Paid Summer Research Programs!
Most programs offer both a stipend and housing and travel support. Programs range across all STEM disciplines and all areas of the country!
Liv Detrick, Senior Advisor
David Siegfried, Executive Director
The Institute for Broadening Participation (IBP)
]]>Name: Felix Dogbe
Internship, Co-op or Research Site: Tennessee Technological University
Position Title: Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity Research Intern
Major(s)/Minor(s): Computer Science
Current Class Level: Senior
Work Term: Summer 2019
Tell us about your internship, co-op, or research opportunity, including your day-to-day responsibilities.
My research was about exploring security vulnerabilities in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and IoT (internet of things) devices. As we all know, many people believe AI is the perfect machine for image recognition, computer vision, deep learning, and our daily activities. But, have you ever wondered what if the result we receive from the machine/AI is wrong even when we feed in the right data? My job was to prove the AI wrong. Using the convolutional neural network, the generator produces data instance which goes through the discriminator. The discriminator decides on its authenticity which either rejects the data or processes it. For instance, when a counterfeit $100 bill is passed through the system, the discriminator identifies and rejects the bill. Based on the reason for rejecting the bill, l make another $100 bill with modified features that goes through the discriminator again and again until the discriminator accepts the data.
Describe the process of obtaining your position. When did you hear of the position and submit your application?
I saw the opportunity in an email to the undergraduate CS mailing group which was sent by Dr. Mohamed Younis. I applied at the end of January because the deadline was during the first week of February. I visited the Career Center to have my resume checked and took advantage of the Writing Center since I had to submit a statement of purpose as part of the application process. I was offered the position somewhere in mid-April after I had an interview over Skype with a couple of professors at Tennessee Tech.
What have you enjoyed the most about your position or organization?
I most enjoyed the learning experience and the opportunity to join a team of researchers in undertaking the project. It was an eye opening experience into the field of AI as l learned from experts in the field of computer vision, deep learning, neural networks and more. I also had a fun time during my stay in Tennessee and participated in a wide range of social activities including cliff jumping, caving and a tour to the Oak Ridge Laboratory.
How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?
Most modern goods and services either directly or indirectly accommodate computer systems and information technologies for use in their production processes. We all use computers/IoT devices on a daily basis, and l believe the research work in the security vulnerabilities of AI/IoT will affect the mass market. These potential cures have the ability to impact large numbers of people and allow them to safeguard their systems.
What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?
Do your best to apply and take advantage of the resources at your disposal such as the Career Center and the Writing Center. There's no crime in trying, so at least try to apply! Also, networking in your field of interest is really important, so network and talk to people everywhere you go.
Like the Career Center on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram
#UMBCintern
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!
We are pleased to announce that the application for the 2020 Biostatistics Epidemiology Summer Training (BEST) Diversity Program is now available here. BEST was established to expand and diversify the behavioral and biomedical sciences’ workforce by introducing undergraduates from underrepresented populations to biostatistics and cardiovascular and pulmonary disease research. Students representing racial and ethnic minority groups, disadvantaged backgrounds, and students with disabilities join the Department of Biostatistics at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health’s for eight weeks of research, training, academic and career planning, and social activities around New York City.
This program is for quantitatively inclined undergraduates interested in public health, who fit any of the following criteria:
1) Underrepresented students in STEM, including racial/ethnic minorities (African-Americans, Hispanic/Latino-Americans, Native Americans or Alaskan Natives)
2) Low-income students
3) First generation college students
4) Students with disabilities
We will be selecting 14 students for the Summer 2020 program which will run from May 26-July 17.
The application deadline is March 1, 2020.
For more information about BEST, please visit: publichealth.columbia.edu/BEST
To add to their strategic capabilities in the mission expertise and technology areas, CACI recently acquired UMBC Career Center’s Silver Partner Next Century Corporation, a mission technology company that delivers advanced geospatial mapping, predictive analytics, data fusion, and machine learning to the Intelligence Community and Department of Defense.
Be sure to stop by the CACI booth at the February 7th Spring Career & Internship Fair, 11:30 – 3:30 in the Event Center and welcome them to UMBC!
