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UMBC has secured $1.5 million in congressional funding to establish the UMBC Center for Precision Aquaculture, an interdisciplinary effort aimed at revolutionizing land-based fish production through real-time monitoring and smart technology.

The new center brings together faculty and students from UMBC’s marine biotechnology, chemistry and biochemistry, and computer science and electrical engineering (CSEE) departments. The interdisciplinary team will strive to make domestic aquaculture more efficient, healthier for fish, and environmentally responsible—while helping reduce America’s massive seafood trade deficit.

“Fish are the last ‘hunt-and-gather’ animal crop,” says Yonathan Zohar, professor and chair of marine biotechnology and the new center’s lead. “To relieve pressure on our oceans, fish—like other animal proteins—must be produced through farming or aquaculture.”

Bringing a “blue revolution”

The U.S. imports over 90 percent of its seafood and nearly all its Atlantic salmon, contributing to American seafood imports exceeding exports by roughly $20 billion, the largest deficit across all agricultural crops. And aquaculture is the fastest-growing sector of global and U.S. agriculture, yet the U.S. ranks only 18th in production. 

To address these challenges, Zohar and his team at the Aquaculture Research Center (ARC) at the Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor have long pioneered recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS)—self-contained, land-based tanks that recycle nearly all their water and discharge nothing into the environment. Compared to the floating, open-ocean pens currently used to farm fish, other perks of land-based operations include preventing commingling of captive fish with wild stocks, limiting disease exposure, the ability to bring fish to market size more quickly and more often throughout the year, and reduced transportation costs and emissions associated with bringing fresh seafood to inland areas. The ARC even converts solid fish waste into biogas that could supply part of the facility’s energy needs. 

The new Center for Precision Aquaculture will add a high-tech layer to this work. Advanced underwater imaging, optical sensors, and artificial intelligence will track fish biomass, behavior, body condition, stress signals, and early disease indicators in real time. Producers can then intervene quickly and optimize tank conditions for better growth, health, and welfare.

Zohar, whose decades of work in sustainable aquaculture recently earned him the Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award from the United States Aquaculture Society, said the project “will contribute to the U.S. and global ‘blue revolution’ by helping develop the next generation of highly efficient and environmentally responsible aquaculture technologies.”

Connecting disciplines, pursuing impact

The center’s strength lies in its cross-department collaboration. Brian Cullum, professor and chair of chemistry and biochemistry and co-investigator on the grant, brings long-standing expertise in multispectral imaging (MSI). His group will use MSI to detect subtle color changes in the visible, infrared, and UV light spectra that are invisible to standard cameras and signal early disease or unwanted sexual maturation, both of which can hurt profitability.

“In high-density RAS tanks, disease can spread rapidly, so early detection is critical,” Cullum says. “This project combines multispectral imaging with AI to identify stressed or maturing fish early, allowing growers to remove them from the tank.”

“With global demand for protein rising, improving aquaculture systems means contributing to a more stable and responsible food supply,” says Emmanuella Duruye, a Ph.D. candidate in Cullum’s lab. “I am excited about the multidisciplinary aspect, and being part of a team whose goal is to improve systems that make real-world and long-term impacts.” She is focused on improving non-invasive monitoring of hidden stress signals via multispectral imaging.

Rebecca Williams, assistant professor of CSEE, is a co-investigator on the project, as is Don Engel, associate professor of CSEE. Beamlak Bekele, a master’s student in Williams’s group, is developing computer vision tools tailored to underwater environments. “I am excited about this project because it connects computer science with aquaculture, allowing me to apply computer vision to a real-world problem,” Bekele said. “As the project progresses, it can contribute methods that improve the application of underwater vision data to other scenarios as well.”

Ph.D. students Sean Ravel and Max Prager; postdoctoral fellow Matthew Stromberg, Ph.D. ’26, environmental engineering; and John Stubblefield, ARC laboratory director, are all working with Zohar at IMET. Undergraduates are contributing, too: Krish Bakshi, a junior biochemistry and molecular biology major, and Mason Chialastri, junior biological sciences major, are currently doing research internships with the Zohar lab.

“Early maturation is one of the biggest challenges in salmon aquaculture, and I’m excited to be part of the cutting-edge research to better understand and manage it,” Ravel shares. “We are building tools that let us understand fish in ways that are only possible because we combine biology, engineering, and AI into a single, integrated system.” 

Piloting the future of aquaculture

The new funding will support a pilot RAS system that integrates the new precision technologies. ARC will serve as a demonstration site for industry, hands-on student training, and public outreach. It builds directly on UMBC’s existing strengths, including ongoing USDA- and NOAA-funded salmon research and a popular Sustainable Aquaculture course. The center will also help train the next generation of skilled workers through internships and research opportunities for high school, undergraduate, and graduate students.

By combining UMBC’s deep foundation in RAS technology with state-of-the-art imaging and AI, the Center for Precision Aquaculture positions Maryland as an emerging hub for innovative, sustainable seafood production—reducing reliance on imports, easing pressure on wild fisheries, and delivering healthy food to American tables.

Meeting today from 4 to 6 pm at the Harbor MPR!

To all users:
We will be taking an emergency downtime to patch a critical vulnerability that was announced this morning. During this time users will not be able to login. You should also expect your job to be killed during this time. We understand that this can be frustrating and thank you for your understanding. 

Voting for ESS and CUSS representatives ends at 11:59 p.m. tonight.

Click Here to Vote! 🎉

Note: only exempt staff are eligible to vote.  

We only have a couple of tickets left for our Topgolf bus trip!! Enjoy a fun day with your friends and learn how to golf over yummy food and a good time! You'll be getting around 2 hours of play time if not more so you're not going to want to miss this!

Remember: NO TICKET= NO ENTRY!! 

GET TICKETS HERE!

Our 2025/2026 Accessibility Trailblazers are here!

We invited the UMBC community to nominate a faculty member and/or an academic department for the annual UMBC Accessibility Trailblazer Awards. Our goal is to recognize and celebrate the individuals and departments who are true allies in advancing accessibility and inclusion across campus.

Trailblazers are pioneers in ensuring that course materials and content are accessible to all students. They embody inclusive teaching practices and demonstrate a strong commitment to Universal Design for Learning (UDL), creating learning environments where every student feels welcomed and supported.

As nominations officially closed this week, the Department of Accessibility & Disability Services (ADS), home to the Office of Student Disability Services (SDS), carefully reviewed submissions and selected this year’s awardees. We are proud to announce our 2025/2026 Accessibility Trailblazer Award recipients:

Award Recipients:

• Dr. Tiffany Banks, School of Social Work
• Paul Coakley (adjunct), Sociology, Anthropology, and Public Health Department 
• Kristen Anchor, Department of Media & Communication Studies
• Interlibrary Loan (ILL) & Course Reserves Department at Albin O. Kuhn Library

Honorable Mentions:

• Dr. Kate Drabinski, Department of Gender, Women's, and Sexuality Studies
• Dr. Lara Martin, Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering
• Dr. Tania Lizarazo, Department of Modern Languages, Linguistics & Intercultural Communication

ADS and the entire UMBC community are incredibly proud of your dedication to making accessibility a priority in all that you do. Your efforts continue to create a more inclusive and equitable learning environment for all students.

Award recipients will be formally recognized with certificates, shared with their Deans and senior leadership, and featured in our office bulletin boards, and quarterly newsletter.

Nominations will reopen in January 2027, so be sure to keep an eye out and take the opportunity to recognize others who are making a difference in accessibility and inclusion. Please join us in celebrating these outstanding individuals and departments!

UMBC's Center for Social Science Scholarship will hold its last seminar in its series on generative AI, LLMs, and computational social science methods from 12-1:30 pm ET, on Wednesday, May 5, 2026, in person in room 438 of the Public Policy building.

The session will cover machine learning models for causal inference and the use of UMBC's high-performance computing systems to run these and similar models.

Dr. Eric Stokan, CS3 Director and Associate Professor of Political Science; Roy Prouty, DoIT Assistant Director for Research Computing, and Sai Vikas Amaraneni, Information Systems PhD student, will present material and give demonstrations.

Register here

More than 1000 guests visited campus on Saturday, April 25th, for Just for Juniors (and Sophomores, Too!)—a day designed to help them explore possibilities and begin envisioning their futures at UMBC. While the program is geared toward juniors, it also welcomed younger students, with 91 high school sophomores and even 17 high school freshmen in attendance—an early sign of growing interest from students eager to start their college search sooner. 

