NASA OSSI Online Career Week, a virtual career fair for students pursuing degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). This exciting initiative is sponsored by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and it will take place February 10-12.

The NASA OSSI Online Career Week will allow students to connect and engage live with NASA, top STEM employers and graduate programs across the country. Participants will learn about internship, fellowship and job opportunities in the public and private sectors. They will also be able to interact with representatives from highly ranked graduate programs and network with admissions officers.  There is no cost or travel associated with their participation in this event.

Is this for graduate students? YES! 

From the website: Who Should Attend?

• Undergraduate and graduate students looking for internship, scholarship, and fellowship opportunities at NASA.
• Undergraduate and graduate students looking for internships and jobs in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics at companies across the country.

To register, students should visit the following link: http://nasaossi.brazenconnect.com/

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This information has been brought to UMBC and all schools within the PROMISE AGEP by the Institute for Broadening Participation, http://pathwaystoscience.org/. This opportunity is open to students nationwide. Please participate!

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UMBC participates in the Council of Graduate Schools’ initiative for pathways into careers.

The Strategic Planning Steering Committee invites faculty, students, staff, and alumni to an informal, interactive gallery on Monday, February 9, 2:30-4:30 p.m., in the UC Ballroom. Participants will have the opportunity to speak with leaders of the strategy groups focused on Innovative Curriculum and Pedagogy; The Student Experience; Collective Impact in Research, Scholarship and Creative Achievement; Community and Extended Connection; and the Foundations Work Group.

Participants are invited to tour posters documenting the early planning work and discuss the research and emerging themes with strategy and foundations group members. Participants may also provide feedback through online polling and comment opportunities at the gallery event. Light refreshments will be served.

In addition to the upcoming gallery, we encourage you to review the strategic planning mid-year interim reports describing strategy and foundations group work to date, key findings, and emerging themes, which are now available to the campus community for review and comment.

Your experiences and perspective shared through the fall campus survey and the feedback collected from your comments online and at the interactive gallery event will inform development of final recommendations due to the Strategic Planning Steering Committee in mid-April.

We look forward to your participation in the planning process.

Dwight Polk, paramedic program director and senior lecturer of emergency health services, recently presented at the Arrowhead EMS Conference in Duluth, Minn. about exploring the psychological impact of line of duty deaths (LODD) on EMS organizations. Polk regularly teaches and presents at regional and state EMS conferences around the country.

The editor of EMS1.com, a news service for EMS professionals, wrote an article analyzing Polk’s presentation in discussing the inevitability of planning and preparing for a line of duty death in the profession. The article mentioned several key takeaways from Polk’s presentation, including having updated emergency contact forms, protection of evidence in LODDs, engaging the news media as a partner, and using an authorized spokesperson to speak on behalf of the department, among other topics.

Polk serves as a mental health professional for two CISM teams and is a CIT trainer for the Howard County Police Department. He is the co-author of two textbooks; “Pre-Hospital Behavior Emergencies and Crisis Response”  and “Law Enforcement Responder: Principles of Emergency Medicine, Rescue and Force Protection.”

To read the full article on EMS1.com, click here.

In the days surrounding Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan’s State of the State address, Donald Norris provided analysis on what to expect for the remainder of the legislative session. Norris, professor and director of UMBC’s School of Public Policy, discussed GOP fundraising, the relationship between the governor and legislature, and ongoing discussions over the budget.

Norris was interviewed for several articles in the Baltimore Sun and Washington Post. To read complete coverage, click below:

A GOP governor means new challenges for longtime Md. Senate President Mike Miller (Washington Post)
As budget battle heats up in Annapolis, Democrats rally around school funding (Washington Post)
Hogan, GOP have raised over $2 million since his victory (Baltimore Sun)
Democrats say most of Hogan’s agenda won’t pass (Baltimore Sun)

Name: Jonathan Luckin

Internship, Co-op or Research Site: Asymmetrik | Title of Your Position: Software Engineer Intern

Major(s)/Minor(s): Mathematics, Physics

Expected Graduation Year: May 2017

Briefly describe your internship, co-op, research, or service-learning opportunity, including your day-to-day tasks, responsibilities, and assignments.

I work with software developers in order to create, update, and test new applications. This requires me to use several programming languages as and a wide variety of existing libraries as well as good engineering principles. Since most of the projects I have worked on have been long term, day to day operations are mostly identifying small sections which need to be developed and then creating and testing those sections. I also assisted in writing a white paper, a paper used to describe a possible application which was then sent to possible clients.

Describe the process of obtaining your internship, research, or co-op opportunity.

I found out about the internship opportunity at one of the career fairs sponsored by UMBC during the school year. I talked with company representatives and submitted a resume with them. Several weeks later, I received an e-mail from the company, expressing interest in my application. After conducting a phone interview, I was asked to complete a programming challenge, demonstrating my coding knowledge. I was then brought in to have several in-person interviews. The day after my interview, I was offered a position as an intern. Careers Center helped a lot. I had my resume looked over and edited before I submitted it. Career Center also told me about the career fair where I found out about the company.

Which of the following resources did you use to find your current experience?

Career Fairs

What have you enjoyed the most about your position or organization/company?

I have really enjoyed learning new technologies and methods of development. I have been working with tools and technologies which I was not too familiar with before I started the internship, and it has been very rewarding to learn and apply new knowledge. I also have enjoyed working with such a talented company. My co-workers are very skilled and talented and I am glad for the opportunity to learn from and help them to accomplish tasks.

What have you gained from your experience that you could not have gained from another opportunity?

I have learned how to apply theoretical knowledge in a practical and professional environment. The lifecycle and development of applications cannot easily be taught in the classroom or in a book. I have learned more about application development and engineering principles by working with experienced professionals in the last few months then I have from classes or my own research. I have also had access to programming tools and environments that I was not aware of and would be difficult to access or discover by myself. My mentor helped me set up several of these systems and I have gained a lot of valuable experience. Without this internship, I would not have discovered these programming tools, environments, or methods.

What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?

I would advise students to start looking for internships very early. Internships can be very competitive and positions fill up very quickly. Since the hiring process can take a while, looking for a summer internship is not something to put off into the end of the school year, but something that takes place throughout the entire year. I would also recommend that students take an active role in the hiring process. Students should make sure to keep in regular contact with companies to make sure that their applications are being considered. Without regular contact, the company might assume you are no longer interested and just put your application at the bottom of the pile. I recommend that students make sure to research the companies which they apply. Applying for a position which you are not really interested in or qualify for just wastes everyone's time and effort. Make sure that you know your skill set and have a resume and application which reflects your abilities. Finally, it is important to present one's self in a professional manner. Dressing properly and speaking clearly and politely can go a long way in leaving a positive impression on potential employers.

Please provide a short reflection or quote about what you liked most about your position / earning internship credit / the internship placement process.

My internship with Asymmetrik has given me valuable hands-on experience from working alongside talented and experienced professionals with cutting-edge technologies.

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Want to be the next Intern of the Week? Make sure to fill out this form and stay tuned. New interns are announced every Friday!