By Fourandsixty (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

The Women Data Scientists in Baltimore Meetup will hold its first meeting this month, featuring a talk by Patty Stanton of the Social Security Administration on how to get started in the field of data science. Men are also welcome at this event. More information below.

Get started in Data Science!
2:00-4:00pm Saturday, March 31, 2018
Howard County Library Miller Branch, 9421 Frederick Rd, Ellicott City MD 21042

The existing gender gap and lack of female representation in the IT industry and STEM fields is a serious issue that needs to be met in the 21st century. A career in these fields can offer prestige, challenges, and rewards while still providing a work life balance. Please join us for networking, food, and a discussion with Patty Stanton.

Patty Stanton is a data scientist in the federal government. Patty would like to share with you her journey in becoming a data scientist, which is a career she loves. She has over twenty years of development and technical leadership role having worked as branch chief, a developer, and an engineer. She encourages more women with your unique skills and experience to join this field. She would like to discuss opportunities in data science and how to get started using different tools in data science. Patty will discuss some of her personal experiences, tips for getting started in data science, show you some interesting examples, and teach you how to pick projects at Kaggle! For more information, please read her article Women in Stem – Dealing with unconscious bias.

Schedule
2:00 PM Arrive, Networking, Food
2:30 PM Introductions
2:45 PM A Talk from Patty Stanton
3:45 PM Free discussion
Bring your computer if you want.

Men are welcome at this event. Our mission is to encourage more women and non-binary individuals to get involved in the data scientist community. Please help us by spreading the word about women data scientist in Baltimore.  This is our first women’ data scientist event, please take a moment to review R-Ladies Global code of conduct.  RSVP here.

The post 🤝Women Data Scientists in Baltimore Meetup: Get started in Data Science, 3/31 appeared first on Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering.

With less than a second left on the clock, the Retrievers’ star guard Jairus Lyles made a stunning three-point shot, dethroning the University of Vermont in an edge-of-your-seat America East Championship match that catapulted UMBC to its first NCAA tournament berth in a decade. The moment, NCAA shared, was “March Madness at its finest!”

#MarchMadness at its finest!

UMBC is dancing after this CLUTCH bucket

The UMBC Office of Administration and Finance is offering a year long (Fall 2018 through Spring 2019) internship program for undergraduates.  These paid internships ($15 per hour) will integrate the student intern in a cross-departmental experience in business functions that support the mission of a higher education institution.  Over the course of the academic year, interns will work in 3-4 different functions, in their chosen higher education business area, gaining a broad perspective on the critical administrative functions that support the academic mission in higher education and the positive aspects of a career in the business of higher education.

TO APPLY, Submit a RESUME and COVER LETTER via UMBCworks answering the following questions for each position that interests you:
-What attracted you to this program?
-Is there any additional information you would like to provide in support of your consideration for this internship opportunity?

The Human Resources Internship will provide direct experience in support and professional services available to current and prospective employees, and management in the areas of employment, benefits, compensation and classification, training and development, payroll, labor relations, policy, administration, and human resources data management and reporting. This could include participation in projects designed to enhance HR services, promote employee engagement, and develop strategies that attract and retain a valuable workforce.
 
The Facilities Management Internship will introduce the intern to the various aspects employed to plan, design, construct, operate, and maintain campus buildings, grounds, and utility systems.  The intern will be exposed to the business practices and tools used to resolve trouble calls, contract for professional services, manage construction projects, and deploy the talented and skilled workforce required for stewardship of the campus’s physical resources. Special projects may include development of GIS applications, assisting with sustainability measures, and analyzing space utilization.

The Finance Internship will involve the intern in the various aspects of the financial management that support UMBC.  This will include financial accounting and reporting, student billing, the university budget, and the analysis and communications skills necessary for success in these endeavors. The intern will gain an understanding of the interdependent relationship of these areas essential to support effective and efficient financial operations.
 
 The Safety and Security Internship will provide opportunities for the intern to assist in crime scene investigations and search warrant operations, analysis of evidence, property collection and documentation, ComStat analysis of criminal activity and plan response, participate in emergency response exercises and critical incident risk assessments, and other day-to-day police and risk management operations.
 
The Business Operations Internship will give the intern a variety of experiences in the areas of contract negotiations and management, buying goods and services, tracking revenue generation, audit and customer service.  This could involve campus dining services, the bookstore, campus card, audit review, leases and other general business operations.

