Link:

URCAD is April 19-25, 2021!

URCAD.umbc.edu

What research experiences have you had? I'm fortunate to have worked on more than one major research project during my time at UMBC. This most recent project examines English nuns during the decades surrounding the dissolution of the monasteries during the English Reformation (1530s), and the ways they responded to the end of their way of life. 

Who is your mentor for your project? Dr. Amy Froide, History. She is my departmental thesis advisor and has been an excellent source of support, encouragement, and advice.

Do you get course credit for this work? How much time do you put into it? This project is my honors thesis for my History degree. It is supported by a UMBC Undergraduate Research Award and will be presented at URCAD 2021. I spend about an hour on it each day, though sometimes I spend several hours on it in one day.

What was the hardest part about your research? Working during COVID was very difficult. Many of the resources I would otherwise use were closed due to the pandemic, including spaces to write without interruption. The inability to access archives and other materials in person made this work challenging! I would have loved the opportunity to visit museums and research libraries to examine primary sources directly, but COVID made that impossible.

What was the most unexpected thing? I knew that some communities of women fled into exile on the European continent, but I was surprised and delighted to find that women from one of these communities in exile, the Carmelites in Hoogstraten (in modern-day Belgium), established the first Carmelite community in America when they arrived at Port Tobacco, Maryland, near the end of the eighteenth century. Their community is still active today and their house is just north of Towson! 

What is your advice to other students about getting involved in research? UMBC has a wonderfully supportive community of faculty to help you with your research. Don't be shy about contacting a professor who shares your interests - they are usually happy and delighted to help you get started and to offer tips and feedback along the way as your project snowballs and picks up momentum. 

What are your career goals? I plan to obtain a master's degree and, eventually, a Ph.D. so that I can pursue a career in academia. 

What else are you involved in on campus? I am a member of the campus chapters of Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Alpha Theta, and Omicron Delta Kappa. I'm also a student leader of the History Student Council. 

Applications are now open for Undergraduate Research Awards (URA).  

Application deadline: May 3, 2021

URAs provide up to $1,500 to undergraduate students to support their research, scholarship, 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 remain enrolled at UMBC long enough to complete the proposed work.

Applications require a research proposal and mentor statement of support.

Be sure to visit URCAD Online, April 19-25, 20021 at URCAD.umbc.edu to see what completed projects from this year’s URA Scholars look like.

Questions? Email: aprilh@umbc.edu

Join us for an info session about how to use the VoiceThread (VT) platform to upload presentations. You can create your presentation in powerpoint, but use VT to upload slides, audio, and video for visitors to experience. You can also use VT to answer questions that visitors can leave in your VT during the week of URCAD, April 19-25. Come with questions!

Join us for the annual showcase of student research and creative work! URCAD online will be April 19-25, 2021.

Questions? aprilh@umbc.edu

Mohammed is a URA Scholar whose research is entitled: "Islamist Extremist Communication on the Internet”, Chemistry and Biochemistry

Washington Post story:

UMBC News story:

Present your research or creative work at URCAD XXV Online. Wear pants when preparing your VoiceThread presentation. We can see you. 

"Yes, the deadline has been extended," said URCAD director Dr. April Householder, who was interviewed by fax machine.  Dr. Householder then sent a photo of an "extend-a-pencil".  "Just like my new pencil," she added via an additional fax.

Dr. Householder then called.

"Did you see that pencil?" she asked. "It pulls open to a full size pencil. It extends much like our URCAD deadline," she added.

"I'm really pleased with this pencil but anyway, all students should apply to present at URCAD.  It's open to all majors and it's a great opportunity to present your research," Dr. Householder opined.

Use the link below to reserve your spot at URCAD 2021!

Do not invert your screen when recording your VoiceThread presentation for URCAD... 

"Mr. Emmer, are you OK?  Is this a metaphor? You're upside down, Tom."

Don't be like Minnesota Rep. Tom Emmer. Get your feet on the ground and submit your abstract!