You can join a research team or design your own research or creative project, starting now. Learn how at the Undergraduate Research Consultation held on Friday, October 22 at noon in Lecture Hall 3 in the Administration Building. These students found valuable research experiences. You can, too. Now is the time to select your research location for Summer 2011. Find out how to get a great placement.

Plan to attend the MD/PhD Roadshow on Monday, October 4 at 12 noon in LH 3. MD/PhD program directors from Johns Hopkins, University of Maryland Baltimore, and University of Pennsylvania will be here to meet with students. The event is open to the campus.

Join an active research team. This work focuses on the factors and conditions that create and maximize success for underrepresented groups in engineering and IT majors and fields. Undergraduate Research Assistant positions are for five hours per week for both fall and spring semester. Unpaid, but may earn academic credit. Research assistants must have at least a 3.0 GPA and possess strong writing skills and the ability to work both independently and as a team member. Must be willing to learn EndNote software and be available to meet with the other members of the research team. Some experience with using the UMBC library’s online search procedures and familiarity with APA citation style preferred. Apply through UMBCworks. For more information Dr. Susan Martin, CWIT Associate Director, susan@umbc.edu, phone: (410) 455-3109

Junior or Senior computer science/electrical engineering undergraduates needed to help in developing operant conditioning experimental apparatus for use in biology/psychology experiments with birds. Must have Matlab programming skills and familiarity with basic computer and electronic hardware. Circuit-building skills and previous experience with signal processing a plus. Students will assist in building experimental hardware and in programming Tucker-Davis signal processing modules (http://www.tdt.com/) to interface with experimental hardware. A variety of designs are anticipated, which may lead to several different student projects involving independent study credit (399 or 499). If interested, please contact Dr. Bernie Lohr (blohr “at” umbc.edu).

What should new UMBC students read next year? Nominate the book you think would be best for the New Student Book Experience. Now you can nominate on Facebook. Once you suggest a book, you can choose to post your suggestion on Facebook and ask your friends to also suggest books. New students this year really liked The Translator. Can we find something just as engaging for next year? There is also a non-Facebook online form for nominations.

See the Greek and Roman cities of Miletus, Priene, Pergamum, and Ephesos. Visit the Blue Mosque, the Grand Bazaar, and Topkapi in Istanbul. Take a boat ride on the Bosphorus. All during Spring Break 2011. Students, faculty, and staff members are all welcome. The trip also can be taken as the course ANCS 301 for credit (Culture and Humanities). For more information on itinerary and pricing, email Mary Welsh (mwelsh@umbc.edu).