UMBC Incubator Firm Wins an Innovator of the Year Award

Watch an interview with Frank Turano of Plant Sensory Systems.

At Plant Sensory Systems, a husband-and-wife startup technology firm located at the bwtech@UMBC Incubator and Accelerator, the market for green technology is growing almost as fast as the genetically-modified plants in their lab.

According to Chief Research Officer and Co-founder Frank Turano, the company is focused on two booming markets for plant-based technology: biofuels and agriculture. “We move genes into plants that increase their ability to grow,” said Turano.

Since starting the company in 2007, Frank and Kathleen Turano have received grants from the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy. Their latest honor is a Maryland Daily Record’s Innovator of the Year award. This puts them in the running for Top Innovator of the Year, which will be presented Wednesday, October 15.

“We’re very excited about the nomination,” said Frank Turano. “It’s nice to see our work get some recognition and validation.”

The Innovator of the Year award honors “people with vision” and those “with the ability to see a need and fill it.” The Turanos recognized an environmental need and decided to use their technology to increase the nitrogen efficiency of plants, which helps save farmers money while reducing the environmentally harmful runoff. This also helps the global green picture, since nitrogen-based fertilizer production has a heavy carbon footprint.

 “One of the major costs for farmers to increase productivity is nitrogen-based fertilizer,” said Turano. “Unfortunately, about 50 percent of that nitrogen runs off into rivers and streams, which is a problem for the Chesapeake Bay and other waterways.”

Another Plant Sensory Systems research project is working to increase the production of plant seed oil, an important component of biodiesel and other alternative fuels. Their lab is full of racks of Arabidopsis plants, a species related to cabbage and mustard which are valued by researchers since they go from seed to flower in just five to six weeks.

Before becoming an entrepreneur, Turano was an associate professor of biology and genetics at The George Washington University and prior to that worked for 10 years as a plant molecular biologist and geneticist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Kathleen Turano was formerly a professor at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

The Turanos are excited to be at UMBC. “We chose bwtech@UMBC because of its track record for launching successful businesses and its interactive environment. We have been very pleased with our choice. We receive excellent support from the staff and ongoing critical advice regarding how to grow our business,” said Kathleen Turano.

To learn more about Plant Sensory Systems, click the play button below.

Recent Alumnus Earns Fulbright Scholarship

During his study abroad, former Humanities Scholar Jack Mullee ‘08 rode the Argentina subway like every other passenger. So, how did that lead him to a Fulbright Scholarship?

“I’m a people watcher,” Mullee said. “I spent hours watching groups of salesmen, wondering what their stories were and how these people acted in unison to create a culture.”

During the five months he was in Argentina, Mullee, who graduated with degrees in American studies and sociology, watched for patterns related to the informal economy on the subway. Searching for answers, he tried to connect with the people. He befriended a magician, bought tissues from a middle-aged woman and read political manifestos scribbled on walls. He rode the subway for hours, interviewing natives. But no one seemed to know who these people were.

“No one could offer me a definitive statement on who they were or what they were doing,” Mullee said. “Salespeople and performers were the most reliably present and yet most invisible group on the subway.”

And now his unanswered questions are taking him back toward Argentina. Mullee will return to Argentina in February 2009 on a Fulbright Scholarship and embark on a nine-month exploration. Through ethnographic interviews with salespeople working on the subways, he’ll examine Buenos Aires’ informal economy in hopes of understanding how this network operates and why.  

But a Fulbright was on his mind before his study abroad. Using advice from Asynith Palmer ’06, another Humanities Scholar, Mullee started working on his application before he left for Argentina, and his onsite research helped solidify his idea. He cites connections like these, along with individual attention, as some of the greatest benefits of the Humanities Scholars Program.

 “Being part of the program was a great experience,” he said. “Everyone is so nice and interested in you. It really affords you a sense of confidence.”

Mullee said he was inspired by the Humanities Scholars Program from the beginning of his freshman year at UMBC. Regular meetings held by the program and Study Abroad office helped prepare him not only for his trip to Argentina but the Fulbright application process. A year before his trip, he sat down with Study Abroad Assistant Director Brian Souders to discuss what university he would attend. Souders helped Mullee find the perfect fit not only academically but individually.

“I try to help students like Jack find an environment that meets not only their academic needs but personal interests,” Souders said. “During one of our meetings, I found that Jack was a big backpacker. To me that opened up Chile and Argentina as they both have easy access to the outdoors and cultures rich in natural beauty.”

