Ariel Wilson-Gray, ‘26 chemical engineering - biotechnology & bioengineering track, 

When did you do your Internship?

Summer 2023

Where was your Internship?

Purdue University with Dr. Tamara Kinzer-Ursem

What is the focus of your Internship?

Optimizing Antibody Conjugation using F-C Specific Oligonucleotides

What are you looking forward to the most about your Internship? 

Before I started, I was most excited to step foot in a real lab and work on projects on my own.

What was the best part of your Internship OR What was the biggest learning moment of your Internship ?

As this was my first internship, the graduate student I worked with was very accommodating and I was able to learn a lot of new techniques including gel-electrophoresis, western blot, and NanoDrop.

What advice do you have for students who are interested in getting involved in research or an internship?

Go for it! Even if the topic is not exactly what you’re interested in, the experience can help hone your interest and maybe introduce a new one.

Are you a member of any clubs/campus organizations?

NOBCChE, ChewMBC, NSBE, AIChE

What are your goals after graduation?

PhD in Biomedical Engineering

Learn more about Ariel Wilson-Gray: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ariel-wilson-gray-428646236/

UMBC’s Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement Day (URCAD) returned earlier this month for its 28th year, bringing together more than 400 student presenters and the broader university community for a day filled with posters, performances, demonstrations, and much more. 

With excitement and energy in the air of the University Center, undergraduate students—many accompanied by faculty mentors—presented a broad range of research and creative projects to peers, family, friends, and inquiring minds of all kinds. The day included a film festival, interactive video game demonstrations, musical performances, a photography and painting exhibition, as well as poster board and oral presentations from students across colleges. 

“This showcase event not only exemplifies UMBC’s commitment to our students from all disciplines, but defines our commitment by providing them the opportunity to engage in mentored projects, and, through creative thought and focused inquiry, to discover in themselves their passion,” said Katherine Cole, dean and vice provost of undergraduate academic affairs. 

Among this year’s group of presenters was Chiad Onyeje ’24, chemical engineering, who explained the research he’s worked on for nearly three years to develop “spherical shells that we can use as internal Band-Aids” he said in this URCAD 2024 recap video. 

“URCAD is different from any other presentations that I’ve been able to give on my research thus far. It really felt like a celebration in comparison,” said Onyeje. “I could go in, have a good time, talk about my research to interested parties, and share why I love this project so much—because it can help people.”

From URCAD to the Mayor’s Office

Stefanie Mavronis ’12, political science, media and communication studies, delivered this year’s URCAD keynote speech. Just over a decade ago, Mavronis, who is the director of the Mayor’s Office of Safety and Engagement (MONSE) in Baltimore City, was once a student presenter at URCAD where she premiered her short documentary titled, “Reclamation and Resistance: Audiovisual Tools in Bolivia.” 

“The documentary captured the experiences of indigenous Bolivians who were using art and media technologies to challenge and transform the legacy of hundreds of years of colonization in Bolivia. I learned about decolonization, self determination, reciprocity, and representation,” Mavronis shared with the audience. 

Mavronis, a UMBC Sondheim Public Affairs Scholar alumna, spoke of her journey to finding her passion for public service and how it led to her positions within Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott’s election campaign and then office. Her work in MONSE has resulted in the office’s implementation of Baltimore’s Comprehensive Violence Prevention Plan—the city’s first ever comprehensive, 5-year public safety strategy. 

“When I think back to it, it was UMBC that was the first to help me see myself as a creative practitioner. It’s the place that prepared me to confront the challenges and harsh realities of the world head on and to do so while embracing clear values,” says Mavronis. “It was through my time at UMBC that I uncovered my commitment to Baltimore…through the opportunities that the institution afforded me to see the world outside of the city.”

“Supporting our students’ applied learning experiences is central to our mission at UMBC,” added Cole, “as it develops creative thinking skills, the ability to communicate effectively, analyze information, share stories, and connect with people from diverse cultures, disciplines, and ideologies. These are the skills our students will take forward as leaders of the future.”

For more on UMBC’s undergraduate research and creative work, check out the 2024 UMBC Review, the journal of undergraduate research, volume 25. Free copies of the current issue are available for pick up at the Office of Undergraduate Research and Prestigious Scholarships, located in the Albin O. Kuhn Library and Gallery.

Award for Fiction: “Poppy” by Lukas Pitkevits

Lukas Pitkevits is a senior at UMBC, currently studying for a degree in Biological Sciences. Although he is pursuing a career in the STEM field, he is passionate about creative expression through storytelling, which he believes can be just as enlightening as any form of science. When he isn’t writing, he can be found curating playlists, watching ocean documentaries, or flipping through various art books. You can read his work here.

Award for Poetry: “Coffee Can” by Layanne Khaskia

Layanne is a Palestinian-American and Muslim writer, poet, and biochemistry student. She first became entranced by the world of poetry at age 17 and hasn’t put her pen down since. Her work centers themes of Palestinian culture and life from the perspective of a young woman growing up estranged from her ancestral land. You can read her work here.

Award for Creative Nonfiction: “Flesh and Blood” by Erica Rigoroso

Hailing from a mysterious town in Southern Maryland, Erica Rigoroso is a senior studying English Literature and Communications and Technology. She finds comfort in writing about her personal experiences, aiming to make sense of all that has come her way. Aside from writing, Erica likes to listen to Blondie on repeat, watch strange movies, and most importantly—spend time with her cat, Karl. You can read her work here.