Andreia Ribeiro, a second-year Ph.D. student in Chemical & Biochemical Engineering, was selected to receive a two-year Wyeth Fellowship at UMBC. Andreia is currently investigating the response of neurons to two- and three-dimensional culture environments. Ultimately, this work may lead towards improved therapeutics for spinal cord injury and devices to deliver stem cells for treating neurodegenerative disease. Andreia earned a B.S. in Chemical Engineering at the University of Porto (Portugal) and spent five months in Dr. Jennie Leach's lab as a research exchange student during her senior year. Andreia returned to UMBC and Dr. Leach's laboratory in 2006.

Andreia's work is the basis for two manuscripts (in preparation or under review) and she has presented her research at several national meetings including a Gordon Research Conference and the annual meetings of the Society for Neuroscience, the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) and the American Institute for Chemical Engineers (AIChE). Andreia mentors two undergraduate researchers and is the current Social Chair of the Chemical Engineering Graduate Student group, BioChegs. Following completion of her Ph.D., Andreia's aspiration is to lead a Research & Development team at a multinational pharmaceutical or biotechnology company.

Andreia is the third UMBC Wyeth fellow and will receive a full stipend as well as mentoring support from an industry scientist at Wyeth Research. A formal signing of a memorandum of understanding between Wyeth Research and UMBC took place on July 25, 2006 at the Wyeth Research Facility in Collegeville, PA. The partnership includes graduate fellowships for talented students conducting research in fields of joint interest to UMBC faculty and Wyeth scientists. The Wyeth-UMBC partnership includes a three-year commitment to Gold-Level sponsorship for UMBC’s annual life science symposium—A Look Ahead: Futures in Biomedical Research. Wyeth, headquartered in Madison, N.J., is a global leader in pharmaceuticals, consumer health care products and animal health care products.

Mr. Simon Gray, a graduating senior in the department of Chemical & Biochemical Engineering, has been chosen as UMBC’s 2008 Valedictorian.

Simon not only has an outstanding record of academic accomplishment, including a 4.0 GPA, but graduated from High School a year early and has finished all the requirements (and then some) for the Chemical Engineering B.S. degree in just three years. In addition to his course work, Simon completed an internship at Lyondell Chemical Company, and has excelled in undergraduate research. During the summer 2007, Mr. Gray was supported by the National Science Foundation to perform bioremediation research through a program organized by the Ocean University of China. His project analyzed the microbial diversity of crude oil contaminated soil of the Yellow River Delta in Shandong Province, China. In addition, he has performed on campus undergraduate research in the laboratory of Dr. Jennie Leach focused on miniaturizing oxygen sensor technology through the use of biocompatible polymers.

Simon’s aspirations are to be a physician/scientist with his own company. He has been accepted to study at Cambridge next year in a unique program which will combine both advanced studies in Chemical Engineering and Business/Management; after which he will pursue his MD/PhD. In addition, Simon is the recipient of the extremely competitive and tremendously prestigious Gates Cambridge Scholarship.

Simon conducting High School outreach project as part of ENCH 427 Heat and Mass Transfer, with colleagues from Senior Design class (ENCH 446), and standing on Great Wall of China during Summer Internship.

Dr. Julia Ross has been elected Fellow of the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineers. Election to this Institute is done by nomination, selection by a primary committee and final vote by 75% of the current AIMBE membership. Election to Fellow of AIMBE is one of the highest scientific recognitions in the biological and biomedical sciences.

Bob Reeves won a first place award for his poster presentation at the Tenth Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium in the Chemical and Biological Sciences. The Symposium invites contributions from all interested undergraduates concerning their research in any aspect of Chemistry, Biology and Biochemistry and typically draws more than 200 contributions for consideration.

Dr. Govind Rao was elected AAAS Fellow for innovative research in the field of optical sensors, which has lead to a paradigm shift in bioprocessing applications. Each year, the AAAS Council elects members whose “efforts on behalf of the advancement of science or its application are scientifically or socially distinguished.”

Dr. Antonio Moreira was appointed by the Portuguese National Science and Technology Foundation to chair an international panel to evaluate chemical engineering and biotechnology research in Portugal.

The American Society for Engineering Education selected Professor Julia Ross to receive the 2007 ASEE Sharon Keillor Award for Women in Engineering Education. The Award recognizes and honors outstanding women engineering educators who have an outstanding record in teaching engineering students, and reasonable performance histories of research and service within an engineering school.

Dr. Theresa Good won the UMBC Creighton Award for graduate student mentoring. The award is given annually by the Graduate Student Association to one faculty member who has demonstrated outstanding commitment and dedication to graduate students. The award is particularly meaningful as it is given by the students themselves.

CBE Senior Erin Voss was selected to be the Class of 2007 salutatorian. A Phi Beta Kappa member and former women’s basketball team captain, she also found time to serve others during her busy years at UMBC. Her academic honors included being named to the National College Athlete Honor Society, a PDA Scholar Award, membership in the Golden Key International Honor Society, a Collegiate All-American Scholar Award, an Outstanding Senior in Chemical Engineering Award and memberships in Phi Kappa Phi honor society and Tau Beta Pi engineering honor society. Voss also volunteered at a local hospital, refereed and coached youth basketball, participated in charity distance running events and helped with many other community outreach activities.

Mark R. Marten was awarded the USM Board of Regents’ Faculty Award for Collaboration in Research. Regents' Faculty Awards publicly recognize distinguished performance on the part of faculty members and are the highest honor presented by the Board of Regents to exemplary faculty members. Awardees are selected by the Council of University System Faculty and submitted to the Board of Regents for approval. Dr. Marten and his collaborator, Dr. David Schaefer, professor of Physics, Astronomy and Geosciences at Towson University, won this award based on national and international recognition for their interdisciplinary research, which serves as a model of inter-USM campus collaboration and advances the biotechnology and bioprocess industries.