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Congratulations to Evan Avila (Economics, Political Science, 2020), winner of the prestigious Truman Scholarship for 2019!

Established in 1975, the Truman Foundation is the nation’s official living memorial to our thirty-third president and The Presidential Memorial to Public Service. The Truman Scholarship is the premier graduate fellowship in the United States for those pursuing careers as public service leaders. Truman Scholars receive up to $30,000 for graduate or professional school, participate in leadership development activities, and have special opportunities for internships and employment with the federal government.

Evan is a Sondheim Public Affairs Scholar and member of the Honors College, studying economics and political science at UMBC. He is passionate about solving the structural disadvantages that marginalized populations face when trying to achieve long-term financial security. “Evan has taken on what other students might consider “boring” endeavors- income tax preparation, working for the U.S. Census Bureau- and turned them into deeply meaningful experiences, ones that he sees as inextricably linked to empowering people. He cares about people who are invisible to many- immigrants, retirees, the poor,” observes April Householder, Director of Undergraduate Research and Prestigious Scholarships.

In 2018, Evan won a national research competition, the iOme Challenge, with policy solutions for gig workers who lack access to qualified retirement plans. He has since been invited to speak on the subject at several policy conferences, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. As President and Site Manager of UMBC’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program (VITA), Evan deters predatory tax preparers by training students to prepare free income taxes for over 500 low-income households in the Baltimore area. Evan is has also interned at the U.S. Census Bureau and Treasury Department. After graduation, Evan intends to earn a dual JD/LLM in Taxation and pursue a public service career in tax and social insurance policy.

According to Arthur Johnson, provost emeritus and former director of the Sondheim program, “Evan’s selection is a reflection of the significance and relevance of the service activities that UMBC students are providing through programs such as theSondheim Scholars, Shriver Center, Honors College, and many others.  It also is further evidence that UMBC’s commitment to civic engagement is alive and well among our students. Among many other expectations, TrumanScholars are expected to become leaders of our nation and communities and we are confident that Evan will fulfill those expectations.”

For more information about Truman and other UMBC past prestigious scholarships winners, please visit: https://ur.umbc.edu/prestigious-scholarships/.

