Jeff Leips

Jeff Leips, who joined the faculty in 2001, is making groundbreaking contributions to interdisciplinary undergraduate education in the life sciences. He was recognized for this effort with a National Academies Education Fellow award in 2004 and UMBC’s Carl Weber Award for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Teaching in 2010.

Leips implemented major changes in undergraduate biological sciences education at UMBC, focused on improving students’ quantitative reasoning skills, especially applied to biological problems. With funding from the NIH and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Leips worked with faculty and students to develop over 20 active learning modules and assessment tools for introductory biological sciences courses. In each module, students work in groups to solve significant biological problems requiring quantitative approaches. Assessment of these modules by an outside firm indicates that undergraduates taking these courses exhibit a significant improvement in their quantitative skills in biological contexts.

He is co-director of an NSF-funded project to establish Interdisciplinary Training for Undergraduates in Biological and Mathematical Sciences at UMBC (UBM@UMBC). This program provides a two-year research experience for pairs of students (from mathematics/statistics and biological sciences) working with a pair of faculty (one each from mathematics/statistics and biological sciences).

Leips also worked with faculty in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics to incorporate more biological applications into existing mathematics courses, and establish two new minors, one in Biomathematics (overseen by the Department of Mathematics and Statistics) and one in Quantitative Biology (overseen by the Department of Biological Sciences). This major overhaul to improve students’ quantitative skills through changes in the classroom, new research opportunities, new courses, and new minors should all have a significant and far reaching positive influence not only on UMBC’s students, but on the faculty and institution itself.

Leips received his Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from Florida State University.

Justine Marie Johnson
Associate Director, Meyerhoff Graduate Fellows Program

Johnson devised and manages the summer bridge program for incoming Graduate Fellows, and also directs the Summer Biomedical Training Program, which supports research experiences for undergraduates who are interested in pursuing doctoral degrees in the biomedical and behavioral sciences. When funding for outreach efforts was cut, Johnson was instrumental in raising extramural funding to continue the program.

As an administrator of the Meyerhoff Graduate Fellows Program, Johnson took the lead on writing the last two successfully funded competitive renewals, with the most recent submission receiving a priority score of 13 (a score of 10 is considered perfect) and receiving $3.3 million in January 2013.

In addition to being highly regarded by her peers and the faculty at UMBC, Johnson gained a national reputation for her leadership skills and activities. She now serves as a regular member of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Study Section that evaluates proposed diversity activities in National Human Genetics Research Institute centers, and she serves on the diversity advisory boards of several academic institutions.

Manil Suri
Professor, Mathematics and Statistics
2013-2016 Presidential Teaching Award

Manil Suri joined the UMBC faculty in 1983. Today, as a professor of mathematics, he has made significant contributions in the field of Numerical Analysis, obtaining hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants for research at UMBC. Suri is also an internationally recognized writer; his works have been published in major publications including The New Yorker, Newsweek and Washington Post Magazine.

Suri’s interest in teaching often expands outside of our campus, and his work, both inside and outside the field of mathematics, repeatedly engages audiences with UMBC. He has attracted tens of thousands of viewers on YouTube via his videos in mathematics, has spoken on mathematical topics on NPR and the BBC and has explained mathematics to artists and writers at artist colonies. Currently, he is working on a cutting-edge project meant to make math accessible to a range of students: an e-book that combines animated video, film and fiction to explain mathematical concepts in simple terms.

Having worked with a range of students – from high school level to graduate level – Suri is known as a teacher that goes above-and-beyond in the matters of instruction. He is not only consistently successful in the communication of lessons, but also excels in teaching what it takes to become successful overall in the academic realm. He is known by UMBC students as an instructor that is willing to work just as hard as his students to ensure that everyone is able to learn the material.

Suri earned his M.S. and Ph.D in mathematics from Carnegie-Mellon University.

Suzanne Ostrand-Rosenberg
Professor, Biological Sciences
2013 University System of Maryland Board of Regents’ Award for Excellence
in Mentoring

Suzanne Ostrand-Rosenberg joined UMBC in 1977 and serves as the Robert and Jane Meyerhoff Chair of Biochemistry. Her reputation as an authority in the field of cancer immunology research, and her commitment to the subject extends beyond the UMBC community; she been a member of the Maryland Stem Cell Commission since 2006 and has served on the National Cancer Institute Board of Scientific Counselors since 2009.

