As Krishna Kumar finishes his first academic year as the second Gluckstern Professorship in Physics, he reflects that he is glad to be back “to a vibrant physics department” that lured him back to campus with new lab spaces in the Physical Sciences Building and the professorship, which gives him “the flexibility in research direction that allows me to chase after new initiatives that are not part of current research grants.”

The students who belong to the university’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) program pride themselves on providing year-round, 24/7 care to the UML community.

That hasn’t changed during the coronavirus pandemic.

In his weekly video address on Monday, April 13, Chancellor Michael F. Collins thanked members of the UMass Medical School community for their commitment during the COVID-19 pandemic.

LOWELL, Mass. – In an effort to help offset the financial hardships that many are experiencing right now, UMass Lowell is allocating half a million dollars in education scholarships for new and continuing undergraduate students who enroll for the 2020 summer semester. 

“Everyone has been affected by the sudden global health and economic changes caused by COVID-19 and we hope these scholarships will help minimize the impact for students pursing education at UMass Lowell,” said Steven Tello, vice provost for graduate, online and professional studies.

With the university’s mid-March shift to virtual learning in response to the coronavirus pandemic, a new, remote reality began for students, faculty and staff.

One group of students might have felt social distancing harder than others, but thanks to some quick work, those enrolled in Learning in Retirement Association (LIRA) courses are thriving online.

Cole M. Haynes, PhD, professor of molecular, cell & cancer biology, has received a Method to Extend Research in Time (MERIT) award from the National Institute on Aging for his research on repair and regeneration of mitochondria dysfunction, a mechanism associated with age-related diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.

In a time of dire need, as medical professionals are working to care for patients during the COVID-19 pandemic and critical supplies of protective gear are running low, students in the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at UMass Medical School produced nearly 130 gallons of hand sanitizer in less than three days to help sustain local hospitals. 

Michelle Trim, associate director of the informatics program and senior lecturer in the College of Information and Computer Sciences (CICS), was selected to receive the college's 2020 College Outstanding Teaching Award. 

UMass Amherst Libraries, members of the All-Campus Makerspace, Institute for Applied Life Sciences (IALS) and multiple faculty and students from Engineering and the Life Sciences began working together in mid-March to establish UMass Amherst COVID-19 Response Teams including those to coordinate resources to fabricate supplemental personal protective equipment (PPE) to support medical staff on the frontlines of the COVID-19 battle. 

The UMass Amherst Libraries have started a MinuteFund campaign to support the UMass Amherst Student Care and Emergency Response Fund (SCERF). 

Even though financial aid covers most tuition expenses, SCERF provides assistance to students struggling to cover the cost of other personal essentials, such as: