UMBC McNair Research Symposium w/
the National Science Foundation (NSF) and
The U.S. Department of Education
We are thrilled to announce the partnership between the National Science Foundation (NSF), The US Department of Education, and the UMBC McNair Scholars Program. With a commitment to inclusive excellence in research, 8 McNair Scholars from around the country will have the opportunity to present their research to NSF and Dept of Ed leaders as part of the 32nd Annual UMBC McNair Research Conference. All attendees will have the opportunity to hear directly from NSF about opportunities for them as undergraduates and even beyond. OPEN TO ALL MCNAIR SCHOLARS AND STAFF (EVEN IF NOT ATTENDING THE ACTUAL CONFERENCE)
PRESENTER SELECTION PROCESS
The students will be chosen by conference staff based on their attendee profile form and possibly nominated by their McNair program staff. To ensure eligibility for scholars to present in this unique experience, we ask that they keep in mind the following:
- McNair Directors/Coordinators can nominate one of their registered scholars by completing the Conference Support Form[LINK], choosing the McNair Symposium as the option, then sharing their rationale for their nomination in the Comment section. The deadline for nominations will be August 1st, 12 pm EST.
- Scholar presenters will have needed to complete the attendee profile by the August 1st deadline (firm deadline for this partnership experience).
- Scholars will need to have answered affirmatively to the question that asks if they want to be considered for this opportunity:
- “Would you like to be considered for the opportunity to be the special guest of the National Science Foundation (NSF) and present your research to their leaders on Friday morning? This will be in lieu of presenting on the Saturday of the conference. You will still be considered a conference presenter. You will also be NSF’s special guest at the Saturday lunch.”
- They must also have answered affirmatively that they want their information shared with the graduate programs, their email shared with all attendees, and they must provide adequate responses to the short answer questions on the attendee profile sheet.
- If chosen, they will need to submit the final PDF version of the presentation and poster by September 1st. Details will be sent to them on how to do so.
- The selected presenters will present during the symposium instead of presenting in person at the conference. They will still be considered a conference presenter.
- Due to budget and hotel constraints, the symposium will be virtual. Although they will be presenting virtually on Friday morning, they are required to be on-site staying at the host hotel for the duration of the conference. This ensures that if there are any technical issues or concerns, our staff will be able to help mitigate them as necessary.
- Selected Presenters should bring their own laptops to use, but if issues arise, we will have a few to be loaned.
- Must check in at the conference registration table between 8 am – 10a m on Thursday to ensure their presentation space. They will need to be part of the Thursday Opening Session where they will be formally introduced to the conference attendees. Not being being present on Thursday will disqualify them from presenting on Friday. They will also need to be on Zoom Friday 8:20 am for a technical run-through.
- They (and several other attendees) may also be special guests of NSF during the conference’s Saturday lunch session.
Updated Tentative Schedule for the UMBC McNair Research Symposium
| 07:45 am – 08:15 am | Student & NSF Presenters – Tech Check | |
| 08:30 am – 08:45 am | Welcome
(Dept of Ed, NSF, UMBC-McNair) Michael A. Hunt, MDiv. Director, UMBC McNair Scholars Program Reshone Moore, Ph.D. Senior Management and Program Analyst, U.S. Department of Education Charisse Carney-Nunes, JD Deputy Division Director, Division of Graduate Education (DGE) NSF Directorate for STEM Education (EDU) Narcrisha Norman, Ph.D. Program Director, Division of Graduate Education NSF Directorate for STEM Education |
|
| 08:45 am – 09:00 am | Presentation 1 – Eve Butterworth | 10 mins, 5 mins Q&A |
| 09:00 am – 09:15 am | Presentation 2 – Dayna Buitron | 10 mins, 5 mins Q&A |
| 09:15 am – 09:30 am | Presentation 3 – Anthony Merchan | 10 mins, 5 mins Q&A |
| 09:30 am – 09:45 am | Presentation 4 – Naana Asamoah | 10 mins, 5 mins Q&A |
| 09:45 am – 09:50 am | BREAK | |
| 09:50 am – 10:10 am | Presentations 5 & 6
Isabella Dressler & Jaden Martin |
5 mins each, aprox. 5 mins for Q&A |
| 10:10 am – 10:40 am | Presentations 7, 8, & 9
Akriti Mishra, Nolan Gerdes, & Kayvona Brown |
5 mins each, aprox. 5 mins for Q&A |
| 10:40 am – 10:45 am | Break | |
| 10:45 am – 11:40 am | NSF Opportunities – Introduction to NSF (5min)
Narcrisha Norman, Ph.D. NSF GRFP Overview and Q & A (35min) Christopher Hill, Ph.D. NSF ETAP Introduction and Site Demonstration and Q & A (15 min) Narcrisha Norman, Ph.D. |
|
| 11:40 am – 11:45 am | Closing
Michael A. Hunt, MDiv. Director, UMBC McNair Scholars Program |
|
ORAL
Eve Butterworth
lb115@wellesley.edu,
Wellesley College
Environmental Chemistry,
Project Title: “Life in Plastic is Not Fantastic: An Analysis of Microplastics and Sediments in the Massachusetts Mystic River Estuary”
Eve is a senior at Wellesley College. She is studying geosciences with a focus on environmental geochemistry. Eve plans to pursue a PhD in anthropogenic contamination of urban water sources.
Dayna Buitron
buit8314@vandals.uidaho.edu
University of Idaho
Biology/Molecular Biology,
“The investigation of the killer toxin binding interface to the plasma membrane receptor”
I am a first-generation hispanic woman majoring in microbiology and minoring in philosophy at the University of Idaho. I aim to receive my PhD in biochemistry and continue being a research scholar.
Anthony Merchan
anthony.w.merchan-1@ou.edu
University of Oklahoma
Planetary Science
Project Title: “Using the Martian Sky as a Calibration Source: Generating SkyFlats for the Mastcam-Zoom cameras on the Perseverance Rover”
Anthony Merchan is a rising senior in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Oklahoma. He chose to major in Aerospace Engineering because of his fascination with what exists beyond this planet.
Naana Asamoah
nasamoa2@terpmail.umd.edu
UMCP
Biochemistry
Project Title: “Visualizing Cleavage Of Abasic Sites By NMR, I major in Cell Biology and Genetics”
My favorite thing about research in biomedicine is the never-ending discovery. I aspire to be part of medical research that decreases health disparities.
POSTERS
Isabella Dressler
isabeld2@umbc.edu
UMBC
Cancer Biology
Project Title: “Exploration of CDAN1 Role on RNF168 Overexpressed Cancers”
I am a Biological Sciences Major and Chemistry Minor, on the track to attaining a Russian Language Certificate. Some of my hobbies are going to the gym, catching up on netflix shows when I have time, and meeting new people. The research I am passionate about is cancer biology, and learning about this is what makes me come alive.
Jaden Martin
Jaden.martin@sus.edu
Southern University A&M College
Engineering/ Material Science
Project Title: “Introduction to Machine Learning Assisted Polymer Property Prediction”
Jaden Martin, a junior in Mechanical Engineering at Southern University, focuses on machine learning for polymers. He aims to expand his expertise and plans to pursue graduate studies.
Akriti Mishra
akm115@pitt.edu
University of Pittsburgh
Soft Material/Hydrogel,
“Effect of Entanglements on Hydrogel Osmotic Pressure”
As a first-generation student, I find joy in learning and giving back to my community. I am currently a junior at Pitt, majoring in Mechanical Engineering.
Nolan Gerdes
ngerdes@uwyo.edu
University of Wyoming
Civil Engineering
Project Title: “Evaluating the Recovery of Hydraulic Conductivity in Fire-Affected Soils,
Nolan is a student, undergraduate researcher, and athlete at the University of Wyoming.
Kayvona Brown
Kayvonabrown8@gmail.com
University of Connecticut
Psychological Sciences
Project Title: “Relations between PTSD Symptoms Clusters and Pain within Recent Sexual Assault Survivors: An Examination of Racial Difference”
I am a senior studying Psychological Sciences with minors in Sociology and Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies at the University of Connecticut. Aspiring to obtain a Ph.D in Clinical Psychology.