Name: Joanna Lum

Internship, Co-op or Research Site: University of Maryland, School of Pharmacy. Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Position Title: Research Assistant

Major(s)/Minor(s): Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Expected Graduation Year: May 2019

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

I was a summer research assistant at Dr. Peter Swaan's nano-medicine and drug delivery lab. In his lab, we aim to enhance the targeting ability of cancer drugs by using cell-penetrable lysine dendrimers. They are nano-sized synthetic polymers that act like tiny cars, carrying the drug and sending it to the nuclei of cells.

My project focused on the cellular internalization of drug-dendrimer conjugates in human breast cancer cells. I performed cytotoxicity assays and compared the toxicities between the drug itself and the drug-dendrimer conjugates. Then, I visualized how they entered the cells through confocal laser microscopy.

My day-to-day responsibilities included making sure the cells were growing healthily by observing them under a microscope and changing their growth medium. When they were 90-100% confluent (meaning the cells have divided extensively and were packed among one another tightly), I had to perform cell passaging or splitting. I also used the micro-pipettes almost everyday to make buffer solutions and treat the cells with the nano-medicine. 

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

I was nominated by Dean LaCourse for this summer research experience. After submitting my cover letter and resume, I had an interview with Dr. Baron, Assistant Vice Provost for Academic Advising and Student Success. Then I sat down with Dr. Swaan to learn more about his current projects before he paired me up with one of his graduate students.

I especially would like to thank the STEM BUILD program for offering extensive advising, interview prep, and resume critiques throughout the school year.

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

On top of the great exposure to pharmaceutical science and excellent networking opportunity, I loved being able to focus on one research project for eight weeks. This full-time commitment gave me the time to bridge the gap between science in the classroom and present-day research. It has helped me to visualize the positive impacts biomedical research can bring to our community.

Also, being in a lab surrounded by dedicated graduate students has pushed me to think critically and work diligently. They have taught me to go beyond the surface and dig deep into unanswered questions with a curious mind.

The process of growing cells under sterilized and controlled conditions was very fascinating too!

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

One of the major setbacks of chemotherapeutic drugs is their low specificity. In order words, when the drug enters the body, it kills both healthy and cancerous cells. By studying targeted drug delivery, we hope to improve drug efficacy and minimize undesired side effects. After eight weeks of experiments, the drug-dendrimer conjugates were displayed through confocal microscopy to be endocytosed into small and punctate vesicles. The images suggested that the vesicles were trafficking towards the nuclei where they could eventually inhibit DNA replication of tumor cells. As a result, cell-penetrable lysine dendrimers can be used as a prospective vehicle for sustained drug release targeted to cancer cells. 

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

Work hard in your classes during the school year and build a strong relationship with the faculty. Show them that you are serious and passionate about doing research!

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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!

Friday, September 30, 2016
(Setup on Thursday, September 29)

Baltimore Convention Center
One West Pratt Street – West Wing
Baltimore, MD 21201

Join your friends, coworkers and neighbors to help hundreds of homeless individuals, children and families access the services they need. As a volunteer guide, you’ll be paired with a homeless participant and accompany them throughout the event.

This year’s event will also feature our first Mission of Mercy dental clinic serving an estimated 1,000 patients. Additional volunteers are needed for the dental clinic on Thursday, September 29.

We’re looking forward to having you volunteer again. Thank you!

REGISTER NOW

Questions? Contact us at phc@uwcm.org.

A blog reflection by Women’s Center intern Mariana de Matos Medeiros 

On October 5^th, 2014, I was finally able to cast my first vote for a Presidential election since moving to America. It was an incredible experience to head over into the Brazilian consulate event in Washington, DC, bright-eyed and ready to make a difference for my home country. As an immigrant who has not yet attained citizen status, I am not able to vote in America so voting to make a difference for my family and friends at home was empowering. As a feminist, I felt most thrilled about having the ability to vote for a leftist woman who had already done much to carry out social welfare programs. I voted for Dilma Rousseff based on how she had run her administration in her previous term: focusing on women and marginalized communities and continuing to carry out social welfare programs to address the ever widening gap between the rich and the poor.

