• Support from the Department of Political Science for an unpaid internship (for Political Science students who wish to pursue an unpaid internship in any field in political science or public policy during a regular semester or the summer; $2000) The application deadline for this award is December 15th (Spring semester) and April 15th (Summer semester).  Apply Here

B.A.: Medicinal Use of Psychoactive Substances

Indicate any other major, minor, certificate, and/or honors that will be on your graduation record:

B.A. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Degree Mentors

• Dr. Sarah Leupen, Department of Biological Sciences
• Dr. Katherine Seley-Radtke, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Professor
• Eric Brown, Individualized Study

Why did you choose to major in INDS?

I first heard about INDS during an information session at a campus visit when I was initially touring UMBC. One of the example topics the tour guide mentioned was Neuroscience, and at the time I was very interested in pursuing a Neuroscience degree.

 What are your plans for after graduation, and how do you see using your INDS degree?

I hope to be pursuing a PhD in Pharmacology after graduation. My INDS degree is focused on the area of research I am interested in pursuing in my future career, and has been a way for me to pursue coursework that will prepare me for my graduate degree. My work for my degree and my capstone project have also been a good talking point in interviews that have helped me stand apart from my peers during the application process.

EXTRACURRICULAR

Meyerhoff Scholars Program (M32), USM Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP), Chemistry and Biochemistry Council of Majors (PR Officer, Vice President), Neuroscience Club (Founding Member, Vice President), Delta Phi Epsilon Sorority (Member, Sisterhood Chair, Senior Programming Chair, Vice President of Operations, Director of Finance), STEM Living Learning Community (Peer Mentor (3 years)), Chemistry Department Learning Assistant (6 semesters), Academic Success Center Tutor (2 semesters), Undergraduate Research Assistant in the Vonhoff Lab (Department of Biological Sciences) (URCAD 2022, 2023, 2024 presentations, URAs in 2022-2023, 2023-2024), Summer 2023 NSF BRAVe Internship (San Antonio, TX).

For more information on Francesca's INDS journey please click here:

Fundable activities include travel to sites or archives, speaker presentations, use/purchase of technology, creation of resources or materials, and support for regular meetings or workshops, etc.

Applications are due on May 30 for groups beginning in Fall 2024.

Please join us on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, from 3-5 pm for the Emergency and Disaster Health Systems Graduate Speaker Seminar Series via WebEx. The speaker's information and seminar topic can be found below. Please help us welcome this week’s speaker by attending the seminar, and please bring your questions and discussion points!

We hope to see everyone there!

All majors are welcome!

Speaker Information:

Annelle Primm, MD, MPH

Seminar Topic:

The All Healers Mental Health Alliance, “Mental Health Issues in Emergency Management”

Speaker Bio:

Dr. Annelle Primm is a community psychiatrist based in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Primm is a graduate of Harvard University for her bachelor’s degree, Howard University College of Medicine for her medical degree, the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine psychiatry residency program, and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health for her master’s degree in public health. Dr. Primm is co-founder, chair, and convener of All Healers Mental Health Alliance (AHMHA), a national network of mental health professionals, health advocates, first responders and faith community leaders that facilitates culturally grounded responses to the mental health needs of Black and other historically marginalized communities affected by natural and human-caused disasters. AHMHA, which began its work in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina, has an MOU with FEMA, and has coordinated efforts in support of survivors of numerous crises over the past 18 years, most recently, the Buffalo massacre and Hurricane Ian in 2022, and the Mississippi tornadoes and Maui fires of 2023. Dr. Primm is widely published and has received numerous awards and honors for her work in promoting public mental health.

Location: 900 Walker Ave, Room 114, or online via Webex

Join Webex Meeting

Meeting number:

2633 827 4060

Meeting password:

36350242

Join by phone

+1-202-860-2110 United States Toll (Washington D.C.)

Attendee access code: 36350242

Global call-in numbers

Please note that the Dept of Emergency and Disaster Health Systems (EDHS) has temporarily moved (due to renovations of Sherman Hall) to the 900 Walker Building. Address is 900 Walker Ave. (building located behind the Walker Apartments, towards Wilkins Ave.) in the main EHS classroom Walker 114. Enter the front doors and follow the signs to the department area & classroom (Room 114). Link to map (see upper right corner on Walker Avenue, it is the building entitled Baltimore County Courthouse): https://mcac.umbc.edu/maps-and-directions/

Please join us on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, from 3-5 pm for the Emergency and Disaster Health Systems Graduate Speaker Seminar Series via WebEx. The speaker's information and seminar topic can be found below. Please help us welcome this week’s speaker by attending the seminar, and please bring your questions and discussion points!

We hope to see everyone there!

All majors are welcome!

Speaker Information:

Dr. Lucy Wilson, MD, ScM

Professor, Graduate Program Director, UMBC EDHS Department

Seminar Topic:

Infectious Disease Impacts of Climate Change

Speaker Bio:

Dr. Wilson is an infectious disease physician who is also a professor and graduate program director of the EDHS department at UMBC. Prior to coming to UMBC, she served as a medical epidemiologist at the Maryland Department of Health, as chief for the Center for Surveillance, Infection Prevention and Outbreak Response for ten years. There she oversaw Maryland’s infectious disease outbreak responses and infection control guidance in all types of settings. 

She has also served on the State’s Physician on Call Team, where she was one of a small group of doctors responsible for assessing potential biological, chemical, and nuclear threats. And she currently is the co-principal investigator of the Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI) branch of Maryland’s Emerging Infections Program (EIP). Through EIP, she conducts surveillance epidemiology and antibiotic resistance research focusing on healthcare-associated infections (including COVID-19) in hospitals and nursing homes. At UMBC, her research focuses on visualizing health outcomes across the continuum of healthcare.

Location: 900 Walker Ave, Room 114, or online via Webex

Join Webex Meeting

Meeting number:

2633 827 4060

Meeting password:

36350242

Join by phone

+1-202-860-2110 United States Toll (Washington D.C.)

Attendee access code: 36350242

Global call-in numbers

Please note that the Dept of Emergency and Disaster Health Systems (EDHS) has temporarily moved (due to renovations of Sherman Hall) to the 900 Walker Building. Address is 900 Walker Ave. (building located behind the Walker Apartments, towards Wilkins Ave.) in the main EHS classroom Walker 114. Enter the front doors and follow the signs to the department area & classroom (Room 114). Link to map (see upper right corner on Walker Avenue, it is the building entitled Baltimore County Courthouse): https://mcac.umbc.edu/maps-and-directions/