Make Your Research Come Alive (MyRCA) Program

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Interested faculty members should apply to join this year’s 2026-2027 cohort. Applications are due October 15, 2026.

Please also download the MyRCA Flyer 2026-2027 for more information. Note that, beginning in AY 2026-2027, the MyRCA program is expected to be offered every two years (e.g., it would next run in AY 2028-2029).

About the Program

The “Make Your Research Come Alive” (MyRCA) program, launched in November 2025, is a new collaboratory designed for faculty who are committed to advancing and amplifying the visibility, reach, impact, and funding potential of their research, scholarship, and creative activity.

The 2025-2026 program brought together 14 UMBC faculty to develop skills in research impact to reach stakeholders and the public; create compelling pitches and broader impact narratives tailored to foundations, corporations, and donors; and share best practices and learn from each other in a supportive, cross-disciplinary cohort model.

Watch this video to hear directly from 2025–2026 participants about the value of MyRCA and how the program helped advance their work.

Below, learn more about all of the faculty who participated in the 2025-2026 program and read their research in 7 words — following this Harvard University model. A UMBC News story by Sarah Hansen shares what they accomplished during their time in the program.

Charissa Cheah, Professor, Department of Psychology. Research in 7 words: “Advancing equity through families and youth thriving.”

Karen Chen, Assistant Professor, Department of Information Systems. Research in 7 words: “Building data-driven technology to promote human flourishing.”

Lauren Clay, Professor, Department of Emergency and Disaster Health Systems. Research in 7 words: “Reducing barriers to food access after disaster.”

Sophie Comer-Warner, Assistant Professor, Department of Geography & Environmental Systems. Research in 7 Words: “Discovering how global change affects aquatic biogeochemistry.”

Marie-Christine Daniel, Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Research in 7 words: “Boosting advanced cancer treatment using multifunctional nanoparticles.”

Foad Hamidi, Associate Professor, Department of Information Systems. Research in 7 words: “Increasing public participation in interactive technology learning.”

Yiwen Hu, Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering. Research in 7 words: “Enhancing security and reliability of mobile systems.”

Brian Kaufman, Associate Professor, Department of Music. Research in 7 words: “Fostering creativity and civic action through music.”

Ellen Kohl, Assistant Professor, Department of Geography & Environmental Systems. Research in 7 Words: “Environmental policies’ roles in perpetuating systemic injustices.”

Dong Li, Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering. Research in 7 words: “Enabling accessible health intelligence with everyday devices.”

Amy Tondreau, Associate Professor, Department of Education. Research in 7 words: “Developing asset-based literacy practices for inclusive schools.”

Gabriella Weiss, Assistant Research Scientist, Center for Space Sciences and Technology. Research in 7 words: “Looking inside molecules to uncover their formation.”

Rebecca Williams, Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering. Research in 7 words: “Capturing, visualizing, and interpreting data for good.”

Shuling Yang, Assistant Professor, Department of Education. Research in 7 words: “Visual representation of AI representation in classrooms.” — Shuling Yang, Assistant Professor, Department of Education. Research in 7 words: “Visual representation of GenAI applications in classrooms.”

MyRCA Program Committee:

Dr. Christine Mallinson, Assistant Vice President for Research and Scholarly Impact, Division of Research and Creative Achievement
Dr. Don Engel, Associate Vice President for Strategic Research Initiatives, Division of Research and Creative Achievement
Donna Ruginski, Associate Vice President for Center Development, Division of Research and Creative Achievement
Dr. Karl Steiner, Vice President for Research and Creative Achievement, Division of Research and Creative Achievement
Dr. Linda Kidder Yarlott, Associate Director for Corporate Research Partnerships, Office of Institutional Advancement

In collaboration with the following units:

College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
College of Engineering and Information Technology
College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences
Center for Space Sciences and Technology
Office of Institutional Advancement
Office of University Communications and Marketing

For more information about the program, please contact Dr. Christine Mallinson or email ord@umbc.edu.

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