Mullee also met with UMBC’s Fulbright Scholarship Committee who helped critique his personal statement, proposal and resume. The committee also held professional interviews with candidates to prepare them for the official Fulbright Committee Interview.  

Mullee is one of more than 1,450 U.S. citizens who will travel abroad for the 2008-09 academic year through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. When he returns from Argentina in November 2009, he hopes to continue his studies and work toward a Ph.D. in either anthropology or sociology.

To learn more about the Humanities Scholars Program, go to http://www.umbc.edu/dreshercenter/scholars_program.html.  To learn more about UMBC’s study abroad opportunities, go to http://www.umbc.edu/ies/studyabroad.html.

(9/22/08)

© 2007-08 University of Maryland, Baltimore County � 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250 � 410-455-1000 �

Research Students Experience �Real World� at Summer Fellowship

Ten UMBC students attended the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s 2008 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (NIST-SURF) in Gaithersburg, Maryland, making UMBC the second best-represented school at this year’s program.

The 12-week program, which accepts about 100 students each year, is geared toward students interested in science or engineering. Students spend their summers working with top researchers in one of the world’s leading research organizations, surrounded by their peers. Their ages range from freshmen just finishing their first year to recent graduates.

“Students are able to interact with 130 other engineers from throughout the country both in a personal and professional way,” said Teresa Viancour, associate vice provost for undergraduate education.

NIST-SURF allows students to see the possibilities of a potential career in science or engineering by providing real-world research opportunities, Viancour said. Students engage in research by working with mentors in specific labs and presenting their projects at a Colloquium at the end of the summer.

“It was real research I was doing, and it will be used as real research,” said sophomore computer science major Nadezhda Serova. “I was working in the real world on a smaller scale.”

Most UMBC students who attended the program said they’d apply again, just for experience in a different field.

With help from the Office of Undergraduate Education, students are not alone in the NIST-SURF application process. Services include editing and proofreading personal essays, helping build resumes and submitting applications for the students. The Office also hopes to work with the Writing Lab and possibly the Career Services Center in the future. Since the Office of Undergraduate Education has become involved with the process, the number of accepted students has gone from one to ten in three years. And numbers are expected to grow.

“There is a lot of research on the UMBC campus but not enough for everyone,” Viancour said. “Students may not be able to do it all in 12 weeks at the program, but they can see the possibilities and where a career in science or engineering could take them.”

For more information or to learn about other opportunities available through the Office of Undergraduate Education, visit www.umbc.edu/undergrad_ed/research/.

Learn more about the UMBC students who attended the 2008 NIST-SURF.

(9/18/08)

© 2007-08 University of Maryland, Baltimore County � 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250 � 410-455-1000 �

Research Student Bios

Izath Aguilar

Academic Standing:
Senior
Major:
Biochemical Engineering
NIST Laboratory:
Electronics and Electrical Engineering
Talk Title:
“Molecular Electronic Devices”

Derek Fertig

Academic Standing:
Junior
Major:
Physics
NIST Laboratory:
Physics
Talk Title:
“Water Calorimetry and Heat Transport”

Brandi Jackson

Academic Standing:
1st year Graduate Student
Major:
Mechanical Engineering
NIST Laboratory:
Building and Fire Research
Talk Title:
“Characterization of Local Mechanical Properties in Epoxy Nanocomposites”

Jeong-O Jeong

Academic Standing:
Senior
Major:
Engineering
NIST Laboratory:
Electronics and Electrical Engineering
Talk Title:
“Development of Software Tools for Extracting Model Parameters of SiC Power Diodes”

Andrew �Avi� Schuldenfrei

Academic Standing:
Junior
Major:
Biological Sciences
NIST Laboratory:
Chemical Science and Technology
Talk Title:
“Observations of the Oxidation of Pentacene Thin Films in Air by Photoluminescence Spectroscopy”

Nadezhda Serova

Academic Standing:
Sophomore
Major:
Computer Science
NIST Laboratory:
Materials Science and Engineering
Talk Title:
“Non-Linear Polymer Film Thickness Gradients Through Flow Coating”

Kimberly Shurupoff

Academic Standing:
Senior
Major:
Mathematics & Psychology
NIST Laboratory:
Building and Fire Research
Talk Title:
“Large Building Evacuation”

