Want to work on real-world challenges? The Grand Challenge Scholars Program at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County is open to students from all majors.

The program is built around the National Academy of Engineering’s 14 Grand Challenges and is designed to address major issues in sustainability, health, security, and joy of living. Students create a personalized path through research, entrepreneurship, service, interdisciplinary learning, and global experiences focused on a chosen challenge. 

Who can apply: 

Juniors and Seniors from all disciplines who have at least three semesters to graduate.

Application deadline: June 22

Learn more and apply!

Name: Venkata Sai Harsha Kothapalli

Pronouns: He/Him

Semester of Internship: Spring 2026

Major: M.S. in Computer Science

Current Class Level: Master's Student

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

Internship, Co-op, or Research Site (Company/Organization Name): Platinum Business Services

Location of the Organization (City, State): Catonsville, Maryland

Title of position: Data & AI Intern

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

 I am currently working as a Data and AI Engineer Intern at Platinum Business Services, where I support the development and deployment of AI-powered applications for real-world business use cases. On a day-to-day basis, I collaborate with the team to build and improve intelligent systems that help clients work more efficiently. My responsibilities involve working across the full lifecycle of a project from understanding what a client needs, to helping design a solution, to testing and refining it until it works well. I spend a lot of my time communicating with teammates, reviewing how systems are performing, and making improvements based on feedback. It has been a hands-on experience that has taught me how technology projects come together in a professional setting beyond the classroom.

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

 I first came across Platinum Business Services through the Maryland Technology Internship Program (MTIP), which connected me to local tech companies offering internship opportunities. Shortly after, I had the chance to meet representatives from Platinum at the UMBC Career Fair, which gave me the opportunity to make a personal connection and learn more about what the company does. That conversation left a strong impression on me, and I followed up by submitting my application shortly after the fair. The team invited me in for an interview, and I was offered the position not long after. The combination of discovering the opportunity through MTIP and then building that in-person connection at the career fair made the process feel very natural and gave me confidence going into the interview.

What resources did you use to find your current experience?

UMBC Career Center, Career Fairs, Handshake, LinkedIn or other social media

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

What I have enjoyed most about my time at Platinum Business Services is the openness and trust the team extends to its interns. From early on, I was treated as a contributing member of the team rather than just a student learning from the sidelines. I appreciated that my ideas were heard and that I was given real responsibility on projects that mattered to the organization. 

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

I believe my impact has come from helping bridge the gap between complex technical capabilities and practical business needs. By contributing to AI-powered tools and applications, I have helped the team deliver solutions that save time and reduce manual effort for clients. Beyond the technical output, I also made an effort to document my work clearly and communicate progress regularly, which I believe helped keep projects organized and moving forward.

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

My biggest piece of advice is to take advantage of every resource your university offers especially the Career Fair and programs like MTIP  because opportunities often come from conversations you didn't expect. Don't wait until you feel completely ready to apply, because the internship itself is where the real learning happens. And always follow up whether it's after a career fair conversation or a job interview. That one follow-up email can make all the difference.

Hi everyone!

My friend and I are two female graduate students looking for housing near UMBC. We are hoping to move in during the last week of July.

We are looking for a place that is close to campus, preferably along the Paradise route. We would also prefer female housemates if possible.

If you know of any available rooms, apartments, or housing opportunities, please feel free to reach out. Any leads would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!

I am looking for an accommodation starting this July. My budget is $500 and would rather a place close to campus. Please hit me up if you are looking for a female roommate. 

UMBC CSEE Assistant Professor Roberto Yus received a prestigious NSF CAREER Award to support his research on democratizing the Internet of Things (IoT) by introducing a semantic abstraction framework that hides the complexity of raw sensor data. While IoT devices collect vast amounts of valuable data, most organizations struggle to use it because transforming raw readings into actionable insights requires deep technical expertise in sensor selection and AI modeling. To bridge this gap, his research enables users to directly query high-level concepts, such as occupancy or energy consumption, while the computer system automatically manages the underlying sensors, machine learning models, and data pipelines to find the answers.

Read more about the award here

Traffic around the arena will be very heavy beginning at 7:30am on 6/8/2026 and throughout the day to accommodate two high school graduations. Graduation start times are 9am and 1:30pm. Faculty, staff, and students are strongly encouraged to avoid entering campus from I-195, as parking on the east side of campus will be difficult to access. Please plan to park in any available legal permit space across campus. Parking Services will be enforcing parking regulations for safety concerns only. We appreciate your patience and cooperation as we work to manage increased traffic and event activity

OWNER BIO
Greetings! I'm a UMBC alum and former adjunct instructor. I have rented to undergrad and grad students on and off for nearly 20 years.

HOUSE DESCRIPTION
Walking distance, 5 minutes to UMBC! (1-2 minutes driving) - literally 4 blocks from campus.

This is a SHARED TOWNHOUSE w/3 other renters. 
Seeking ONE individual renter for one bedroom in upstairs of townhouse. (small-sized, 9x10 bedroom) 

$650/month
1.5 baths, so you will share shower portion of the bathroom with 3 others, but you only have to share bathroom (toilet/sink) with 2 other persons.

Seeking working professional or ideally, a UMBC student. No couples or kids, sorry. 
Semi-furnished first floor, but open to your furniture if you wish to bring. Shared kitchen, dining, living room & deck.

New washer, dryer, shower, hot water heater, furnace, dishwasher, fridge and deck. (all replaced within last 3 months to 3 years)

BGE (gas, electric) would be split between renters. Typically $35-70/month (split up)

Verizon would also be split: $16/month for high speed internet.

Water utility and mowing included (no charge to tenants) 
1 year lease with auto-renew option available. 
Husband and wife that also rent a small property locally in Relay. Not a big "landlord" type of deal or company - very personable yet experienced.

Thanks for your interest!

Tom 

Inquire Here: https://rental.turbotenant.com/p/5421-highridge-st-halethorpe-md/08e6b529-eb7c-48ec-a36c-70112f231b96

Hello everyone,
Me and my friend, We are currently looking for an apartment near UMBC from the beginning of August.

We are preferably looking for a one-bedroom apartment with a separate living/drawing room, basically two usable rooms.

If anyone has any information about available apartments, subleases, or housing options, please let me know. 

Thanks

CSEE professor Rebecca Williams (PI) and IS professor Edward Dillon (CO-PI) were awarded a four-year NSF grant to build industry and academic partnerships and to establish a set of recommendations, resources, and upskilling materials for undergraduate computing faculty and students focused on cultivating AI-related competencies. Working with hiring managers, employees, faculty, and students, they will develop new curricula that align industry and university needs to deliver high-quality educational experiences that enhance students’ competitiveness in the workforce. Read more about this award on the NSF site.

Searching for a private bedroom for a female grad student. Budget including utilities is around $600. Common living area should be available for use. Preference for a house in or around Circle Drive, with lease. If you have any leads, please contact BM32973@umbc.edu.