During the past months Brazil’s political drama has reached its all-time high. With the most recent Olympic games being hosted in Rio, the entire world was watching as Brazil’s first woman-identified, leftist president was pushed out of office pending an investigation on alleged corrupt behavior.

Dilma Rousseff // image credit: Wikipedia

Rousseff ran for president under the left-winged Worker’s Party of Brazil, yet she did not always bring solidarity among feminists, as some may assume. In fact, the Brazilian feminist movements were often split between those who supported her public policies and those who rejected her administration, demanding advances in issues of reproductive justice and education. However, Brazilian feminists tend to agree that Rousseff’s impeachment was a blatant act of sexism and discrimination.  

Not only have several of her male counterparts been found to be involved with pedaladas fiscais (misusing bank funds from the federal government that are allocated to many state and federal social programs) without punishment, but over half of the senators who voted for her impeachment are being investigated for laundering money for personal benefit and other serious crimes.

Despite being cleared from any involvement in the pedaladas fiscais, Rousseff has been formally impeached. (This video helps unpack Brazil’s current political situation in more detail.)

What’s most disconcerting is that her replacement, Michel Temer, has been formally convicted of violating election laws and is barred from running for office for the next eight years. However, since he is already in office he is permitted to remain president until the election cycle in 2018.

With support of the elite, Temer and other conservatives began a slogan to encourage Rousseff’s impeachment: Tchau, Querida, which roughly translates to “Bye, darling.” This sexist and patronizing slogan undermines the significance of Rousseff’s time in office by dismissing it as the problem caused by a woman, a “darling.”

As it were, this is not the first time a woman in leadership has been undermined in her power and ability, and referring to a political leader in such a condescending and infantilizing manner is blatantly disrespectful.

Prior to the impeachment, politicians from all sides began passing a multitude of laws that slowly chipped away at women’s rights, including laws that would criminalize abortions for rape survivors, define families as a union between a man and a woman, and make accessing emergency contraception in the wake of the Zika outbreak more difficult. Simultaneously, old gendered concerns did not go away: violence against women is still a widespread pandemic and there is still an overall cultural acceptance surrounding gendered-based violence in Brazil as rape still remains an invisible crime.

However, with a more conservative political push came increased feminist mobilization. Through street protests and social media activism Brazilian women have fought back against this conservative wave of legislature. In June of this year, thousands of women took the streets behind a poster that read Por Elas Todas (For All Women) in outrage of the high rates of sexual violence against young girls.

Por Elas Todas protest // image credit: Flickr

Sadly, despite the feminist mobilization, the situation is still quite grim as Temer has already created the most conservative congress since the end of the military rule in 1985. His all-white, all-male congress has slashed ministries aimed at assisting women, black people, and other marginalized groups. Indeed, 7.6% of Brazil’s population is made up of individuals from African decent and most of these individuals live in poverty.

There are far more nuances to be investigated and discussed about Brazil’s deeply intricate political situation than I have space to discuss on this post. I have felt deeply concerned and proud to see so much activism surrounding the community I call home. It’s unquestionable that the circumstances surrounding Rousseff’s impeachment serves as a reminder to Brazil’s citizens and the world that misogyny and sexism toward women in leadership is alive and well.

Get to know this year’s team of student staff and interns!

2016-17 Women’s Center Staff

Mariana De Matos Medeiros (she/her), Student Intern 

Hi! My name is Mariana de Matos Medeiros and I am studying Psychology and Gender and Women’s Studies, centering my studies on sexual violence prevention. After my time at UMBC, I hope to find a career in advocacy where I can support and empower survivors of sexual violence. Lavender is my favorite everything: food flavor, scent, essential oil, and (most of all) color. In my free time I enjoy learning more about vegetarianism, practicing yoga, and binge watching the Great British Baking Show. I would love to learn and share with you so please feel free to reach out!

Daniel Willey (he/him), Student Staff 

Hi everyone, I’m Daniel! I’m a fourth year Gender and Women’s Studies major and a third year Women’s Center staff member. I do a lot of work here with trans students and advocacy, as well as work with men and healthy masculinities. Ask me about disability, fatness, gender identity, being a mentally ill student, unpacking white privilege, and the Brave Space Guidelines! (Plus I have lots of things to tell you about sexual and menstrual health, fiber crafts, and Steven Universe.) I love to chat with community members and I’m usually a friendly face around campus.

