The basis of this Summer Intern Program is a highly individualised research experience for each student coupled with group activities. As an intern in the VIMS (Virginia Institute of Marine Science) program, students work closely with a mentor, and often within the context of a research team, to develop an individual project. 

Students are expected to work with their mentors to develop a project idea in the form of a brief research prospectus, conduct their research, and then present results in a final program that is open to the VIMS community.

Students will also prepare a summary research paper that is maintained in the program archives. In some cases, this has been the basis for a subsequent publication in the scientific literature. 

For more information on intern research projects, check out the student research page.

The program will allow give the students an opportunity every week to attend a seminar that features a guest speaker discussing topics such as:

• "Scientific Reading, Writing and Peer Review"
• "How to Apply to Graduate School: Tips from the Faculty Who Read the Files"
• "Alternatives to Life in Academia: A Panel Discussion"
• "How to Give an Effective Scientific Presentation"
• "Ethics in Science"

Inspired by the multitude of activism taking place at UMBC over the fall semester, the Women’s Center is excited to offer a new skills-based workshop to the community. “Get It Together!”: Fundamentals of Activism will focus specifically on social justice activism. During the course of an hour, we’ll explore some of the many possibilities for engaging in activism, discuss practical options for taking action on campus, and gain new insights for creating change.

• Wednesday, February 3rd from 4-5pm in the Women’s Center
• Wednesday, Feburary 10th from 12-1pm in the Women’s Center

CSEE professor Gymama Slaughter talked about her research to develop an implantable glucose sensor powered by chemical reactions in the human body at TEDxBaltimore in January. In her work in the UMBC Bioelectronics Laboratory, Slaughter concentrates on how chemical processes occurring naturally in the human body can power medical devices and eliminate the need for batteries in devices like blood glucose monitors. “If we could only remove batteries from the equation,” said Slaughter, “all of a sudden, we would have truly wearable and implantable sensors.”

Read more about her TEDxBaltimore talk here and see is starting at 25:50 in this video.

CSEE professor Gymama Slaughter talked about her research to develop an implantable glucose sensor powered by chemical reactions in the human body at TEDxBaltimore in January. In her work in the UMBC Bioelectronics Laboratory, Slaughter concentrates on how chemical processes occurring naturally in the human body can power medical devices and eliminate the need for batteries in devices like blood glucose monitors. “If we could only remove batteries from the equation,” said Slaughter, “all of a sudden, we would have truly wearable and implantable sensors.”

Read more about her TEDxBaltimore talk here and see is starting at 25:50 in this video.

UMBC CSEE Seminar

A Neural Circuit Deconvolution Approach to Study Motivated Behavior

Dr. Joseph Cheer
Associate Professor, Deptartment of Anatomy and Neurobiology
and Department of Psychiatry
School of Medicine, University of Maryland Baltimore

11:001am-12:00pm, Wednesday, 3 February 2016, ITE 325b

In order to examine relationships between subsecond dopamine signaling and nucleus accumbens (NAc) cell firing during reward-directed behaviors, the ideal experimental approach is to record postsynaptic neuronal firing from the same electrode used to measure dopamine release. We have demonstrated that these measurements are feasible using cylindrical carbon fiber electrodes that can voltammetrically detect the oxidation potential of dopamine and also measure single-units extracellularly or local field potentials (LFPs). Moreover, we have added iontophoresis barrels to the carbon-fiber microelectrode to allow localized, rapid drug delivery to examine the signal transduction utilized by postsynaptic neurons when dopamine release is detected. The drugs to be ejected out of the iontophoresis barrels are selected on the basis of effects of prior microinjections (such as dopamine receptor antagonists). Once a significant behavioral effect is observed following the microinjection, iontophoresis pipettes with the same compounds are loaded for ejection in other animals. Under these conditions ongoing behavior is unaltered allowing for a detailed neurobiological dissection of the particular microanatomical domain during specific times of the behavioral sequence. Finally we can now provide causality between the two simultaneously recorded measures, by applying the above mentioned to animals amenable to optogenetic interrogation of dopaminergic pathways. We will show that dopamine sculpts cue-related patterned neuronal activity as well as the power of the NAc LFP during reward seeking.

Dr. Joseph Cheer graduated from Universidad de los Andes (Bogota, Colombia) with a B.S in Biology and Mathematics in 1996. He joined the Laboratory of Neurobiology and Experimental Microsurgery at the Colombian Neurology Foundation where he worked for 1 year investigating CNS regeneration using oncogene-tranfected cells and sciatic nerve co-grafts in motor cortex-lesioned animals. Joe received his Ph.D from The University of Nottingham (Neuroscience Section of the School of Biomedical Sciences) under the direction of Profs Charles Marsden and Dave Kendall and Dr Rob Mason. Dr. Cheer’s graduate research focused on the behavioral and electrophysiological effects of cannabinoids.

Dr. Cheer’s first postdoc (2000-2002) was spent in Sam Deadwyler’s laboratory (Wake Forest University School of Medicine) where he conducted research on multiple single-unit electrophysiology in freely moving organisms. Joe joined Mark Wightman’s lab as a post doc in fall 2002 at the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill). There, he established the use of a microelectrode that allows for the simultaneous measurement of single-unit activity and dopamine release via fast-scan cyclic voltammetry.

Dr. Cheer is currently a tenured associate professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, where he directs several NIH and private foundation-funded graduate and undergraduate projects related to several neurophysiological and neurochemical aspects of endogenous cannabinoid signaling in intact systems.

