Author | Lightnews

UMass Chemistry @umasschemistry.bsky.social · 21h

Derrick Maxwell BS '14 has been awarded the 2025 CNS Early Career Alumni Award!

Maxwell is the founder and CEO of Amel Energy, partnering with faculty experts inside the UMass Institute for Applied Life Sciences (IALS), to develop safer and greener materials for the energy storage industry.

2025 Early Career Alumni Award: Derrick Maxwell : College of Natural Sciences : UMass Amherst

Maxwell is a recipient of the 2025 Early Career Alumni Award.

www.umass.edu

1

UMass Chemistry @umasschemistry.bsky.social · 22h

Chemistry Prof. Jianhan Chen and postdoctoral researcher Shanlong Li have developed a new, publicly available tool called iConRNA that offers a unique and clear view of RNA, which may help scientists understand the causes of diseases.

www.umass.edu/news/article...

UMass Amherst Chemists Develop Tool Providing Unrivaled Look Inside Cells | UMass Amherst

It is the first model that allows researchers to dig into the molecular details responsible for neurodegenerative diseases and many cancers.

www.umass.edu

UMass Chemistry @umasschemistry.bsky.social · 1d

This weekend's time change can disrupt our circadian rhythm for days. Chemistry Associate Professor Michelle Farkas and other experts explain interesting facts about our body's internal clock.

www.umass.edu/magazine/rhy...

Rhythm Section : UMass Magazine

www.umass.edu

UMass Chemistry @umasschemistry.bsky.social · 6d

Graduate Program Information Session on November 18, 2025, from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm EST. Learn more about our research opportunities, program structure, and vibrant academic community.

The Fall 2026 admission deadline is Monday December 15, 2025.

Flyer for the graduate program information session on Tuesday, November 18, 2025 from 11:30-12:30. Link and QR code

UMass Chemistry @umasschemistry.bsky.social · 24d

Chemistry Prof. Jiahui (Chris) Wu received a five-year grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to study how ribonucleoprotein (RNP) condensates — tiny subcellular structures made of RNAs and proteins — form, function, and sometimes malfunction!

www.umass.edu/chemistry/ji...

1

UMass Chemistry @umasschemistry.bsky.social · Sep 29

We welcome qualified, innovative researchers to apply for our Assistant Professor position in Experimental Materials Chemistry! Applications are particularly encouraged in the area of Inorganic Materials Chemistry.

Please Share!

careers.umass.edu/amherst/en-u...

Photo of the physical sciences building on a maroon background explaining the Experimental Materials Chemistry faculty position.

UMass Chemistry @umasschemistry.bsky.social · Sep 22

Chemistry’s Prof. Zhou Lin, along with co-investigator Prof. Hui Guan from Computer Science, are aiming to dramatically increase the speed and accuracy of identifying molecules using AI!

www.umass.edu/natural-scie...

Chemistry and Computer Science Collaboration Wins NSF Grant : College of Natural Sciences : UMass Amherst

This work could improve how scientists from various areas identify unknown molecules through spectroscopic analysis.

www.umass.edu

UMass Chemistry @umasschemistry.bsky.social · Sep 16

Congratulations, Dr. Sravan Surampudi, for being selected as a Faculty Spotlight by Instructional Design, Engagement and Support (IDEAS) for enhancing student learning through a multimedia approach!

Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Sravan Surampudi : Instructional Design, Engagement, and Support (IDEAS) : UMass Amherst

Sravan Surampudi, Senior Lecturer in Chemistry, is working on a robust library of concise, explainer videos for Organic Chemistry, CHEM 261. His goal is to support student learning and long-term acade...

www.umass.edu

1

UMass Chemistry @umasschemistry.bsky.social · Aug 27

Congratulations, to our ResearchFest 2025 talk and poster winners, and all the amazing presenters!

Researchfest talk winners holding their certificates

Researchfest poster winners holding their certificates

UMass Chemistry @umasschemistry.bsky.social · Aug 27

ResearchFest 2025 highlighted the incredible research in our department! Incoming grad students spent the day connecting with faculty, peers, and alumni through research talks, poster sessions, a career panel, and a community picnic. We were also excited to welcome Chancellor Reyes this year!