Christopher Simms

Academic Standing:
1st year Graduate Student
Major:
Chemistry
NIST Laboratory:
Chemical Science and Technology
Talk Title:
“Fundamental Interaction Mechanisms of Engineered Nanomaterials with DNA”

Julian Spiegler

Academic Standing:
1st year Graduate Student
Major:
Mechanical Engineering
NIST Laboratory:
Building and Fire Research
Talk Title:
“An Energy Model of the IAQVG Test House”

Malcolm Taylor

Academic Standing:
Senior
Major:
Engineering
NIST Laboratory:
Information Technology
Talk Title:
“Parallel Covering Array Generation: The Future of Combinatorial Testing”

(9/18/08)

© 2007-08 University of Maryland, Baltimore County � 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250 � 410-455-1000 �

New Media Studio Captures Leadership Award for Digital Storytelling Efforts

UMBC’s New Media Studio has won a Centers of Excellence Award from the New Media Consortium (NMC), the highest honor bestowed by the NMC. Given annually, the Studio received the award for “leadership in capturing and disseminating digital stories across the institution.” Studio Director Bill Shewbridge, Video Producer Paul Iwancio and Multimedia Designer Aaron Weidele accepted the award at NMC’s 2008 Summer Conference at Princeton University in Princeton, New Jersey.

“We are very honored,” Shewbridge said. “We look at the NMC as our peers. We go there for inspiration and to forge collaborations.”

This year, UMBC joined the Rochester Institute of Technology as 2008 recipients. Modeled after the MacArthur “Genius Grants,” the Centers of Excellence Award involves an anonymous nomination process with no predefined categories of awards.

Although the award process is secretive, Shewbridge noted the Studio was specifically cited for its work with the Charlestown Digital Story Project workshop, an effort that paired UMBC students and staff with residents from the Charlestown Retirement Community. Funded by Retirement Living TV, the Charlestown Project won the Telly Award in 2007 and has produced more than 30 digital stories from personal photos, artifacts and memories. In fact, some stories may air on Retirement Living TV in the future.

“The process has become as rewarding as the outcome,” Shewbridge said. “It’s intergenerational, and real bonds are formed. It’s a personal experience being communicated.”

Some UMBC students who worked specifically with the Charlestown project went on to work at the Maryland Film Office, the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. and non-profit associations throughout the area, Shewbridge said.

In addition to its work with students, the Studio hopes to host more workshops for faculty and staff, similar to the “Train the Trainer” workshop in Summer 2008. This workshop was hosted in partnership with the Center for Digital Storytelling (CDS) in Berkeley, California, and held just a few days before the Studio won the Centers of Excellence award.

The Studio will also host a booth at Homecoming 2008 for all attendees.

“We’re going to have a story booth where participants can make their own digital stories,” Shewbridge said.

To learn more about the video projects produced by the New Media Studio, go to www.umbc.edu/studio/.

(9/12/08)

© 2007-08 University of Maryland, Baltimore County � 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250 � 410-455-1000 �

UMBC�s Political Correspondent at the Convention

UMBC’s nationally recognized politic analyst Tom Schaller had a front-row seat at the Democratic National Convention as a correspondent for Salon.com.

Schaller, associate professor of political science, was in Denver, Colorado, August 25-29 covering the presumptive nomination of Sen. Barack Obama as the Democratic candidate for president.

Follow Schaller’s reports from Salon.com’s political War Room.

Author of Whistling Past Dixie: How Democrats Can Win Without the South, Schaller predicts a tight race that will focus on pivotal swing states in the Southwest and upper Midwest.

“The candidate who gets the lion’s share of the vote in the Midwest and the Southwest will be the 44th president,” Schaller said.

Below, Schaller previews what to expect during the final stretch of the 2008 presidential election:

A twice-monthly political columnist for the Baltimore Sun and contributing writer for Salon, Schaller has published commentaries in The New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, The Boston Globe, The New York Daily News, The American Prospect and The New Republic and has appeared on ABC News, The Colbert Report, MSNBC, National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered“ and “Talk of the Nation” programs, The Tavis Smiley Show and C-SPAN’s Washington Journal. Schaller has given lectures on American politics in Brazil, India, Italy, Nepal, Saudi Arabia and Turkey on behalf of the U.S. State Department.

