• Tuesday May 13: 9:30-3 Join us after 3 for our Returning Adult Learners End of Semester Celebration

• Wednesday May 14th: 9:30-10:30 and 12-5 (closed 10:30-12) Join us in the afternoon for Self Care Day!

• Thursday May 15:  Regular 9:30-5 hours

• Friday May 16: closed

• Monday May 19th through Wednesday May 21: Regular 9:30-5 hours

• Thursday May 22 and Friday May 23: closed

• Open Tuesday through Thursday 10am-3pm

• Closed Monday and Friday 

Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns! Email us at womenscenter@umbc.edu.

The Women's, Gender, & Equity Center is open for full participation by all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other protected category under applicable federal law, state law, and the University's nondiscrimination policy.

Please note: UMBC is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive environment for all students, staff, faculty, and visitors. If you have difficulties accessing any of the materials on our site or any of our events or discussions, please contact us so that we can provide an alternative format and/or remedy any accessibility challenges.

Name: Ramya Sri Tellakula

Pronouns:She/her

Semester of Internship: Fall 2024

Major: Data Science

Current Class Level: Master's Student

This semester I completed a(n)...:Co-op

Company/Organization Name:Novelis

Location of the Organization (City, State): Atlanta, Georgia 

Title of position:Data Scientist 

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

During my internship, I collaborated with teams to tackle business challenges by gathering and preprocessing structured and unstructured data from mobile apps, IoT sensors, and databases using Python and SQL. I developed NLP models with LLMs like BERT and GPT to predict workplace hazards and fine-tuned generative AI models for text analytics. Additionally, I built and deployed ML pipelines on Azure, leveraging vector databases for semantic search. To support decision-making, I designed Power BI dashboards and implemented automated ETL workflows for efficient data handling and model monitoring.

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

I found the internship on the company’s careers page and applied. I had worked with them before as a client while at TCS in India, which helped me understand their work. My experience in AI and machine learning made me a good fit for the role.

What resources did you use to find your current experience?

Career Fairs, LinkedIn or other social media

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

I enjoyed developing code for various manufacturing plants, tackling challenges related to data. The work involved solving real-world problems using machine learning while working closely with data science and engineering experts. The team was supportive, and the environment fostered innovation, allowing me to experiment with new ideas and improve my skills in handling complex data from manufacturing operations.

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

I believe my work has made an impact by improving decision-making in manufacturing. I developed code and used machine learning to solve data challenges, making processes more efficient. Working with experts allowed me to create solutions that helped optimize operations and improve productivity. This experience has sharpened my technical skills and showed me how technology can solve real-world problems in manufacturing.

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

I’d advise focusing on hands-on experience, even through small projects. Build strong technical skills, network with professionals, and seek mentorship. Be proactive, stay curious, and take on challenges. Lastly, showcase your work to potential employers.

Please provide a short reflection or quote about what you liked most about your position / earning internship credit / working with the Career Center.

What I enjoyed most about my position was solving real-world problems using new technologies. The Career Center was a big help by guiding me with my resume, preparing for interviews, and giving me the confidence I needed to land the role.

HIGHLIGHTS:

We will have two sessions, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, each with presentations (ITE 237) followed by demonstrations (ENGR Atrium).  Seating will be limited in the presentations, but the atrium will be open to all.

Please let us know if you are NOT a student presenter, but are planning to attend in person using this form so that we can estimate a head count.

·         9 – 11AM:      Presentation Session 1 (ITE237)

·         11 – 12PM:    Demonstration Session 1 (ENGR Atrium)

·         12 -1PM:        Presentation Session 2 (ITE237)

·         1-3PM:           Demonstration Session 2 (ENGR Atrium)

Streaming
If viewing online, please join using the WebEx Links below. Only the presentations will be streamed.
·         Session 1 Webinar: Join (password:  xJS2P3MG43A )
·         Session 2 Webinar: Join (password: ZMeS2dp3mc2 )

______________________________________________

Good Afternoon UMBC Capstone Community,
Clients, Faculty and Staff and More!

