Please let me know if you have any issues or concerns.

To all chip users,

On Tuesday July 28th, the chip cluster will be inaccessible from 0800ET - 1800ET. This maintenance window will focus on optimizing our storage architecture to enhance data reliability and create a new branch of our software module system that better supports the various hardware within the cluster.

We understand that this downtime will be disruptive, but the Research Computing & Data Team will endeavor to complete this and other routine maintenance quickly and alert the user base to resumed operations.

Please note that the current downtime plan does not include cancelling running jobs, but any jobs requiring access via the login nodes (e.g., interactive jobs) will be disrupted. Though it is not the plan, do note that circumstances may arise that would require the compute nodes to be rebooted, which would cause running jobs to be killed.

Remember to submit any issues you have here: https://rtforms.umbc.edu/rt_authenticated/doit/DoIT-support.php?auto=Research%20Computing

and check out our documentation here: https://umbc.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/faq/pages/1082589207/UMBC+HPCF+-+chip

Give me all the bits!
Gregory Ballantine
HPC Specialist

As you may know, Carole McCann is retiring after 38 years of service at UMBC. She has been a teacher, a mentor, a builder, a researcher, an innovator...the list goes on! Please save the date for a celebration of her career and the UMBC community she has helped build:  Thursday, September 3 from 5:30-7:00pm in the Skylight Lounge.

More details to follow!

Don’t miss your opportunity to highlight areas of interest for key committees and working groups connected to upcoming institutional initiatives and priorities. The Office of the Provost values broad participation as we shape the future of UMBC 3.0.

Please take a moment to fill out the interest form by Thursday, July 2. We are creating a repository of faculty and staff that the Office of the Provost may contact as opportunities for service arise throughout the academic year. Outreach will occur on an as-needed basis and may include opportunities connected to the university’s next Strategic Plan and emerging Provost Priorities.

Potential areas of engagement may include, but are not limited to:

• Student Success

• Teaching and Learning

• Research and Creative Achievement

• Strengthening Maryland

• Organizational Vitality

Members of the Office of the Provost will reach out directly as relevant opportunities become available. 

Thank you for your interest in contributing to the university community through service and collaboration.

Manikanta Sirumalla is a student in CSEE's Data Science MS program who recently released RepTrack Pro, an AI-powered fitness and nutrition app for iPhones. He’s currently enhancing it with an award from UMBC's Launchpad Accelerator, a 10-week summer program that helps student founders launch early-stage ventures. Hosted by the Alex. Brown Center for Entrepreneurship, it awards up to $8,000 in non-dilutive seed funding.

Read more here and watch his interview with Dennise Cardona.

All,

Just a reminder that autoclaves are being serviced today, The tech is starting in the vivarium and will work his way up through the building. Please hold off on using this equipment until later this afternoon.

Thank you!

In observance of Independence Day, the RAC will be closed on July 3 and 4, 2026.

Name: Rushali Sreedhar

Pronouns: She/Her

Semester of Internship: Fall 2025

Major: Information Systems

Current Class Level: Master's Student

This semester I completed a(n)...: Internship

Internship, Co-op, or Research Site (Company/Organization Name): CISO Execnet

Location of the Organization (City, State): Baltimore, Maryland

Title of position: Data Analyst

Tell us about your internship, co-op, or research opportunity, including your day-to-day responsibilities:

During my internship as a Data Analyst at CISO Execnet, I worked on analyzing business data to support decision-making. My day-to-day responsibilities included cleaning and organizing data from multiple sources, building ETL pipelines to streamline data processing, identifying trends, and creating dashboards to present insights in a clear and simple way. I collaborated with team members to understand their needs and helped turn raw data into meaningful insights that could support strategy and improve overall performance.

Describe the process of obtaining your position. When did you hear of the position and submit your application?

I came across this position through Handshake and applied around June 2025. 

What resources did you use to find your current experience?

Handshake

What have you enjoyed the most about your position and organization?

What I enjoyed the most about my position was the opportunity to work with real-world data and see how my work could directly support decision-making. I really liked the process of turning raw data into something meaningful and useful. I also enjoyed the collaborative environment, where I could work closely with team members, learn from them, and contribute my ideas. Overall, the experience helped me grow both technically and professionally, and gave me confidence in my ability to solve real business problems.

How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?

I believe I made an impact by improving the way data was structured, accessed, and used within the organization. My work helped bring clarity to complex information and made it easier for the team to rely on data for their decisions. By simplifying processes and making insights more accessible, I contributed to a more efficient and data-driven approach across the team.

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

My advice would be to stay consistent and keep applying, even if you face rejections. Focus on building your skills through projects and hands-on practice, because that makes a big difference. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, take initiative, and learn from others once you get an opportunity. Most importantly, be open to learning and stepping out of your comfort zone, as that’s where real growth happens.

Watch your email, myUMBC and Blackboard for notifications regarding online Student Course Evaluations beginning June 29th.

The survey window for Session One (6 week) Summer 2026 is June 29th through July 2nd 11:59pm.

The secure online system grants students 24/7 access during the evaluation period. Surveys must be completed before the July 2nd deadline.

Survey results available to instructors after Summer 2026 grades are posted. 

Chinwe Okpala, a UMBC MS in Cybersecurity student, and Daniela Pineda Iriarte received the Best Real-World Potential award for their MedBridge project in the Prompt to Prototype: A Generative AI Hackathon held last week at the Universities at Shady Grove.

The award recognizes the project that judges believe was most likely to be pursued, funded, adopted, or implemented. Their MedBridge project addressed the challenge of helping healthcare providers in Nigeria and other developing countries transition from paper-based patient records to secure digital health systems without disrupting patient care.