Shriver 2010 Interns
Learn how some UMBC students spent their summer engaged in applied learning.
Kola Bakre
Intern
Erickson Retirement Communities – Charlestown, Catonsville, Maryland
Major: Management of Aging Services
Expected Graduation Date: May 2011
Position Description:
As an intern, I learned about the process of community building and leadership development. I gained valuable knowledge and experience, and practiced a variety of skill sets including group facilitation, event planning, publicity and display arrangement, among others.
“Charlestown is a great organization that will help shape your future. I couldn’t have asked for a better internship. I enjoyed the exposure and support I got from different departmental heads and co-workers in the community.”
Richard Blissett
Governor’s Summer Intern
Maryland State Department of Education, Division of Academic Policy, Baltimore, Maryland
Major(s): Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
Expected Graduation Date: May 2011
Position Description:
In my position, I had the opportunity to observe and participate in many different aspects of the field of education. I visited an academy that helps biology teachers, looked at the issue of racial bias in the SAT, reviewed and cataloged nominations for parent involvement, put together content for STEM materials and participated in Maryland’s Race to the Top effort.
“An internship is a learning experience, so while it can also be where the rubber meets the road, I think the most important thing about this real-world experience is that it helps you figure out what kind of car you want to drive.”
Brian Brown
Summer Intern
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
Major(s): Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Expected Graduation Date: May 2013
Position Description:
I worked in the Malaria Research Institute with Dr. David Sullivan on the malarial pigment, hemozoin. This summer, I had a three-part project. First, I investigated the conditions required to grow large hemozoin crystals in order to further understand their morphology by X-ray diffraction. I also worked on determining a pattern in the susceptibility to hydrogen peroxide degradation of hemozoin crystals produced by Plasmodium parasites with certain genes knocked out that code for hemozoin formation. And finally, I tried to understand if a group of antimalarials called quinolines inhibit heme degradation by performing a hydrogen peroxide degradation assay.
“I really liked being given pretty much full responsibility for my work. I received guidance from my mentor, but in the long run, all the data I gathered and presented was my own, and I found that exciting. Having credits on my transcript that show that is just the icing on the cake. If it weren’t for the Shriver Center, I’m not sure where I would have been this summer, or if I would even be participating in my first-ever research experience!”
Elisia Clark
Summer Intern
Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Major: Biochemistry
Expected Graduation Date: May 2012
Position Description:
For my internship assignment, I used fMRI techniques to study the hippocampus, which is a part of the brain that is involved with memory, and try to read what people are thinking. Volunteer subjects participate in a virtual maze while in the MRI machine. At the beginning of this maze they are shown a face or an object and have to work their way through the maze to find that same face or object hidden in a room, while using their memory skills. I used Multi Voxel Pattern Analysis to train and test this program in Matlab with incorporated intelligence to help tell me what the person is thinking at different parts of the maze, which gave us some information on what parts of the brain are being activated during decision making.
“Choosing to spend my summer participating in an internship helped me to gain experience in my field of interest for graduate school. Prior to starting this position I didn’t have any knowledge of this subject. But I wasn’t scared to try and learn something new, and my experience has been very rewarding!”
Thomas Davis
College Student Technical Specialist
Lockheed Martin, Information Systems & Global Solutions, Gaithersburg, Maryland
Major: Computer Science
Expected Graduation Date: May 2011
Position Description:
At Lockheed Martin, I provided technical support on government-related contracts awarded to the company. To that end, my work ranged from documenting various processes, to testing software and lab-based computer workstations, and preparing software and related media for delivery to various government customers.
“Through interning with Lockheed Martin, I have been afforded the opportunity to extend my classroom learning to an ever-growing, ever-changing information technology field, and have come out of this experience with a set of tools that will prepare me for my future work. The Shriver Center has started me in the right direction toward a rewarding career after college.”
Hannah Dier
Governor’s Summer Intern
Governor’s StateStat Office, Annapolis, Maryland
Major(s): Political Science & Media and Communication Studies
Expected Graduation Date: Spring 2011
Position Description:
As a StateStat Intern, I supported analysts in developing and monitoring performance measures for state agencies, prepared meeting memos and summaries, attended weekly Stat meetings with participating state departments, and developed social networking web pages. Because I also participated in the Governor’s Summer Internship Program, I was also responsible for participating in a group policy analysis project. My group’s topic was cell phone confiscations in correctional facilities.
“I have been involved with the Shriver Center since I began participating in service- learning at the beginning of my freshman year at UMBC. In the past three years, the Shriver Center has been a great asset as I have explored different volunteer and internship positions that complement the work that I am pursuing through my majors.”