(9/2/08)

© 2007-08 University of Maryland, Baltimore County � 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250 � 410-455-1000 �

Alumni Mentor UMBC Interns in the Workplace

When UMBC students stepped out of the classroom this summer to begin their internships, many had the University’s alumni looking out for them.  For mechanical engineering major Yehuda Baumer, that someone was Zozscha Bomhardt ’94, who served as a mentor in her role as an engineering quality leader at GE Healthcare. 

Working alongside an alumni mentor in the workplace offers students the opportunity to learn from a member of the UMBC community while on the job. Students grasp the link between theory and practice and gain valuable job-related habits and skills. “Learning how the corporate world works and being able to incorporate what I’ve learned in my studies into the workplace has been invaluable,” said Baumer. 

While alumni provide an important contribution to their alma mater by connecting with and mentoring current students, the relationships can benefit them as well. Many find student interns to be outstanding potential new employees offering fresh insights into the job. “Interns provide us with a fresh perspective on technical issues,” explained Bomhardt. 

Over the past 15 years, The Shriver Center at UMBC has coordinated nearly 18,000 quality internship, cooperative education and service-learning arrangements for UMBC students.  According to Christine Routzahn, associate director of internships and co-ops, “UMBC alumni are outstanding advocates for our students, and both students and alumni find internship arrangements to be worthwhile and fulfilling. By complementing classroom instruction and research with internship and co-op experiences, we can better prepare our students to be tomorrow’s leaders.”

Click here to read about other UMBC students and alumni working together through internship opportunities coordinated by The Shriver Center.

(9/2/08)

© 2007-08 University of Maryland, Baltimore County � 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250 � 410-455-1000 �

Alumni Mentor UMBC Interns in the Workplace

eCity Corporation

UMBC Mentor/Alumnus:
Karen J. Carpenter
President/Artistic Director 
eCity Corporation

“I like providing opportunities for interns to apply classroom and creative knowledge in a real-world environment.”

Year of Graduation: 2002
Major(s)/Degree: Ph.D. in Language, Literacy and Culture; area: Visual Literacy
Favorite Course at UMBC: Classes on new media, merging of word and image and multiculturalism

Intern:
Nikki Jahangiri
eCity Corporation 

“The most valuable part of my internship experience was learning how to establish a strong corporate identity to ensure the business success of our clients.” 

Expected Graduation: May 2010
Major: Graphic Design with a Minor in Art History
Favorite Course at UMBC: Foundations in Leadership

Triangle Universities Nuclear Lab at Duke University

UMBC Mentor/Alumnus:
Michael Ronquest
Post-Doctoral Fellow 
Triangle Universities Nuclear Lab

“I love teaching and the chance to pass on what I’ve learned.”

Year of Graduation: 2000
Major(s)/Degree: B.S. in Physics
Other Education: Ph.D.; University of Virginia
Favorite Course at UMBC: Quantum Mechanics

Intern:
Shauna Marquess
Triangle Universities Nuclear Lab 

“I have learned a lot from this internship. Perhaps the most valuable part of my experience has been gaining knowledge of LabVIEW and learning how to write complicated programs in LabVIEW to control the motion of stepper motors.” 

Expected Graduation: 2010
Major: Physics
Favorite Course at UMBC: Modern Physics

CSC, Innovations Center

UMBC Mentor/Alumnus:
Michael Panichello
Senior Systems Administrator
CSC, Innovations Center

“When students have the ability to work in a professional environment prior to graduation, it gives them the opportunity to embark on a successful career.”

Year of Graduation: 2006
Major(s)/Degree: B. S. in Information Systems Management
B. S. in Geography and Environmental Sciences
Certificate, Geographic Information Systems
Favorite Course at UMBC: Business Management

UMBC Mentor/Alumnus:
Michael Tavener
Software Developer II
CSC, Innovations Center

“Interns are always extremely eager to learn. Working alongside an intern means working alongside a highly motivated individual. This, in turn, means that interns are always fun to work with.”

Year of Graduation: 2008
Major(s)/Degree: B. S. in Computer Science
Favorite Course at UMBC: Scripting Languages

Intern:
Scott Barasch
CSC, Innovations Center

“I come to work every day and address dynamic challenges that are unique to the workplace environment as well as the cutting edge of advanced computing and information science methods, practices and theories.” 

