Excerpt from UMBC NEWS: 

UMBC's new AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellows focus on STEM workforce inclusion, youth justice

Published: Sep 8, 2022 | Dinah Winnick

Erin Lavik, professor of chemical, biochemical, and environmental engineering at UMBC, is an innovator in developing  nanoparticles to stop internal bleeding. She's also hard at work on a very different challenge: building STEM workforce development programs that are more inclusive and equitable.

Lavik and Erika Fountain, assistant professor of psychology, will serve as 2022-23 Science and Technology Policy Fellows (STPF) with the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), in the prestigious program's 50th class. 

"AAAS policy fellows have been demonstrating excellence in science policy for the past half-century -- defining what it means to be a scientist and engineer in the policymaking realm," said Rashada Alexander, STPF program director. 

The 300 fellows chosen for the 2022-23 class will serve in a range of government offices, working to inform actionable, science-based policies. Lavik will be based in the Advanced Manufacturing Office of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, known as Manufacturing USA. Fountain will be hosted by the American Psychological Association (APA), serving as a Congressional Fellow.

The 2022-23 fellowship class is sponsored by AAAS, the Moore Foundation, and partner societies, with an eye on both the value of this experience for participating fellows and the impact fellows will have throughout their careers.

Inclusive high-tech workforce

"With the CHIPS Act passing, I'll be focusing on building workforce development programs that are equitable, inclusive, diverse, and accessible," says Lavik.

"CHIPS" stands for Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors -- legislation that will provide nearly $53 billion to support semiconductor production in the U.S., supporting both research and high-tech jobs. The goal of CHIPS, the White House notes, is "to sustain U.S. leadership in the sciences and engineering as the engine for American innovation." 

Lavik, who is also associate dean for research and faculty development in UMBC's College of Engineering and Information Technology (COEIT), will play an important role at NIST in shaping the programs that will generate these high-tech jobs, maximizing their benefit. At the same time, she will learn about federal policymaking and implementation first-hand.

"Dr. Lavik has worked as both a researcher and as an associate dean elevating research and advancing faculty development. This combination has given her a broad insight into product development," says COEIT Dean Keith J Bowman. "I am certain that expertise will serve her well in supporting advancement of our nation's manufacturing enterprises. I know from direct experience that Manufacturing USA has changed how we think about and carry out manufacturing, and Dr. Lavik's strategic and innovative mindset is a great match for this opportunity."

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Photo credit:  Erin Lavik (left) works with then-graduate student Adam Day (right) in her lab, 2018. (Marlayna Demond '11/UMBC)

MIPS grants are available for technology product research and development

Proposals are due October 17

The Maryland Industrial Partnerships (MIPS) program provides funding for university research projects that help companies develop new technology products. Proposals are due October 17, 2022. Visit mips.umd.eduor call (301) 405-3891 for details on how to apply.

Benefits to Maryland Companies

• Cost-effective research with world-class university faculty
• Projects engage university students, state-of-the-art facilities, laboratories, and equipment
• Companies can select research capabilities to meet specific requirements
• Non-dilutive, non-debt funding for research
• Opportunity to work directly with talented students—potential future hires
• Rapid proposal evaluations—MIPS notifies award winners within 60 days of the proposal deadline
• Makes companies more competitive, domestically and internationally

Benefits to Maryland Faculty

• Research translates directly to new product development
• Potential for published papers and improved university facilities
• Students gain valuable experience working on commercial technologies

The semester may have just begun but interviewing is always on our minds at the Career Center. This is because it is such an important part of the job search process. Developing strong interviewing skills is as essential as perfecting your resume and crafting a compelling cover letter.  Below are the top five tips that we recommend for a successful interview experience:

1. Remember an interview is a conversation. It can feel like you, as the interviewee, are doing most of the talking, but actually an interview is a two-way street. That means there are opportunities for both you and the employer to ask and answer questions to determine if the position will be a good fit. It is helpful to research the company before the interview and have a list of questions to ask on hand, especially if you think that you may forget on the spot.

For example, you may want to ask about what a typical day looks like in the position or even ask the interviewer to tell you what they like best about the organization. Here are some sample questions to get you started.

 2. Have your 30-second commercial handy. A 30-second commercial - otherwise known as an elevator pitch - is a quick and easy way to introduce yourself and share an overview of your accomplishments and career goals. Imagine you have stepped onto an elevator with your career hero and only have the time between the ground floor and the floor above to introduce yourself. This is when your elevator pitch will come in handy. It is essential for the interviewing process and is also useful to have on hand during our networking events, such as the Career Fair, UMBC Connects, Career Corners, and Employer Info Sessions.

Check out this link for some tips on developing a 30-second commercial. Create your own and practice with friends - or share it with us at the Career Center during drop-in hours before the next event! You can also practice your pitch using Big Interview. A good place to start is with the universal question: "Tell me about yourself."

 3. Listen to each question thoroughly. An interview is a great time to demonstrate the good listening skills that are important for any job. Be sure that you fully understand the interviewer's question before starting to answer. Feel free to jot down notes to help you remember the question or to ask for clarification before responding. Often questions have multiple parts, such as: "Can you tell me about a time when you experienced a challenge, how you overcame it, and what you learned from the experience?" In this case, you will want to respond to each of the three parts of the question using the same example of a challenge. The good news is that you get to pick the challenge that you will share, so choose one that demonstrates your resilience and growth mindset and shows you in a favorable light.

 4. Support all of your statements with examples. When responding to interview questions, support each response with details that demonstrate your capacity in that area. For example, if you state: "I pick up new technology very quickly." You will want to add a concrete example such as: "When I started my internship, I was completely unfamiliar with Buffer. Within the first week, I was using Buffer to post simultaneously to Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram." Not only does this response fully answer the question, but it also provides further insights into the skills, qualities, and capacities that you can contribute to the new position.

 5. Use the STAR method. Lastly, the STAR (Situation-Task-Action-Results) method can be a great way to provide the additional detail in your responses that the interviewer is looking for - and which will help you stand out from the crowd. By going beyond a simple description of what you did and including the results of your work, an interviewer can start to visualize your level of effectiveness and how you could make a significant impact on their organization.

Here's a breakdown of the STAR method to help you begin crafting sample responses:

S - Situation - what was happening?

T - Task - what were you doing?

A - Action - what did you do as a result?

R - Result - what happened? (Including your analysis of it).

For further information and practice on the STAR method, check out the Answer Builder feature in UMBC's Big Interview platform which takes you step-by-step through applying the STAR method to your own responses.

If you are interested in learning more, join us at the upcoming "Keys to Success: Ace the Interview!" session on Monday, September 12  from 12- 1pm in Commons 331. Learn more and sign up here.

Erin Lavik, professor of chemical, biochemical, and environmental engineering at UMBC, is an innovator in developing nanoparticles to stop internal bleeding. She’s also hard at work on a very different challenge: building STEM workforce development programs that are more inclusive and equitable.

Lavik and Erika Fountain, assistant professor of psychology, will serve as 2022-23 Science & Technology Policy Fellows (STPF) with the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), in the prestigious program’s 50th class. 

“AAAS policy fellows have been demonstrating excellence in science policy for the past half-century—defining what it means to be a scientist and engineer in the policymaking realm,” said STPF Director Rashada Alexander. 

The 300 fellows chosen for the 2022-23 class will serve in a range of government offices, working to inform actionable, science-based policies. Lavik will be based in the Advanced Manufacturing Office of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, known as Manufacturing USA. Fountain will be hosted by the American Psychological Association (APA), serving as a Congressional Fellow.

The 2022-23 fellowship class is supported by variety of bodies including the U.S. Government, AAAS, partner societies, and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, with an eye on both the value of this experience for participating fellows and the impact fellows will have throughout their careers.

Inclusive high-tech workforce

“With the CHIPS Act passing, I’ll be focusing on building workforce development programs that are equitable, inclusive, diverse, and accessible,” says Lavik.

“CHIPS” stands for Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors—legislation that will provide nearly $53 billion to support semiconductor production in the U.S., supporting both research and high-tech jobs. The goal of CHIPS, the White House notes, is “to sustain U.S. leadership in the sciences and engineering as the engine for American innovation.” 

Lavik, who is also associate dean for research and faculty development in UMBC’s College of Engineering and Information Technology (COEIT), will play an important role at NIST in shaping the programs that will generate these high-tech jobs, maximizing their benefit. At the same time, she will learn about federal policymaking and implementation first-hand.

“Dr. Lavik has worked as both a researcher and as an associate dean elevating research and advancing faculty development. This combination has given her a broad insight into product development,” says COEIT Dean Keith J Bowman. “I am certain that expertise will serve her well in supporting advancement of our nation’s manufacturing enterprises. I know from direct experience that Manufacturing USA has changed how we think about and carry out manufacturing, and Dr. Lavik’s strategic and innovative mindset is a great match for this opportunity.”

Research-based youth justice policy

Fountain leads UMBC’s interdisciplinary Youth Justice Lab, which focuses on the intersection of adolescent development and the legal system, combining psychology, law, and policy. Her research focuses on how adolescents and their families navigate the justice system, with the goal of developing evidence-based youth justice policy. She and her team explore how youth experience legal decision making, court processes, and working with attorneys.

Fountain’s APA Congressional Fellowship is specifically designed for psychologists seeking unique public policy learning experiences to prepare them for careers connecting with and impacting the federal government. She has already provided scientific testimony to Maryland legislators considering changes to policies involving youth justice—from confidentiality of records to legal protections in youth interrogation—and looks forward to working at the federal level.

“This fellowship gives scientists an opportunity to learn about the policy process and ultimately inform work being done to create and implement policies,” says Fountain. “As someone who has been conducting research on youth justice and justice policy for years, I am thrilled to be able to step into this role and work directly with policy makers to inform policies that benefit youth and their families.”

“In awarding Dr. Fountain this fellowship, APA and AAAS have recognized the high quality and impact of her scholarship and policy work to date,” says Anne E. Brodsky, professor and chair of psychology. “Through this high-level experience, she’ll gain valuable expertise that will further advance her contributions to our mission: elevating our students and surrounding communities through important and socially relevant applied scholarship.”