Dear UMBC Community, 

As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, I am feeling especially thankful to this community for the way you continue to show up in dedication to UMBC. 

Strengthening shared governance is one area of focus for me for this year, and I am grateful for the progress I am seeing. I have been consistently impressed this semester by the willingness of our students, staff, and faculty to engage in meaningful, not always easy conversations. It means a great deal to me personally—and makes all the difference in building trust and understanding—that you are open and honest in sharing your feedback, ideas, and perspective, as well as generous in hearing your fellow community members. 

In so many venues, we are talking about the things that truly matter for our students and for UMBC. Our ability to engage authentically in such conversations is critical in the context of today's challenging environment for higher education and in our work to shape UMBC's future. It helps me to be a better leader, the leadership team to be in greater service to you, and all of us to partner in making the university even stronger. Thank you!

Best wishes to you and your family for a warm and restful holiday. 

Sincerely,

President Valerie Sheares Ashby

Name: Nisargkumar Patel

Pronouns:  He/Him

Semester of Internship: Fall 2025

Major: Information Systems

Current Class Level: Master's Student 

This semester I completed a(n)...: Internship

Internship, Co-op, or Research Site (Company/Organization Name): LASARRUS

Location of the Organization (City, State): Baltimore, MD

Title of position: Unity Software Developer Intern

Tell us about your internship, co-op, or research opportunity, including your day-to-day responsibilities:

I had the opportunity to work with LASARRUS as a Unity Software Developer, collaborating closely with the Senior Unity Developer and the CTO. My role involved fixing bugs in an existing application that monitors real-time sensor data to monitor respiratory and activity metrics used in COPD research, as well as contributing to the development of new applications such as the WearME‑Pro mobile application. My day-to-day responsibilities included brainstorming features with the clinical team, discussing design ideas with the Design Lead, and converting Figma designs into functional app components. I regularly worked on bug fixes, developed new features, participated in code reviews, and contributed to requirement discussions, design sessions, QA activities, and overall app development meetings, along with attending weekly team meetings.

Describe the process of obtaining your position. When did you hear of the position and submit your application?

I first heard about the MTIP program at UMBC through a friend. After that, I visited the MTIP website, reviewed the available positions, and submitted my application, which included my background information and resume. The LASARRUS team reviewed my application and contacted me for an interview. The interview lasted about 30 to 45 minutes and focused on my background, previous project experience, and my familiarity with the technologies they use, including Unity (C#), Git, serverless functions, SQL/NoSQL. I also shared a working demo to show my experience with their tech stack. After about four weeks, I received an offer to join their team.

What resources did you use to find your current experience?

UMBC Career Center, MTIP

What have you enjoyed the most about your position and organization?

I have enjoyed the welcoming atmosphere, openness, and flexibility at LASARRUS. It is an environment where ideas are encouraged, teamwork is valued, and everyone's input matters. I especially appreciate that my role allows me to work on real-world problems that have the potential to improve the lives of millions. I also enjoy taking ownership of my tasks and continuously learning from the team.

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

I had the opportunity to work on several long-standing bugs in the WearME app that were affecting core functionality and making it difficult for the clinical study team to conduct their work. By resolving these issues, the app became more efficient, stable, and intuitive to use, which saved significant time and resources for the team. I am also working closely with the Senior Engineer, Design Lead on developing the new WearME‑Pro mobile application, both of which supports validation efforts and may inform future regulatory submissions. and have a meaningful impact on the future of the product.

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

My advice is to keep building your skills and stay open to learning new technologies and keep exploring new resources. Most importantly, keep applying. The university is a great place to connect with different employers and it can open many doors for you. I applied to many positions before getting an offer, and I learned that opportunities often come in unexpected ways. Stay consistent and keep trying.

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 that this internship allowed me to work with highly skilled professionals and tackle real-world problems that can improve the lives of millions. The Career Center, especially MTIP, provided valuable resources that helped me secure my interview and ultimately this internship."

Viyali Bhattacharjee
‘26 Environmental Engineering M.S. Student

Update: This position has been filled for Spring 2026.

Position Overview:

Position Type: Internship, Stipend, Undergraduate Student, Graduate Student

Internship Description:

Do you always find yourself talking about social justice? Are you the friend in your group who's always adding “nuance” to the conversation? Then we’re looking for you! Social Justice Dialogue Facilitation Fellows work for the Center for Social Justice Dialogue and are supervised by professional staff within the Center. 

The main role of this internship is to support the work of the Center for Social Justice Dialogue (CSJD) in cultivating a campus community where everyone feels empowered and equipped to engage in difficult dialogue across differences of identity, background, and lived experience. Built on a foundation of Intergroup Theory and other social justice education frameworks, interns will co-create and deliver workshops on topics of identity, social justice, and dialogue to student populations. Further, students will support projects including MediaBytes, Your Story Belongs Here, InterACT, FYS: Race, Social Justice, and Dialogue, and other departmental programs. They may also support collaborative dialogue programs in partnership with other departments on campus (e.g. The Women’s Center, Center for Democracy and Civic Life, Initiatives for Identity, Inclusion & Belonging, etc). Facilitators are expected to work a maximum of ten hours a week which includes weekly staff meetings to engage in deep learning, prepare for workshops, and continue developing student-focused programming. Interns engage in ongoing training, reviewing key activities, facilitation skills, and foundational introductions to various social justice concepts. Interns must be available for these training sessions as well as program retreats.

Upon the completion of more advanced training (including Restorative Practices) and a full year of participation, students will have the opportunity to apply to a “senior internship” position to facilitate higher stakes dialogues.

General Responsibilities:

Abi Postus
‘27 Chemical Engineering - Traditional Track

Nataly Al Hijazin
‘27 Chemical Engineering - Biotechnology & Bioengineering Track