Expected Graduation: May 2009
Major: Computer Science
Favorite Course at UMBC: Data Structures

Intern:
Adam M. Kutzko
CSC, Innovations Center

“In addition to gaining work experience, particularly valuable is the opportunity to work with colleagues who understand the intern experience and what it�s like to juggle work, school, family and social lives at the same time.”

Expected Graduation: May 2010
Major: Information Systems
Favorite Course at UMBC: Introduction to Computer Programming

Lockheed Martin
Nanotechnology IRAD (Internal Research and Development)

UMBC Mentor/Alumnus:
Harry Malecki
Mechanical Engineering LDP
Lockheed Martin, Nanotechnology IRAD

“Sometimes when you get so focused on your day-to-day work, it is really easy to narrow your vision and dismiss new ideas. Interns provide extra insights that are not normally considered. These insights challenge conventional points of view and open paths for innovation and creativity. Each of the interns I have been privileged to work with has continually provided this insight, making them an invaluable addition to our team.”

Year of Graduation: 2006
Major(s)/Degree: B.S. in Mechanical Engineering
Other Education: Currently in UMBC�s Master�s in Mechanical Engineering Program
Favorite Course at UMBC: Machine Design

Intern:
Carla de Castro
Lockheed Martin, Nanotechnology IRAD

“A UMBC alumni mentor is a wealth of knowledge on two legs. I believe that my mentor can truly relate to my experiences, having endured the same difficult engineering courses and participated in similar extracurricular activities. When I was unsure about working part time at Lockheed Martin through the school year, my mentor utilized those insights to advise me accordingly. I feel that those levels of understanding and support are highly beneficial, and I am thankful that I can count on my UMBC alumni mentor to provide them.” 

Expected Graduation: May 2009
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Favorite Course at UMBC: The Structure and Properties of Engineering Materials

Northwestern Mutual Financial Network

UMBC Mentor/Alumnus:
David Picket
Operations Manager
Northwestern Mutual Financial Network

“I like giving someone the opportunity to gain real-world experience, while allowing them to apply what they have learned from UMBC.”

Year of Graduation: 2007
Major(s)/Degree: B.S. in Financial Economics
Favorite Course at UMBC: Analysis of Derivative Securities

Intern:
David A. Indek
Northwestern Mutual Financial Network

“I found gaining real-world experience in a working environment the most valuable aspect of my internship. It also provided me with more insight into what career I will pursue upon graduating.” 

Expected Graduation: May 2009
Major: Financial Economics & Political Science
Favorite Course at UMBC: Money and Capital Markets

ATK Space Systems

UMBC Mentor/Alumnus:
Michael DeIuliis
Program Manager
ATK Space Systems

“Kristin is an excellent worker. She is a quick study, a good problem solver and she makes a genuine contribution to the work we do here at ATK Space Systems. Kristin has engaged herself in our engineering and manufacturing processes in such a way that she alleviates a lot of the every day support tasks that would normally pull me away from my work. We hope to add her to our engineering staff when she graduates next year.”

Year of Graduation: December 2006
Major(s)/Degree: B.S. in Mechanical Engineering
Favorite Course at UMBC: Elements of Aerospace Engineering and Design

Intern:
Kristin Crizer
ATK Space Systems

“I support product engineers in the manufacturing process of heat pipes. I find the hands-on work to be the most valuable. I get to see heat pipes in different parts of the manufacturing process, watch different procedures and tests, help to solve problems as they arise and support a project from start to finish. Mike is a great hands-on mentor because he spends a lot of time explaining the concepts of heat pipes to me using heat pipes and sketches for clarification.” 

Expected Graduation: May 2009
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Favorite Course at UMBC: The Structure and Properties of Engineering Materials

Second Language Testing, Inc.

UMBC Mentor/Alumnus:
Justin Kelly
Language Aptitude Coordinator
Second Language Testing, Inc.

“I love that interns are eager to learn about my area of specialization and can contribute in important ways to the research mission that is the foundation of our organization.”

Year of Graduation: 2000
Major(s)/Degree: B.A. in Spanish/Applied Linguistics (MLL)
Other Education: M.S., Theoretical Linguistics, Georgetown University, 2006;
Ph.D. Candidate (ABD),
Theoretical Linguistics (Syntax-Semantics Interface), Georgetown University
Favorite Course at UMBC: Don Quijote de la Mancha and Syntax

Intern:
Yujung Son
Second Language Testing, Inc.

“I loved helping produce language tests in various formats throughout the intern experience. Also, creating language aptitude items in Korean allowed me to learn the difference between my native language, Korean, and English, which I found a great asset for my future studies.” 

Expected Graduation: December 2008
Major: Instructional System Development concentration on ESOL/Bilingual
Favorite Course at UMBC: Grammar of American English for ESOL teachers

Intern:
Sunyoung Park
Second Language Testing, Inc.

“By creating Korean version aptitude tests, I am getting keen on my own language in terms of its grammar and standard written structures, which I didn�t really care about that much before. It helps me figure out that teaching a language requires a special training regardless of being a native speaker of the language. Connecting this experience to my career after graduation, I am becoming more confident in teaching English as a qualified language teacher.” 

Expected Graduation: December 2008
Major: Instructional System Development concentration on ESOL/Bilingual
Favorite Course at UMBC: Human Learning and Cognition

Vision Systems & Technology

UMBC Mentor/Alumnus:
Clinton Totten
Software Engineer
Vision Systems & Technology, Inc.

“An intern brings a lot of positive energy to the workplace and new �out-of-the-box� thinking. It gives me a chance to share my ideas and knowledge with a student and work on my own leadership skills. Also, I am able to get a non-biased and fresh perspective on workflow.”

Year of Graduation: 1999
Major(s)/Degree: B.S. in Biological Sciences
Favorite Course at UMBC: Genetics

Intern:
Stephen Kawata
Vision Systems & Technology, Inc.

“With my experience at VSTI, I value the knowledge I�ve gained from the various areas of expertise in the company. I get to learn how IT is used in the real business world. I am able to learn useful information from my mentor as well as other co-workers. I value the opportunity to be part of a team working on a specific project and be part of the VSTI employee team as a whole.” 

Expected Graduation: May 2009
Major: Information Systems
Favorite Course at UMBC: User Interface Design

GE Healthcare

UMBC Mentor/Alumnus:
Bruce Berlage
Mechanical Engineer
GE Healthcare

“I enjoy the enthusiasm interns bring. I also enjoy helping them learn and aiding them in any way that I can. It�s a great chance to help out others in their career development.”

Year of Graduation: 1997
Major(s)/Degree: B.S. in Mechanical Engineering
Other Education: Enproco Design and Drafting Institute
2-year Mechanical Design and Drafting course
Favorite Course at UMBC: Advanced Material Science

Intern:
Kevin Hooper
GE Healthcare

“I am working on systems that will help premature babies who are sick become well. This is very rewarding. I also value the relationships that I am building with the employees here and the vast positions that they hold. It is a very friendly and open environment.” 

Expected Graduation: December 2008
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Favorite Course at UMBC: Mechanics of Materials

Cera Products, Inc.

UMBC Mentor/Alumnus:
Charlene Riikonen
(Charlene Dale at UMBC)
President/CEO
Cera Products, Inc.

“Interns bring new ideas, energy and fresh approaches to ways we have been accustomed to presenting our image to the world. For example, our visual art interns have taken our old art and re-shaped it so that our products look fresher and more timely. Our production engineer, who was an intern for several months before coming on full time, is coming up with ways to streamline steps in manufacturing, which should help us produce more efficiently and possibly save money in the process. This is a win-win approach, where the interns learn but we do, too!”

Year of Graduation: 1980
Major(s)/Degree: B.A. in American Studies
Other Education:Some master�s work in business; various technical courses in manufacturing and production
Favorite Course at UMBC: Southern American Literature and Photography

UMBC Mentor/Alumnus:
David Dunn
Production Engineer
Cera Products, Inc.

“I like being able to guide the interns when I can and learn from them”

Year of Graduation: 2008
Major(s)/Degree: B.S. in Chemical Engineering
Favorite Course at UMBC: Chemical Engineering

Intern:
Jennifer Hong
Cera Products, Inc.

“This internship provided real-world, practical experience in my field. Also, I was fortunate to be working in such a close environment, where the president of CERA was available right down the hallway. This made it easier for me to stay in close contact with her in case any problems or issues came up.” 

Expected Graduation: May 2009
Major: Graphic Design with a Minor in Art History
Favorite Course at UMBC: Introduction to Art and Media Studies

Intern:
Matthew Curtin
Cera Products, Inc.

“Gaining real world experiences and working with clients has been a very valuable experience for me.” 