Social Media is ever prevalent, especially in the lives of young adults. You can connect with friends, share your life, make viral memes and videos, and meet new people from around the globe. But social media has the opportunity to both boost and kill a career. Here are some pointers on what to do and what not to do on your social media accounts when job searching.
Do clean up your accounts. Make sure any posts that could be perceived as inappropriate are off your account. This goes for comments too. It’s better to have never posted them at all, but a swift deletion before a potential employer looks you up makes a world of difference.
Don’t share details of your interviews online. Employers are going to be looking at you, keep your interview details private, especially if you want to add commentary about how well or not it went.
Do utilize Linkedin to connect with employers and recruiters. Linkedin is a great way to make professional connections with people. The UMBC Career Center offers Linkedin workshops and appointment types during the semester if you need pointers on how to use Linkedin.
Don’t post derogatory comments about a job position you are applying for. This may seem like a no brainer, but when you want to tweet about how much you’d hate a job at Walmart or other big corporations but need the cash, think twice.
Do check your equipment before a remote interview. Skype is super useful and increasingly common as an interview tool. Make sure you know how to use it and that all of your equipment is working properly BEFORE the interview starts.
Don’t show up to your interview looking disheveled and completely different from your polished Linkedin profile picture. You want to look like your social media profiles. Neat, clean, and well maintained.
Do put on pants (skirts or dresses are fine too, so long as they’re professional!) for a Skype interview. Don’t expect your interviewer to never see your bottom half. If you accidentally stand up and you’re wearing pajamas underneath your suit or blouse, you look terribly unprofessional. Besides, looking professional will help you feel professional, which will help you act professionally.
Don’t post about that rager last weekend. Now that you’ve cleaned up your social media, keep it clean at all times. Posting about alcohol or drugs is a major job search blunder. Employers don’t want to see your party side.
Social media is a wonderful tool, but it can also be used against you. Stay smart and post safely. Watch what you post and who you connect with because employers are looking at you. As always, the UMBC Career Center is here to help.
Research Mentors: Students will be matched with a
faculty/research mentor. Students can learn more about
research opportunity offerings by looking at faculty research profiles.
All students participating in the summer session will also be guided by
advisers outside of the laboratory environment.
Activities: Students are expected to spend a minimum of 40
hours/week conducting research and working with faculty/research
mentors. In addition, students will participate in several program
activities that will allow them to interact with other members of the
academic community and summer research programs at the University of
Chicago:
Weekly Workshops/Panel Discussions: Workshops on how to
navigate the academy, including topics like getting the mentoring you
need, self-care and community, communicating your research, the graduate
admissions process, preparing grad applications, fellowships and
funding opportunities, and study abroad.
Library or Facility tours: Participants will be acquainted
with the shared library, research, and laboratory facilities as it
pertains to their research placement.
University of Chicago Research Symposium: Near the end of the nine-week
summer session, participants will give oral presentations of their work
to fellow participants, faculty mentors, and research associates in a
symposium on campus.
The Leadership Alliance National Research Symposium: Participants will travel to attend the national meeting of the Leadership Alliance to present their work and to network with other SR-EIP participants from different institutions, faculty/research mentors, and Leadership Alliance members and directors.
Recreational Activities: Social activities organized to
acquaint participants with life on the University of Chicago campus and
in the city of Chicago at large.
Name: Carol Canales
Internship, Co-op or Research Site: Pacific Western Bank
Position Title: Portfolio Management Intern
Major(s)/Minor(s): Financial Economics
Current Class Level: Junior
Work Term: Summer 2019
Tell us about your internship, co-op, or research opportunity, including your day-to-day responsibilities.
As an intern for the Portfolio Management Department, I assisted account executives who are loan servicers for health care, real estate, premium or lender finance, and commercial aviation. These executives regularly deal with well known companies such as American Airlines. I am learning how they prepare the invoices, monitor postings, and manage payments. I have also prepared more than 1,000 invoices for the small business lending group, as well as uploaded insurance and interest rate changes in the bank's Portfolio Management System. My main project for the summer was about the company's 10 lending groups and the Venture Banking division. I spent about 7 weeks interviewing 12 people in-person and over the phone and summarized the data into a presentation. I delivered and facilitated a 35 minute presentation in front of 40 people. Although it seemed nerve-racking, the staff were very nice and gave positive feedback. Human Resources also had several workshops and a recent college graduate round table, where new employees gave their insight on the job search process.