Ostrand-Rosenberg runs an internationally recognized cancer immunology research lab in which she has trained students at all levels of study. The combination of her state-of-the-art research methods and dedication to encouraging students interested in pursuing research, often prepares students far beyond the scope of the research activity of their peers. Her trainees have received external fellowships, travel awards for attendance at national and international conferences and have had their findings published in prestigious scientific journals. She is active in the UMBC MARC U*STAR program and managed one of the first Undergraduate Research Experience (REU) programs on campus, BCURE (Breast Cancer Undergraduate Research Experience).

She often provides advice and direction for new and young faculty on writing grants and on balancing teaching, research and service, whenever possible, and devotes time to the advancement of women in STEM fields through various programs and activities.

She is held in high regard by those who encounter her as someone willing to unselfishly lend her time to all students and colleagues whom ask for assistance.

Suzanne Ostrand-Rosenberg received her Ph.D in immunology from the California Institute of Technology.

Nagaraj K. Neerchal
Professor and Chair, Mathematics and Statistics
2013 University System of Maryland Board of Regents’ Award for Innovation-Academic Transformation in Teaching

Nagaraj K. Neerchal has been a member of the Mathematics and Statistics Faculty since 1986, and is known as an exemplary researcher in the field of applied statistics. Since becoming chair of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics in 2006, he has developed a reputation as a pioneer for educational and administrative initiatives.

As a member of a department responsible for providing foundational courses for UMBC’s undergraduates, Neerchal’s actions have proven crucial in maintaining the level of excellence in education for students while enrollment grows. His development of the Quiz Zero initiative – a complex assessment of a student’s preparedness for a particular math course – has greatly improved student success in foundational math courses. Students take Quiz Zero at the start of the semester, and receive immediate feedback for their preparedness for particular math and stat courses, allowing them to make more informed decisions. Neerchal has also lead the department in the creation of hybrid learning material for statistics courses, blending the resource-efficient elements of online instruction with face time with the instructor. The development of these projects has not only enhanced student learning opportunities, they allow students’ interactions with faculty to become more valuable.

Neerchal is also a co-founder for the Center of Interdisciplinary Research and Consulting (CIRC), which has been a major contributor to active learning at UMBC. It combines the training of graduate students with professional consulting, and has become the host of a National Science Foundation (NSF) funded Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU).

Nagaraj K. Neerchal received his Ph.D in Statistics from Iowa State University.

Paul S. Ciotta
Technical Coordinator and Facilities Manager, Physics
2012-2013 Presidential Distinguished Award, Professional Staff

For the past 38 years, Paul S. Ciotta has served the UMBC community and is currently the technical coordinator and facilities manager for the Department of Physics.

Ciotta is known for his professionalism and eagerness to rise to a challenge. During the construction of the physics building, he coordinated with architects, engineers and university representatives, sometimes working 60-hour weeks. He gathered technical data—including information on HVAC, electric, plumbing, communications and space requirements—from the faculty and presented it to the building design team, and then ensured that they were properly implemented.

At the time, there was no astrophysics faculty, and he was responsible for purchasing the $500,000 telescope. He spent countless hours reading, studying and speaking to experts before approaching manufacturers, and then worked out the exact specifications and planned the installation on the new Physics Building roof.

His ability to adapt, learn new technology and solve problems across a variety of disciplines make him an invaluable asset to the department.

Bimal Sinha
Professor, Mathematics Statistics
2012-2013 University System of Maryland Board of Regents’ Award for Excellence in Research

Since joining UMBC as a full professor in 1985, Bimal Sinha has served the Department of Mathematics and Statistics with world-class scholarship, outstanding teaching and mentoring. An internationally recognized scholar, Sinha has established himself as a leading authority in the field of environmental statistics. His work informed groundwater contamination enforcement and compliance decisions, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has funded his work since 1987.

Sinha’s leadership was instrumental in developing UMBC’s statistics program, which has become internationally renowned for research excellence. He developed and organized the popular “Probability and Statistics Day”, an annual one-day workshop at UMBC, funded in part by the National Security Administration. The event attracts statisticians from universities, private industries and the federal government.