Burlington, VT:

It was championship Saturday in Vermont, and the UMBC cheerleaders, dance team, and Down n’ Dirty Dawg Band crowded the lobby of the Green Mountain Suites in downtown Burlington. As the players processed down the staircase, the UMBC fight song filled the halls of the spectacular hotel the cheerleaders and dance team surrounded the players.

The pomp and circumstance did not phase the team, as they exited the hotel and boarded their bus to head to Patrick Gymnasium at the University of Vermont. Their serious demenour exemplified the extreme focus on the goal in front of them, to beat the UVM Catamounts for the first time in a decade, and capture an America East title.

The old gym feels hauntingly similar to the RAC due to its age, but is much larger. The wooden bleachers slope steeply upwards on both sides of the court, and the UVM fans packed the stadium hoping to watch their Catamounts capture their second consecutive America East title.

The intimate venue holds 3,266 people, all stacked on top of each other, which made for a deafening roar every time the Catamounts made a shot, or had a key defensive play. The first half was full of these outbursts, as the Catamounts shot 55 percent from the field.

The first outcry of cheers came in the opening minutes, as Vermont scored first. But, the building would fall silent as with 16:15 left in the half, two Catamount players collided with each other, and had to be attended to by the training staff. The two would walk off of the court on their own power, bringing the building back to life.

UMBC would struggle to keep pace with the Catamounts for much of the first half, trailing by as many as nine points. But, graduate-guard Jairus Lyles was determined to keep the Retrievers in the game, shooting 4-6 over the first ten minutes of the game. But, that would not be enough, as UMBC would trail 30-21 with five minutes left in the first half.

But, in the closing two minutes, the Retrievers would initiate an onslaught, capitalizing on crisp ball movement to create space for their two best shooters to perform. Senior-guard and sociology major KJ Maura and Lyles would combine for three straight 3-pointers at the end of the half, finishing off a 16-5 run to give UMBC a 37-35 lead heading into the final 20 minutes of the America East season.

The second half started with a UMBC block, before the Catamounts regained the lead on three foul shots.  After the Catamounts began to pull away from the Retrievers, UMBC faced a tough challenge as Maura picked up his fourth foul, and went to the bench with 15 minutes to go in the game. By the time Maura reentered the game, the Retrievers had dug themselves a deep hole, trailing 9 points with nine minutes to go.

But the Retrievers would not give up. First, Lyles drew a foul from behind the arch, sinking two out of three foul shots to bring the Retrievers within 7 points. Then, with eight minutes left, Junior-forward and financial economics major Joe Sherburne hit a 3-pointer to briefly cut the deficit before Vermont answered with 2 points, bringing the deficit to 6 with 8:05 left.

With around 6 minutes left, Lyles got a steal, and passed to senior media and communications major Jourdon Grant who subsequently drew a foul while driving up the court. Grant would sink the two free throws, cutting the deficit to 4. After a UMBC foul shot, the Retrievers trailed by only 3 points, and Maura converted an NBA range 3-pointer to tie the game with 5:00 left to go.

After Vermont scored 2 points, sophomore Max Curran was in great position in the paint, driving to the rim and tying the game on a monster dunk to make the score 60-60 with 2:46 left in the game. Then, after Vermont scored yet again, the Retrievers had an opportunity to take the lead on a wide open Grant 3-attempt, but Grant failed to convert the opportunity. As the ball headed out of bounds, a slew of bodies went after it, and the ball was ruled to be out on UMBC giving Vermont possession.

But, after a video review, referees determined that the ball was out on Vermont, giving UMBC the ball back with 50 seconds left on the clock. Lyles would subsequently drive into the lane, and make a layup to tie the game at 62-62. As Vermont tried to drive up the court and defend their 2017 America East title with a late-game basket, the shot attempt was blocked by Curran.

Lyles moved up the court and hovered around the half court line as time began to die down. Coach Ryan Odom tried to signal Lyles to call a timeout, but Lyles was insistent on running his own play. With three seconds left, Vermont-guard Trae Bell-Haynes gave Lyles a bit of space, expecting him to drive to the lane. But instead, with three seconds left on the clock Lyles pulled up from behind the arch, draining the attempt that will forever be known in UMBC history as “The Shot.”

Madness ensued, players ran into the court to congratulate Lyles, but the game wasn’t over quite yet. Vermont inbounded the ball with 0.5 seconds left on the clock, and Lyles deflected the inbound as time had expired. The game was over, and the Retrievers were champions.

