The Office of Research and Creative Achievement (ORCA) is once again offering to cover the costs of a UMBC research administrator to attend the 65^th Annual NCURA National Meeting in Washington D.C. from August 6^th - 9^th, 2023.  These covered costs will include a one (1) year membership to NCURA as well!

Please click on the following link for full details about the National conference:https://www.ncura.edu/annualmeeting/Home.aspx

But that's not all folks!  ORCA is also going to cover the costs for a fellow Retriever to attend the NCURA Regional Meeting, and the virtual Departmental Research Administration DRA Workshop!  The NCURA Region II Meeting is convening from November 12^th - 15^th, 2023 in Annapolis, Maryland.  The DRA virtual Workshop is being held from June 26^th - 29^th, 2023.

Please click on the following link for the most up-to-date details about the Region II conference: https://www.ncuraregion2.org/regional-meeting

Please click on the following link for the most up-t0-date details about the Virtual DRA Workshop: https://www.ncura.edu/travelingworkshops/DRA.aspx

See below for instructions and directions to qualify for this exciting opportunity!

To Qualify:

With the exception of ESRA and OCAM staff members, ORCA staff are not eligible to be included in this contest.  

 The individual must be relatively new -- a novice -- to the Research Administration field and should not have attended an NCURA National Meeting, Regional Meeting or DRA Workshop in the past. 

 Please submit a short (half page at most) justification of why you want to attend and should be chosen to attend one of these conferences. Please include your conference of choice in this justification.

 The winning entrant must also agree to summarize what they learned and/or summarize a session they attended at these meetings at a future Expanded Research Administrators Group meeting (Expanded RAG).

 Please submit this short narrative to Associate Vice President of Research (AVPR) Dean Drake (ddrake@umbc.edu) by Friday June 9^th.

 Congratulations again to our 2022 winner, Emma Wheatley from CAHSS. 

Registration:

The Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP)is once again coordinating Early Bird and Bulk Registration payments for the  NCURA National Meeting in August.    

Bulk registration discounts offered in increments of 5 and 10 attendees. 

Early Bird registration ends on June 26, 2023.

There were thirteen (13) UMBC Research Administrators who attended NCURA's National Meeting in 2022. If we obtain similar numbers/attendees this year, significant savings are available through bulk registration (well over $1,100.00)!

If you are interested in attending, please contact OSP Director Michael Walsh (mwalsh3@umbc.edu) by COB Tuesday June 20^th.

Links to Meetings/Conferences:

NCURA 65^th National Annual Meeting August 6-9, 2023-- In Washington DC.

NCURA Region II Meeting Nov 12-15, 2023-- In Annapolis MD.

DRA Workshop:  June 26-29, 2023 -- Virtual

Shawn Serafin, ‘23 chemical engineering - traditional track, minor in chemistry

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

When did you do your Research Experience?

Hennigan’s Lab: May 2021-May 2022

Where was your Research Experience?

I worked in Dr. Hennigan’s Lab in the Department of Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering at UMBC.

What is the focus of your Research Experience?

I focused on two different projects. The first project focused on characterizing the solubility of environmentally relevant gasses into salt solutions with varying conditions. The second project focused on characterizing the effect of pH on the presence of brown carbon with cloud water samples.

What was the best part of your Research Experience?

Our periodical meetings with Dr. Henningan where we learned about new ideas and projects, presented and discussed ongoing results, and recalibrated and refreshed our efforts.

INTERNSHIP

When did you do your Internship?

May 2022-May 2023. I went for a summer in-person, and continued remotely during the 2022-2023 school year. 

Where was your Internship?

I went to Santa Fe Springs, CA, for an summer in-person and continued remotely during the school year.

What is the focus of your Internship?

Process/Manufacturing Engineering of Carbon-Carbon Composite Plane Brakes

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

The unexpected test failures of parts that required fast, on your feet thinking, and lots of extra long hours of work and thinking.

More about Shawn…

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

Start with on campus research: show interest in a professor’s research and try to get involved. Then, utilize that relevant experience to build your knowledge and interests. Finally, work to attend as many career fairs as possible to speak with people and try to show interest in their work and be likable, and the opportunities will come flowing in. Become more than just another name on the page. 

Are you a member of any clubs/campus organizations?

I am a member of Tau Beta Pi, The Engineering Honor Society. I was the treasurer for the 21-22 academic year and the president for the 22-23 academic year. I have also been a teaching fellow for the CBEE department every regular semester since I was eligible.

What are your goals after graduation?

I have a position at Northrop Grumman as a Systems Engineer in the pathways program. Perhaps, I will move into a more managerial position, and then farther down the line I will run various business ventures.

Learn more about Shawn Serafin: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawn-serafin