February 9, 2016
by Megan Hanks
New blood-clotting agent shows promise for soldiers in combat zones with extreme temperatures
When soldiers suffer traumatic battle wounds in combat, there is a window of just around 10 minutes for medics to apply blood-clotting agents before they will likely lose too much blood to survive. The U.S. military has relied on injectable blood-clotting agents to save soldiers’ lives for years, but many are unstable at extreme temperatures. This is where the Lavik Lab comes in.
Erin Lavik, professor of chemical, biochemical and environmental engineering (CBEE) and a new faculty member at UMBC, has developed nanoparticles that “act like bridges between platelets to make clots form faster.” The have effectively stimulated platelet aggregation in cell culture, remained stable temperatures, and performed well in animal testing. Her team’s research, including a recent successful phase of testing in rats with traumatic liver injury, was featured in Chemical & Engineering News.
To test their ability to remain effective after storage at high temperatures, similar to those found in many combat zones, the nanoparticles were heated to 122 degrees Fahrenheit for one week. Lavik found that the agents performed just as well as in earlier tests. Further tests will determine if this blood-clotting agent could be applied clinically, to serve as a more stable and less expensive alternative to current drugs.
Read more about Lavik’s work in “Artificial Clotting Agent Could Treat Internal Bleeding in Combat Zones,” in Chemical & Engineering News.
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Name:Alec Hanock
Internship, Co-op or Research Site: Under Armour
Position Title: Entertainment Marketing Intern
Major(s)/Minor(s):B.A. Media & Communications Studies, Minors in Entrepreneurship and American Studies
Expected Graduation Year: May 2016
Briefly describe your internship, co-op, or research opportunity, including your day-to-day tasks, responsibilities, and assignments.
I work as a paid intern in the Entertainment department of Under Armour at the corporate offices in Locust Point. I work a lot with the celebrities and VIP clients who wear and support the brand to spread awareness throughout the entertainment industry. I coordinate with their managers and assistants about what sizes our clients wear, as well as put together orders for them to be shipped out and then follow up with them via social media postings. Our goal as the entertainment sector is to promote UA as a lifestyle and not just a brand of workout clothes. We cater to major influencers in the entertainment industry and not only does that drive revenue for us, but it markets UA as a highly sought after athletic clothing company.
Describe the process of obtaining your internship, research, or co-op opportunity.
Over the summer, I talked with my internship advisor, Kacie Lawrence, about the Under Armour Communications Internship posted on UMBCworks and we worked on my resume and cover letter together. I was fortunate enough to make it through the interview process and into the final few candidates. Unfortunately, the UA Communications department decided to pass on me, but they felt I would be a good fit in the company and recommended me to the Entertainment department who still needed an intern. Thankfully they didn't pass on me the second time around.
What have you enjoyed the most about your position or organization/company?
It's a team aspect here at Under Armour and everyone has a role to fill. Being the only intern has been a challenge that I have been excited to take on. It's a fun place to work, and I enjoy being able to work on so many different projects every day. Being a college hockey player, I feel that I live the Under Armour lifestyle because there are so many former college athletes who work here. You can feel the energy and passion for the brand as soon as you step through the doors. It's a pretty cool thing to see all of the different departments working together to make this the best athletic brand it can be. Plus the discount and perks aren’t too bad either.
How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?
I approach every day of work with the same focus and passion that I approach a hockey game. I believe my attention to detail and overall work ethic have set me apart from the other candidates who were applying for my position. I feel grateful every day I come to the office, and I just do everything I can to better myself as an employee to help push this company to success.
What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?
I would just tell them to never give up if you really want a position. I applied for an Under Armour internship last year and didn't get chosen, I applied for a Communications internship and didn't get chosen, but that relentless passion and want to succeed landed me in this position and I believe it's better than the previous ones I had applied for and I get to work with some of the greatest people in this company. If you want something bad enough and work hard enough, people will notice.
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