Howard Hughes Medical Institute Scholars

Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Scholars Program

University of Maryland, Baltimore County
1000 Hilltop Circle · Baltimore, MD 21250 · (410) 455-1381

      In September of 2002 UMBC received a grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute for the Undergraduate Biological Sciences Program. The program's primary goal is to increase the number of minority students that matriculate to Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. programs in the biomedical field. The HHMI Scholars Program was modeled after the highly successful Meyerhoff Scholarship Program at UMBC, which is one of the top producers in the United States of African American science, engineering and math undergraduates that matriculate to PhD programs.

      HHMI Scholars at UMBC are chosen through a rigorous application and interview process, which includes the Program Director and Department Chairs. Only those students majoring in a biomedical field with a GPA above 3.2 and a strong interest in pursuing research as a career are chosen for the program. Current HHMI Scholar biographical information along with their research experience and research interests can be found here.

      As a key component of the HHMI Scholars Program students participate in research experiences beginning with their freshman year. While completing a research project during their sophomore year at UMBC, scholars select highly productive off-campus scientists, particularly HHMI Investigators, with whom they work during the summer. Providing students various research experiences will prepare them for the rigors of scientific research as a career. For information on all program requirements for students click here.

      Student support is provided by the HHMI Scholars program, including travel, housing, and a salary for working in the laboratories during their tenure as an undergraduate. Also, if the student and mentor are interested, there is an option for the student to remain at the host institution for their junior year in order to complete an extended research project with their chosen mentor.

      If you would like more information on the program, please contact:

Keith Harmon, Coordinator
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
1000 Hilltop Circle
Baltimore, Maryland 21250
410-455-1381
kharmon@umbc.edu