Deanna C. Easley
Early Identification Program Intern
GE Healthcare, Maternal Infant Care Site (MIC), Laurel, Maryland
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Expected Graduation Date: May 2012
Position Description:
As an intern, I was at the forefront of helping the company release some new product offerings by working cross-functionally with other teams on and offsite to ensure necessary tasks get done in a timely manner. For the first part of the summer, I essentially filled the role of a lead project integrator. For the latter half of the summer, I assisted in the creation of a design for a product in order to satisfy customers of a specific market and help expand the current product offered more globally, which will help increase revenue for the company.
“Some of the benefits of participating in this internship have been building long-lasting relationships, career building and hands-on experience. The value of hands-on experience to apply what has been taught in the classroom is priceless. I got to be a large part of upcoming projects, and sometimes I even worked with the engineers that created some of the products MIC currently offers. Being in that environment exposed me to what it would feel like to work for a company, because interns are fully involved and observe projects.”
Jonathon Edmands
Maryland Department of Transportation Fellows Intern
Maryland Port Administration, Division of Engineering, The World Trade Center, Baltimore, Maryland
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Expected Graduation Date: December 2011
Position Description:
I was involved in multiple large-scale contracts for the World Trade Center Baltimore (WTCB) and for Baltimore’s critical Marine Terminals. My efforts focused on the review of electrical and mechanical components of each contract, including the review of technical specifications, special provisions, and CAD drawings. I attended many site visits to confirm existing conditions for certain contracts and to address any issues or discrepancies in the drawings. I also participated in a land survey study and attended progress meetings for ongoing MPA projects. Additionally, I had many opportunities to apply my mechanical engineering knowledge and experience by analyzing heat exchangers and general HVAC systems at the WTCB, and by contributing to a manhole survey project involving generation of electrical manhole drawings using the “MicroStation” CAD software.
“The MDOT Fellows Internship Program, organized through the Shriver Center at UMBC, was an excellent match in terms of my work experience and college background. The engineering and professional experience I gained was invaluable. My mentors made an effort to get me involved in contracts/projects of interest as much as possible. I received college credit, earned a stipend and developed a profound interest in pursuing a future career choice with the MPA. I give many thanks to the Shriver Center for helping me out with the internship application and placement process.”
Adam Gerber
Summer Intern
Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland
Major: Interdisciplinary Studies, Neuropsychology
Expected Graduation Date: May, 2013
Position Description:
Along with two other interns, we investigated risk genes shared between autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia that would correlate the two diseases. I also had the opportunity to observe schizophrenic patients during rounds.
“Interning at one of the premiere institutions for research, I had the fantastic opportunity to engage in research with fellow peers and to bring the classroom into actual practice. Observing schizophrenic patients during rounds put into perspective how crucial my scientific research could impact the lives of people who have these disorders. NIH has motivated me exponentially to continue my journey at UMBC in the area of neuroscience.”
Andrew Guseman
Summer Intern, Fuel and Air Controls Design
GE Aviation, Cincinnati, Ohio
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Expected Graduation Date: May 2011
Position Description:
As an intern, I worked in the fuel and air control design group within GE Aviation. We designed the fuel system of airplane engines including all the fuel-draulic components. I worked to develop the fuel system architecture for future engine designs and made a software model to analyze fuel flow data for the GEnx engine.
“Summer internships are great because they give you real exposure to the working world. It’s nice to see how the things we learn in the classroom are actually used in real life, they aren’t just random theories thrown into textbooks. It’s also a great way to stay busy over the summer, make some money and jump-start your career.”
Riley Hansen
Document Publishing Intern- Print & Mail
T. Rowe Price, Owings Mills, Maryland
Major(s): Financial Economics and Business Technology Administration
Expected Graduation Date: May 2013
Position Description:
My internship position entailed negotiating, purchasing and coordinating offset printing and direct mail services for the full T. Rowe Price enterprise. I also collaborated with the firm’s marketing groups to provide direct mail services related to marketing and shareholder communications. This position required me to analyze and manage material production for legal compliance.
“This internship with T. Rowe Price truly allowed me to meet great people and develop relationships that will last a lifetime. I feel very fortunate to have this opportunity to intern with T. Rowe Price; not only does it allow me to gain great work experience but I also earn college credit. The Shriver Center is a great tool for helping students of any age find an internship that appeals to a person’s interests. I could not have attained my internship alone, I am very thankful for the help that was provided by the Shriver Center!”
William Hathaway
Intern
The National Geographic Society, Washington, DC
Major: Environmental Studies
Expected Graduation Date: May 2011
Position Description:
I worked within the Image College for the National Geographic Society. My work mainly consisted of editorial projects and helping to add photos from early editions of the National Geographic Magazine into the collection and researching said photos to ensure accuracy of captions.
“You get a feel of what it’s like to work in an area/industry you are interested in, and contacts are everything- especially in photojournalism. It is crucial to have people that can vouch for you and who actually know who you are and what you can do.”
Alesia Hovatter
Health Policy Analyst Intern
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Office of Clinical Standards and Quality (OCSQ), Quality Measurement and Health Assessment Group (QMHAG), Division of Ambulatory Care (DAC), Baltimore, Maryland
Major: Public Policy—Concentration in Health Policy, Ph.D.
Expected Graduation Date: May 2012
Position Description:
As a health policy analyst, I compose regulation language and develop briefing documents/materials, in collaboration with staff across CMS, for the Electronic Health Record Incentive Program rule.
“Growing up in rural Virginia I always wanted to work for the federal government and The Shriver Center helped guide me down the path to make this happen. My internship led me to a full-time job at CMS. The benefits of an internship with the federal government are many. I began my internship with CMS in April 2009, and I have had the opportunity to work with many knowledgeable staff across CMS on the Resident Assessment Instrument for the Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 to most recently working as a rule writer. Every day at CMS has been challenging and rewarding, especially during the recent passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and health care reform legislation.”
Grace Kahler
Animal Care Intern
The Wildcat Sanctuary, Sandstone, Minnesota
Major: Psychology- Animal Behavior
Expected Graduation Date: May 2011
Position Description:
We fed, cleaned and cared for over 100 wild cats that have been abused, neglected, abandoned or orphaned. From hybrids (Bengals and Savannahs) to lions and tigers, we help every day. We provided enrichment from frozen blood balls, to scents and paper mache monsters. We built new enclosures for old and incoming residents. We read case studies and books on the residents of TWS and learned what goes on behind the scenes. We had individual intern projects and put lots of sweat, blood, and hundreds of band aids into them. There is nothing glamorous about the work of an intern, but at the end of each day we lie down with a smile on our faces.
“The best part of my internship was knowing that every day I have improved the lives of these amazing animals. Remember to keep the wild in your heart, not in your home.”
Jennifer Mercer
Intern – Victim/Witness Waiting Room
Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office – Juvenile Division, Baltimore, Maryland
Major(s): Interdisciplinary Studies – Women and Law
Expected Graduation Date: May 2012
Position Description:
The office where I worked is designated as a special area for crime victims and prosecution witnesses to wait until the assistant state’s attorney assigned to the case is ready to talk to them about their testimony and/or to take them to court. My responsibilities included signing people in, notifying their assistant state’s attorney that they are present to testify, preparing victims’ contact information for attorneys and support staff and sending letters to victims and witnesses reminding them of their attorney’s need to speak with them prior to their hearing date.
“Handling numerous case files every day has taught me about the impact of juvenile delinquency in Baltimore through the eyes of the victim and the juvenile, as well as parents, schools, the justice system, and the citizens of Baltimore. Most of all, my contact with victims of crime has encouraged me to further pursue the field of criminal law in order to prevent others from enduring the pain of victimization. Working alongside the devoted professionals in the State’s Attorney’s Office has strengthened my resolve to fill their shoes in the future.”
Jamal Molin
Cybersecurity/Networking Intern
SAIC (Science Applications International Corporation), Columbia, Maryland
Major(s): Computer Engineering
Expected Graduation Date: May 2011
Position Description:
I worked on a number of cyber and networking defense projects for scientific, engineering, and technology applications to solve problems of vital importance to the nation and the world, in national security, energy and the environment, critical infrastructure and health.
“The UMBC Shriver Center was very supportive during my search for a summer internship. I am grateful that the Shriver Center opened my eyes to this opportunity to intern at SAIC, a Fortune 500 company. I am thankful that, as an undergraduate, I get to experience computer engineering work on the professional and corporate level.”
Katrin Patterson
Walter Sondheim Jr. Maryland Nonprofit Leadership Program
Heathcote Community, Freeland, Maryland
Major(s): Anthropology and Gender & Women’s Studies
Expected Graduation Date: May 2011
Position Description:
I interned at Heathcote Community, an intentional community in northern Baltimore County. It was a crash-course in gardening, cooking, marketing, fundraising, budgeting, managing a non-profit, living in a community and more. My assumptions about relationships, truth, and contemporary society were challenged on a regular basis, and every day brought an opportunity to learn something new.