• Peter Bailer | Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering 
  Design and Analysis Of Hydrogels To Protect Biosensors From Enzyme-Catalysed Degradation 
  Mentor(s): Jennie Leach
  UC Ballroom | 1 – 2:30 p.m.
• Peter Bailer | Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering 
  Prevention Of RNA Aptamer Degradation To Create Biosensors For Therapeutic Drug 
  Mentor(s): Jennie Leach
  UC Ballroom | 10 – 11:30 a.m.
• Robin Bailey | Biological Sciences 
  Molecular Determinants Of Melanopsin Function, Localization, and Activation 
  Mentor(s): Phyllis Robinson
  UC 204 | 10:45 – 11 a.m.
• Carl Bannerman | Biological Sciences 
  Caspase-3 Regulation Of Endothelial Cell Migration & Proliferation 
  Mentor(s): Mahendra Damarla
  UC Ballroom | 1 – 2:30 p.m.
• Keynon Bell | Chemistry and Biochemistry 
  4D Mapping Of Spatiofunctional Enzyme Droplets In Living Cells 
  Minjoung Kyoung(s): Name
  UC Ballroom | 1 – 2:30 p.m.
• Bryanna Canales | Biological Sciences 
  The Role Of Lactate As A Stabilizing Molecule For Ndrg1-Mediated Energy Preservation Under Anoxia 
  Mentor(s): Rachel Brewster
  UC Ballroom | 10 – 11:30 a.m.
• Emily Cannistraci | Chemistry and Biochemistry 
  Characterizing The Dynamic Capsid-SP1 Junction Helix Of The HIV-1 Gag Polyprotein And Maturation Inhibitor Interaction 
  Mentor(s): Michael Summers
  UC Ballroom | 10 – 11:30 a.m.
• Kennedy Chioma | Chemistry and Biochemistry 
  Characterization Of The Thermodynamic Processes Of Nucleocapsid Binding To Viral Rna 
  Mentor(s): Michael Summers
  UC Ballroom | 10 – 11:30 a.m.
• Nicole Couturier | Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering 
  Characterizing The Immunogenicity Of Gold Nanoparticles (AuNP) As Drug Delivery Vehicles 
  Mentor(s): Gregory Szeto
  UC Ballroom | 1 – 2:30 p.m.
• Eliana Crentsil | Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering 
  Effects Of Cell Tension On YAP/TAZ-Mediated Volume Regulation 
  Mentor(s): Sean Sun
  Fine Arts Recital Hall | 11:30 – 11:45 a.m.
• James Dizon | Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering 
  Production And Bioactivity Of Fc-IL-2 Protein 
  Mentor(s): Gregory Szeto
  Fine Arts Recital Hall | 11:15 – 11:30 a.m.
• Christopher Dunstan | Mathematics and Statistics 
  Stochastic Models Of Cell Polarization In The C. Elegans Zygote 
  Mentor(s): Hye-Won Kang
  UC Ballroom | 10 – 11:30 a.m.
• Eric Joshua Garcia | Biological Sciences 
  Investigating Chromatin Regulation By Set4 In Budding Yeast 
  Mentor(s): Erin Green
  UC Ballroom | 10 – 11:30 a.m.
• Frances Grace Ghinger | Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 
  Determining The Structure Of The HIV-1 5’ Leader Monomeric And Dimeric Confirmations 
  Mentor(s): Michael Summers
  UC Ballroom | 10 – 11:30 a.m.
• Darin Gilchrist | Chemistry and Biochemistry 
  Structural Determination Of HIV-1 MAL Minimal Packaging Region 
  Mentor(s): Michael Summers
  UC Ballroom | 1 – 2:30 p.m.
• Yasmin Graham | Information Systems 
  Understanding The Stress Experience Of Emergency Health Workers 
  Mentor(s): Andrea Kleinsmith
  UC Ballroom | 1 – 2:30 p.m.
• Lauren Harris | Chemistry and Biochemistry 
  Photodegradation Of Sulfonamide Antibiotics: Apparentreaction Kinetics And Identification Of Transformation Products 
  Mentor(s): Lee Blaney
  UC Ballroom | 10 – 11:30 a.m.
• Temitope Ibitoye | Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering 
  Phototransformation Of Macrolide Antibiotics In UV-254 Systems And Characterization Of Residual Antimicrobial Activity 
  Mentor(s): Lee Blaney
  UC 204 | 10 – 10:45 a.m.
• Chetana Jadhav | Biological Sciences 
  The Effect Of APPL On The Brain Of Drosophila Melanogaster 
  Mentor(s): Fernando Vonhoff
  UC Ballroom | 1 – 2:30 p.m.
• Blair Landon | Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering 
  Establishing A Three-Dimensional Collagen Based Cell Culture Of Human Monocytes 
  Mentor(s): Gregory Szeto
  UC 312 | 3:15 – 3:30 p.m.
• April Laranang | Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering 
  Total And Methylmercury Exposure To Individuals In Artisanal And Small-Scale Gold Mining In Madre De Dios, Peru 
  Mentor(s): Helen Hsu-Kim
  UC Ballroom | 10 – 11:30 a.m.
• Caroline Larkin | Bioinformatics and Computational Biology 
  An Evolutionary Algorithm To Reverse-Engineer Tumor Sub-Clonal Dynamics And Predict Optimal Treatment Targets 
  Mentor(s): Daniel Lobo
  UC 310 | 2:30 – 2:45 p.m.
• Nguyet Le | Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 
  Role Of N-MYC Downstream Regulated Genes Family In Low Oxygen Adaptation 
  Mentor(s): Rachel Brewster
  UC Ballroom | 10 – 11:30 a.m.
• Joanna Lum | Biological Sciences 
  Identifying Novel Regulators Of DAXX-mediated Retrotransposon Silencing in Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells 
  Mentor(s): Peter Lewis
  UC Ballroom | 1 – 2:30 p.m.
• Ugonna Mbaekwe | Biological Sciences 
  Genetic Control Of AIA Cell-Identity Maintenance In Caenorhabditis Elegans 
  Mentor(s): Robert Horvitz
  UC Ballroom | 10 – 11:30 a.m.
• Darius McKoy | Biological Sciences 
  Role Of N-Myc Downstream Regulated Gene 1a (Ndrg1a) In Cellular Arrest Under Anoxia 
  Mentor(s): Rachel Brewster
  UC Ballroom | 10 – 11:30 a.m.
• Avi Newman | Chemistry and Biochemistry 
  Assay development For N2-Ethylguanine Using Liquid Chromatography- Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry Instrumentation 
  Mentor(s): William LaCourse
  UC Ballroom | 1 – 2:30 p.m.
• Temiloluwa Okusolubo | Biological Sciences 
  Correlating Gramicidin Ion-Channel Formation To Artificial Membrane Dynamics 
  Mentor(s): Elizabeth Kelley
  UC Ballroom | 10 – 11:30 a.m.
• Matthew Orellana | Chemistry and Biochemistry 
  Analyzing The Monomeric Conformation Of The HIV-1 5′-Leader RNA Using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy 
  Mentor(s): Michael Summers
  UC Ballroom | 10 – 11:30 a.m.
• Afia Osei-Ntansah | Biological Sciences 
  Role Of The N-myc Downstream Regulated Gene (NDRG) 1 In The Adaptation Of The Kidney To Low Oxygen 
  Mentor(s): Rachel Brewster
  UC 204 | 11:45 – Noon
• Yaw Owusu-Boaitey | Biological Sciences 
  Identifying A Role Of Skp2 In Border Cell Migration In The Drosophila Ovary 
  Mentor(s): Michelle Starz-Gaiano
  UC Ballroom | 10 – 11:30 a.m.
• Tatiana Rodriguez | Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 
  Determining The Structure Of The Hiv-1 5′-Leader Dimeric Conformation 
  Mentor(s): Michael Summers
  UC Ballroom | 1 – 2:30 p.m.
• Racheal Spruill | Biological Sciences 
  5-Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid And Kynurenic Acid Levels In Mice after Systemic Tryptophan Challenge 
  Mentor(s): Sathyasaikumar Korrapati
  UC Ballroom | 10 – 11:30 a.m.
• Taylor Stephen | Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering 
  Thermodynamic Modeling Of Pollutant Uptake By Freshwater Mussels (Elliptio Complanata) 
  Mentor(s): Upal Ghosh
  UC 312 | 3:30 – 3:45 p.m.

