The Center currently invites applicants for the 2016 Summer Undergraduate Research Program. This program provides undergraduate students the opportunity to conduct research in preclinical and clinical laboratories at the MPRC and other laboratories of the Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore.

In addition to a mentored hands-on research experience, students will participate in a didactic lecture series, research and ethics discussions with faculty, literature journal club, a career development seminar, and a Scholars’ Research Day at the end of the summer. Throughout the summer, students will work and interact with various faculty, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and research assistants while gaining experience in preclinical and/or clinical research. Students will enhance their independent thinking and develop communication and presentation skills necessary to becoming a successful scientist.

Benefits

• Summer scholars will receive a stipend for a 10-week commitment (May 31 - August 5)
• On-campus housing is available at the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) dormitory

Eligibility

• Students with undergraduate student status during the program dates
• GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale
• Ideal candidates have a strong interest in pursuing a graduate degree
• The University of Maryland, Baltimore is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. Minorities, women, veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply

In the Canopy with Wheelchairs & Tardigrades

National Science Foundation Research Opportunity

3D Invertebrate Herbivory and Biodiversity in Deciduous North American Forest Canopies: Inspiring Students with Physical Disabilities to Pursue Field Biology

May 31 - August 9, 2015 | Baker University, Baldwin City, Kan.

We are looking for a few students who have the confidence to climb into the tops of trees and explore. Students who can ask questions that do not yet have answers. Students who want to learn from the unknown.

The Research Project

This is a three-dimensional research project to define the taxonomy and distribution of tardigrades (water bears) in the canopy and the herbivory of insects on a North American deciduous forest.The project is a fast-paced, tree-climbing, data-collecting, rapid-analysis and results-oriented internship. It is not for the timid. The plan is to climb and collect in the cooler mornings and spend the hotter afternoons and evenings processing specimens in the labs. Weekends include visits to local cultural sites and water bear hunts.

Students will be professionally trained to ascend into the canopy. There they will measure the impact of micro and macro invertebrates on the habitat and establish a baseline from which change can be measured. This is the cutting edge of ecological analysis in a world affected by climate change. Students will learn to use remote sensing, GIS, HPLC, GC-MS, and an EA scanning electron microscope to document the microenvironment.

Students will be employed for the summer. They will collaborate with the principle investigators to prepare their data for presentation and publication. They will also meet and network with the scientists and graduate students at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, University of Kansas Microscopy and Analytical Imaging Lab, Kansas State University long-term environmental research site, and the Missouri Botanical Garden. Students may attend a regional, national, or international meeting and present their results.

Students will be part of a small team of young scientists who are defining and establishing a base line for the condition of the temperate forests before global warming completely exerts pressure for the forests and canopy to change.

The Hypothesis

Unlike in the tropics, there are no differences in the animals or plants that live at different levels of deciduous trees in temperate forests.

To test this hypothesis students will conduct vertical transects at multiple sites on various species of trees. Field collections will be moss, lichen and leaves.

Based at the new Boyd Center at Baker University in Baldwin City, Kan., the project will explore the canopy of the transition zone between the eastern deciduous forest and the tall grass prairie biomes.

In the lab, students will extract, identify and quantize the animals (water bears) found in each sample and learn to create scanning electron microscope images.

Students will analyze the chemistry of the habitat (moss/lichen) with GC, Mass, spec, and HPLC for its influence on the interstitial aquatic environment in which the animals live. The leaves of the trees will be analyzed for insect herbivory.

The data will be mapped with GIS to predict other places where similar populations might exist. The data will establish a baseline from which change caused by global warming can be measured in the future.

Students will use professional tools such as PowerPoint to present their findings at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and regional meetings. They will also have the opportunity to produce manuscripts for publication.

CSEE professor Cynthia Matuszek will teach a new special topics course this spring on Principles of Human-Robot Interaction. The graduate level course (CMSC 691-08) will meet on Tuesday and Thursdays from 4:00 to 5:30pm in 013 Sherman Hall.

Principles of Human-Robot Interaction

An introduction to robots in our daily lives

CMSC691-08, 4:00-5:15pm Tue/Thr, starting 26 January 2016, UMBC

Robots are becoming ubiquitous. From Roombas in our homes, to surgical robots in hospitals, to giant manipulators that assemble cars, robots are everywhere. In the past, robots have only ever interacted with highly trained experts. Now, as they are being deployed more widely, we must address new questions about how our robots can interact day-to-day with end users — non-experts — safely, usefully, and pleasantly. This new area of research is called Human-Robot Interaction, or HRI.

This 3-credit special topics course aims to introduce students to current research in HRI and provide hands-on experience with HRI research. Students will explore the diverse range of research topics in this area, learn to identify HRI problems in their own research, and carry out a collaborative project involving human-robot interactions. Topics to be covered include:

• Social robots: how can robots be social beings? When do we want them to?
• Human-robot collaboration: humans and robots working together on tasks
• Natural-language interactions with robots and human-robot dialog
• Telerobotics: the uses of remote presence and teleoperation
• Expressive robots: how can robots express emotion – and should they?

Students may benefit from having some previous coursework or experience in AI, machine learning, or robotics, but none are necessary. Undergraduate students can enroll with the instructor’s permission. For more information, contact Dr. Matuszek at cmat at umbc.edu.

CSEE professor Cynthia Matuszek will teach a new special topics course this spring on Principles of Human-Robot Interaction. The graduate level course (CMSC 691-08) will meet on Tuesday and Thursdays from 4:00 to 5:30pm in 013 Sherman Hall.

Principles of Human-Robot Interaction

An introduction to robots in our daily lives

CMSC691-08, 4:00-5:15pm Tue/Thr, starting 26 January 2016, UMBC

Robots are becoming ubiquitous. From Roombas in our homes, to surgical robots in hospitals, to giant manipulators that assemble cars, robots are everywhere. In the past, robots have only ever interacted with highly trained experts. Now, as they are being deployed more widely, we must address new questions about how our robots can interact day-to-day with end users — non-experts — safely, usefully, and pleasantly. This new area of research is called Human-Robot Interaction, or HRI.

This 3-credit special topics course aims to introduce students to current research in HRI and provide hands-on experience with HRI research. Students will explore the diverse range of research topics in this area, learn to identify HRI problems in their own research, and carry out a collaborative project involving human-robot interactions. Topics to be covered include:

• Social robots: how can robots be social beings? When do we want them to?
• Human-robot collaboration: humans and robots working together on tasks
• Natural-language interactions with robots and human-robot dialog
• Telerobotics: the uses of remote presence and teleoperation
• Expressive robots: how can robots express emotion – and should they?

Students may benefit from having some previous coursework or experience in AI, machine learning, or robotics, but none are necessary. Undergraduate students can enroll with the instructor’s permission. For more information, contact Dr. Matuszek at cmat at umbc.edu.

Management Development Program Build Your Future at M&T Apply through UMBCworks today! Since 1983, M&T's Management Development Program (MDP) has been the entry point for undergraduate students looking to develop their professional skills. What you can expect from the Management Development Program A year-long program designed to develop your leadership skills Direct-position-placement where you can immediately provide value Intensive training in communication, leadership, and finance, enabling you to apply these skills in critical roles Access to an instant peer group and networking opportunities to help you learn and grow within the bank A bridge from college to career The Management Development Program offers two career tracks Analyst track – providing undergraduates with positions in finance/accounting, human resources, marketing, credit & risk management, technology, treasury and many more Retail track – providing undergraduates the opportunity to start on the path to retail branch management while learning branch operations/sales strategies and obtaining licenses

Management Development Program Qualifications  Bachelor's (or MS/MBA) candidates with less than 1 year of full-time work experience Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above Superior interpersonal skills & experience in making presentations Strong analytical ability Excellent written and verbal communication skills Authorization to work in the U.S. on a full-time, permanent basis without additional sponsorship Technology Function: Management Trainees working in Technology will further develop technical and project management skills. Employees will participate one of the bank’s strategic initiatives to optimize daily operations through: •Application development •Architecture •Innovation •Production Operations Locations: Headquartered in Buffalo, NY, M&T Bank has locations throughout DC, DE, MD, NJ, NY, PA, VA, and WV.  To learn more about M&T’s financial performance, commitment to its community, and culture, visit www.mtb.com/AboutUs. Apply via UMBCworks today:9279465 M & T Bank also has a great technical internship program in Buffalo, NY. Apply to position 9278560 in UMBCworks.

