This summer is a good time to revisit recordings from AOK Library’s spring workshops. Recordings are available for students who want support with research strategies, scholarly writing, citation tools, AI tools, and more.

Watch the recordings here: https://www.youtube.com/@umbclibrary/videos 

Need one-on-one research help this summer? Make a research appointment with a subject librarian. 

Watch your email, myUMBC and Blackboard for notifications regarding online Student Course Evaluations beginning June 15th.

The survey window for Session One (4 week) Summer 2026 is June 15th through June 18th 11:59pm

The secure online system grants students 24/7 access during the evaluation period. Surveys must be completed before the June 18th deadline. 

Survey results available to instructors after Summer 2026 grades are posted.

See the IRADS website and Frequently Asked Questions for more information. 

Name: Swarna Mukhi Naick Bukke

Pronouns: She/Her 

Semester of Internship: Fall 2025

Major: Health information technology

Current Class Level: Master's Student

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

Internship, Co-op, or Research Site (Company/Organization Name): Gentle dental care

Location of the Organization (City, State): 9360 richmond hwy, Lorton

Title of position: Patient Care Coordinator

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

During my experience as a Patient Care Coordinator, I worked in a very busy clinic with a high patient volume and a large care coordination team. My day-to-day responsibilities focused on managing patient flow and ensuring smooth coordination between providers, patients, and administrative staff. I regularly used an EHR system, with Dentrix being the primary tool for scheduling appointments, maintaining accurate patient records, and updating treatment plans. I was actively involved in insurance verification, billing, and claim follow-ups, making sure coverage details were clearly communicated and payments were processed correctly. In addition, I educated patients about their treatment plans, procedures, and financial responsibilities, helping them understand their care and make informed decisions. This role strengthened my organizational, communication, and EHR skills while giving me hands-on experience in patient-centered care within a fast-paced clinical environment.

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

I had been actively searching for internship opportunities throughout the summer of 2025, applying consistently and staying hopeful despite the challenges. Eventually, I came across this opportunity through Indeed, which marked a turning point in my journey. The interview process was thorough and competitive, involving three stages: an initial phone interview, an in-person interview, and a working interview. Going through each step helped me better understand the role and allowed me to demonstrate my skills and dedication in a real clinical setting. When I was finally selected and hired, I felt incredibly excited and motivated to learn. This opportunity meant a lot to me because it was the result of persistent effort, and it gave me valuable hands-on experience that strengthened my confidence and professional growth.

What resources did you use to find your current experience?

indeed

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

What I have enjoyed most about my position and the organization is the opportunity to interact closely with patients every day. I truly enjoy talking with patients, listening to their concerns, and making sure they feel comfortable, informed, and supported throughout their visit. Helping guide them to the right department or provider and ensuring they are in the right place at the right time gives me a strong sense of purpose. Being part of an organization that values patient-centered care has made this experience especially rewarding and meaningful for me.

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

I believe I have made a positive impact through my work by improving the overall patient experience and supporting smooth clinic operations. By actively listening to patients’ concerns, educating them about their treatment plans and insurance details, and guiding them through each step of their visit, I helped reduce confusion and anxiety. I also ensured accurate documentation and coordination using the EHR system, which supported providers in delivering timely and efficient care. Through clear communication, organization, and compassion, I contributed to better patient satisfaction and a more efficient workflow within a high-volume clinical environment.

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

I would advise other students not to lose hope during their search and to keep trying in an authentic and consistent way. Even if opportunities don’t come immediately, use that time to learn new skills and strengthen your knowledge, because growth is still happening behind the scenes. Rejections or delays don’t mean failure they mean you are still in the learning process. Stay persistent, trust the process, and believe that the right opportunity will come at the right time if you keep putting in honest effort.

Hi all,

I'm going to be out this week having some work done at the house. I will be following up on outstanding issues in the building to try to get finished next week. Please email or text me if someting comes up.

Thanks! 

Hi all,

I'm going to be out this week having some work done at the house. I will be following up on outstanding issues in the building to try to get finished next week. Please email or text me if someting comes up.

Thanks! 

Looking for a female graduate student or professional to join me in a spacious 2-bedroom apartment near UMBC beginning in August.

Rent:
• $820/month, including utilities and internet
• Security deposit required (equal to one month's rent)

Apartment Features:
• Large bedroom with walk-in closet and ample storage space
• Spacious shared living areas
• In-unit washer and dryer
• Dishwasher and full kitchen appliances
• Central air conditioning and heating
• Reserved parking space
• No pets

Location:
• Located in downtown Arbutus
• Less than 5 minutes from campus by car
• Next to two shuttle stops
• Walkable residential neighborhood
• Close to restaurants, grocery stores, movie theater, gas stations, and other amenities
• Friendly community atmosphere

About Me:
I'm a doctoral canditate and I have a busy schedule with work and school. I appreciate having a home that feels peaceful, comfortable, and respectful. I'm friendly and enjoy getting to know the people I live with, but I also value personal space and downtime. I keep shared spaces clean and communicate openly about household matters.