·       Rabbia Choudary | Information Systems 
A LUC 204rature Review Of The Communication Gap Between Caregivers Of Home Health Patients And The Underlying Impact 
Mentor(s): Gunes Koru
UC Ballroom |

·       Mikhail Dorfman | Information Systems 
Creating Fabrication Instructions For A DIY Therapy Device 
Mentor(s): Foad Hamidi
UC Ballroom | 1 – 2:30 p.m.

·       Yasmin Graham | Information Systems 
Understanding The Stress Experience Of Emergency Health Workers 
Mentor(s): Andrea Kleinsmith
UC Ballroom | 1 – 2:30 p.m.

·       Lauryn Hankerson | Information Systems 
A LUC 204rature Review Of The Communication Gap Between Caregivers Of Home Health Patients And The Underlying Impact 
Mentor(s): Gunes Koru
UC Ballroom | 10 – 11:30 a.m.

·       Hannah McGowan | Information Systems 
Understanding The Stress Experience Of Emergency Health Workers 
Mentor(s): Andrea Kleinsmith
UC Ballroom | 1 – 2:30 p.m.

·       Olakunmi Ogun | Information Systems 
Understanding The Emotional Lives Of Underrepresented Engineering Students In Context 
Mentor(s): Jiaqi Gong
UC Ballroom | 1 – 2:30 p.m.

·       Fayokemi Ojo | Information Systems 
Creating Fabrication Instructions For A DIY Therapy Device 
Mentor(s): Foad Hamidi
UC Ballroom | 1 – 2:30 p.m.

·       Jacob Shaw | Information Systems 
Intelligent Wearable Sensors For Preventing Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reinjury 
Mentor(s): Jiaqi Gong
UC Ballroom | 1 – 2:30 p.m.

• Ghina Ammar | Psychology 
  Discrimination And Its Relation To Anger Expression In Emerging Adults 
  Mentor(s): Danielle Beatty Moody
  UC Ballroom | 10 – 11:30 a.m.
• Nandini Aravindan | Interdisciplinary Studies 
  Maternal Diet And Exercise Influences On Peripheral And Placental Inflammatory Markers 
  Mentor(s): Kellie Tamashiro
  UC Ballroom | 1 – 2:30 p.m.
• Julia Arbutus | English 
  The Baltimore Sun’s Reporting Legacy: Understanding The WhUC 204 Press AndLynching Coverage 
  Mentor(s): Lindsay DiCuirci
  UC 310 | 11:45 – Noon