Sinha’s research has appeared in numerous publications, including the International Journal of Statistical Sciences and Journal of Biopharmaceutical Statistics. He is an elected member of the International Statistical Institute, and the U.S. Census Bureau has named him a Research Mathematical Statistician.

Sinha earned his B.S., M.S. and Ph.D in statistics from Calcutta University.

Phyllis Robinson
Professor, Biological Sciences
2012-2013 UMBC President’s Commission for Women Achievement Award

Phyllis Robinson has been a campus advocate on behalf of women and devoted to gender equity issues since first joining UMBC in 1992. Shortly after receiving tenure in 1999, she co-chaired a committee to investigate the gender differences in resources for female faculty in STEM fields. Her goal was to make UMBC as famous for its support of women in science as it is for the success of the Meyerhoff Scholars. In 2000, she was instrumental in the creation of Women in Science and Engineering (WISE), a group dedicated to addressing the challenges faced by women in STEM fields, and to give them support in male-dominated disciplines and departments.

For the next decade, WISE established resources and a community of support, organizing workshops on a variety of topics, including tenure, time management and health. She helped establish a formal family medical leave policy at UMBC, encouraged women to seek leadership roles on campus, and extended WISE to graduate students. Over the past decade, the number of female tenure-track faculty has more than doubled.

Robinson’s work and enthusiasm has helped advance the careers of women in the sciences at UMBC, all while maintaining a well funded research program, mentoring and training eight Ph.D students, four M.S. students and 29 undergraduate students in her lab.

Robinson earned her Ph.D from the University of Wisconsin and was a postdoctoral fellow at Brandeis University.

Matthias Gobbert
Associate Professor, Mathematics and Statistics
2010-2011 University System of Maryland Board of Regents’ Faculty Award for Excellence in Mentoring

Joining UMBC as an assistant professor in 1997, Matthias Gobbert mentors students, providing them with numerous pathways to success.

Gobbert has a clear vision as to the skills and credentials students need to become successful applied mathematicians. He sets high expectations for written communication and provides opportunities for students to collaborate in research with other faculty members and students. He has mentored both undergraduate and graduate students, along with students from other institutions, and has helped numerous students publish technical reports, conference papers and papers in prestigious peer-reviewed journals.

In 2005, Gobbert co-founded the Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Consulting (CIRC), where he continues to serve as associate director. He co-founded CIRC to support interdisciplinary research, provide a full range of consulting services and provide mathematics and statistics students with consulting experience. Wanting to prepare his students for industry or academia careers, he encourages hands-on applied research and mentors them at all stages of project development. In 2008, Gobbert secured a Faculty Innovation Grant from the Alex. Brown Center for Entrepreneurship to develop a marketing plan for CIRC, hoping to provide students with an even more sustained experience.

As a teacher, Gobbert has a range of subject-matter expertise in applied and industrial mathematics, scientific and parallel computing and numerical analysis. He teaches courses in undergraduate mathematics for non-majors to graduate courses in the applied mathematics program that attract students from across campus. He passionately guides students to become successful practitioners of the mathematical sciences.

An active researcher, Gobbert has a total of 74 publications, including 40 papers involving student co-authors. He has been asked to speak at numerous conferences, and his research has been noted in several journals.

Gobbert earned a B.Sc. from Technical University Darmstadt (Germany) in Mathematics, and an M.N.S. and Ph.D. in Mathematics, both from Arizona State University.

Ralph Murphy
Teaching Laboratory Technician, Biological Sciences
2009-2010 University System of Maryland Board of Regents’ Staff Award for Exceptional Contribution to the Institution

Throughout his 28 years of service, Ralph Murphy has been an integral member of the Department of Biological Sciences. His devotion to UMBC has been noted by his consistent diligence, dedication and willingness to help others.

Murphy began his career at UMBC as a student and served as a research laboratory technician for two years before moving to his current position in 1984. He performs daily operations to keep labs running at top capacity, including preparing media, setting up equipment and ordering and preparing chemicals. Annually, Murphy compiles and records judges’ results for the Undergraduate Symposium in Chemistry, Biology and Biochemistry, and he oversees the high school UPWARD Bound Summer program in the Biological Sciences.

In addition to his work, Murphy’s great pride in the campus distinguishes him as a leader. Each morning, he picks up litter on his way to the office. He’s also been known to keep the back of the Biological Sciences building clean throughout the day, separating recyclables and placing them in their proper receptacles.