Ciera Earl (she/her), Student Staff

My name is Ciera, I am a Visual Arts major in my last year at UMBC. I am very excited to be part of the Women’s Center community and look forward to learning more about the people who inhabit the space. Black and White film lover with a penchant for anything John Hughes.

Shira Devorah (she/her or they/them), Student Staff 

Hello! My name is Shira Devorah and I can’t wait to get to know you! You may have seen me around last semester working at the Women’s Center or maybe in one of your GWST classes. I’m about four years younger than the Women’s Center, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary (if you haven’t heard)! I’m a bisexual, genderqueer femme who loves doodling, journaling, and spending too much money on chocolate. I hope to go to grad school one day to get a PhD and become a psychologist specializing in LGBTQ+ care and sexual health. I’d also love to end up teaching at a university one day.

Even when I’m not working, I spend a good chunk of time at the Women’s Center. It’s my favorite place to do homework, relax, and spend quality time with friends. I love that the Center is a hub of community and vibrant discussion, that so many different issues are brought up within our programing. This year I’ll be getting even more involved in the conversation! I will be co-facilitating Between Women with our director Jess Myers and planning the roundtable series with fellow staff member and fantastic friend Michael!

I feel incredibly lucky to get to finish out my last year of college while working at the Women’s Center. This place has become a part of who I am, and I will carry all that I learn here with me into a future that is rich in intersectional feminist activism. I can’t wait to see you around our space, at our programs, or in some of our discussion groups!

Prachi Kochar (she/her), Student Intern 

Hey, everyone! My name is Prachi and I’m a senior double majoring in Psychology and Gender and Women’s Studies, and I’m looking to go into Clinical Psychology with a focus on deaf children and other groups with disabilities. This is my first (and last, sadly) year at the Women’s Center, but I am so excited for the learning opportunities and personal connections that it will bring me!

Especially as a deaf woman of color, I am very passionate about social issues and bringing diverse voices to the forefront in every arena of life. However, my interests don’t stop there! I love ice hockey (Go Caps!), creating and viewing art of all kinds, our great state of Maryland, fitness, astronomy, coffee/tea/caffeine in almost any form, and whatever the hot new show on Netflix is. I also love all things UMBC and am a sister of Zeta Sigma Chi Multicultural Sorority, Inc. as well as president of the Multicultural Greek Council. If you couldn’t tell, I am always ready to talk about all of these things, so please feel free to say “Hi!” to me around campus or strike up a conversation with me in the Commons.

Michael Jalloh-Jamboria (he/him), Student Staff 

Hey! I’m Michael Jalloh-Jamboria. I am currently a Gender/Women Studies and Biology double major. This is my third year at UMBC and my second year as a student staff member here at the Women’s Center! I am also a diversity presenter with the Mosaic Center and senior staff member of Montgomery County Recreation!

I’m always up for of being critical of fatness and queerness and their intersections with other identities. Feel free to come by and chat with me! I love visitors and I’m always up for listening.

Long story short, here’s who I am: Fat.Feminist.Trans.Queer.Muslim.

Jewel Oliver (they/them or she/her), Volunteer 

 I’m a new volunteer at the Women’s Center and I’ll be co-facilitating Women of Color Coalition with Prachi.

Hello, UMBC students! My name is Summer (but I’m definitely more of an Autumn girl), and I’m a junior majoring in Political Science and Financial Economics. I play the role of “attorney” on UMBC’s nationally ranked (we have trophies- we must be really good) Mock Trial Team (think, The Good Wife meets Law and Order), so here’s a shameless plug: consider learning more about Mock Trial! We’d love to have your support.

I’m also a Career Peer Advisor over at the Career Center, which is why I’m writing today. You’ll mostly find me helping students improve their resumes, cover letters, and other professional documents, presenting workshops, or right here on myUMBC. One of the most important aspects of my job is letting the student body know what the Career Center has to offer you, and that’s exactly what I’m here to do. Before I started working at the Career Center, I knew little to nothing about what the Career Center actually did, so stay tuned to read more about the valuable resources and opportunities the Career Center has organized for you! Together, we can help you forge your future.