• Kristina Atanasoff | Biological Sciences 
  Assessing The Age-Specific Immune Response In Drosophila Melanogaster Using A Phagocytosis Assay 
  Mentor(s): Jeff Leips
  UC Ballroom | 10 – 11:30 a.m.
• Nicholas Balasus | Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering 
  Investigations Of The Acidity And Liquid Water Content Of Chesapeake Bay Aerosols During The OWLETS-2 Campaign 
  Mentor(s): Christopher Hennigan
  UC 204 | 2:15 – 2:30 p.m.
• Karis Barnett | Chemistry and Biochemistry 
  Comparison Of Solvent Delivery Systems For Enhancing Desorption Electrospray Ionization (DESI) Source 
  Mentor(s): William LaCourse
  UC Ballroom | 10 – 11:30 a.m.
• Ghazal Becker | Biological Sciences 
  Transcription Start SUC 204 Heterogeneity Of The HIV-1 RNA Genome 
  Mentor(s): Michael Summers
  UC Ballroom | 1 – 2:30 p.m.
• Maxwell Breitmeyer | Computer Science and Electrical Engineering 
  Virtual Reality And Photogrammetry For Improved Reproducibility Of Human-Robot Interaction Studies 
  Mentor(s): Don Engel
  UC Ballroom | 10 – 11:30 a.m.
• Reese Burke | English 
  Producing UMBC Bartleby 2019 
  Mentor(s): Tanya Olson
  UC Ballroom | 1 – 2:30 p.m.
• Caleb Campbell | History 
  Knights, Villians, And Buffoons: Portrayals Of The Ku Klux Klan In American Film 
  Mentor(s): Anne Rubin
  UC Ballroom | 10 – 11:30 a.m.
• Hannah Cao | Visual Arts 
  Diana And Actaeon: Between The Light And Dark 
  Mentor(s): Timothy Nohe
  UC Ballroom | 1 – 2:30 p.m.
• Noah Carver | Computer Science and Electrical Engineering 
  Modular Solvers For Partially Continuous Abstract Markov Decision Processes 
  Mentor(s): Cynthia Matuszek
  UC Ballroom | 1 – 2:30 p.m.
• Snigdha Chigurupati | Interdisciplinary Studies 
  The Effect Of Personally Meaningful Music On Mood And Behavior Of Those With Dementia 
  Mentor(s): Bernard Rabin
  Fine Arts Recital Hall | 10:45 – 11 a.m.

• Autumn Cook | Chemistry and Biochemistry 
  The Rheology And Dynamics Of Active Matter Suspensions 
  Mentor(s): Daniel L. Blair
  UC Ballroom | 1 – 2:30 p.m.
• Ashley Copenhaver | Mathematics and Statistics 
  Discovering The Functional Structure Of The Islet Of Langerhans Through Machine Learning And Optimization 
  Mentor(s): Bradford Peercy
  UC Ballroom | 1 – 2:30 p.m.
• David Fialkow | Physics 
  Characterizing The Mechanical Oscillatory Properties Of Nanostructures 
  Mentor(s): Matthew Pelton
  UC 204 | 3:15 – 3:45 p.m.
• Marissa Gabel | Mathematics and Statistics 
  Constructing Time to Onset of Urea Cycle and Analyzing Growth Trends 
  Mentor(s): DoHwan Park
  UC Ballroom | 10 – 11:30 a.m.
• Frances Grace Ghinger | Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 
  Determining The Structure Of The HIV-1 5’ Leader Monomeric And Dimeric Confirmations 
  Mentor(s): Michael Summers
  UC Ballroom | 10 – 11:30 a.m.
• Ryan Heslin | History 
  The Beast’s Burden: General Benjamin Butler And Historical Memory 
  Mentor(s): Anne Rubin
  UC 312 | 2:30 – 2:45 p.m.
• Phillip Hilliard | Computer Science and Electrical Engineering 
  Annotating And Predicting Contextual Sentiment In Text 
  Mentor(s): Frank Ferraro
  UC Ballroom | 1 – 2:30 p.m.
• Adurshsiva Iyer | Physics 
  Examining The High-Energy Radiative Processes Occurring In Radio-Loud AGN Jets With Fermi-LAT Observations 
  Mentor(s): Eileen Meyer
  UC Ballroom | 10 – 11:30 a.m.
• Laiyana Kabir | Psychology 
  A Qualitative Examination Of Black Women’s Barriers To And Motivations For Safer Sex 
  Mentor(s): Jasmine Abrams
  UC Ballroom | 1 – 2:30 p.m.
• Matthew Kane | Biological Sciences 
  Nest Predation of the Bahama Oriole (Icterus Northropi) by the Black Rat (Rattus Rattus) on Andros 
  Mentor(s): Kevin Omland
  UC 310 | 3:30 – 3:45 p.m.

