Recent News

Building a Community of Dignity and Respect

The University of Massachusetts Amherst believes that a culturally diverse campus is integral to academic excellence and that our students, faculty, and staff should reflect the diverse world in which we live. Recognizing and valuing the wide range of voices and perspectives in all spheres of the academic enterprise, we are committed to policies that promote inclusiveness, social justice, and respect for all.

“Fostering an environment that protects intellectual exploration, advances mutual respect, and promotes inclusivity is critical to the mission of the university.” — Chancellor Kumble R. Subbaswamy

The UMass Office of Diversity Equity and Inclusion supports these efforts with resources, events, campus climate initiatives, podcasts, and more.

Antiracism Resources - Books, podcasts, movies, and programs for adults and children.
Fight Hate - Our community must stand united in the face of hate.

Building Bridges is a campus initiative that seeks to draw on the power of solidarity and creative expression to bring people together across race, religion, class, immigration status, gender, sexual orientation, age, ability, nationality and more.

Take Charge of Your Virtual Learning

You might not be on-campus or in a classroom, but you are not alone! We are here to help you be successful in your remote learning courses.

Preparing your Mind & Space to Learn. We’ve all heard the quote by Benjamin Franklin “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” Explore strategies and tools to assist you in preparing for success. Topics include: Mindset Matters, Developing a Growth Mindset A Set-up for Success, and My Learning Environment My Remote Learning Checklist.
Quick links to tools to help you get started: Mindset Matters, Reframing my Challenges, My Learning Environment, and My Remote Learning Checklist

Make your Learning Meaningful. Strive for higher levels of learning and create your learning routines. Strategies and tools to assist you in meaningful learning. Topics include: Higher Levels of Learning, A Learning Routine for Success, and My Study Cycle. Quick links to tools to help you get started: Levels of Learning and The Study Cycle.

Master the Content. As you strive for higher levels of learning, it is important to have a toolbox of strategies to reply on. Your approach to learning will vary by course and change as you progress in your major. Expand your learning toolbox with the following resources on academic success strategies: Concept Maps, Active Reading Strategies, Note Taking Strategies, Study & Review Strategies, and Explore how your academic habits may impact test taking. You are not alone. Connect with resources to support your content mastery. Success Toolkit Series, Learning Resource Center, Writing Center, and talk to your Academic Advisor about college/major specific academic support services.

Make the Most of your Time. Effectively utilizing your time is a life long skill. Learning to prioritize assignments, studying and other commitments is a personal journey. Explore these tips to discuss tools and strategies that may help you make the most of your time. Topics include: Finding a Routine & Tools, Time Management, and Tools Managing Procrastination. Quick link to tools to help you get started: Student Success Planner, Managing your Procrastination, and Where does my time go?

 

Spring 2021 Operating Plan

The operational posture of the UMass Amherst campus is currently at "Elevated." For more information, go to www.umass.edu/spring.

The campus’s strategic focus is on advancing students’ academic progress toward degree completion while providing a campus environment that meets federal and state health and safety protocols for mitigating COVID-19. Guided by these principles, the university has determined that in-person, face-to-face instruction for undergraduate and graduate students will be offered on campus this spring in certain classes, labs and studios identified as requiring in-person instruction.

Timely information regarding various aspects of our spring plan can be found at umass.edu/spring, and the administration will also keep you updated via email and other communication channels.

In the weeks and months ahead, the campus will continue to monitor the progress of the pandemic, and should worsening conditions warrant re-evaluation of our plan, we will act accordingly to ensure that the health and wellbeing of our community remains paramount

Graduate Program Webinar

If you missed our webinar, or wish to review content from the event, please watch the video segments for additional program information.

Introduction to our Department by Associate Head, Prof. Jeanne Hardy
Introduction to our Graduate Program by Program Director, Prof. D. Venkataraman
Current Graduate Student, Catherine Tremblay
Current Graduate Student, Michael Lu Diaz
Overview of the Application Process by Admission Committee Chair, Prof. Vincent Rotello

Questions about applying or about the graduate program should be directed to Rebecca David rldavid@umass.edu

  • Application Deadline:  December 15  (Fall admission only)
  • Information about applying for Fall 2021. (Info for Chemistry Applicants)
  • The requirement for the GRE general exam is waived for 2021 admission.  The Department also requires a separate Research Interests Form to be filed with the graduate application.
  • Application Fee Waiver: to apply, email one paragraph stating your financial need, URM status, or academic achievement to Rebecca David rldavid@umass.edu

Upcoming Events

Prof. Dame Carol Robinson
University of Oxford
Thursday, February 25, 2021
Department of Chemistry

"Protein complexes subjected to tandem mass spectrometry reveal allosteric binding partners"
Host:
Igor Kaltashov
11:30 am
Zoom
Prof. James McKone
Univ. of Pittsburg
Thursday, March 11, 2021
Chemical and Petroleum
Host:
Joe DuChene
11:30 am
zoom
Jiale Du
Dissertation Defense
Friday, March 12, 2021

"A Cryptic Site on the Proteasome-Associated Deubiquitinase UCH37/UCHL5 is Required for Chain Editing and Degradation"
9:00 am
zoom
Research Adviser:
Eric Strieter
Prof. Khalid Salaita
Emory University
Thursday, March 25, 2021
Department of Chemistry
Host:
Mingxu You
11:30 am
zoom
Francesca Edith Anson
Dissertation Defense
Friday, March 26, 2021

"Investigative Mechanisms to Exploit Caspase-Induced Apoptosis Using Polymeric Nanogels"
1:00 pm
zoom
Research Adviser:
Jeanne Hardy, S. Thayumanavan