Name: Lauren Forsyth
Internship, Co-op, or Research Site: Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology
Position Title: Laboratory Assistant Intern
Major or Program: Biological Sciences (BS)
Current Class Level: Sophomore
Work Term:
Tell us about your internship, co-op, or research opportunity, including your day-to-day responsibilities.
• Gather/measure biomass data using spectrometer, dry oven, centrifuge, Pipetting, and cell plate techniques
• Assist/observe lab partners in analyzing algal species genetics through PCR and gel electrophoresis to identify species for ongoing experiments
• Maintain orderly organization by collaborating with lab partners and sterilizing equipment by using an autoclave
• Attend weekly lab meetings; present research results pertaining to microalgae to lab partners
• Prepared BG-11 media using chemical formulas and recipes to create new algae cultures
Describe the process of obtaining your position. When did you hear of the position and submit your application?
Initially, I came across the career center website and noticed that the career counselors offered meetings to help build resumes and search for internships. I had my first meeting with Ms. Hindle last fall, and I told her about my interests in environmental research and marine biology. She contacted the director of IMET, a biotech company specializing in research regarding aquatic health, especially in the Chesapeake Bay. I then scheduled a tour around IMET with the director Dr. Hill, and I sent out my resume with a research paper to the faculty at IMET for a summer internship position. Dr. Chen emailed me about an interview after reading my research paper about how algae can reduce carbon dioxide levels in the oceans, which was terrific since his lab specializes in algal research. Dr. Chen hired me, and I worked with Lauren Wagner, who ran research experiments where she grew algae culture under various light intensities and carbon dioxide levels. And her experiments will help create algae that can be used to reduce flue gas emissions from water treatment plants.
What have you enjoyed the most about your position or organization?
I loved working as a team with my co-lab partners, who became excellent friends of mine. I learned so much from them as a person without lab experience besides experiments in high school. Lauren, with whom I worked the most, taught me all the basic skills I needed to know at the lab, from simple pipet techniques to measuring biomass by placing samples in a dry oven. Not to mention, I learned the fundamentals behind PCR and gel from my lab partners, Jeffery and Peter, and I got to see their research, such as Jeffery's work on microbiomes in the bay in the winter versus the summer. And Dr. Chen gave amazingly detailed feedback during lab meetings that were super helpful when in the future with experiments. But most importantly, I had so many laughs and good times in between labs with my lab partners, like when we went to a French restaurant in the city! Lastly, we would always come down to celebrate people getting their doctorate degrees and celebrate by talking and eating fantastic food.
How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?
My lab partner Lauren sent me the sweetest text when I told her when my last day would be. And she said that I was a ray of sunshine at the lab, and honestly, that was one of the best compliments I've received. I think that I made lab work much easier since I always asked if anyone at the lab needed help with anything, and I always got the work done on time. Not to mention, I had a lot of laughs with my lab partners, so I think we all had a great time working together.
What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?
Utilize the resources at UMBC, meaning using Handshake to schedule career appointments, and meet with your career counselor once a semester at least a couple of times in the summer. Also, develop a good relationship with your career counselor, and explain in detail what you want to do since they can help you find jobs that will suit you the best with the connections they have!
Please provide a short reflection or quote about what you liked most about your position / earning internship credit / working with the Career Center.
I loved working with my lab mates who soon became my close friends.
Check out this post on our social media platforms!
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram andLinkedIn
#UMBCintern
Want to be the next Intern of the Week? Make sure to fill out this form and stay tuned. New interns are announced every Monday! ]]>Written by Irene Thomas, UMBC '21
College is a time for self-discovery and personal growth. Part of that self-discovery comes from deciding what you see yourself doing in the future, which can be challenging. You may think, "But that's so far away," or "I'm too young to be thinking about that"- although that may be true, having an idea of what you see yourself doing in the future will help you be as academically successful as you can be here at UMBC.
Consider these "Do's" and "Don'ts" for choosing a major:
"DO's" for Choosing a Major:
Get to know all the majors available at UMBC.
Some major fields may be utterly unfamiliar because they were not taught in high school. Individualized Study (the "build your own major" major), Public Health, Geography, and Environmental Systems, and Business Technology Administration are interesting majors students may not have been aware of before arriving at UMBC. There's no harm in looking through the list - you never know what you might find!
