Please note that the Intern(s) hours and duration will be determined by their assigned PI. There may also be an opportunity to extend the internship during the following academic year.
If you are applying, you must be an engineering, chemistry, physics, biology, computer science, materials science, or biochemistry major.
If you have any questions about the internship, please contact Fischell Institute's Communications and Program Specialist: Ambi Narula (anarula@umd.edu). I will do my best to get back to you as soon as possible.
Evelyn Jaskowiak is junior majoring in cellular biology and genetics. Over the summer, she was a Fischell Institute intern in Director Bill Bentley's Biomolecular and Metabolic Engineering Laboratory.
Jaskowiak has always been passionate about STEM and curious about genetics. During her high school biology class, she did a project on new advancing technology in genetics. Her group was assigned to study CRISPR. CRISPR is used to cut a specific DNA sequence which allows researchers to delete or insert DNA into the genome. Jaskowiak was intrigued by all the genetic possibilities and was inspired to pursue genetics as her major in college.
She worked on using redox reactions to facilitate gene expression. The lab group has looked at how different voltages and lengths of voltages change the gene expression in E. coli. Another project she worked on is seeing if the lab group can use electrical information to determine which pathogen is in a given media.
After graduation, Jaskowiak plans to attend graduate school. As a career, she is interested in becoming a genetic counselor. Genetic counselors look at peoples' genomes and see if they are more susceptible to certain diseases and if there are lifestyle changes that they should make to be healthier.
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Andrew Loveland is a senior majoring in chemical and biomolecular engineering. Over the summer he was a Fischell Institute intern in Director Bill Bentley's Biomolecular and Metabolic Engineering Laboratory.
Loveland has always been curious about STEM and often asked philosophical questions about how the universe works, why certain things exist the way they do, and how he can use this knowledge to solve problems that people face in the world today.
Loveland applied to this internship to gain experience and learn more about academic research. Loveland is worked on connecting biological and electronic systems through oxidative and reductive processes. He has been working most closely with chemical and biomolecular engineering Ph.D. student Futoon Aljirafi on this research.
One project he worked on is developing a "smart nose" that uses the connection of biology and electronics to detect different chemicals.
After graduation, he plans to pursue a Ph.D. in chemical engineering or bioengineering. Eventually, Loveland would like to continue chemical and biological engineering research or work in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industries.
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Isaac Thomas is a junior studying bioengineering. Over the summer, he was a Fischell Institute intern in Director Bill Bentley's Biomolecular and Metabolic Engineering Laboratory.
Thomas was inspired to attend the university after his older brothers did. In high school, Thomas wasn't sure what he wanted to pursue as a career as he enjoyed classes in the humanities, music, and STEM.
Thomas settled on bioengineering as it seemed like a perfect opportunity to apply the physics he learned about in a meaningful way to help others.
Thomas has enjoyed his experience with the internship, especially with the opportunity to plan out and perform his experiments for the first time. Thomas applied for the Fischell Institute internship as it seemed like a great way to learn various research skills to grow as a future bioengineer.
Thomas worked on characterizing the behavior of strains of E. coli that produce a purple pigment called violacein, which has both anti-tumor and antibiotic properties. He evaluates how these strains react and perform regarding cell growth and violacein production under various media conditions.
After graduation, he hopes to get a job in the biotechnology industry and get some work experience. He would also like to return to school to get a master's or doctorate degree once he has a better idea of what he would like to research. Regarding long-term goals and dreams, he wants to develop new biomedical technology to help save and transform lives.
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Mya Hamstra is a junior studying bioengineering. Over the summer, she was intern in Fischell Institute Fellow Greg Payne's research group. Hamstra has always been interested in science and medicine, but she was more interested in the analytical rather than the clinical side. Hamstra applied for the Fischell Institute internship because she wanted to be in a lab that had a significant emphasis on the engineering side, while enabling her to create new ideas and tools to benefit society through medicine.
Hamstra loves how she has had a lot of responsibility to create and design her project and experiment but has the support and knowledge of Greg Payne and the rest of the group, whenever she needs it.
Hamstra worked on conducting Mediated Electrochemical Probing (MEP) of proteins and amino acids to discern the structural differences to help understand how biology and electronics communicate. She experimented with albumin and cysteine to detect and quantitatively measure the electrochemical signatures of specific amino acid residues when testing different proteins. She enjoys her work because it encompasses biology, chemistry, electronics, and many other disciplines.
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Sidney Redwood is a junior studying bioengineering. Over the summer, she was an intern in Fischell Institute Fellow Greg Payne's research group. Redwood grew up hearing about how fantastic the A. James Clark School of Engineering was from family and friends.
Conversations with her older brother, a United States Military Academy West Point mechanical engineering graduate, helped her realize that bioengineering is the perfect intersection of engineering. She discovered her passion for developing innovative medical procedures and devices, as well as for understanding the business aspects of the healthcare industry.
Redwood said her internship experience working with Payne has been an honor and a privilege. Ever since she stepped into the building on her first day, she has felt comfortable and welcomed.
Throughout the internship, Redwood said she felt independent and trusted with her research project's contents while being supported enough to ask questions or for help when needed. She said she took away a new set of skills that she can use in any job she has in the future, while also gaining mentors.
Her research summer project involved the use of serum samples from a past clinical study to discern a correlation between oxidative stress and gluten intolerance/allergy in people with schizophrenia. After graduation, Redwood plans to earn her MBA. She would also like to work in medical device sales or create prosthetics for wounded warriors in a military hospital.
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Trent Crumback is a senior studying bioengineering. Over the summer, he was a Fischell Institute intern in Fischell Institute Fellow Greg Payne's research group.
Crumback discovered his passion for engineering through a course in high school. That class, combined with his growing interest in the medical field, inspired him to study bioengineering. He chose to attend the University of Maryland for its highly regarded undergraduate bioengineering program.
Crumback said working with Greg Payne has been an exciting experience. He has conducted research and explored the field of electrochemistry with great mentors who guide him in the right direction.
While at the internship, he hopes to learn how the research industry works and get on-hands experience in a lab setting.
Crumback worked on the electrodeposition of hydrogels. In addition, he created an instructional video that can be used to demonstrate how certain hydrogels are made, along with the different ways to manipulate the gels using electrodeposition. After graduation, Crumback aims to get a job at a medical device company and help produce devices to save lives.
Read more about Trent