Hosts: Professors Fow-Sen Choa (Sorry, you need javascript to view this email address. ) and Alan T. Sherman (Sorry, you need javascript to view this email address. )

UMBC CSEE Seminar

A Neural Circuit Deconvolution Approach to Study Motivated Behavior

Dr. Joseph Cheer
Associate Professor, Deptartment of Anatomy and Neurobiology
and Department of Psychiatry
School of Medicine, University of Maryland Baltimore

11:001am-12:00pm, Wednesday, 3 February 2016, ITE 325b

In order to examine relationships between subsecond dopamine signaling and nucleus accumbens (NAc) cell firing during reward-directed behaviors, the ideal experimental approach is to record postsynaptic neuronal firing from the same electrode used to measure dopamine release. We have demonstrated that these measurements are feasible using cylindrical carbon fiber electrodes that can voltammetrically detect the oxidation potential of dopamine and also measure single-units extracellularly or local field potentials (LFPs). Moreover, we have added iontophoresis barrels to the carbon-fiber microelectrode to allow localized, rapid drug delivery to examine the signal transduction utilized by postsynaptic neurons when dopamine release is detected. The drugs to be ejected out of the iontophoresis barrels are selected on the basis of effects of prior microinjections (such as dopamine receptor antagonists). Once a significant behavioral effect is observed following the microinjection, iontophoresis pipettes with the same compounds are loaded for ejection in other animals. Under these conditions ongoing behavior is unaltered allowing for a detailed neurobiological dissection of the particular microanatomical domain during specific times of the behavioral sequence. Finally we can now provide causality between the two simultaneously recorded measures, by applying the above mentioned to animals amenable to optogenetic interrogation of dopaminergic pathways. We will show that dopamine sculpts cue-related patterned neuronal activity as well as the power of the NAc LFP during reward seeking.

Dr. Joseph Cheer graduated from Universidad de los Andes (Bogota, Colombia) with a B.S in Biology and Mathematics in 1996. He joined the Laboratory of Neurobiology and Experimental Microsurgery at the Colombian Neurology Foundation where he worked for 1 year investigating CNS regeneration using oncogene-tranfected cells and sciatic nerve co-grafts in motor cortex-lesioned animals. Joe received his Ph.D from The University of Nottingham (Neuroscience Section of the School of Biomedical Sciences) under the direction of Profs Charles Marsden and Dave Kendall and Dr Rob Mason. Dr. Cheer’s graduate research focused on the behavioral and electrophysiological effects of cannabinoids.

Dr. Cheer’s first postdoc (2000-2002) was spent in Sam Deadwyler’s laboratory (Wake Forest University School of Medicine) where he conducted research on multiple single-unit electrophysiology in freely moving organisms. Joe joined Mark Wightman’s lab as a post doc in fall 2002 at the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill). There, he established the use of a microelectrode that allows for the simultaneous measurement of single-unit activity and dopamine release via fast-scan cyclic voltammetry.

Dr. Cheer is currently a tenured associate professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, where he directs several NIH and private foundation-funded graduate and undergraduate projects related to several neurophysiological and neurochemical aspects of endogenous cannabinoid signaling in intact systems.

Hosts: Professors Fow-Sen Choa (Sorry, you need javascript to view this email address. ) and Alan T. Sherman (Sorry, you need javascript to view this email address. )

Name: Shannon Jackson

Internship, Co-op or Research Site: U.S. Geological Survey MD-DE-DC Water Science Center

Position Title: GIS and Data Analysis Student Contractor

Major(s)/Minor(s): B.S. Environmental Science, Certificate in Geographic Information Science

Expected Graduation Year: May 2016 

Briefly describe your internship, co-op,  or research opportunity, including your day-to-day tasks, responsibilities, and assignments.

I am a paid student contracted employee at the USGS Water Science Center right on campus at BWtech North. I work alongside two Geographic Information Systems analysts working under the National Water-Quality Assessment Program (NAWQA). I utilize programs such as ArcMap, SAS, R, Excel and Python to analyze and process water quality data used by researchers at the USGS and other agencies. Our data is used to understand whether water conditions are getting better or worse over time and how natural features and human activities affect those conditions. 

Describe the process of obtaining your internship, research, or co-op opportunity.

One of my professors, Joseph School, who manages the GIS and cartography labs at UMBC and teaches two GIS courses (GES 286 and GES 386) recommended I apply for the position. On the same day I emailed the coordinator a copy of my resume, unofficial transcripts, and a portfolio of GIS work. The following day I had an interview, and by the end of the week I was hired! It was a quick process.

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

I really enjoy learning hands-on. My Dad has always told me that college is about "learning how to learn." While your grades are a reflection of your capabilities in the classroom, the real test comes when you must translate this knowledge in the workplace. Internships allow you to acquire skills and real-world experience before you are overwhelmed by the expectations of a full time position.

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

My work allows researchers across the country to access up to date, reliable data for their projects. This data allows for stakeholders to design and implement strategies for managing, protecting, and monitoring water resources in many different hydrologic and land-use settings across the Nation.

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

Start forming relationships with faculty in your department from day one. They are the ones who watch you learn, grow, and improve. They have forged long careers and have connections with employers all over the Baltimore-DC area and even across the country. Don't be afraid to ask them for recommendations or opportunities, because they are here to help. I also recommend signing up for your department's listserv. Professors are constantly sending updates on available positions in our area. Don't be afraid to apply for positions even if you feel under qualified. 

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Want to be the next Intern of the Week? Make sure to fill out this form and stay tuned. New interns are announced every Friday!