FRESHMAN BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
	Patrice Stark Major: Biochemistry High School: The Bullis School Columbia, MD Research Interest: Career Goal: PhD Current Research Mentor: Research Experience:
	Melanie Wiley Major: Biochemistry High School: North Carolina School of Math and Science Burlington, NC Research Interest: Career Goal: MD/PhD Current Research Mentor: Research Experience:
	Elisia Clark Major: Biocemistry High School: Charles Herbert Flowers High School Upper Marlboro, MD Research Interest: Career Goal: PhD Current Research Mentor: Research Experience:
	Carlos Fonseca Major: Chemistry High School: Enloe High School Raleigh, NC Research Interest: Career Goal: PhD Current Research Mentor: Research Experience:
	Shawn Barton Major: Chemistry High School: Brunswick High School Frederick, MD Research Interest: Career Goal: MD/PhD Current Research Mentor: Research Experience:
	Robert Wardlow Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology High School: Cherry Hill High School West Cherry Hill, NJ Research Interest: Career Goal: MD/PhD Current Mentor: Research Experience:
	Ramshi Singh Major: Biochemistry High School: Winton Churchill High School Rockville, MD Research Interest: Career Goal: MD/PhD Current Mentor: Research Experience:
Sophmore BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
	Annisa Alexander Major: Biological Sciences High School: Aberdeen High School Aberdeen, MD Research Interest: Career Goal: PhD Current Research Mentor: Christopher Plowe, MD - Center for Vaccine Development UMB Research Experience:
	Bilguujin Dorjsuren Major: Biochemistry High School: Govenor Thomas Johnson High School Frederick, MD Research Interest: Career Goal: MD/PhD Current Research Mentor: Michael F. Summers, PhD - Chemistry and Biochemistry UMBC Research Experience:
	Brandon Nemieboka Major: Biological Sciences High School: Mount Saint Joseph's Academy Baltimore, MD Research Interest: Career Goal: MD/PhD Current Research Mentor: Angela Brodie, PhD - Pharmacology UMB Research Experience:
	Chioma Ihekweazu Major: Biochemistry High School: Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School Orangburg, SC Research Interest: Career Goal: PhD Current Research Mentor: Scott Strome, MD - Otorhinolaryngology UMB Research Experience:
	Igor Shusterman Major: Biochemistry High School: North Carolina School of Math and Science High School Durham, NC Research Interest: Career Goal: PhD Current Research Mentor: Patricia O'Donnell, MD, PhD - Neuroscience UMB Research Experience:
	Nicole Parker Major: Biochemistry High School: Paint Branch High School Burtonsville, MD Research Interest: Career Goal: PhD Current Research Mentor: Jia Bei Wang, MD, PhD - Pharmaceutical Science UMB Research Experience:
	Phillip Fitzgerald Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology High School: Suitland High School Suitland, MD Research Interest: Career Goal: MD/PhD Current Research Mentor: William Reid, PhD - Institute of Human Virology UMB Research Experience:
	Sameera Syed Major: Biochemistry High School: Pikesville High School Pikesville, Maryland Research Interest: Career Goal: PhD Current Research Mentor: Michael Summers, PhD - Chemistry Biochemistry UMBC Research Experience:
	Nana Owusu-Boaitey Major: Biological Sciences High School: River Hill High School Clarksville, MD Research Interest: Career Goal: MD/PhD Current Mentor:David Scott , PhD - Microbiology UMB Research Experience:
Junior BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
	Ashleigh Bouchelion Major: Biological Sciences High School: Reservoir High School, MD Research Interest: Career Goal: MD/PhD Current Research Mentor: David Eisenmann, PhD - Biological Sciences UMBC Research Experience:
	Benyam Kinde Major: Biological Sciences High School: Arrowhead Christian Academy, CA Research Interest: Career Goal: MD/PhD Current Research Mentor: Michael F. Summers, PhD - Chemistry Biochemistry UMBC Research Experience:
	Alexandra Scott Major: Evironmental Sciences High School: Enloe High School, NC Research Interest: Career Goal: PhD Current Research Mentor: Tamara Mendelson, PhD - Biological Sciences UMBC Research Experience:
	Erwin Cabrera Major: Biological Sciences High School: Eleanor Roosevelt High School Greenbelt, MD Research Interest: Career Goal: PhD Current Research Mentor: Phyllis Robinson, PhD - Biological Sciences UMBC Research Experience:
	Gabrielle McRae Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology High School: Flowers High School, Maryland Research Interest: Career Goal: PhD Current Research Mentor: Donna Farber, PhD - Microbiology UMB Research Experience:
	Dina Popovkina Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology High School: Walter Johnson High School , MD Research Interest: Career Goal: PhD Current Mentor: Scott Thompson, PhD - Neuroscience UMB Research Experience:
	Nicholas Pinkin Major: Chemistry High School: Governor Thomas Johnson High School, MD Research Interest: Career Goal: PhD Current Research Mentor: Ramachandra Hosmane, PhD - Chemistry and Biochemistry UMBC Research Experience:
SENIOR BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
	Tamika John Major: Bilogical Sciences High School: Eleanor Roosevelt High School, Mitchellville, MD Research Interest: My research include Immunology or Microbiology. Career Goal: PhD Current Research Mentor: David Scott, PhD - Microbiology UMB Research Experience: Alleviating autoimmunity diseasevia B cell gene therapy .
	Sean Patro Major: Biochemistry and Molcular Biology High School: Archbishop Spalding High School, MD Research Interest: My research interests include Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Career Goal: PhD Current Research Mentor: Michael F. Summers, PhD - Chemistry Biochemistry UMBC Research Experience: Structural Analysis of the Myristoylated Matrix Protein of the Feline Immunodeficiency Virus.
	Jessica McGrath Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology High School: Damascus High School, MD Research Interest: My research interest include Biochemistry and Molecular Biology . Career Goal: MD/PhD Current Research Mentor: Michael F. Summers, PhD - Chemistry Biochemistry UMBC Research Experience: The relationship between the structure of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus matrix protein and its ability to target the plasma membrane.
	Steven Tuhishime Major: Biological Sciences High School: William G. Enloe High School, Raleigh, NC Research Interest: My research interest include Genetics or Pharmacology Career Goal: PhD Current Research Mentor: Janice Zengel, PhD - Biological Sciences UMBC Research Experience: Finding Spiramycin resistant mutations in E. Coli.
	Whitney Fields Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology High School: Elizabeth Seton High School, MD Research Interest: My research interests lie primarily in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Career Goal:PhD Current Research Mentor: Janice Zengel, PhD - Biological Sciences UMBC Research Experience: Isolating and analyzing mutations in the ribosomal protiens L4 and L22 in Escherichia coli that are resistant to the antibiotic tylosin.
	Ramon Cabrera Major: Bilogical Sciences High School: Eleanor Roosevelt High School, Mitchellville, MD Research Interest: A genetic approach to identify targets of ubiquitin ligases from animals and plants. Career Goal: MD/PhD Current Research Mentor: Weihong Lin, PhD - Biology UMBC Research Experience: Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Dr. Yanxi Tan-Cain ~V Effect of agitation speed and sinker use on drug dissolution. National Cancer Institute, Dr. Beverly A. Mock ~V Effect of Zebularine on the expression of the p16 tumor-suppressor gene.
	Tiffany Fleet Major: Biochemistry and Molcular Biology High School: Western School of Technology and Environmental Science, MD Research Interest: My research interests include Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Career Goal: MD/PhD Current Research Mentor: Lasse Lindahl, PhD - Biological Sciences UMBC Research Experience: Attempting to delete the XRN-1 gene from a strain of yeast named YLL 534 in order to analyze the function of Rnase MRP. XRN-1 is an exonuclease that degrades the D site, the mature 3~R end of 18s, in ribogenisis. If the D site is left undegraded, then further experiments can be performed to determine if MRP cleaves at the a# site in ITS-1.
	Joy Ihekweazu Major: Chemistry High School: South Carolina Governor's School for Science and Mathematics, SC Research Interest: My research interest include Chemistry. Career Goal: PhD Current Research Mentor: Lisa Kelly, PhD Chemistry and Biochemistry UMBC Research Experience: Binding properties of Amino acids and Napthalimides.
	Vovanti Jones Major: Biological Sciences High School: Hillside High School, The North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics Research Interest: My research interest include Rose of Second Site Suppressors of the Amp A pathway of Dictyostelium discoidium. Career Goal: MD/PhD Current Research Mentor: Daphne Blumberg , PhD - Biological Sciences UMBC Research Experience: Cornell Medical School, Dr. Olga Boudker ~V Measurements of Glutamate Transporters. UNC, Chapel Hill, Dr. Louise M. Ball ~V The effect of flourescent light on the mutagenicity of porphyrins in Salmonella.