• Jeremy Keaton | Music 
  Pendulum 
  Mentor(s): Linda Dusman
  UC 310 | 11 – 11:15 a.m.
• Gerson Kroiz | Mathematics and Statistics 
  Study Of Calcium-induced Calcium Release Components In Cardiomyocytes Modeled By Seven Partial Differential Equations 
  Mentor(s): Matthias Gobbert
  UC Ballroom | 10 – 11:30 a.m.
• Caroline Larkin | Bioinformatics and Computational Biology 
  An Evolutionary Algorithm To Reverse-Engineer Tumor Sub-Clonal Dynamics And Predict Optimal Treatment Targets 
  Mentor(s): Daniel Lobo
  UC 310 | 2:30 – 2:45 p.m.
• Sasha Lenus | Individualized Studies 
  Music Therapy Contributes To A Holistic Model Of Medical Care For Aging Individuals With Neurodegenerative Diseases 
  Mentor(s): Tiffany Gierasch
  Fine Arts Recital Hall | 11 – 11:15 a.m.
• Sasha Lenus | Biological Sciences 
  ProSAAS Overexpression Decreases Secreted Aβ And Amyloid Precursor Protein in Alzheimer’s Model Neuro2A Cells 
  Mentor(s): Iris Lindberg
  UC Ballroom | 1 – 2:30 p.m.
• Clarisse Lukban | Dance 
  Childhood Sexual Assault And Young Adult Mental Health Outcomes On Risky Sexual Behavior And STIs/HIV 
  Mentor(s): Kathryn Van Eck
  UC Ballroom | 1 – 2:30 p.m.
• Karan Luthria | Bioinformatics and Computational Biology 
  Phenotype Clustering Using Computational Tools To Potentially Reduce Healthcare Costs 
  Mentor(s): Maricel Kann
  UC Ballroom | 10 – 11:30 a.m.
• Samiksha Manjani | Political Science 
  The Injustice Of Inequitable Sentencing Of Sex Offenders 
  Mentor(s): Jeffrey Davis
  UC Ballroom | 1 – 2:30 p.m.
• Dominic Marianelli | Global Studies 
  The State Of Terror Response Operations In ThePost-9/11 Period: Lessons From A Simulation Exercise 
  Mentor(s): Brigid Starkey
  UC Ballroom | 1 – 2:30 p.m.
• Andrew McFarland | Visual Arts 
  Derik’s Inferno: A Retro Two-dimensional Platformer From Hell 
  Mentor(s): Eric Jordan
  UC Ballroom Lounge | 10 – Noon
• Stephanie Milani | Computer Science and Electrical Engineering 
  A Hierarchical Framework For Norm-Aware Planning And Reinforcement Learning 
  Mentor(s): Marie desJardins
  UC Ballroom | 10 – 11:30 a.m.
• Rachel Morin | Physics 
  Microscopic Processes That Shape The High Energy Universe: Teaching Physics With Art 
  Mentor(s): Markos Georganopoulos
  UC 310 | 3:45 – 4 p.m.
• Tanzeem Naqvi | Psychology 
  Investigating The Relationships Between Therapeutic Bond, Self-Efficacy, Therapy Conditions and Treatment Adherence 
  Carlo DiClemente(s): Name
  UC Ballroom | 1 – 2:30 p.m.
• Adam Ng | History 
  Conservative Interest In British Fascism In The 1930s 
  Mentor(s): Daniel Ritschel
  UC 312 | 2:45 – 3 p.m.
• Tiffany Nguyen | Psychology 
  Confirming And Identifying Dimensions Of Learning Engagement To Predict Performance In College STEM Gateway Courses 
  Mentor(s): Shuyan Sun
  UC Ballroom | 1 – 2:30 p.m.
• Howard Nicholson | Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering 
  Design and Analysis Of Hydrogels To Protect Biosensors From Enzyme-Catalysed Degradation 
  Mentor(s): Jennie Leach
  UC Ballroom | 1 – 2:30 p.m.
• Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman | Economics 
  Evaluating The Impact Of Early Childhood Malaria On Normal School Progression In Ghana 
  Mentor(s): Thomas Gindling
  UC 310 | 10 – 10:15 a.m.
• Afia Osei-Ntansah | Biological Sciences 
  Role Of The N-myc Downstream Regulated Gene (NDRG) 1 In The Adaptation Of The Kidney To Low Oxygen 
  Mentor(s): Rachel Brewster
  UC 204 | 11:45 – Noon
• Yaw Owusu-Boaitey | Biological Sciences 
  Identifying A Role Of Skp2 In Border Cell Migration In The Drosophila Ovary 
  Mentor(s): Michelle Starz-Gaiano
  UC Ballroom | 10 – 11:30 a.m.
• Shirin Parsa | Biological Sciences 
  The Effect Of Sleep Hormones On Cancer Cell Growth And Response To Chemotherapeutic Drugs 
  Mentor(s): Daniel Gioeli
  UC Ballroom | 10 – 11:30 a.m.

