Kevin is a Biology major who will graduate in 2019. The major focus of his work is to explore issues at the interface between development and human disease, with a view towards identifying novel points of therapeutic intervention. He works in Dr. Charles Bieberich's lab on the ongoing question of homeobox gene function in mouse development intersected with human prostate cancer with the discovery of the mouse Nkx3.1 gene.

How did you find you mentor? I work with Dr. Charles Bieberich in the Biological Sciences department. I originally came to hear of his research through searches for researching professors in cancer biology at UMBC. I then emailed him and checked by his office persistently until I was able to schedule a time to meet with him.I began researching in cancer biology during a biophysics high school summer internship at the National Institutes of Standards and Technology in radiation dosimetry. I was enthralled by cancer research ever since and knew after meeting Dr. Bieberich that his research in prostate cancer would be a perfect fit for me.

Is this your first independent research? This is my second independent research project with the first being my radiation dosimetry project at the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

How much time do you put into it? I spend about 15 hours an academic week in the laboratory with a 35-hour week during academic breaks and vacations.

How did you hear about the Undergraduate Research Award (URA) program? I heard about the Undergraduate Research Award from my mentors in the Honors College. I am currently preparing my application for the 2018-19 award.

What has been the hardest part about your research? The hardest part of conducting my research is that since I work with mice, I must be available at any given hour during the day to check on the mice and handle any circumstances that may arise from working within a murine model. It becomes difficult at times to manage working in the laboratory and working on schoolwork.

What was the most unexpected thing? The most unexpected thing to occur from working in Dr. Bieberich’s prostate cancer laboratory is that after two years of working in the laboratory, I would be working on proposing a dietary study that involves the surprising link between prostate cancer, diabetes, and obesity. I never thought that diabetes could actually decrease prostate cancer risk.

How does your research relate to your work in other classes? My work in the laboratory relates to many of the laboratory procedures that I learned about in BIOL141, BIOL302, and BIOL303. My newest research in the effects of diet on prostate cancer relate to my Honors College seminar on the science of obesity.

What else are you involved in on campus? I am Treasurer of the Honors College Council, a Red Cross Volunteer, and Student Brand Ambassador for Kaplan Test Prep.

What is your advice to other students about getting involved in research? My advice to other student about getting involved research is to never be too shy to approach a mentor about their research. Mentors are busy and may seem cold at first, but they genuinely do want to teach students about research and inspire students to become involved in research.

What are your career goals? My career goal is to become a professor in cancer biology researching the effects of macromolecule receptors and microtubule stabilizing proteins on cancer progression.

Want to be featured as a Researcher of the Week?
Email aprilh@umbc.edu

Hello players! Tonight we will be playing "Thanksgiving Feast" in Sondheim 114 at 7 in celebration of the upcoming holiday.

We will NOT be meeting on Thursday due to the holiday break. Enjoy the break and eat lots of turkey (or brains)!

Join me in congratulating M26 Naomi Mburu (CENG) who has made history by becoming UMBC's and Meyerhoff/MARC's first Rhodes Scholar!  We'll formally recognize Naomi at Monday's Family Meeting.

Major: Chemical Engineering

Minor: Physics

Hometown: Ellicott City, MD

Campus Activities:
President of National Society of Black Engineers; Meyerhoff Scholar; Barry Goldwater Scholar; Research in Dr. Gymama Slaughter’s laboratory in the computer engineering department. My project focuses on developing self-powered implantable biofuel cells; Interned in Geneva, Switzerland at the European Center for Nuclear Research (CERN). I worked on monitoring the concentration of impurities leaving the muon detectors on the Large Hadron Collider; Interned at Vanderbilt University. I worked on developing a 3D printed artery that could be used for drug delivery testing.

Why did you chose UMBC?
I have been at UMBC basically my whole life because my mom works here, so I have always been familiar with the campus. What really drew me to UMBC was the Meyerhoff program because it has a remarkable track record for preparing minority students to earn STEM-related PhD’s, which is exactly what I want to do.

What do you love about UMBC?
I love the size of UMBC. This school is big enough that I can meet someone new everyday, but small enough that I can really get to know my professors and the students in my department. I also love the commitment to diversity, because I am very passionate about increasing access to higher education for people from diverse backgrounds. I also love how highly interdisciplinary UMBC is. UMBC is a place where I feel free to explore all of my interests.

What would you say to a prospective student?
If you want to be a part of a vibrant, diverse community of people who love to learn and work together, come to UMBC!

What has been your favorite class at UMBC?
I took a Modern Physics course my sophomore year, and my mind was blown almost every time I opened the textbook for that class. It was different from the courses I usually take because the information I was learning was not practical at all, but it was incredibly interesting to read about, ponder, and debate about with my peers.My favorite subject from that class was special relativity. Did you know that if you were on a rocket capable of moving near the speed of light, you would be a different weight and height from the point of view of someone on earth, but these values would be different from the point of view of someone who is also on the ship with you. So whose point of view is the “correct” value? This class really made me think.

What are you researching?
I work in Dr. Gymama Slaughter’s lab in the computer engineering department. We are working on developing self-powered, implantable biofuel cells that can sense glucose and lactic acid concentrations in the body.  I have presented this research at a technology conference in Washington, D.C.

Where did you complete your internship/applied learning experience?
Last summer, I interned at the European Center for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Geneva, Switzerland. I applied to this program through the University of Michigan as a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU). My stay was fully funded, and I was provided a healthy stipend. There were 300 students chosen from all over the world (roughly ten per country). During my time there, I worked on analyzing the gas mixtures used to detect muons on the Large Hadron Collider using several chemistry-related techniques such as mass spectrometry and gas chromatography. In my free time, I attended physics classes taught my physicists at CERN, and explored Europe with my new friends. I traveled to France, Spain, Germany, the UK, and the Czech Republic, as well as all over Switzerland.

What do you hope to achieve after you complete your degree at UMBC?
After I graduate, I intend to pursue a PhD and then work in industry.

UMBC’s Amended Policy on Sexual Misconduct prohibits Interpersonal Violence. Relationship Violence and Domestic Violence are forms of Interpersonal Violence under the University’s Policy.

Who does the Policy apply to?

Relationship Violence:

§  A person who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with a UMBC community member.

§  Social Relationships are determined based on:

o   Relationship length

o   Relationship type

o   Frequency of interaction between the persons involved

Domestic Violence:

§  A UMBC community member’s current or former spouse or intimate partner;

§  A person with whom the UMBC community member shares a child in common;

§  A person who is cohabitating with or has cohabitated with the UMBC community member as a spouse or intimate partner;

§  A person similarly situated to a spouse of the UMBC community member;

§  Any other person who is protected from those acts under the domestic or family violence laws of Maryland. 

What do these Prohibited Behaviors look like?

*not all of these factors have to be present

Where can my student get help on campus if they experience either of these forms of Interpersonal Violence?

Confidential Support and Access to Resources

University Health Services:  410.455.2542

Counseling Center:                 410.455.2472

Quasi-Confidential Support and Access to Resources

Women’s Center:                   410.455.2714 

Title IX Resources Team (see the Policy for the list of faculty/staff members on the team and their contact information).

Non-Confidential Support and Access to Resources

Bobbie L. Hoye, Title IX Coordinator                                          410.455.1606

Vice President of Student Affairs Office                                      410.455.2393

Mosaic Center                                                                                   410.455.2686

Student Disability Services                                                            410.455.2459

International Education Services                                                 410.455.2624

Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships                                       410.455.2387

Off Campus Student Services                                                       410.455.2770