Is Bigger Better? Comparing User Generated Passwords on
3×3 vs. 4×4 Grid Sizes for Android’s Pattern Unlock

Adam Aviv, USNA

1:00-2:00pm Tuesday, 1 December 2015, ITE 459

Android’s graphical authentication mechanism requires users to unlock their devices by “drawing” a pattern that connects a sequence of contact points arranged in a 3×3 grid. Prior studies have shown that human-generated patterns are far less complex than one would desire; large portions can be trivially guessed with sufficient training. Custom modifications to Android, such as CyanogenMod, offer ways to increase the grid size beyond 3×3, and in this paper we ask the question: Does increasing the grid size increase the security of human-generated patterns?

To answer this question, we conducted two large studies, one in-lab and one online, collecting 934 total 3×3 patterns and 504 4×4 patterns. Analysis shows that for both 3×3 and 4×4 patterns, there is a high incidence of repeated patterns and symmetric pairs (patterns that derive from others based on a sequence of flips and rotations). Further, many of the 4×4 patterns are similar versions of 3×3 patterns distributed over the larger grid space. Leveraging this information, we developed the most advanced guessing algorithm in this space, and we find that guessing the first 20% (0.2) of patterns for both 3×3 and 4×4 can be done as efficiently as guessing a random 2-digit PIN. Guessing larger portions of 4×4 patterns (0.5), however, requires 2-bits more entropy than guessing the same ratio of 3×3 patterns, but the entropy is still on the order of cracking random 3-digit PINs. These results suggest that while there may be some benefit to expanding the grid size to 4×4, the majority of patterns will remain trivially guessable and insecure against broad guessing attacks.

Adam J. Aviv is an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at the United States Naval Academy, receiving his Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania under the advisement of Jonathan Smith and Matt Blaze. He has varied research interests including in system and network security, applied cryptography, smartphone security, and more recently in the area of usable security with a focus on mobile devices.

The Summer Institute in Biomedical Informatics offers an intensive internship that includes classes, research projects and training in technical communication.  Classes with clinical researchers meet twice a week; the mentored research projects, carried out under the supervision of investigators at Harvard Medical School (HMS), the Harvard teaching hospitals and MIT, may, and often do, result in refereed publications. The labs are located in various HMS sites, including Children's Hospital and the Brigham and Women's Hospital.  Please note that this is a research-oriented program for students who aspire to a career involving research in genetics/genomics and/or bioinformatics/computer science and related disciplines. Our partner for the program is the Department of Biomedical Informatics (DBMI) at HMS.  Contact this program by email at bigsummer@mit.edu.  Application Deadline: Saturday, January 30, 2016.

The MGH Summer Institute in Biomedical Optics is run by the Wellman Center for Photomedicine at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). During the summer, students attend the Biomedical Optics Lecture Series, work on a specific project in a lab at the main campus of MGH or at MIT, and receive additional training in technical communications and responsible conduct of research. The mentors in this program are academically demanding; they are looking for students with strong engineering, physics and biology backgrounds. This program may be contacted by email to BioOpticsSummerInstitute@mgh.harvard.edu. Applications must be postmarked by: Friday, January 15, 2016.

We are looking for a combination of academic excellence and diversity in our summer students. Underrepresented minority students are encouraged to apply.  The lab descriptions on the website state more specific requirements for Biomedical Optics. In the Bioinformatics program, students will be matched with a lab based on their stated interests and dialogue with the program director. 

While the idea of a joint program at both Harvard and MIT may be intimidating to some students, please know that lab mentors are aware that undergraduates are not post-docs, and that their job as mentors is to encourage, not dissuade, students from pursuing research.  Boston is a lovely place to be in the summer with our long days and ideal climate, and a big part of our job is to make sure students have fun, meet lots of people, and feel well cared for. Students in both programs also receive a stipend for the summer.

