2006 SURF Highlight

Ninth Annual Summer Undergraduate Research Fest at UMBC was hosted by the College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences for the first year on Wednesday, August 8, 2006. Dean Geoff Summers opened the student-focused research symposium that was held on the 7th Floor of the Albin O. Kuhn Library and Gallery. The event served as the culminating event for numerous summer research experiences based in the College and featured presentations by a total of 68 summer researchers, who were supported by UMBC, CNMS, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, the National Science Foundation, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Goddard Space Flight Center, JCET, the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, The Leadership Alliance, Pfizer, Inc., and the UMBC Graduate School. Numerous people attended the event and the afternoon closing ceremony when program directors presented certificates to the participants and Dr. Michael Summers presented the 2006 Summer Mentor Award to Jacquelyn Roberts for Outstanding Support and Service to UMBC Research Programs.

Mentor Award for Outstanding Support and Service to UMBC Research Programs

Jacquelyn Roberts is the Manager of Career Resources and the Program Director for the Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC) Program for the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) located in Bethesda, Maryland. Ms. Roberts exemplifies a career services administrator who is committed to advancing diversity in the life sciences and the training and career development of future biomedical and behavioral research scientists. For over 20 years, with the support of two NIGMS/NIH-funded grants from the Minority Opportunities in Research Division/MARC Program, the FASEB MARC Program has supported the training and development of underrepresented minority students, postdocs and faculty pursuing careers in the life sciences. Since 1997, under the direction and leadership of Ms. Roberts, the student development activities and opportunities provided by the FASEB MARC Program have expanded to include significant programming to promote diversity in the biomedical and behavioral sciences. In recent years, over 500 minority students, postdocs and faculty mentors are supported annually through travel awards to support attendance and participation in national scientific meetings. In addition, between 70-90 undergraduate minority students recruited and selected for summer research experiences at major research institutions are supported by the FASEB MARC Program each year with six students supported at UMBC this summer.

Recognizing the impact these program opportunities have on those who receive benefit and support from the FASEB MARC Program, Ms. Roberts has demonstrated a commitment to the continuation and future development of the FASEB MARC Program by successfully securing continuous funding to support the minority programs offered through FASEB. In August 2005, the FASEB MARC Program was awarded a grant from NIGMS/NIH totaling $6.1 million over the next 5-year period. Additionally, in June 2006, the FASEB Career Resources and MARC Program Office was awarded a $15,000 grant from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund to support a “Postdoc Preparation Institute” at the Experimental Biology 2007 meeting next April in Washington, D.C.

Having worked at FASEB during an earlier period (1983-1987), Ms. Roberts rejoined the staff at FASEB as the Manager of Career Resources in 1996. In 1997, she assumed administration of the FASEB MARC Program and was appointed Program Director. Prior to her employment with FASEB, she worked as a Circulation/ Financial Analyst for SCIENCE Magazine and the Membership and Circulation Office, and (later) as the Business Manager in the Membership, Meetings and Circulation Office of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) located in Washington, DC. Ms. Roberts is also a member of the American Society of Association Executives, the National Association of Female Executives, and the American College of Sports Medicine. Originally from Vicksburg, Mississippi, Jacquie attended Jackson State University (Jackson, MS) majoring in Business Administration/Accounting prior to relocating to Montgomery County, Maryland in 1983.