An alumnus of the biological sciences department, Murphy has a strong connection with students in the program and volunteers to tutor them in their coursework. Occasionally, he will open the labs on Saturdays for additional studying if needed.

Not only does Murphy encourage students in the classroom, he also supports athletics at UMBC. He hasn’t missed a regular season women’s lacrosse game since 2006 and regularly attends other sporting events on campus.

Murphy earned a B.S. in Biological Sciences from UMBC.

Thomas Cronin
Professor, Biological Sciences
Presidential Research Professor 2009-2012

Thomas Cronin, professor of biological sciences, is internationally recognized for his contributions to the field of visual ecology.

A laboratory and field biologist, Cronin, who joined UMBC in 1983, has mastered the technique of microspectrometry on small invertebrate eyes. His ability to understand the lifestyles of a broad spectrum of animals in their natural settings gives him a unique authority in the field, and he is active in collaborations with investigators from around the world. His work is heavily field-based, primarily on Australia's Great Barrier Reef, and he has also twice undertaken week-long underwater expeditions in the Florida Keys at the world’s only submarine laboratory.

Cronin’s research has been funded by many federal agencies, including the National Science Foundation and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, and he publishes at least three reviewed scientific papers per year and as many as 11 in a single year. One of his recent papers was the first report of animals being able to see circular polarization, a unique and unusual type of light. His 148 articles have appeared in Science, Nature and Current Biology, as well as other popular U.S. and European science magazines. His research has been featured in articles in many international science journals, including National Geographic Magazine, Science Times, and The New York Times, as well as on the Discovery Channel and in museum exhibits.

Cronin is a Fellow of the American Association for Advancement of Science and a recipient of the USM Regents Award for Excellence and Research and the Graduate Education Award for excellence in teaching and service from the USM-wide program in Marine Estaurine and Ecological Sciences (MEES). He has been invited numerous times to give special talks at prestigious scientific meetings around the world.

An effective, demanding and popular teacher who has taught a variety of courses, Cronin has served on several UMBC committees including chairing the Senate Nominating Committee, the Dean Recruiting Committee, and the University Faculty Review Committee. Always including students in his work, he has graduated six Ph.D. and numerous M.S. students. The Ph.D. students from his group have gone on to faculty positions around the world.  His graduate students are highly productive, each publishing up to six papers in reviewed journals as a result of their thesis research.

Cronin earned his Sci.B. in Biology from Dickinson College and his M.A. and Ph.D. in Zoology from Duke University in North Carolina. He also did postdoctoral work in the Department of Biology at Yale University.

Dennis P. Cuddy
Manager, Administration and Facilities,
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
2008-2009 University System of Maryland Board of Regents’ Award for Exceptional Contribution to the Institution

Since he was hired nine years ago, Dennis Cuddy Cuddy’s contributions to the teaching and research mission of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry have been invaluable. He works tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that laboratories, classrooms, offices and business process of the Meyerhoff Chemistry Building are operating well.

In addition to his day-to-day tasks, Cuddy has also worked on several major projects in which his leadership, organization skills and technical expertise were a necessity. Cuddy was the department’s manager for the $34-million renovation of the Meyerhoff Chemistry Building. His masterful coordination of the project required working with contractors and faculty to keep classrooms and laboratories running throughout the three-phased renovation. Largely due to his management, the project won a leadership award in 2003.

Cuddy has also contributed to the Chemistry Discovery Center, a project that uses a teamwork approach to learning rather than just lecture. The facility needed to be operational within a short period of time, and Cuddy made it happen by making sure the room was prepared with proper equipment and seating. The program is not only a success in the department but is also being used as a model by the physics and mathematics departments.

Cuddy has also taken on responsibility for coordinating the department’s annual Undergraduate Research Symposium (even though it’s not directly related to his primary responsibilities). The symposium has grown from 60 to 300 students, who come from all over the east coast. Because of Cuddy’s efforts, the event is now funded through the National Institutes of Health. Characteristically, many of Cuddy’s efforts go on behind the scenes, making it possible for the work of students and faculty to shine.

Cuddy earned a double B.S. in Biology and Microbiology at Penn State University (now Molecular and Cellular Biology).