Looking For:
• Female graduate student or professional
• Responsible with rent and bills
• Clean and respectful of shared spaces
• Good communicator
• Considerate about noise and shared living
• Looking for a stable, positive living environment

If you're interested, please send me a little about yourself, what you do for work or school, and what you're looking for in a roommate. I can be reached at ekhan3@umbc.edu.

Hi Everyone,

I am looking for either a female roommate to share a 2-bedroom, 1-bathroom apartment, or I would be interested in joining an existing 2bed 1bath housing arrangement with an available room.

I have found a potential apartment where the rent would be approximately $650 per person per month, excluding utilities (BGE) and internet.

Preferably August Move in

If you are interested or know of any available rooms, please feel free to contact me via email at kazeez1@umbc.edu

Researchers have developed a new approach using data from NASA’s Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) satellite to observe the timing and progression of fall colors across landscapes.

The study, published in Remote Sensing Letters and led by Karl F. Huemmrich, a research professor at UMBC’s Goddard Earth Sciences Technology and Research (GESTAR) II center, focuses on detecting changes in leaf pigments including chlorophylls (greens), anthocyanins (reds), and carotenoids (yellows and oranges).

PACE’s advanced sensors capture fine details of light reflected from leaves, with near-daily global coverage. The research team used indices that associate the reflectance data with the presence of various pigments, allowing them to produce detailed leaf color maps and track color changes throughout the fall. These maps could help support the multi-billion-dollar leaf-peeping tourism economy by directing visitors to peak viewing areas in real time and helping communities manage visitor flows.

Traditional greenness indices, such as the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), primarily show a gradual decline in green leaves. The PACE-based indices improve on those methods by allowing scientists to identify more precise markers of the end of the growing season, including dates of peak fall color. Over time, the data could also yield insights into plant stress from drought or insect damage—with potential benefits for agriculture—and help improve models that predict fall color timing based on environmental conditions.

“PACE is the first mission that can measure these pigment indices over large areas, and repeatedly, so we can look at change through the fall,” Huemmrich says. The indices he and Caplan used were developed in the early 2000s, but the new paper applied them at a global scale for the first time. Huemmrich adds, “I anticipate that as we accumulate more years of PACE data, we will be able to observe changes in the timing of peak color, which may be related to climate change.”

PACE opens frontiers in ecosystem science

Study co-author Skye Caplan, a NASA data scientist, expressed enthusiasm about the broader research potential unlocked by PACE. “I’m excited about observing fall colors with PACE, because I think it’s the beginning of a real exploratory period for global hyperspectral leaf pigment measurements,” she says. “I’m hoping we get to see folks read the paper, see how PACE observes these metrics like relative chlorophyll, anthocyanin, and carotenoid content, and apply those observations to their own work.”

“Working with PACE data is really fun, because you get to see the world in so many different ways,” Caplan adds. “It doesn’t just offer observations of the oceans, but also characterizations of the atmosphere and land—and all of these domains as a system, rather than as separate entities. I think that is critical and a real advantage of PACE.”

For example, Huemmrich previously published research that used PACE data to assess ecosystem productivity, and the UMBC-designed and -built HARP2 instrument flying on PACE is contributing to atmospheric chemistry studies. 

Plus, PACE observations aren’t only for scientists: Caplan notes that the public can access NASA Worldview, an interactive site for browsing satellite images from many different NASA missions. “Sometimes I like to pull up PACE data on NASA Worldview and just scroll around to see what the world looked like on any given day,” she says. “I often find something interesting and worth exploring.”

Read more about UMBC’s NASA-related research and past news and magazine stories about UMBC researchers making discoveries in earth science.

All,

The Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC) will be in the building next Tuesday, June 16th to film the artwork in the artium. While not confirmed, it is possible that there may be a drone in use to capture the work. If this is the case, it has been cleared by our legal council and should be fairly non-intrusive. There is nothing need ro be done, I just wanted everyone to be aware of this.

Update to confirm that the Wide Angle Youth Media (WAYM) team will be on site on 6/17, between 12p - 5 p to film Forum and Inflight. In the event of rain the team will come on 6/18. David Sloan cc'd on this email is leading the media team.

Thank you!

All,

A set of house keys were found in the building and put in front of my office.  There are no building keys on the ring, so I cant narrow down anything based on my records.

Please get the word out as I'm going to be out next week. Thanks!