**SHAMELESS PLUG ALERT**
One timely way to explore UMBC's diverse majors is to attend our upcoming Major Event on November 16!
Educate yourself on potential majors.
Talk to an advisor or current students in the major you're interested in so that you can get a better understanding of the potential courses and paths you may want to pursue in your selected major. Researching on your own is highly recommended, as well.
List 5-8 possibilities based on your interests and aptitudes.
Take courses that are steered towardthe potential majors you have chosen. Read the entire catalog sections, all the course descriptions, faculty bios, and any other information about these majors on the Department websites.
"DON'Ts" for Choosing a Major:
Don't let anyone else choose your major for you.
Your parents, friends, and siblings all have ideas about what you should major in, and it is okay to listen to their insights, but ultimately it is essential to make your own choice. You are the student, and you are making the decision that could affect your future career trajectory (at least in the short run – many people change careers throughout their lifetime!).
Refrain from assuming that a college major will necessarily lead directly to a specific type of job.
The skills acquired from college are of a general nature that can be applied to many different professional settings. The workforce is full of people whose undergraduate majors only have an indirect relationship to their positions.
Don't stick with a major when it is clear that you are performing poorly in the required courses.
If you notice your grades are low in your major, this may indicate that it is inappropriate. Consider other options in which you can be more successful!
If you think you need extra support in major exploration, The Office for Academic & Pre-Professional Advising is always here to assist you! Students are always welcome to set up an advising appointment with an OAPA advisor.
Helpful Links
"What can I do with my major?" via the Career Center
FOCUS2 and other self-assessment tools via the Career Center
UMBC Academic Pathways (sample four-year academic pathways for each major)
Dear UMBC Community,
The new 4.5 percent cost of living adjustment (COLA) for state employees is effective today, November 1, 2022. Employees will first see this adjustment in their November 23 paycheck. This paycheck will include each employee’s new biweekly amount and an additional retroactive amount reflecting the adjustment earned from November 1-4, 2022. The next paycheck on December 9 will reflect the actual new biweekly amount.
All regular faculty and staff, contingent II staff, and graduate assistants who began their employment on or before October 31, 2022 will receive the increase. Please reach out to your Department Payroll Preparer with questions.
We appreciate the hard work of all of our faculty, staff, and graduate students as we work together to support students and strengthen our community.
Kathy L. Dettloff, Vice President for Administration and Finance
Lynne Adams, Chief Human Resources Officer
Dear Faculty and Staff,
We are in our final week of Open Enrollment; it will end at 5 p.m. on Friday, November 4, 2022. Thank you to everyone who attended our information sessions and logged in to the SPS Workday system to make changes to their benefits. Below are a few reminders for employees who need to take action on their health benefits for the 2023 plan year.
Enrollment or changes are made in the SPS Workday system.
SPS Workday passwords can be reset by clicking “Forgot Password” under the login prompt.
Employees choosing to make healthcare or dependent-care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) elections for 2023 must log in to SPS Workday prior to 5 p.m. on Friday, November 4, 2022.
Employees adding new dependents must upload the required documentation by 5 p.m. on Friday, November 4, 2022.
Employees who are not enrolling in an FSA or making other health benefit changes do not need to take action.
Visit the Open Enrollment webpage for rates, benefits guides, and a virtual resource page with videos, training links, and additional vendor resources.
If you have questions, please contact the Human Resources Benefits Team at hrbenefits@umbc.edu Thank you!
Human Resources Benefits Team
Greetings Residential Retrievers--
As we enter a new month, we want to provide you with some important updates and reminders to get you through the end of the semester. Please take the time to review this email.
Important Dates
Special Dining Events
Residential Life Focus Group
We want to hear from you! Volunteer to participate in a focus group on November 30, 2022 from Noon-1 p.m. The topic for our first focus group of the year is Residential Life Community Spaces & Amenities.
If you are available and interested, we encourage you to sign-up by submitting the volunteer form (https://forms.gle/RiFVjEVZGc19Xv51A) by November 9, 2022 at 5PM. Residential Life will select a random sample of volunteers (10-15 students) to attend the November focus group. If invited to participate, lunch will be provided.