Describe the process of obtaining your position. When did you hear of the position and submit your application?
My friend and UMBC alumna told me back in December 2018 that her company has an internship program and asked her supervisor about it the end of January 2019. After receiving an email from the supervisor, I sent in my resume and was given a phone interview the next day. I got an email from an HR specialist on April 10th with the official company flyer and the reference code to officially apply. I applied right away and received an offer letter a week later. I used my friend's resume as a comparison and also visited the Career Center.
What have you enjoyed the most about your position or organization?
I enjoyed meeting people from different departments and divisions. It is incredible to see the bond between the account executives and how close the other lending groups are amongst their team. The facilities staff also went above and beyond to brighten everyone's day. From providing snacks, setting up volunteer days to opening up their homes to watch political debates and the Women's World Cup. The Chevy Chase office has a genuine loving atmosphere.
How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?
I am the only intern who goes up to the supervisor regarding any issues I have with my computer or to ask how to assign myself work in my spare time. I have heard other Account Executives admire my desire to learn and take in information by having my notepad and pen with me.
What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?
Be proactive, search for these opportunities on your own, and try to network with alumni in addition to using the Career Center website!
Like the Career Center on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram
#UMBCintern
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!
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It’s finally here – Winter Break!
You worked hard this semester and it doesn’t go unrecognized. Now is the time to get some well-deserved rest and relaxation before the spring semester begins.
As you think about how you want to spend this time away from UMBC re-charging, and if binge-watching Netflix (and Disney+...and Hulu...and Xfinity...even Crunchyroll...) just won’t suffice, check out some of the suggestions below:
1. Catch up on Sleep
Did you pull more all-nighters this past semester than you would like to admit? Now is the time to re-establish some good sleeping habits.
2. Do some light brainstorming for next semester plans.
If you found yourself too overwhelmed and busy last semester, consider what activities you may need to let go of. On the other end, if you feel you had too much time on your hands, consider some clubs or activities you may be able to get involved in this spring.
3. Take time to reconnect with family and friends
Tell your friends you cherish them! Keep your support system strong and growing into the Spring semester. Spend some time with the elders in your family learning more about your family history and heritage. This discovery about your family roots can be the inspiration you need to keep pushing forward when the going gets tough.
4. Eat a good meal! Or two. Or three...
Take a break from your typical college diet and use this time to enjoy some healthy meals. And as a note for when you get back to campus, check out these easy healthy meals you can cook up right in your residential hall!
5. Take a day trip somewhere that you haven't been or spend an afternoon exploring your hometown, or you can volunteer in your local community.
The local food bank, animal shelter, or soup kitchen can all be great ways to spend time supporting the community. A quick Google search can help you find hundreds of ways to get involved this January.
If Maryland is home, here is a list of 100 day trips from Baltimore, and places to volunteer!
6. Visit a graduate or professional school.
Whether you are just starting to think about grad school or are actually working on applications, in-person visits are always informative.
7. Set up an informational interview with a working professional.
Find out what a profession is really like and make connections with people in your future field by conducting an interview unrelated to a job search. Sample question: “What are the most important qualities for an aspiring pilot/engineer/dance therapist?” Shadowing can help you determine if a profession is really for you! Keep a journal to record notes from these experiences.
8. Update and upgrade your resume.
Opportunities sometimes come up quickly and you want to be ready with that polished resume. Every college student needs a polished resume!
9. Plan an independent research or creative project and prepare an application for the UMBC Undergraduate Research Award (URA).
The URA provides up to $1500 to support research expenses such as equipment, travel, and materials. Applications are due no later than May 1, 2020. Here is a link to the full details.
Summer internships can provide both $ and valuable experience. The more competitive internships have deadlines in fall, but some are still open in January-March. If you have already missed a deadline, get all the information so you can apply early next year. Some internships are open to recent college graduates.
10. Work on your graduation game plan.
Winter break is an excellent time to create, revise or update your plan. Here are suggestions for a pathway you can take for graduation, and it includes a worksheet to start the plans on! Don’t forget to refer to your degree audit on myUMBC!
Read more about this here.
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