Lipi Mukherjee, Ph.D. student in atmospheric physics at UMBC, has received the NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship (NESSF), which will provide funding to support her research for up to three years. Mukherjee is focused on creating a model to more quickly and precisely detect particles dissolved in large bodies of water that can reduce survival of local aquatic life, cause algal blooms, and modulate global climate.

Satellites in space collect data that describe the light reflected by the ocean’s surface. Current analysis methods allow scientists to use the ocean’s reflectance profile to infer what kind of particles the light interacted with in the water, the water’s depth, and the sea floor’s structure. Although valuable, these methods are slow, require a great deal of computer power, and can’t always distinguish between situations that produce similar data output for different reasons.

Mukherjee’s model will significantly speed up the analysis process by streamlining it to a single equation, while at the same time incorporating additional parameters to improve precision. Specifically, the model will detect the presence of colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM, mostly dead plants) and phytoplankton (tiny photosynthetic organisms), which contribute to dangerous algal blooms. Phytoplankton themselves have highly complex impacts, playing a role in global carbon regulation (by absorbing large volumes of carbon dioxide) while also posing direct threats to marine life by producing toxic compounds.

New in Mukherjee’s model will be the ability to detect water’s turbidity, or choppiness, by measuring polarization of the light returning to the satellites’ sensors. Light in calm water is generally polarized, meaning every light wave is heading in the same direction. In choppy water, the light gets bounced around, changing its polarization. Her model will also take advantage of UV light data for the first time, useful because dissolved organic matter and plankton absorb UV light. The structure of her equation will also make it easier to determine which parameter is responsible for changes in reflectance.

The project requires strong computer programming skills, which Mukherjee has picked up since moving to the United States in 2010, after completing undergraduate and master’s degrees in India in physics, with an electronics concentration. She found a welcoming environment in The Graduate School at UMBC and shares that from the beginning “everyone was very helpful and open.” In particular, Todd Pittman, professor of physics, and Michelle Massey, assistant director of International Education Services, provided a great deal of support as Mukherjee transitioned to UMBC.

Earning the NESSF fellowship is especially noteworthy for a non-U.S. citizen, because preference is given to proposals of equal caliber from American scientists, meaning Mukherjee’s proposal had to go above and beyond the high bar set by proposals from American colleagues. Mukherjee almost didn’t apply for that reason, but her advisor, Pengwang Zhai, assistant professor of physics, encouraged her and provided key support throughout the application process.

Mukherjee shares that she is thankful for the “close-knit community” in the physics department, including faculty and fellow graduate students. Even before moving to the U.S., she says, “I always wanted to do a Ph.D. in physics, and I always dreamed of working for NASA.” Now, she is one step closer.

Image: An algal bloom on the Bering Sea, captured by a NASA satellite and edited by Stuart Rankin. Used under Creative Commons License 2.0.

The ColumbiaOrchestra seeks a creative and hard-working part-time Marketing Manager to join its team. Hours are flexible (approximately 18 hours/week) but include regular office hours. Availability for all concert dates and dress rehearsals is required. Please see www.columbiaorchestra.org for schedule. Primary responsibilities include managing marketing activities and the box office for subscription, family, and chamber concerts.

UMBC launched a new $150 million campaign on June 9, on the heels of a joyful 50th anniversary year, by coming together in harmony, quite literally. With individually toned bells in hand and the UMBC Symphony Orchestra playing along on stage, visiting maestro Boris Brott led community members in a rousing impromptu performance of Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy.”

“You’ve gotten the hang of it quickly,” Brott told the crowd. “Must be all that grit and determination that UMBC is so famous for.”

The moment capped an evening celebrating how the UMBC community works together to achieve great things. The Grit & Greatness Campaign—which focuses on ways of making big breakthroughs, forging true partnerships, and transforming lives—will raise funds to support everything from endowed professorships and teaching assistantships, to merit and need-based scholarships, to maker spaces and other innovative learning opportunities for students.