Thanksgiving Closing & Health & Safety Inspections
Eight-month communities (Chesapeake, Erickson, Patapsco, Susquehanna, and Harbor (2-4 North & all East wings) close for Thanksgiving Break on Wednesday, November 23, 2022 at 8:00 p.m. and reopen on Sunday, November 27, 2022 at Noon.
Students in 8-month communities are expected to vacate and complete the below checklist to help ensure the overall health & safety of your room and personal belongings:
RAs will conduct an inspection in each 8-month community. Failure to properly prepare your space and vacate by the deadline may result in student conduct action. For more information about break closing please contact your RA or Community Director.
Room Freeze & End of Semester Room Changes
Fall room assignments are frozen beginning November 30, 2022 to allow Residential Life staff to prepare for any upcoming transitions. Room changes will not be permitted during the remainder of the semester.
If you are looking to change rooms for the Spring Semester, please contact your Community Director about opportunities for End of Semester Room Changes (ESRC). If your Community Director believes you are eligible for an ESRC, you may be issued the ESRC Application. There is a firm deadline of November 30, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. to submit the ESRC application. Late applications will not be considered.
Submission of an ESRC application does not guarantee approval. Priority for ESRC approval is as follows: students with an accommodation approval from Student Disability Services, and students approved for an administrative move by Residential Life.
If approved:
Spring Semester Housing Petitions
As a current resident you acknowledged a housing license (contract) that is for the entire academic year. If you do not plan to return to housing in the Spring Semester please review your options and complete the outlined instructions.
Additional information about the petition process can be found in the "Cancellation" section on https://reslife.umbc.edu/rlexperience/procedures/.
Have a wonderful day!
Residential Life
]]>Dear UMBC Community,
I am writing to share that Dr. Philip Rous has informed me of his decision to step down from his current position as provost and senior vice president for academic affairs in anticipation of his retirement from UMBC. With eleven years in the role, Philip will leave his position as the longest serving provost in UMBC's history. I would like to take this opportunity to thank him for his exemplary service and for his decades long commitment to our UMBC community.
Dr. Rous was appointed as UMBC's provost on July 1, 2012 and served previously as dean of the College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences and as president of UMBC's Faculty Senate. He joined the UMBC community as an assistant professor in 1990 and holds the rank of professor in the Department of Physics. An accomplished theoretical physicist, Philip's research has been published extensively in materials science, physics, and chemistry journals. In his capacity as provost and dean, he has served as a PI and Co-PI on several major institutional grants focused on student success with a particular attention to the advancement of underrepresented students.
Throughout the years, the impact of Philip's leadership has been recognized in many collaborative campus initiatives. As provost, Philip worked with the UMBC community as it achieved several important milestones including the development and implementation of UMBC's most recent strategic plan, a successful Middle States re-accreditation, significant improvements in retention and graduation rates, and UMBC's achievement as a Carnegie Community Engaged university and R1 institution. In partnership with the Committee for the Recruitment, Retention, and Advancement of Underrepresented Minority Faculty and the Office of Faculty Affairs, Philip guided the development of several initiatives to increase the diversity of our faculty including the postdoctoral fellows for faculty diversity and STRIDE. In recognition of his leadership in advancing community engagement at UMBC, Philip received the William M. Plater Award for Leadership in Civic Engagement. He also successfully nominated and then mentored several UMBC faculty members as ACE fellows, a clear reflection of his commitment to leadership development.
We will launch a national search for a provost and senior vice president for academic affairs in partnership with the search firm Isaacson, Miller.
Please join me in thanking Provost Rous for his years of dedicated scholarship, leadership, and service to UMBC. Additional details about a celebration to honor Philip will be announced soon.
Sincerely,
President Valerie Sheares Ashby
]]>Join us on Thursday, November 3, from 6-8 p.m. as we kick off a weekend of festivities celebrating three years of community and coffee. The event will include food, live music, and OCA Mocha beverages. We hope you'll be able to celebrate with us. We'd also like to thank the many community members who have supported us over the past three years. In addition to the event on Thursday, there will be drink specials from November 4-6.
]]>