Dr. Paris von Lockette, Dr. Chuck Laberge, Prof. Adam Bridendolph (Shady Grove) and Dr. Jamie Gurganus, the Senior Design instructors, extend a warm invitation for you to join us either in person or online for the:

Spring 2025 Senior Mechanical & Multidisciplinary Engineering 
Capstone Design Showcase
May 9th, starting at 9am in ITE 237

We're thrilled to present the progress of 18 teams as they share their projects, tracing the path from the inception of their ideas to the refinement of their final products. The Mechanical Engineering & Multidisciplinary Capstone teams have dedicated themselves tirelessly over the semester or year (~15 weeks or 9 months) to ensure excellence in their creations. We extend a warm invitation to the community to join us in witnessing the final stages of development before graduation.

Please know that we have several ASME Professional Engineers joining us that day who will be asking the majority of the questions. They will be selecting awards for ASME Best Project and ASME Best Presentation of the Semester. And, YOU will also be able to vote for the People’s Choice Award. Although ALL of them are amazing! 

Schedule for the day (detailed list of presentations is below and attached)

We will have two sessions, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, each with presentations (ITE 237) followed by demonstrations (ENGR Atrium).  Seating will be limited in the presentations, but the atrium will be open to all.

Please let us know if you are NOT a student presenter, but are planning to attend in person using this form so that we can estimate a head count.

·         9 – 11AM:      Presentation Session 1 (ITE237)

·         11 – 12PM:    Demonstration Session 1 (ENGR Atrium)

·         12 -1PM:        Presentation Session 2 (ITE237)

·         1-3PM:           Demonstration Session 2 (ENGR Atrium)

Streaming

If viewing online, please join using the WebEx Links below. Only the presentations will be streamed.

·         Session 1 Webinar: Join (password:  xJS2P3MG43A )

·         Session 2 Webinar: Join (password: ZMeS2dp3mc2 )

Course Description: 

·         The Capstone course empowers engineering students to embark on a comprehensive system design journey, culminating their curriculum experience. It serves as the pinnacle of a series of design courses essential to the undergraduate program, facilitating the integration of diverse technical knowledge acquired in earlier studies. Through this course, students develop a solid grounding in team leadership and project management, equipping them to navigate their professional endeavors with clarity and effectiveness, thereby making meaningful contributions to their chosen fields. Additionally, students may have the opportunity to choose projects sponsored by industry partners, nonprofit organizations, or faculty/organizations affiliated with UMBC. 

Looking forward to seeing you there!! It's an exciting time! 

Appx. Start Time	Session 1 Presentations:  9 - 11 AM (ITE 237)
9:00	ME Team 4	Compact and Transportable Crane for Assembly and Disassembly of a Reactor Model
9:12	ME Team 5	IZOD Impact Tester for Plastics and Polymer testing
9:24	ME Team 6	Flexible Thermoelectric Bulk Generator Devices
9:36	ME Team 7	Educational Haptic Platform
9:48	ME Team 11	Foot Brace Mechanical Test Instrumentation Device
10:00	ME Team 12	Proof of Concept Bistable Mechanism to Aid Single Ventricle Heart Defects
10:12	ME Team 13	Low Cost 3D Printer for Ceramics and Thick Pastes Built from a Creality Ender 3
10:24	ME Team 14	Regenerative Brake System for Vehicles Using Wasted Kinetic/Wind Energy
10:36	ME Team 15	3D Printing of Building Blocks for Visualizing Protein Molecules
Demonstrations to follow 11AM - 12PM ENGR Atrium
Appx  Start Time	Session 2 Presentations: 1 - 3PM (ITE 237)
1:00	ME Team 1	Quinn’s Adaptive Fishing Rod Holder & Casting Device
1:12	ME Team 2	Smart HVAC System
1:24	ME Team 3	Thrust Stand Extension - Reaction Moment Measurement System
1:36	ME Team 8	Shoulder Exoskeleton for Assistive Robotics
1:48	ME Team 9	Design and build a fluidic control board for pneumatic/hydraulic actuation of soft robotic ventricular sleeves
2:00	ME Team 10	Oyster Cage Retrieval System for Oyster Farming (ID 17)
2:12	Interdisciplinary 1	Consumer Unit Test Rig (CUTR) for BGE
2:24	Interdisciplinary 2	3D Haptics
2:36	Interdisciplinary 3	Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Super Group (2x Time)
Demonstrations to follow 3:00 – 4:00 PM Engr Atrium