While a major focus of the campaign will be encouraging support from the entire community, guests enjoyed a video tribute to leadership donors whose contributions over time have created some of UMBC’s most unique learning models, including the Meyerhoff Scholars Program, the Linehan Artist Scholars Program, and the Sherman STEM Teacher Scholars Program.

“They saw—before most others—what was possible at a place like UMBC,” said Simon Stacey, interim vice provost and dean of undergraduate education, of the featured donors. “I think you’ll agree that these individuals embody UMBC’s character and show us what we all stand to gain by investing in our future.”

President Freeman Hrabowski called UMBC “a 50-year-long American experiment”—one that tested the idea that people from all backgrounds deserve an education. Today, he said, UMBC stands as a leader in inclusive excellence.

Sondheim Public Affairs Scholar alumna Alicia Wilson ’04, political science, shared an example of this through her own story of how a visit to UMBC unlocked a future she didn’t realize was possible while growing up in East Baltimore.

College “was not a given,” said Wilson, who was only able to take the SATs because a donor paid her test fee. When she visited UMBC—and met Hrabowski—she knew where she needed to be. After earning her UMBC degree, she completed law school and joined Gordon Feinblatt’s labor and employment practice. Today, she serves as vice president of Sagamore Development, where she gives back to the community through the Lakeland STEAM Center project, a UMBC partnership.

“There’s no better investment than education. You’re guaranteed magnitudes of return,” she said. “No other investment yields returns so quickly for our economy.”

To date, UMBC has raised $92 million towards its campaign goals. UMBC’s most recent campaign—Exceptional by Example, which ran from 2002 to 2011—exceeded its goal of $100 million by $15 million, and included more than 22,000 donors.

Hrabowski appealed to the crowd of supporters with a call to help UMBC continue to grow as an essential education, research, and community-serving powerhouse at an important moment in our nation’s history.

“America needs its universities now more than ever. We live in a time of huge challenges and breathtaking discoveries. We live in a nation that is divided. We live in a time when too many young people are shut out of life-changing opportunities,” he said. “The UMBC community does not shy away from hard work. We show up. We show our grit. I’ve never been more excited about this University and what we can do.”

“Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed.” James 5.16a MSG

As Christians, this should be common practice for us… not out of the ordinary or exceptional. It is no secret that we all struggle with temptation and sin. We all need accountability, encouragement and correction. We pray for each other and minister to one another so that we can live together whole and healed in Christ.

It takes humility to repent, to turn to God and to trust our brothers and sisters in Christ… but we do so because we realize how detrimental our sin can be and that only God can purify us through the ministry of His Spirit and His church. As we trust in Him, may we experience wonderful times of refreshing and transformation (cf. Ac 3.19, Ps 102.17)!

“Where sin runs deep Your grace is more; Where grace is found is where You are” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuvfMDhTyMA

-JP

bwtech@UMBC’s International Cybersecurity Center Launch

bwtech@UMBC will hold a launch event for its new International Cybersecurity Center from 9:00 to 10:30am on Thursday, 6 July 2017 at UMBC’s bwtech Cyber Incubator (5520 Research Park Drive, Suite 110, Catonsville, MD 21228).

The iCyberCenter@bwtech is a US market entry training and incubation program for overseas cybersecurity entrepreneurs that is offered in two parts. The first is a CEO-level Executive Training Program for overseas cyber entrepreneurs, which is an intensive, week-long course to help international cyber business leaders accelerate their understanding of the US cyber market and develop the most effective US market entry business strategies. The second is a mentored, year long US Market Entry Incubator Program that provides ongoing market entry and development support for qualifying overseas companies within the bwtech@UMBC Cyber Incubator.

Attend the iCyberCenter launch to learn more about its exciting new international programs and how you can get involved. It is looking for subject matter experts, professional service provider partners, sponsors, and supporters to help with the innovative and exciting program. Light breakfast will be served. RSVP for the event here.

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