Faculty

Program Director

Elizabeth Friar
B.A., Oberlin College; Ph.D., University of Georgia

Assistant Teaching Professor

Manik Ghosh
B.S., University of Burdwan (India); M.S., Visva-Bharati University (India); Ph.D., Sir J. C. Bose Institute (India)

Adjunct Faculty

Abhay Andar, Champions Oncology
B.S., University of Mumbai (India); M.S., Ph.D., University of Glasgow (Scotland)

Ashley Grant, The MITRE Corporation
B.S., California Institute of Technology; M.A., United States Naval War College; M.P.H., Ph.D., University of Texas Medical Branch

Andrew Kurtz, National Cancer Institute
B.S., University of Texas; Ph.D., University of Texas Medical Branch

Nandita Rahman, Deloitte, Inc.
B.S., M.S., George Mason University

Vinodh Rodrigues, Quartic.ai
B.A.Sc., McMaster University (Canada)

C. Mark Talbott, Shimadzu Corporation
B.S., Indiana University; Ph.D. University of Louisville

The Translational Life Science Technology (TLST) program offers a Bachelor of Science degree that provides training in all of the aspects of translational science and biotechnology. This unique program, offered only on the UMBC-Shady Grove campus, has been designed in collaboration with industry leaders to provide cutting-edge training to prepare students for employment in the fast-moving biotechnology industry. There are three main foci of coursework in the program: biology/chemistry, data science, and engineering. There is an emphasis on hands-on learning in well-equipped, cutting-edge laboratories on the Shady Grove campus. Many courses are taught by biotechnology professionals. All TLST students are required to complete two internships, either with one of the TLST faculty or with a local biotech company. 

Like all programs on the Shady Grove campus, TLST provides instruction for only third- and fourth-year students. Students can complete the first two years of their bachelor’s degree at UMBC or a community college.

Within the main Translational Life Science Technology, B.S.  major there is a Bioinformatics Track, which focuses on the data science aspect of the TLST major and includes advanced coursework in the intersection of data science and biology.

Students should visit the Translational Life Science Technology website to get the most current course information, requirements, and other important information including prerequisites and articulation pathways. 

Academic Advising

First and second year students and students new to the program are advised by advisors from the College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences (CNMS). After this, students are assigned to one of the full-time faculty for advising. Students must see their assigned advisors during the pre-registration period before they can register for classes in the subsequent semester. Academic progress is monitored every semester through graduation.

Additional advising is available for pre-allied health students in the UMBC Office for Academic and Pre-Professional Advising, and for pre-professional students in the Pre-Medicine and Pre-Dentistry located in the College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences (CNMS). These career-specific advising offices supplement, but do not replace the academic major advisors.

The Universities at Shady Grove

The UMBC Translational Life Science Technology program is only located at the Universities at Shady Grove, (USG) in Montgomery County, which is home to nine institutions in the University System of Maryland (USM). The UMBC Translational Life Science Technology program at USG is intended to provide junior- and senior-level classes to students who have transferred to the program from either a two-year or four-year institution. More information about the program is available at the Universities at Shady Grove website.

Programs

• Translational Life Science Technology, B.S.