Complete applications for both programs include an application form, official transcripts from undergraduate institutions attended, and two letters of recommendation.

Note: Students are required to attend the entire nine weeks (with rare exceptions made when school schedules or presentation opportunities are an issue), and must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Housing is provided on the MIT campus.

UMBC Department of Information Systems

Is Bigger Better? Comparing User Generated Passwords on
3×3 vs. 4×4 Grid Sizes for Android’s Pattern Unlock

Adam Aviv, USNA

1:00-2:00pm Tuesday, 1 December 2015, ITE 459

Android’s graphical authentication mechanism requires users to unlock their devices by “drawing” a pattern that connects a sequence of contact points arranged in a 3×3 grid. Prior studies have shown that human-generated patterns are far less complex than one would desire; large portions can be trivially guessed with sufficient training. Custom modifications to Android, such as CyanogenMod, offer ways to increase the grid size beyond 3×3, and in this paper we ask the question: Does increasing the grid size increase the security of human-generated patterns?

To answer this question, we conducted two large studies, one in-lab and one online, collecting 934 total 3×3 patterns and 504 4×4 patterns. Analysis shows that for both 3×3 and 4×4 patterns, there is a high incidence of repeated patterns and symmetric pairs (patterns that derive from others based on a sequence of flips and rotations). Further, many of the 4×4 patterns are similar versions of 3×3 patterns distributed over the larger grid space. Leveraging this information, we developed the most advanced guessing algorithm in this space, and we find that guessing the first 20% (0.2) of patterns for both 3×3 and 4×4 can be done as efficiently as guessing a random 2-digit PIN. Guessing larger portions of 4×4 patterns (0.5), however, requires 2-bits more entropy than guessing the same ratio of 3×3 patterns, but the entropy is still on the order of cracking random 3-digit PINs. These results suggest that while there may be some benefit to expanding the grid size to 4×4, the majority of patterns will remain trivially guessable and insecure against broad guessing attacks.

Adam J. Aviv is an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at the United States Naval Academy, receiving his Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania under the advisement of Jonathan Smith and Matt Blaze. He has varied research interests including in system and network security, applied cryptography, smartphone security, and more recently in the area of usable security with a focus on mobile devices.

UMBC Department of Information Systems

Is Bigger Better? Comparing User Generated Passwords on
3×3 vs. 4×4 Grid Sizes for Android’s Pattern Unlock

Adam Aviv, USNA

1:00-2:00pm Tuesday, 1 December 2015, ITE 459

Android’s graphical authentication mechanism requires users to unlock their devices by “drawing” a pattern that connects a sequence of contact points arranged in a 3×3 grid. Prior studies have shown that human-generated patterns are far less complex than one would desire; large portions can be trivially guessed with sufficient training. Custom modifications to Android, such as CyanogenMod, offer ways to increase the grid size beyond 3×3, and in this paper we ask the question: Does increasing the grid size increase the security of human-generated patterns?

To answer this question, we conducted two large studies, one in-lab and one online, collecting 934 total 3×3 patterns and 504 4×4 patterns. Analysis shows that for both 3×3 and 4×4 patterns, there is a high incidence of repeated patterns and symmetric pairs (patterns that derive from others based on a sequence of flips and rotations). Further, many of the 4×4 patterns are similar versions of 3×3 patterns distributed over the larger grid space. Leveraging this information, we developed the most advanced guessing algorithm in this space, and we find that guessing the first 20% (0.2) of patterns for both 3×3 and 4×4 can be done as efficiently as guessing a random 2-digit PIN. Guessing larger portions of 4×4 patterns (0.5), however, requires 2-bits more entropy than guessing the same ratio of 3×3 patterns, but the entropy is still on the order of cracking random 3-digit PINs. These results suggest that while there may be some benefit to expanding the grid size to 4×4, the majority of patterns will remain trivially guessable and insecure against broad guessing attacks.

Adam J. Aviv is an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at the United States Naval Academy, receiving his Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania under the advisement of Jonathan Smith and Matt Blaze. He has varied research interests including in system and network security, applied cryptography, smartphone security, and more recently in the area of usable security with a focus on mobile devices.