• Nishka Patel | Individualized Studies 
  Cognitive Profile Of Patients With Gaucher Disease And Heterozygous Mutation Carriers At Risk For Parkinson’s Disease 
  Mentor(s): Grisel Lopez
  UC Ballroom | 1 – 2:30 p.m.
• Rishit Patel | Biological Sciences 
  Analysis Of Half-decay Response Duration To Various E-cigarette Chemicals In Mice Nasal Epithelium 
  Mentor(s): Weihong Lin
  UC Ballroom | 1 – 2:30 p.m.
• Abigail Pollock | Psychology 
  Examining The Role Of Trust In Sexual Health Decision Making Among Black Women 
  Mentor(s): Jasmine Abrams
  UC Ballroom | 10 – 11:30 a.m.
• Julianna Posey | Mechanical Engineering 
  Nephelometer Implementation For Aerosol Property Retrieval 
  Mentor(s): Ruben Delgado
  UC Ballroom | 10 – 11:30 a.m.
• Jeremy Rubin | Mathematics and Statistics 
  Letting The LaxKAT Out Of The Bag: Packaging, Simulation, And Neuroimaging Data Analysis For A Powerful Kernel Test 
  Mentor(s): Russell Shinohara
  UC 310 | 3:15 – 3:30 p.m.
• Shea Sandifer | Computer Science and Electrical Engineering 
  UMBC Game Developers Club 2018-2019 Game Projects 
  Mentor(s): Marc Olano
  UC Ballroom Lounge | 10 – Noon
• Claire Scott | Biological Sciences 
  Speciation Of Elephant Ivory Tusks From Java Sea Shipwreck To Inform Ancient Trade Routes 
  Mentor(s): Cynthia Wagner
  UC 204 | 9:45 – 10 a.m.
• Areej Shahid | Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering 
  Characterization Of Electronic And Photonic Nanomaterials 
  Mentor(s): Joshua Zide
  UC Ballroom | 1 – 2:30 p.m.
• Cliel Shdaimah | Gender and Women’s Studies 
  Perspectives Of Queer Jewish Leaders On The Intersections Of Their Jewish And Queer Identities 
  Mentor(s): Amy Bhatt
  UC Ballroom | 1 – 2:30 p.m.
• Aarsh Sheth | Biological Sciences 
  Effects Of Gene Knockdown On Fecundity In Candidate Genes Within Drosophila Melanogaster 
  Mentor(s): Jeff Leips
  UC Ballroom | 10 – 11:30 a.m.

• Sammy Siegel | Dance 
  I Make Milk 
  Mentor(s): Doug Hamby
  Dance Cube, 337 PAHB | 10 a.m.
• Ariana Taj | Biological Sciences 
  Developing A Rat Model Of Aggressive Prostate Adenocarcinoma 
  Mentor(s): Charles Bieberich
  UC Ballroom | 1 – 2:30 p.m.
• Dave Tandy | Political Science 
  Postmaterialism And The 2018 Midterm Elections In Baltimore County 
  Mentor(s): Ian Anson
  UC Ballroom | 1 – 2:30 p.m.
• Jordan Troutman | Computer Science and Electrical Engineering 
  Understanding Machine Learning Bias Without A Ground Truth 
  Mentor(s): Anand Sarwate
  UC Ballroom | 10 – 11:30 a.m.
• Halle Welch | Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering 
  Examining Characteristics Of erecta1-6 Mutant Phenotype In Physcomitrella Patens 
  Mentor(s): Adrienne Roeder
  UC Ballroom | 1 – 2:30 p.m.
• Teresa Whittemore | Dance 
  When Eve And Eve Bit The Apple 
  Mentor(s): Doug Hamby
  Dance Cube, 337 PAHB | 11:45 a.m.
• Hannah Wilcove | Gender and Women’s Studies 
  A Case Study On Abortion Policy 
  Mentor(s): Amy Bhatt
  UC 310 | 2 – 2:15 p.m.
• Linda Wiratan | Biological Sciences 
  Development Of Luciferase Reporter Constructs To Assess Circadian Control Of Defense Gene Expression In Arabidopsis 
  Mentor(s): Hua Lu
  UC 204 | 9:30 – 9:45 a.m.

Meet Keith. He has decided to apply for a URA Award.

"There are three different awards this year," noted Keith, who was interviewed while wearing a majestic bowtie. "You've got the usual award, open to all majors and worth up to $1,500 and then you've got the Social Science award and the entrepreneurship award. Pretty amazing opportunity. And the deadline isn't until May 1st, so I've got plenty of time!"

"I'll fill out my application online after I perform some standards at the lounge," he added. "And it's open to all majors!"

URA’s provide up to $1,500 to undergraduate students to support their research or creative work with a UMBC faculty mentor on an original project. UMBC students of all years and disciplines are invited to apply, as long as they will remain enrolled at UMBC long enough to complete the proposed work.

