Prasiddha is a Biological Sciences major, and a member of the Honors College, graduating in May 2018.

List any Scholars/Honors programs you are a part of: President’s and Dean’s list; John W. Jeffries Dean's List Award recipient; Member of PBK; CNMS Awards recepient

Title of your research project: Role of TRPM5-expressing microvillous cells in maintaining the morphology of olfactory epithelium when exposed to chemicals.

Describe your project: Exposing wild type and Skn-1a knockout mice lacking the transient receptor potential channel M5 expressing microvillous cellsto chemicals via inhalation for 1 week, and examining the morphology of the Main Olfactory Epithelium (MOE) by performing immunohistochemistry and quantitative analysis to determine the number of microvillous cells and Olfactory Sensory Neurons in the MOE after exposure.

Who is your mentor(s) for your project? Dr. Weihong Lin, Biology Department. When I went to interview to be a TA for her class, I requested her for a research position. A lot of my volunteering experiences include working alongside people with disabilities and so psychology and neuroscience are the subjects that interest me the most. Hence I chose this lab. Also, I want to be a surgeon and the profusions/ dissections in this lab are preparing me for that.

How did you become interested in this project? Previous experiments showed significant results in behavioral and structural changes between mice that lack and have microvillus cells, when exposed to chemicals for 2-weeks. So, I was curious if there would be any changes in the epithelium when mice are exposed to chemicals for one week, a shorter time period with less recovery time.

What has been the hardest part about your research/what was the most unexpected thing about being a researcher? The hardest part about the research is the dissection of the noses of the mice. Dissections, especially of a very small part of the nose, requires great attention and focus and is time consuming. Dissection of each nose takes about 3 hours. The unexpected part of being a researcher is that experiments don’t always work well and data is always not in favor of the hypothesis formulated.

What has been the most rewarding part? The most rewarding part is that, along this process of success and failure I have learnt a lot about research and I am able to perform research techniques with skill. Also, this hands-on experience has helped me understand a lot more about the nervous system.

How will you disseminate your research? I will present my research poster at URCAD on April 25th in the UC Ballroom from 10-11:30am. You can read my full abstract here: https://urcad.umbc.edu/documents/

What is your advice to other students about getting involved in research?  Definitely something to get your hands dirty with. It will open you up to a great new possibility of learning and understanding science in the real world.

What are your career goals? To become a surgeon.

What does it really mean when someone says, “study abroad changed my life?” Can a semester outside of the United States really make that much of an impact on your future self? We unpack this commonly heard statement below by highlighting some scenarios that show how study abroad can lay the foundation for important life skills:

Independence

You are studying abroad in Berlin, Germany, a city with a complex public transportation system (seriously, look at this map!). You’ve only been in country for a few days. You have a 9:00am class and live in a part of the city where few people speak English- the metro is your only option to get to campus on time, but you haven’t taken it yet. You haven’t even bought yourself a metro pass! Oh yeah, and in your rush to get ready, you’ve misplaced your guidebook of the city. What do you think you would do in this situation?

Adaptability

You are studying abroad in Bangkok, Thailand. You’ve never traveled outside of the U.S. and are a commuter student at UMBC, living at home. You’re very comfortable with your lifestyle and routine. Bangkok, on the other hand, is significantly different than your life at home. Since being in the country, you have been served rice for breakfast, you have a hand-held water sprayer in your bathroom shower, and you just can’t seem to find the kind of deodorant that you are used to using. How do you think you would react to these seemingly small, but nonetheless, differences from your home life in the U.S?  

Cultural Competency

You are studying abroad in São Paulo, Brazil and staying with a host family close to campus. There is also an international student from France living with the family. A month into your stay, you are all sitting around the living room one night and a conversation forms between the French student and your host family regarding customs and traditions in Brazil versus France. Even though you’ve been thinking a lot about the cultural differences between Brazil and the U.S., you’ve been too timid to discuss them with your host family, because you’ve never had a conversation like this before with someone from a different cultural background. How do you think you’d approach this situation and what might you gain from having this type of conversation with your host family?

Independence, adaptability, and cultural competency are only a few examples of ways that study abroad can have a long lasting impact on a person.

It’s important to remember that studying abroad isn’t life-changing just because you went. In many ways, it’s what you do to carry your experiences and lessons-learned forward. For example, a person does not become culturally competent from one conversation- it takes multiple conversations and actions to develop this skill. It is an ongoing commitment to learning who you are and what your role in the world is meant to be. But study abroad is a great place to build this foundation.

If you’re starting to think study abroad might be in your future, we’ll end on three important tips to keep in mind as you consider whether or not study abroad is right for you:

• Study abroad is a learning experience. You will definitely have fun and there will be opportunities for relaxation; however, it is important to view it as a learning experience, not a vacation.  Challenge yourself with the classes you choose to take, make an effort to speak the native language, and try to gain as much knowledge as you can about the culture.
• There are varying levels of immersion. Different study abroad programs will offer different levels of cultural immersion. Conduct research and consider what level of immersion is best for you. Do you want to take classes in a different language or classes taught in English? Do you want to live with a host family or in an apartment with other U.S. students? Do you want to go on an exchange program where you are essentially by yourself, or with a group of other students?
• The earlier you plan, the less likely you’ll feel the financial pressure of studying abroad. Study abroad doesn’t have to break the bank, if planned properly. One of the benefits to waiting a few semesters before you go abroad is that you have enough time to save up money, not only for the initial tuition costs, but also for your in-country expenses. You can also talk to the Study Abroad Office about possible scholarship/financial aid opportunities.