From the start, the focus was clear: this wasn’t just about choosing a major, but about exploring interests and understanding how those interests can evolve into meaningful academic and career paths. Through student panels, information sessions, and campus tours, attendees connected with current students, faculty, and staff who emphasized curiosity, flexibility, and the value of interdisciplinary learning.

 
That sense of connection stood out immediately. As one attendee shared, “The student tour guides were amazing and my student connected with them.” Another noted, “The diversity of student panelists… their candor and the supporting adults” made the experience especially impactful. Across the board, visitors highlighted the welcoming atmosphere, with one remarking on “the friendliness and availability of the students and staff,” and another simply pointing to “the diversity and kindness of everyone I encountered.”

 
A standout addition this year was the expanded Academic Majors and Opportunities Fair, held in the Retriever Activities Center (RAC). With a thoughtfully designed fair map guiding students through a wide range of programs and resources, the space became a hub of exploration. Departments showcased not only traditional majors but also the many ways students can combine disciplines—bringing UMBC’s interdisciplinary approach to life.

 
For many, the fair was the highlight of the day. “The Academic Majors and Opportunities Fair was excellent and gave us an overview of the strengths of each major,” one attendee shared, while another noted, “I was able to explore majors that I have not considered previously.” Direct conversations helped students see new possibilities and better understand how their strengths could translate into academic pathways.

 
Beyond academics, the event offered access to a broader sense of campus life. The timing alongside Quadmania gave students a chance to experience UMBC’s vibrant community firsthand. As one guest put it, “Having the event during Quadmania allowed my student to get an inside glimpse of campus life at UMBC.”

 
The impact of the day was clear. More than 80% of attendees reported that they were more likely to apply to UMBC after participating—reflecting not just a successful event, but a meaningful shift in how students see themselves and their futures.

 
Perhaps most importantly, students and families left feeling both informed and empowered. “There was no pressure… it was inviting without being overbearing,” one attendee shared, while another described the experience as “very comprehensive—perfect to give my son a true glimpse of what is to come.”

 
Overall, the day captured what makes UMBC distinctive: a place where students are encouraged not just to choose a path, but to explore, connect, and ultimately shape one of their own.

 
Just for Juniors (And Sophomores, Too!) is an event planned by the Campus Visits and Events Team in Undergraduate Admissions and Orientation: Jennifer Riehl, Gina Ralston, and Kim Meyers.

President Valerie Sheares Ashby Invites You to Join Us for the

Presidential Faculty and Staff Awards Ceremony

Wednesday, May 13, 2026

University Center Ballroom

3-5 p.m. Awards Ceremony and Reception

Please join me in sharing gratitude for the UMBC community, and celebrating this year’s Presidential Faculty and Staff awardees, University System of Maryland awardees, and additional distinguished university honorees:

• Lindsay DiCuirci, 2026-2029 Presidential Teaching Professor

• Weidong Zhu, 2026-2029 Presidential Research Professor

• Joby Taylor, Ph.D. ’05, 2026 Presidential Distinguished Exempt Staff

• Michele Kimery, 2026 Presidential Distinguished Non-Exempt Staff

• Tara Carpenter, 2026 University System of Maryland Board of Regents Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching

• Michael Summers, 2026 University System of Maryland Board of Regents Faculty Award for Excellence in Mentoring

• Curtis Menyuk, 2026 University System of Maryland Board of Regents Faculty Award for Faculty Award for Excellence in Scholarship or Research.

• Laura Schraven, 2025 University System of Maryland Board of Regents Staff Award for Outstanding Service for Students

• Brian Kaufman, 2026 University System of Maryland Board of Regents Award of Excellence in Creative Activity

• David Clurman, 2026 Diane M. Lee Teaching Award

• Michael Canale, 2026 Diane M. Lee Teaching Award

• Keith Harmon, 2026 Jakubik Family Endowment Staff Award

• Maisha Cron, 2026 Karen L. Wensch Endowment Award for Outstanding Non-Exempt Staff

• Ramana Vinjamuri, 2026 Marilyn E. Demorest Award for Faculty Advancement

• David Hoffman, Ph.D. '13, 2026 Teresa Lupinek Endowment Award

• Mehdi Benna, 2026 UMBC Research Faculty Excellence Award

Learn More

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