The University System of Maryland’s Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (USM LSAMP) announces the opportunity for undergraduate scholars currently enrolled at University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Frostburg State University, or Towson University to participate in programming to enhance their summer research experience. If selected, you will join a community of undergraduate researchers, attend professional development seminars, and be eligible for a financial award totaling up to $3,000 over the course of the program. Undergraduate scholars who work with distinguished STEM faculty within the University System of Maryland qualify for the award. Student scholars conduct research over a minimum of eight weeks per summer under the direction of a faculty research mentor.  

Applicants may apply for research opportunities in any of the following NSF-classified STEM disciplines: Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering, Environmental Science, Geosciences, Mathematics, Physics/Astronomy, or technology areas associated with the preceding fields (e.g., biotechnology, chemical technology, engineering technology, information technology).

To be eligible for the research program, applicants must be:

• A US citizen or permanent resident at one of the aforementioned institutions

• In good academic standing

• Members of racial and ethnic groups that have been historically underrepresented in STEM disciplines. All students are welcome to apply

• Students who have no previous research experience

• Underclassmen who have less than 60 credits

Program Requirements:

• Engage in research with distinguished STEM faculty within the University System of Maryland for a minimum of eight weeks beginning on Monday, June 10th 2019.
  
  
• Attend an orientation session on Monday, June 3rd from 11:00am - 12:30pm.
  
  
• Attend weekly programming on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 11:00am - 12:30pm.
  
  
• A one-page journal entry will be submitted each week based on your experience 
   
  
• A 3-5 page culminating reflection will be submitted at the conclusion of the research experience.    
  
  
• Submit a log of their time completing research every two weeks.
  


• Awardees will be required to present a research poster and/or a give a presentation of the project results at the USM LSAMP Fall Research Symposium at the University of Maryland, College Park.  Students must attend and engage with the entire conference. Research presentations at other conferences can be substituted with prior approval on a case-by-case basis.  
  
  
• Students are also encouraged to present at URCAD and SURF at UMBC or the Annual Research Symposium at the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore. 

Please note: The NSF USM LSAMP logo and funding disclaimer must be included on the poster or presentation.

Application:

We ask that undergraduate scholars completely fill out and submit the following USM LSAMP Research Program application form. The submitted application is due no later than Monday, April 29th, 2019.

• Christian Adams | History 
  Social Entrepreneurship In Eighteenth-Century England 
  Mentor(s): Amy Froide
  UC 310 | 1 – 1:30 p.m.
• Jacob Brossart | History 
  Black Hero’s Or WhUC 204 Saviors: The Cultural History Of Glory 
  Mentor(s): Anne Rubin
  UC Ballroom | 1 – 2:30 p.m.
• Caleb Campbell | History 
  Knights, Villians, And Buffoons: Portrayals Of The Ku Klux Klan In American Film 
  Mentor(s): Anne Rubin
  UC Ballroom | 10 – 11:30 a.m.
• Daniel Choo | History 
  Traveling The Medieval Globe 
  Mentor(s): Susan McDonough
  UC 312 | 11:15 – 11:45 a.m.
• Amber Davis | History 
  Social Entrepreneurship In Eighteenth-Century England 
  Mentor(s): Amy Froide
  UC 310 | 1 – 1:30 p.m.
• Ava Eder | History 
  “The World Will Little Note Nor Long Remember” : The Gettysburg Address In American Politics 
  Mentor(s): Anne Rubin
  UC 312 | 10:15 – 10:30 a.m.
• Keller Falkenstein | History 
  So Now You Like The Confederacy: Western Maryland’s Change in Civil War Support 
  Mentor(s): Anne Rubin
  UC 312 | 11 – 11:15 a.m.
• Lindsey Green | History 
  Green Civil Rights And The Civil War At 100: African Americans And The Civil War Centennial 
  Mentor(s): Anne Rubin
  UC 312 | 1:30 – 1:45 p.m.
• Benjamin Grieco | History 
  Guilty Or Not Guilty: The Lincoln Assassination At Historical SUC 204s 
  Mentor(s): Anne Rubin
  UC 312 | 10:45 – 11 a.m.
• Ryan Heslin | History 
  The Beast’s Burden: General Benjamin Butler And Historical Memory 
  Mentor(s): Anne Rubin
  UC 312 | 2:30 – 2:45 p.m.
• Anthony Jacobs | History 
  Social Entrepreneurship In Eighteenth-Century England 
  Mentor(s): Amy Froide
  UC 310 | 1 – 1:30 p.m.
• Kris Jefferson | History 
  Traveling The Medieval Globe 
  Mentor(s): Susan McDonough
  UC 312 | 11:15 – 11:45 a.m.
• David Jessop | History 
  Traveling The Medieval Globe 
  Mentor(s): Susan McDonough
  UC 312 | 11:15 – 11:45 a.m.
• Crysshelda Kosasih | History 
  Traveling The Medieval Globe 
  Mentor(s): Susan McDonough
  UC 312 | 11:15 – 11:45 a.m.
• Nathaniel Litsch | History 
  Traveling The Medieval Globe 
  Mentor(s): Susan McDonough
  UC 312 | 11:15 – 11:45 a.m.