UMBC fans, spirit teams, and members from the Retriever stormed the court to celebrate the historic moment. Players were given hats, and shirts as the party lasted for what seemed like hours.

At the end of the madness, players took turns cutting down the net that Lyles had put that shot through just moments before. Fans still couldn’t believe what happened, and neither could the players.

Even over an hour after the win, the hysteria had not worn off for the UMBC spirit teams, clapping inside of the Vermont restaurant they attended after the game as the highlight of Lyles’ shot played on ESPN. But one thing was for sure, UMBC was going dancing.

Hello Everyone,

A single room with a large wardrobe in fully furnished townhouse available at 4837 Carmella drive, Arbutus - 21227. The rent is 500$. The place can be shared by two or rented to a single occupant too. (Female)

Close to UMBC. Giant Store, Weis market at walking distance.

Please comment or send an email to subsum1@umbc.edu

Computer Vision for Autonomous Underwater Vehicles

Dr. David Chapman, Oceaneering International

11:00-12:00 Monday March 12, 2018, ITE 325, UMBC

Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) are unmanned and unteathered submarine vehicles with a variety of applications from bathymetry survey to naval warfare. Attenuation and scattering of light and electromagnetic radiation through water severely restricts wireless communications as well as distorts and attenuates camera imagery. Bandwidth limitations prevent AUVs from being remotely piloted, thus full autonomy is required for operation. Computer vision extends the ability for AUVs to perform advanced behaviors, but must address the unique challenges of underwater photography, underwater lidar, and multibeam sonar sensors. We will discuss recent research and development efforts related to computer vision of AUVs as their applications, including oilfield pipeline survey and inspection, obstacle avoidance and autonomous docking. We will also briefly discuss efforts toward amphibious vehicles, AGVs for factory automation, as well as ongoing research in acoustic signal processing.

Dr. David Chapman is a Senior Software Engineer with Oceaneering International inc., which is the largest producer of subsea Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) and largest operator of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs). Dr. Chapman completed his Ph.D. from University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) in 2012 studying remote sensing, image processing, and parallel computing. He also completed a post doctoral fellowship at Columbia University’s Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory studying data analytics for El Nino prediction. At Oceaneering, Dr. Chapman has been a key contributor to computer vision algorithms research for new product development including the Pipeline Inspection AUV (PI-AUV), winner of Oceaneering’s 2017 innovative product award. He is also a contributor to both the proposal and development efforts of a vision-based AUV auto-docking system. Dr. Chapman has studied and applied a variety of computer vision algorithms including the fast Radon transform, wavelet-based feature classification, numerical optimization, and neural networks in order to extend the capabilities of AUVs and related autonomous vehicles.

The post 🗣️talk: Computer Vision for Autonomous Underwater Vehicles, 11am Mon 3/12 appeared first on Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering.

The Shriver Center coordinates this undergraduate scholarship program, funded by the France-Merrick Foundation. For over 20 years, this scholarship remains available for students who demonstrate an exemplary commitment to service, leadership, and civic engagement on the UMBC campus and in the Greater Baltimore region.  The France-Merrick Scholarship Program seeks to combine service and reflection, build relationships, and strengthen networks to affect meaningful change.

Fellows are awarded a scholarship that goes towards tuition, mandatory fees, and room and board expenses. This will not exceed $15,000 for Maryland students, $22,000 for out-of-state students. In 2015-16, Fellows will engage in service connected with Baltimore City;  serve in leadership roles (which includes convening meetings for the France-Merrick Scholarship Program), support meaningful professional development, and serve as ambassadors of service at UMBC. For 2018-19, two Fellows will be selected.

Scholars are awarded a scholarship of up to $1,500. In 2015-16, Scholars will engage in service connected with Baltimore City, support meaningful professional development, participate in meetings, and serve as ambassadors of service at UMBC.  For 2018-19, between five-seven Scholars will be selected.

Application Timeline for the 2018-19 cohort is:

• Friday, March 9th - the on-line application is LIVE!
• Monday, April 9th, 2018 at 5pm – The application will close.
• By Friday, April 13th, 2018 – Applicants will be notified of their status, some invited for interviews.
• Late April 2018 – Interviews by the Selection Committee will take place.
• Tuesday, May 15th, 2018 – Selected Scholars and Fellows will be announced.

For more info on the current cohort and to access the application link, please visit: