Name:Ghazal Becker
Internship, Co-op or Research Site:Summers Lab, University of Maryland Baltimore County
Position Title: Research Assistant
Major(s)/Minor(s):Biological Sciences Major, Chemistry and Psychology Minors and Honors Certificate
Work Term:Spring 2018-Present
Tell us about your internship, co-op, or research opportunity, including your day-to-day responsibilities.
I joined Dr. Summers lab in January 2018, right after I finished my first semester as a transfer student at UMBC. At Dr. Summers lab, each graduate student and postdoc has their own group. When I first joined the lab, I was able to shadow different groups and ended up being part of Dr. Joshua Brown’s group. Being a part of this group, allowed me to learn to become independent, work on a project on my own and train other students. This research opportunity has allowed me to improve my public speaking, critical thinking, communication and time management skills. Since I joined the lab, I have been able to present my research poster 4 times including at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS). Joining Dr. Summers lab has allowed me to learn and develop many laboratory skills such as Pipetting Techniques, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), Trial Transcription, Large Scale Transcription Reaction, Gel Agarose Electrophoresis, and Bacterial Transformation. My day to day responsibilities in my group includes preparing samples, performing gel studies, planning my every day in advance and writing and reflecting on what I do daily.
Describe the process of obtaining your position. When did you hear of the position and submit your application?
I transferred to UMBC from Howard Community College (HCC) fall of 2017. As a pre-med transfer junior student, I did not know much about research opportunities on campus but I knew I wanted to do research and I saw a lot of UMBC students being involved in research. I asked around and learned that I should just email different professors in Biology and Chemistry departments and ask to see if they have any research opportunities available for undergraduate students. I specifically learned about Dr. Summers lab through a teacher assistant from one of my classes. I emailed my resume to Dr. Summers, specified my interest and asked if I could join his lab. I received an email couple weeks after I applied, had an interview, and was able to start working in the lab right after the fall semester ended, in the beginning of January 2018.
What have you enjoyed the most about your position or organization?
I have enjoyed learning, collaborating and sharing ideas in my group, being assigned my own project, and being able to train other students the most about my position. I also enjoyed traveling to go to a conference, presenting my research at a national level and learning about what other students all over the Unites States are performing research on. What I enjoy the most about the lab that I work in is the fact that it is a very supportive and friendly environment and that we have fun activities such as going on annual ski trip or a picnic or eating at a restaurant together.
How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?
Working hard toward a certain goal and trying to test if a hypothesis is correct or not helps me to believe that I have made an impact. Structural studies that are performed in our lab are done to solve a specific structure and function of 5´ leader of HIV-1 RNA genome. Once a structure is determined more specifically, better therapeutics could be find to help individuals infected with HIV. Aiming and working hard to study a certain part of the 5´ leader of HIV-1 RNA genome help me to believe that I have made an impact.
What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?
My advice would be to ask around, be persistent, email different professors and send them your resumes that highlight your strengths. Also, do not give up easily and keep searching until you find a research experience that you are looking for.
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]]>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:
Program Requirements:
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.
The Data Incubator is an intensive 8 week fellowship that prepares masters students, PhDs, and postdocs in STEM and social science fields seeking industry careers as data scientists. The program is free for Fellows and supported by sponsorships from hundreds of employers across multiple industries. In response to the overwhelming interest in our earlier sessions, we will be holding another fellowship.
Who Should Apply: Anyone who has already obtained a masters or PhD degree or who is within one year of graduating with a masters or PhD is welcome to apply. Applications from international students are welcome. Everyone else is encouraged to sign-up for a future session.
Locations: In addition to the below in-person locations, we will have a remote online session:
Dates: All sections will be from 2019-06-24 to 2019-08-16.
Application Link: https://www.thedataincubator.com/fellowship.html#apply?ref=wcm91dHphaG5AdW1iYy5lZHUK
Early Deadline: 2019-04-15.
Regular Deadline: 2019-04-22.
We are assessing and interviewing candidates who apply for the Early Deadline first and then based on remaining availability, will take candidates who applied for the Regular Deadline on a first-come first-serve basis.
On-campus jobs are a great way to build professional experience, develop mentors, and earn money. On-campus jobs also tend to be more understanding about the responsibilities and variable schedules of a student. So, how can you find on-campus jobs? When should you start applying? What kind of jobs are available? Keep reading to find the perfect position for you!
Residential Life is a massive employer of students on campus. If you live in a dorm building, you’ve seen the desk staffers, office assistance, and maintenance assistants at work, not to mention your RA! Applications for RA and maintenance assistant positions for 2020-2021 start in Fall 2019, so be sure to keep an eye out for that. Desk staffers and office assistant applications, however, can be found most of the year. Check out the open office assistant position here, and keep an eye out for other Reslife openings on their Student Employment page.
Another great opportunity on campus is administrative and office work. All those different divisions need help keeping everything in order, including the Career Center! We are currently looking for students to begin working in the Career Center next fall. Look for our job listings for a new social media intern (job ID 9306461 on UMBCworks) and graphic design intern (job ID 9306609 on UMBCworks) that are currently posted. And be sure to look out for our Career Peer position posting (that’s my job!) which should be going up soon. Look at UMBCworks for more positions; right now there are 20 on-campus jobs available for students next semester!
Finally, start thinking about research. Right now, the Undergraduate Research Award application is open. You could win up to $1,500 to work on your faculty-sponsored project! Many labs also have paid research positions available. Talk to your academic advisor and look at your department’s research webpage to find interesting projects. Then, set up a meeting with the professor researching that project to discuss the possibility of becoming a lab assistant.
If you’re looking for a job on campus for next semester, take advantage of this time between midterms and finals. Set yourself up for success by applying early and following up with your application. And remember, when you’ve secured that interview, be sure to use our Big Interview service to prepare!
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]]>You may have plenty of Instagram, Snapchat or Twitter friends -- but are you connected with professionals within your career field of interest? Networking and developing relationships with professionals are some the most effective ways to learn how to navigate your career path. Who knows --- someone in your professional network may provide an opportunity for you to take your first or next career step!
Below are a few tips on how to go beyond your social network and make professional connections!
Tip 1: Ask everyone for advice, ideas, leads and referrals
You may gain a lot of insight just by listening to the fascinating and inspiring career stories from professionals in your field. Many professionals (new and seasoned) are happy to talk about their career pathways with aspiring professionals just like you! Politely asking them if they could share a little time with you in person (preferably); or via email –could open up the opportunity for you to discover key facts and details about someone who is “actually doing” the things you are considering doing in the future. Furthermore, they also might help you find “insider” opportunities for internships, part-time jobs or high-profile volunteering assignments.
Tip 2: Create a professional email and/or professional networking profile
LinkedIn is a social network created primarily for building professional connections. Your profile serves as an interactive resume, where you can list your professional experience and educational credentials. You can join professional groups and search and apply for jobs. There are more than 58,100 UMBC alumni currently on LinkedIn!
Tip 3: Start Connecting at UMBC!
The Career Center hosts networking events and job fairs on a regular basis. Participate in informational interviews, Networking 101, LinkedIn 101 or join the UMBC-Alumni Student Networking Group on LinkedIn!
Now is the time to focus on your “Future Selfie”! In addition to building your personal brand, you can attend events/presentations, grab badges along the way, get connected to the rest of the world and explore professional options!
There are many career networking and professional mentorship opportunities which are available through the range of services, programs and initiatives sponsored by the Shriver Center – especially with respect to civic engagement and community based service delivery.
And Remember…
Follow up, follow up, and follow up (you get the point) – with your professional contacts! Whether it’s sending them an email every few months, or a message through Linked In, or placing a call to check in – it’s important to maintain all of the connections you make. They’ll be sure to come in handy when you are ready to make your next step!