• Morgan Miller | History 
  “Humphrey Jennings: Voice Of The People Or Propagandist For The British Empire?” 
  Mentor(s): Daniel Ritschel
  UC 312 | 10:30 – 10:45 a.m.
• Tina-Marie Miller | History 
  Traveling The Medieval Globe 
  Mentor(s): Susan McDonough
  UC 312 | 11:15 – 11:45 a.m.
• Adam Ng | History 
  Conservative Interest In British Fascism In The 1930s 
  Mentor(s): Daniel Ritschel
  UC 312 | 2:45 – 3 p.m.
• Michelle Oliver | History 
  Did You Serve At Antietam; Civil War Veterans 75 Years Later 
  Mentor(s): Anne Rubin
  UC 312 | 3 – 3:15 p.m.
• Jeanette Richardson | History 
  From Crime Scene To Tourist Attraction: The Evolution Of Ford’s Theatre, 1865-2019 
  Mentor(s): Anne Rubin
  UC 312 | 2:15 – 2:30 p.m.
• Catherine Sansone | History 
  Oh Maryland, My Maryland; The Civil War Roots Of The Maryland State Flag 
  Mentor(s): Anne Rubin
  UC Ballroom | 10 – 11:30 a.m.
• Kristofer Schrumpf | History 
  Iron Crosses Of Valor: The Memory Of German American Participation In The U.S. Civil War 
  Mentor(s): Anne Rubin
  Fine Arts Recital Hall | 10 – 10:15 a.m.
• Nikki Vietz | History 
  Social Entrepreneurship In Eighteenth-Century England 
  Mentor(s): Amy Froide
  UC 310 | 1 – 1:30 p.m.
• Eric Vogt | History 
  Antacids, The Gateway Drug? 
  Mentor(s): Christy Chapin
  UC 204 | 1 – 1:15 p.m.

• Amy Cruz | Gender and Women’s Studies 
  An Exploration Of The Social Aspects Of The Maryland Medical Cannabis Program 
  Mentor(s): Amy Bhatt
  UC Ballroom | 10 – 11:30 a.m.
• Kathy Robitaille | Gender and Women’s Studies 
  Lesbian Activist Involvement In AIDS Coalition To Unleash Power 
  Mentor(s): Amy Bhatt
  UC Ballroom | 1 – 2:30 p.m.
• Amber Roland | Gender and Women’s Studies 
  Abstinence-Only Versus Comprehensive Sex Education: State Level Effects On Sexual Well Being Among Teens 
  Mentor(s): Carole McCann
  UC 310 | 1:45 – 2 p.m.
• Gabriela Salas | Gender and Women’s Studies 
  The Use And Accessibility Of Contraception For College Aged Female Students At UMBC 
  Mentor(s): Amy Bhatt
  UC 312 | 10 – 10:15 a.m.
• Cliel Shdaimah | Gender and Women’s Studies 
  Perspectives Of Queer Jewish Leaders On The Intersections Of Their Jewish And Queer Identities 
  Mentor(s): Amy Bhatt
  UC Ballroom | 1 – 2:30 p.m.
• Jennifer Stidham | Gender and Women’s Studies 
  Feminist Methodologies In Social Science Research 
  Mentor(s): Amy Bhatt
  UC Ballroom | 1 – 2:30 p.m.
• Molly Thomas | Gender and Women’s Studies 
  Postpartum Depression Is Not The “Baby Blues” 
  Mentor(s): Amy Bhatt
  UC Ballroom | 1 – 2:30 p.m.
• Chiamaka Ugboh | Gender and Women’s Studies 
  Reconciling Nigerian Culture & Values With Western Culture: An Intergenerational Perspective 
  Mentor(s): Amy Bhatt
  UC Ballroom | 1 – 2:30 p.m.
• Hannah Wilcove | Gender and Women’s Studies 
  A Case Study On Abortion Policy 
  Mentor(s): Amy Bhatt
  UC 310 | 2 – 2:15 p.m.