Expected Graduation: May 2009
Major: Visual Arts – Graphic Design and Media Communications
Favorite Course at UMBC: Introduction to Art and Media Studies

(9/2/08)

© 2007-08 University of Maryland, Baltimore County � 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250 � 410-455-1000 �

UMBC Physics Professor Co-Authors Science Paper on Human Impact on Clouds, Climate

Researchers at UMBC, NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center and the Weizmann Institute in Rehovot, Israel have found evidence that the connection between human impact and climate change may be in the clouds.

Aerosols – the tiny particles that make up dust, soot, smoke and ocean spray – play an important but puzzling role in cloud formation and rainfall. Aerosol-rich clouds are more spread out by wind, last longer and trap more solar heat in the atmosphere, all of which makes cloud growth and rain less likely. But aerosols’ impact is inconsistent, causing more cloud cover over the Atlantic Ocean while reducing clouds in the Amazon basin.

In a study published in the Aug. 15 issue of the journal Science, the international research team, including UMBC associate professor of physics Vanderlei Martins, may have found an answer. The team used NASA’s Terra satellite to focus on the 2005 dry season in the Amazon region, a good test case since the only aerosols being released at the time were caused by brushfires on the ground.

The end result of the research was a mathematical and analytical model that should help better understand how aerosols impact weather and climate across the globe.

“As we’d expected in applying our model, increased smoke from the fires created clouds rich with human-caused aerosols that absorbed sunlight, warmed the local atmosphere, and blocked evaporation. This led to reduced cloud cover over the Amazon,” said Martins in a NASA press release. “It’s encouraging to know the science behind our model should stand no matter the region.”

8/19/2008

© 2007-08 University of Maryland, Baltimore County � 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250 � 410-455-1000 �

UMBC Boasts Three Gates Cambridge Scholars

Students come to UMBC to achieve ambitious goals, knowing they will receive the education and support  they need to be successful and compete with the best. Recently, UMBC alumni won three of 100 prestigious Gates Cambridge Scholarships, for a total of four such Scholarships in the past two years.

Considered one of the world’s most selective academic awards, the Gates Cambridge Scholarship fully funds one to four years of graduate study in any field at Cambridge University. Other U.S. winners for 2008 included students from Harvard, Yale, MIT, Princeton and other prestigious universities. The award was established in 2000 by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Simon Stacey, associate director of UMBC’s Honors College, said, “UMBC starts with two advantages in the hunt for prestigious scholarships: we produce students of the caliber of Philip, Simon and Ian, with the potential to win these very competitive awards; and we have faculty genuinely committed to student success and prepared to do everything necessary to support their efforts.

“At the Honors College, we oversee the application process from start to finish. We identify promising students and work with them to ensure that their applications and letters of recommendation and nomination show them in their best light. If they become finalists, we arrange mock interviews to help them prepare for the interview process,” Stacey said.

UMBC’s 2008 Gates Cambridge recipients:

Ian Ralby ’02 has received his second Gates Cambridge Scholarship in as many years. He graduated with both a B.A. in Modern Languages and Linguistics and a M.S. in Intercultural Communication from UMBC and was Class of 2002 valedictorian. Ralby’s first Gates Cambridge award funded his M.A. in International Relations; he will now pursue a Ph.D. in International Relations. While completing his J.D. at the College of William and Mary in 2005, he was part of a legal team that worked with the U.S. Department of Justice to provide legal research and support for the Iraqi High Tribunal as it prepared its legal case against Saddam Hussein.

Philip Graff ’08, physics and mathematics, will enter Cambridge’s Ph.D. in Physics program. As an undergraduate at UMBC, Graff created a computer model of quasar radiation and worked with one of the world’s most sensitive scientific instruments, the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO), during a National Science Foundation fellowship at Caltech. His quasar work is the topic of a research paper currently under refereeing with the Astrophysical Journal.

Simon Gray ’08, chemical engineering, will pursue a M. Phil. in Advanced Chemical Engineering. Gray finished high school early and then came to UMBC, where he finished his bachelor’s degree in three years and was named Class of 2008 valedictorian. As an undergraduate, Gray was involved in numerous research projects, including an National Science Foundation-funded program in China. After completing his studies at Cambridge, Gray plans to attend medical school and earn a M.D./Ph.D.

Learn more about the Class of 2008.

Learn more about UMBC achievements.

(7/16/08)

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