The Discovery Chemistry department at Genentech is looking for undergraduate interns for summer 2015.
Description
The program is a 12 week paid summer internship. Interns work with Scientists and Research Associates in the department on individual projects focused on synthetic organic chemistry.
Successful projects are often published in peer-reviewed journals. There
are also programs to introduce interns to the various aspects of drug discovery
that go on at Genentech.
Requirements?
Typical interns arrive having just completed their 3rd or 4th year of a Chemistry BS (although we do accept applications from students completing their 2nd year). While previous research experience in organic chemistry is not required it is certainly preferred.
Interested?
E-mail UMBC alumnus Dr. Steve McKerrall with a CV and a brief research summary or by using the online application provided by clicking "visit website" below.
Applicants will be accepted on a rolling basis and there is no deadline until all the positions have been filled
Taylor McCarley has emerged as one of the stars on the women’s basketball team in her second season as a Retriever.
McCarley started her UMBC career off with an excellent freshman campaign that included three America East Conference Rookie-of-the-Week awards. She capped of the year with a selection to the conference All-Rookie team. In 29 games, McCarley averaged 9.5 points per game and scored 276 points overall, which was in the top ten among UMBC freshman all-time.
Not only did she make school history with her points, but McCarley became the first Retriever to record a triple-double last season, when she did so against Binghamton University. Despite her successes, the team only managed to pick up four wins in her freshman season, but she has been a part of a nice turnaround this season. The Retrievers have already doubled their win total from a year ago, with six games still left on the schedule.
She continued her success into her sophomore season where she is currently averaging 10.4 points per game through 23 games. She is not just scoring points, but also helping her teammates score as she leads the team in assists per game with 4.3.
When McCarley is on her game she is a nearly unstoppable force for UMBC and she is often the key to victory. When McCarley scores more than nine points, the Retrievers have a winning record. In the Retrievers’ recent win over the University of New Hampshire, McCarley scored a career high 29 points, and added 10 rebounds and four assists. She led the team in all three categories.
It was not just that one game where McCarley dominated. Against Binghamton, McCarley picked up 24 points and five assists in UMBC’s 71-55 win over the Bearcats. Of those 24 points, 16 came in the second half, which more than doubled any other player on the court.
McCarley’s college career was preceded by four excellent years at the Academy of Holy Cross where she was a three time team captain and three time All-Conference player. She was also successful outside of her school team as she helped her United States Junior Nationals team win the silver medal in 2011.
The Retrievers and McCarley have just six games remaining before the conference tournament in Binghamton. The Retrievers currently hold the number six seed, but with six games to go, they could still shake up the standings. If McCarley can continue to play at a high level, then the Retrievers will be hard to stop.
A post written by Women’s Center director, Jess Myers
A little snow won’t get in the way of Critical Social Justice 2015!
Yesterday was the kick-off to CSJ2015 with CSJ 101: Introduction to Brave Spaces. It was a rich conversation in which everyone was really invested and we went right through our allotted time in Commons 329. We thank our invited participants and moderator for helping us start the conversation! Prior to the start of CSJ week, we also provided ways for the UMBC community to begin engaging in the idea of creating brave spaces. You can find more on brave spaces and creating brave spaces throughout our blog like this awesome video created by the CSJ Student Alliance, a few blog posts written by Women’s Center staff members (check out Daniel and Ty’s posts), the Brave Space Guidelines of the Women’s Center, and of course, the chapter that started in all, From Safe Spaces to Brave Spaces by Brian Arao and Kristi Clemens. These jumping off points, in addition to the diverse perspectives and experiences of our invited panelists and community members in the room took us on a journey as we uncovered the depth and breadth of brave spaces.
Arao and Clemens spend time in their chapter exploring what brave space can be. It’s grounded in the concept of safe space but recognizes that the idea of safety can be limiting when in engaging in difficult dialogues and social justice work. They find value and necessity in taking risk and engaging in controversy to facilitate authentic learning experiences about social justice. When this kind of authenticity is nourished a brave space has been created. It’s a great read and I’d highly recommend it to student leaders, staff, and faculty committed to integrating social justice into their work and communities. But what else is brave space? How is it created? How is it maintained? Is brave space the same for everyone or can it look different from person to person? These are some of the questions we explored in CSJ 101. Knowing that not everyone could attend yesterday’s event, I’m capturing some of the highlights here as a way to root the rest of the week in a better understanding of UMBC’s understanding and practice of brave space.
In reflecting on the conversation, what I love most about what it uncovered was the moving of brave spaces from a noun to a verb. Brave space isn’t just a moment in time or a set of four walls. In our conversation brave space was described as an action. The concept of brave spaces for our invited panelist was a call to action, an invite to listen, an ask to share, and an exploration of identity, history, and context. Some examples offered at CSJ 101 included:
The dialogue also included a theme of self, self-reflection, and self-examination as needed in the formation of brave space. As already mentioned above, brave space isn’t limited to a physical space or room. It often must be explored and created within ourselves before we can co-create brave spaces with others. Some examples shared throughout CSJ 101 included:
CSJ 101 helped to solidify understanding of brave spaces as ye, it also left us with more questions to ponder:
I look forward to the ways CSJ2015 will give the UMBC community the opportunity to unpack the concept of brave space and co-create more ways for ourselves and our community to be a brave space. It is our hope that sharing the dialogue created in CSJ 101 will serve as groundwork and a set of “working assumptions” that will lend itself to rich and authentic dialogue and learning throughout the week.
For more quotable moments from CSJ 101, check out some of the live tweets from the event by searching for #CSJ2015 on Twitter.
Israel
Israel’s supreme court rejected the appeal by the family of Rachel Corrie – an American activist who was crushed to death by a military bulldozer in Gaza in 2003 – which sought to hold Israel accountable for her death.
The court invoked the “combat activities exception,” which absolves the Israeli military of responsibility for damages in a war zone. The ruling appears to bring an end to years of effort by the Corrie family in their wrongful death suit.
“Our family is disappointed but not surprised,” the Corrie family said in a statement released on Thursday. “Nevertheless, it is clear that this decision, affirming the August 2012 lower court finding, amounts to judicial sanction of immunity for Israeli military forces when they commit injustices and human rights violations.”
Corrie, 23, was a volunteer with the International Solidarity Movement protesting the Israeli military’s destruction of homes in Rafah, Gaza when she was killed.
An August 2012 Israeli court ruling had determined that Corrie was protesting in a closed military zone where there had recently been violence in which Israeli soldiers were attacked with a grenade.
Ukraine
Ukrainian soldiers and pro-Russian separatists resume fighting on Friday despite the successful negotiation of a cease-fire on Thursday between Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and other European leaders.
According to the Ukrainian military, 11 soldiers were killed and 40 were injured in the 24 hours following the cease-fire negotiation. The majority of the fighting took place in the separatist stronghold of Donetsk as well as in the strategic city of Debaltseve.
The cease-fire, which is scheduled to begin in two weeks, stipulates that Ukrainian forces and separatists will pull back their offensive capabilities. The agreement also gives separatist-held areas in Ukraine more autonomy, though it does not grant Ukraine any concessions on border control.
The deal did not issue any economic or military penalties on Russia for its role in supporting separatists, a role it has denied playing. However, the European Union will reportedly unilaterally move forward with sanctions against numerous separatists and Russians.
United States
In a televised address on Wednesday, Feb. 12, President Barack Obama called on Congress to formally authorize the use of military force in the war against the Islamic State, stating that congressional authorization makes the United States strongest in the fight.
Accompanied by Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State John Kerry and Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, Obama outlined the proposal he gave to Congress earlier that day and said that the bill reflects “our core objective to destroy ISIL,” and includes authority for a “systemic and sustained campaign of airstrikes,” support and training for forces on the ground and humanitarian assistance.”
President Obama was quick to note that the Authorization for the Use of Military Forces does not call for the deployment of ground troops to the region.
“I am convinced that the United States should not get back into another ground war in the Middle East – it’s not in our national security interest and not necessary for us to defeat ISIL,” he said.
According to the text of the resolution, the president’s authority to wage a military campaign would be limited to three years and would not authorize “enduring offensive ground combat operations.”
February 12
Theft of Auto Parts – Lot 6
February 13
Theft from Buildings – University Center
February 13
Sick Student/Alcohol Violation – Nanticoke/Terrace Apartments
February 14
Overdose, Alcohol – University Center
February 15
Theft from Buildings – Dining Hall
“Better Call Saul” is AMC’s newest TV show and prequel to “Breaking Bad.” Though the show has big shoes to fill, it promises to be just as good as its predecessor.
Every few years a new TV show comes around that takes the nation by storm. Everyone you know watches it. Everyone talks about it. It’s hard to believe that anything else on TV could top it.
For a glorious 5 years, AMC’s “Breaking Bad” was this TV show. Winning awards left and right, topping charts and earning praise from critics everywhere, the writers of this show knew what they were doing. But, like all good things, it came to an end. And, despite the creation of a spinoff, “Breaking Bad” is still over. Even though “Better Call Saul” features some familiar faces, it is an entirely new show.