“The benefits of interning over the summer are plenty! I didn’t have to worry about another job or classes, I received credit for work that I think is meaningful, I feel supported by my university, and I increased my skill set and enhanced my marketability.”
Jeddalyn Puzon
Business Systems Analyst Intern
PNC Financial Services, Strongsville, Ohio
Major(s): Information Systems and Visual Arts: Photography
Expected Graduation Date: May 2011
Position Description:
I worked as a part of the Technology Department of PNC Financial Services. I helped with managing the different projects that occurred during the National City acquisition such as closing and updating projects through the project management tool, Clarity. I also designed databases for project audits that organized and simplified the way records were kept for project managers.
“Interning for PNC Financial Services the summer before my senior year is possibly one of the best decisions I have ever made. I learned and experienced first-hand the roles of the business analyst and project manager in a corporate setting, which has helped me decide the path that I need to take after graduation. I believe that networking with people that had the same goals as me has helped my professional growth.”
Yasmin Radbod
UMBC Fellow/Project HEALTH Volunteer
STEM at North Bend Elementary/Middle School and Cherry Hill
Project HEALTH at St. Agnes Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland
Major(s): East Asian History and Geography
Expected Graduation Date: May 2013
Position Description:
As a UMBC Fellow, I spent two days a week with North Bend middle school students. It is a summer enrichment program called Learning Through Experience and is funded through a grant from the Maryland Higher Education Commission called ACCES: Adventures in College & Career Exploration in STEM (Science, Technology, and Math).
For Project HEALTH, I visit the clinic at St. Agnes Hospital once a week for two hours at a time to consult with clients to find out if they have any needs such as housing, food, employment, insurance, etc. I connect them with resources and follow up with my clients until the case is closed.
“My studies at UMBC serve the purpose of giving me the skills I need to assist others, whether that be refugees, indigenous populations, people placed into poverty, my family, my friends, my neighbors or my coworkers. The Shriver Center, meanwhile, gives me the hands-on experience necessary for me to be successful in the human rights work I plan to pursue in the future.”
Michael Rahimi
Information Management Leadership Program (IMLP) Intern
GE Capital, Stamford, Connecticut
Major: Information Systems
Expected Graduation Date: May 2011
Position Description:
At GE Capital, the environment is fast paced and interns are empowered to drive deliverables for the projects they are assigned to. I learned that information technology is not just about support. IT’s value is in improving everything and anything that touches internal and external customers. Working for a global company means that it is common for members of your team to be located all over the world. Every day brings a new challenge and the whole experience is incredibly rewarding.
“I have gained invaluable corporate experience working for one of the largest and most innovative companies in the world. I networked with experienced professionals who provided me with industry insight and offered me motivation and mentoring. On top of all these opportunities, I gained academic credit in the process.”
Jacqueline Ross
Research Assistant Intern
Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Baltimore, Maryland
Major(s): Psychology and Biology
Expected Graduation Date: MAY 2011
Position Description:
I conducted schizophrenic research – understanding adolescent brain development and how gonadal steroids like estrogen and testosterone impact this process to influence behaviors that are disrupted in mental illness. The research examines sex-specific neuroanatomical, behavioral and brain gene expression changes that occur during adolescence in the context of preclinical models of psychiatric illness.
“My internship at the MPRC gave me so much not just as a student learning at a research center, but as a new scientist in the biopsychology field. From giving surgical implants to running assays, I was able to continually hone my lab techniques. To be involved in research that can potentially apply not just to the scientific community, but also to the general population, brought a great feeling about and purpose to my contribution.”
Kaitlyn Sadtler
Technical Aide
Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab, Laurel, Maryland
Major: Biological Sciences
Expected Graduation Date: May 2011
Position Description:
JHUAPL has a summer internship program for undergraduate students. I worked in the Applied Biology, Chemistry and Nuclear Sciences Group, and researched bioremediation to degrade trace explosives, and a detection method for enterotoxins.
“The internship allowed me to experience a real laboratory setting. No matter how many lab courses you take at school, nothing compares to having the ability to research a topic that could introduce something completely novel to an ever-expanding field, and allows you to meet new people and talk with them about their research.”
Daniel Sallitt
IT Intern/Associate
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Corporate HQ, Owings Mills, Maryland
Major: Information Systems
Expected Graduation Date: May 2012
Position Description:
I was a member of the Information Technology Best Practices & Planning Team at CareFirst BCBS, a major health insurance provider in Maryland and Washington, D.C. Our team was responsible for tracking all of the projects in development in the Information Technology division of CareFirst. We generated comprehensive reports and regularly presented our findings to the VPs, the CIO and CEO. The IT division at CareFirst employs over 600, so it was a great way to experience working in the corporate world for the first time.
“The representative from the Shriver Center that I met with, Casey Miller, personally emailed me and recommended the summer intern position at CareFirst, so I took his advice, applied and ended up having a great experience. I would recommend this internship to any undergrad information systems major, and I may not have even applied for it if it wasn’t for the Shriver Center.”
Christelle Samen
Summer Intern
Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, Baltimore, Maryland
Major(s): Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Expected Graduation Date: May 2011
Position Description:
My project was to investigate whether selected species of the mosquito’s natural bacterial flora are mediating inhibitory activity on the development of Plasmodium (the parasite responsible for malaria) through the IMD innate immune pathway. To carry this out, I injected Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes, co-fed them with field-isolated bacteria and P. falciparum, and counted oocysts to determine parasite infection levels. Further assays using Anopheles cell lines and selected bacteria were performed to investigate the capacity of the bacteria to activate anti-Plasmodium immune effectors and identify potential bacterial candidates for Plasmodium control agents.
“Choosing to spend your summer participating in an internship allows you discover strengths and weaknesses, identify areas of interest and determine what career path is best for you.”
Maria Satyshur
Marketing Intern
Urbanite Baltimore and Light Industries, Baltimore and Millersville, Maryland
Major(s): Media and Communication Studies with minors in Journalism and Music
Expected Graduation Date: May 2011
Position Description:
Urbanite: I was part of the marketing team for Urbanite magazine, a Baltimore-based magazine about arts, culture, food, news, sustainability and anything else you could think of. I worked on a presentation analyzing Urbanite’s use of social media with the launch of its new e-zine campaign and website. I also worked at local events like Artscape and on other marketing efforts.
Light Industries: I was a marketing intern for Light Industries Technology Solutions. I surveyed customers from a recent merger in efforts to better understand our communications with them and how we might work with them in the future.
“Getting an internship through the Shriver Center meant that I knew I was going to be in a place where learning was a priority.”
Anne (Griffy)Tanenbaum
Contract Intern
Internship through Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), Edgewood, Maryland
Major: Graphic Design
Expected Graduation Date: May, 2011
Position Description:
I did design work for the Conceptual Modeling and Animation Team at ECBC, in the Edgewood branch of the Army Research Lab. I used Photoshop to create real-looking textures and then applyed them to the surfaces of objects (such as smoke grenades) that are modeled in 3-D and animated to help soldiers understand what they look like and how they work. I also designed the interface of a website in Flash that includes a gallery of the many projects my team has done for customers.
“It was wonderful to have an internship because I was paid, received credit from UMBC and gained invaluable experience in the world of applied graphic design. Without this crucial step between school and a career, I would definitely have a much harder time getting hired after graduation.”
Abigail Urbanas
Pricing and Estimating Summer Intern
AAI Corporation, Hunt Valley, Maryland
Major(s): Financial Economics and Accounting Certificate
Expected Graduation Date: May 2011
Position Description:
I worked in the Pricing and Estimating department at AAI. Our main goal was to take the estimates we received from the engineers and project managers to come up with the most accurate price we can for our customers. In addition, we provided many graphs, charts and reports to assist our project manager in selling our product to our potential customer. I worked with Excel to create macros, which helped us import information more efficiently and create easy to comprehend and organized reports and charts.
“My internship has taught me so much about where I can go with my education and what I can do in the future. It was also wonderful knowing that my internship would appear on my transcript, and I earned extra credits for the fall semester. Since I am planning on taking the Certified Public Accountant exam (which you need 150 credits in order to take) it was a really nice way of earning extra credits.”
Daniel Wienhold
Engineering Intern
Baltimore Gas & Electric (BGE), Front Street Office, Baltimore, Maryland
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Expected Graduation Date: May 2012
Position Description:
As a mechanical engineering intern, I worked in the Program Management Unit which is part of the Regulatory Programs Department. I met with project/program managers to discuss their individual programs and then formulate process flow charts for each. These charts were posted on one of the company’s websites to inform new hires of the programs/projects. I also managed the restoration/replacement/relocation of light poles that are within violation of new clearance codes. The mitigation cost for my 34 light poles was $144,000 and is part of a $5.5 million program.
“One of the benefits of having an internship like this is the real-life experience that gives you a feeling of what you might be interested in after college. It’s also a great experience to work on your communication, networking and team-building skills. You become more competitive in the job market.”