Community Spotlight

Dr. Ravel is the Acting Director at the Institute for Genome Sciences (IGS) and a Professor of Microbiology and Immunology. Over the past 18 years, he has developed a research program focused on applying modern genomics technologies and ecological principles to characterize the role and dynamics of the vaginal microbiome in women's health. He uses clinical genomics and systems biology approaches to develop improved strategies to manage gynecological and obstetrics conditions.

His foundational research has led to the development of innovative live microbiome-based biotherapeutic drugs to restore vaginal health and treat conditions such as bacterial vaginosis and urinary tract infections. These interventions are being evaluated in several clinical trials in the US and Africa. He has published over 300 peer-reviewed publications and is among the most highly cited scientists worldwide. Dr. Ravel is the current and founding editor-in-chief of the journal Microbiome and an associate editor of the journal mBio. He received his PhD in environmental molecular microbiology and ecology from the University of Maryland, College Park, and performed his postdoctoral training at Johns Hopkins University in the Department of Chemistry, working on microbial natural product chemistry.

The Maryland Small Business Development Center‌‌ (SBDC)‌ at UMB, in partnership with The Grid, UMB Graduate School’s Innovation Hub, provides faculty and student entrepreneurs as well as local small business owners with access to trusted business advisors who have experience in starting and growing businesses.

The SBDC offers expertise and insight essential to developing and designing solid long-range plans for advancing new programs, products, and services. The SBDC is a nonprofit management consulting organization focused on small business formation, retention, and expansion designed to achieve increased sales, job growth, and increased tax revenues for the State of Maryland and specifically for the city of Baltimore.

UMB Carey School of Law’s Public Health Law Clinic, one of many law clinic available to graduate students, gives you the opportunity to learn about and contribute to the development of sound and effective public health law and policy. The clinic is designed to teach participants how to understand and apply social science research, communicate legal issues to non-lawyers, and identify and analyze legal hurdles to public health action. Areas of coverage include environmental health, injury prevention, tobacco and cannabis regulation, oral health, problem gambling, and food safety and access. You will work to bring social justice to the public health realm and identify particular policy options to decrease inequality and enhance justice in public health practice.

Being a part of the Graduate Student Association means collaborating with student organizations and departments campus-wide to enhance graduate student opportunities, organizing the annual Graduate Research Conference, administering achievement awards and funding to individuals and groups, as well as hosting networking and social events.