Despite being a different entity than its predecessor, “Better Call Saul” is similar in its format. From the wide camera angles to the brilliant lighting, the show is absolutely beautiful to watch. Cinematography has always been a strength of Vince Gilligan, the show’s creator, and “Better Call Saul” is no exception.
Writing and acting are both superb, and the soundtrack is excellent. The dialogue is fast-paced and witty, which is exactly what we would expect from a character like Saul Goodman. Though there is a fair amount of humor, the show manages to retain a dark and edgy tone.
The show is smart. The show knows its audience. It is a prequel that is pulled off masterfully.
Viewers likely know what befell Saul Goodman in “Breaking Bad.” The first episode opens with a black and white scene of a broken Goodman in the aftermath of the Heisenberg incident. Saul is living in Omaha, working in a Cinnabon and terrified of anyone who looks even remotely intimidating. “Better Call Saul” strives to answer the question: how did this man fall so low?
It will undoubtedly be entertaining to watch compassionate Jimmy McGill turn into the ruthless and sleazy Saul Goodman, but the fact that we already know his fate essentially erases any suspense we may experience. When a psychotic drug dealer holds a gun to his head, the audience knows that he will not pull the trigger. When he is dragged into the desert to be interrogated, the audience knows that he will be able to weasel his way out of it. When he slumps back to his cramped office in the back of an Asian nail salon and laments his lack of customers, the audience knows that he will soon become a successful, rich lawyer.
The beauty is in the journey, however, and the suspense is in the decisions Saul makes along the way. There is no way of knowing what will happen to the side characters in this series; there are some familiar faces that will undoubtedly play a larger role later, but most are new and their fates are unknown.
Better Call Saul airs on AMC every Sunday at 10 and is absolutely worth watching.
An officer’s conduct sparks outcry from students
On Sunday, Feb. 15 at around 8:50 p.m., the fire alarm in Patapsco Hall was triggered, prompting an evacuation of the building. UMBC Police Officer Jamie Cheatem responded to the scene, and his alleged conduct has sparked an outcry from students and an investigation by the police.
According to independent accounts from several students, Officer Cheatem responded to the alarm and attempted to find out who caused it to go off. Eyewitnesses reported that Cheatem asked the crowd “Who likes to cook?” and told them that they wouldn’t be able to go back inside if no one confessed. A student who had been cooking in the first floor kitchen of the west wing came forward.
Kyle Beggs, a junior math and statistics double major who witnessed the event said, “The police officer pretty much started harassing him and said ‘Who are you? What’s your name? What did you do?’ And the guy answered. And [Cheatem] said ‘Now turn around and tell them that you fucked up.'”
The officer also instructed the student to tell the crowd his name and that he couldn’t cook.
Only then, after the student faced the crowd and gave them his name, were the residents allowed back into the building. Until that point, residents had been standing outside in single-digit weather.
Almost immediately, students took to Yik Yak, a location-based app where users can post statuses anonymously, to give their reactions to the student’s treatment by Cheatem. One user wrote, “Why the HELL did the cop decide it’s okay to publicly shame a kid instead of letting us all inside.”
While students were upset about being evacuated and forced out into the frigid 8 degree weather, many of them, both on Yik Yak and when asked in person, voiced their support of the student and condemned Cheatem’s actions.
One Yakker wrote, “public humiliation is probably the worst way to deal with something like this.”
Majed Ammari, a freshman biology major, said, “The police force over here should be much more professional than what [Cheatem] did. I know the person who caused the fire alarm, and he’s a really nice kid. He was genuinely really sorry about what he did, and there was no reason to embarrass him in front of everybody. I felt like a policeman would set a better example than that.”
Ahmed Warshanna, a freshman jazz performance major, said, “They should be wary of what they say and how they act because a lot of people right now are unhappy with the police… I know UMBC cops and they’re nice, but that was just uncalled for.”
When asked for an official statement about the incident, UMBC’s Deputy Chief of Police Paul Dillon said, “We’ve received a complaint about alleged misconduct,” on Sunday night. Dillon also stated that he had submitted paperwork to launch an internal investigation of the officer’s conduct on Monday morning. The investigation should take a couple of weeks.
The student involved has been contacted, but has declined to comment on the situation as of the time of this writing.
Cheatem’s handling of the situation has many students upset, including Beggs. “It doesn’t matter — like, what position of power [Cheatem is] in — that’s really low to call someone out for something that was probably an accident. … It’s happened three times before this semester, and nobody’s ever been called out for it. … To call someone out for something like that is really fucking low.”