UMBC’s Study Abroad Office: http://studyabroad.umbc.edu/

*In order to meet with a study abroad advisor, you must first attend a Study Abroad 101 Information Session*

These take place:

218 Administration Building

Mondays, 12-1pm

Thursdays, 3-4pm

Tips for Making Study Abroad Work for Any Major:

http://www.diversityabroad.com/study-abroad/articles/tips-for-making-study-abroad-work-for-any-major

The historic Men's Basketball upset of #1 seeded UVA in the NCAA tournament has shined a light on UMBC for not only its success on the court, but also in the classroom. They swim! They run! They score! But did you know that UMBC's Student Athletes also conduct research and create art? Check out these Student Athletes who will be presenting their research and creative work at URCAD on April 25th:

Courtney Mattson, Biological Sciences (Cross Country/Track and Field)

Title: The Role of Olfactory Cues in Male Mate Choice in Etheostoma zonale

Location: Poster 10-11:30am UC Ballroom

Hannah Aris, Engineering (Cross Country/Track and Field)

Title: Characterization of CMI-7000 Membrane for Implementation in Resource Recovery Systems

Location: Poster 10-11:30am UC Ballroom

Courtney Culp, Visual Arts (Soccer)

Title: Color of Me (Animated film)

Location: Film Festival, 3pm UC 310

Jethro Ssengonzi, Engineering (Swimming)

Title: Surface Phenomena Driving Natural Surfaces

Location: Poster, 10-11:30am UC Ballroom

Matthew Kane, Biological Sciences (Cross Country/Track and Field)

Title: Scratching the Surface of Bahama Oriole Pine Forest Nesting

Location: Poster, 1-2:30pm UC Ballroom

To read these and other abstracts, visit the URCAD page! 

Emmanuel Mones is a major in Intermedia - Film, Photography, and Design, class of 2018. His research project is entitled, ALT.MASC: Man Redefined

Describe your project in 1-2 sentences: I created a men’s streetwear brand called ALT.MASC. Short for “alternative masculinity,” its purpose is to redefine our image, concept, and expressions of manhood. So, I designed some clothing, developed a brand philosophy, and shot some photographs that serve as its ad campaign.

Who is your mentor for your project? Mark Durant, Visual Arts Department (Photography). I took ART215 with Professor Durant my first semester at UMBC and decided we'd be a good fit. Immediately, I was inspired by the way he thought about the role of art in society. That, beyond form and process, it’s a means of communicating abstract ideas in a way that’s accessible and is able to transcend human language. It’s a way of finding order from life’s chaos, and a way of finding truth. It’s become my philosophy of art. With regards to this project, Professor Durant himself identifies as an alternatively masculine person, so him having that personal connection with the content made me feel like I could trust him to give me the kind of guidance that I needed to fully realize this endeavor.

How did you become interested in this project? There’s a sort of parallel that runs through this project and my own process of maturation. It’s born out of my own attempt at trying to define masculinity, and really my identity as a whole, for myself. I’m a queer, effeminate, Filipino immigrant. Growing up, I didn’t really have many people to look up to that empowered my kind of personhood. So, through fashion and photography, I’m trying to create these articles of pop culture that my younger self would have wanted to see, in the hopes that they might help guide someone else going through what I went through.

How has being a URA scholar helped you to carry out this project? Upon receiving the award, you’re informed of the expectations that come with being a recipient of the URA - particularly, presenting your work at URCAD. Having this end goal in mind lit a fire under me that inspired me to put in the work to come up with something that I can feel proud of sharing with an audience. I will be doing an oral presentation at 2:15pm on April 25th!

What has been the hardest part about your research/what was the most unexpected thing about being a researcher? For me, because I am working in the creative field, the hardest part is dealing with how nonlinear the process is. I crave security, but that’s almost impossible in this arena. I’ll think that I’ve nailed a specific design choice. Then, two weeks later, I’d realize that it was tacky, or uninspired, or just not good. Building the resilience to able to start from the beginning over and over again has been challenging but also necessary and transformative.

What has been the most rewarding part? Sharing my project with men who I didn’t think would understand what it is exactly that I’m doing, and having them tell me that they believe in it and that they understand its significance. That has been really rewarding and moving to me. I doubt myself a lot. But, people seem to get it. And, because it’s born out of a really vulnerable place, it’s comforting to know that I wasn’t alone in feeling those things.

How will you disseminate your research? ALT.MASC will be available for sale at altmasc.com (coming soon) and the ad campaigns will be shared on social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter under the account @alt.masc. I’m also setting up pop-up shops at art shows and trade shows in the DMV area come the summer. I will present my research at URCAD on April 25, from 2:15-2:30 in UC 312.

What is your advice to other students about getting involved in research? Find a research subject that you are personally invested in, something you really care about. What will keep you motivated is the search for knowledge that goes beyond a surface level interest. It should driven almost by necessity, like a real need to learn.

What are your career goals? I want to continue to grow as a person along with this project. More than a research project, I feel like ALT.MASC is my personal philosophy. It’ll be a business coming out of this process, but I’ll follow it wherever it takes me and manifest whatever form it wants to take. More immediately, I’d like to get into digital marketing, as a way to better inform myself the ways I can share this content. But, beyond that, I just want to see where this thing goes.