Chancellor Reyes with soon to be chemistry department head, D. Venkataraman, and chemistry alumni

UMass Chemistry @umasschemistry.bsky.social · Jun 30

Professor Craig Martin has been awarded the 2025 Mahoney Life Sciences Prize for his research synthesizing vaccine-quality RNA using a technique that enhances both its quality and yield while dramatically reducing costs!

UMass Amherst Chemist Craig Martin Wins 2025 Mahoney Life Sciences Prize | UMass Amherst

Martin’s pioneering work on low-cost, high-volume, high-purity synthesis of vaccine quality RNA is set to revolutionize therapeutics.

www.umass.edu

1

UMass Chemistry @umasschemistry.bsky.social · May 23

Scott Auerbach selected to receive the lifetime honorific of Provost Professor title in recognition of exceptional achievement in research or creative activity, and in teaching! Congratulations!!

Three Faculty Members Receive Lifetime Honorific of Provost Professor | UMass Amherst

Provost Fouad Abd-El-Khalick has announced that Scott Auerbach, chemistry; Andrea Nahmod, mathematics and statistics; and David Schmidt, mechanical and industrial engineering, have been awarded the ti...

www.umass.edu

1

UMass Chemistry @umasschemistry.bsky.social · May 7

Final seminar of the semester, tomorrow Thursday 5/8 at 11:30am in LGRT 1681, Prof. Daniel Tabor will present ""Building Physics-Based and Data-Driven Methods for Efficient Molecular Design and Reaction Optimization.”

semester announcment for Prof Daniel Tabor "Building Physics-Based and Data-Driven Methods for Efficient Molecular Design and Reaction Optimization.” on maroon and molecule background

1

UMass Chemistry @umasschemistry.bsky.social · May 1

Thank you for making Chemistry's 2025 UMassGives campaign so successful!!

thank you on blue background with an aerial view of campus

1

UMass Chemistry @umasschemistry.bsky.social · Apr 30

Seminar Tomorrow! Thursday 5/1 at 11:30am in LGRT 1681, Dr. Joshua Kritzer will present ""Chemical Biology Tools for Measuring Drug Delivery.”

seminar announcemnt for Joshua Kritzer on maroon and molecule background

UMass Chemistry @umasschemistry.bsky.social · Apr 30

UMassGives continues through today! Please consider a gift to Chemistry to support scholarships, student recruiting, and faculty hires. umass.scalefunder.com/gday/giving-...

UMass Chemistry @umasschemistry.bsky.social · Apr 29

Help support undergraduate research by donating to Chemistry during UMassGives.
umass.scalefunder.com/gday/giving-...

UG Adrian Sosa thanking donors for supporting research in the Farkas lab

UMass Chemistry @umasschemistry.bsky.social · Apr 29

Chemistry's UMassGives funds help support undergraduate research. Please consider making a donation. umass.scalefunder.com/.../98035/de...

UG Megan Yee thanking donors that help support her research in the Andrew lab

UMass Chemistry @umasschemistry.bsky.social · Apr 29

UMassGives gifts made to chemistry help fund undergraduate research. Please consider making a donation.

Chemistry's UMassGives page: umass.scalefunder.com/.../98035/de...

1 1

UMass Chemistry @umasschemistry.bsky.social · Apr 29

UMassGives starts today! Please consider a gift to Chemistry to provide additional scholarships to our talented students, to enhance student recruiting, and to hire new faculty.
umass.scalefunder.com/gday/giving-...

1

UMass Chemistry @umasschemistry.bsky.social · Apr 28

Congratulations, to the 2025 Dr. Uche Anyanwu Memorial Fund chemistry poster session winners! Owen Ball (DV Group), Avantika Manikandan (Vachet Group), and Chris Walsh (Walsh Group)!

UG Owen Ball explaining his research poster

Avantika Mankandan explaining her research poster

Chris Walsh explaining his research poster

UMass Chemistry @umasschemistry.bsky.social · Apr 23

Seminar Tomorrow! Thursday 4/24 at 11:30am in LGRT 1681, Dr. Rachel R. Ogorzalek Loo will present "The Big Break Up—Understanding Why a Subunit or Polypeptide Abandons its Noncovalent Complex.”

Seminar announcement for Dr. Rachael Ogorzalek Loo on maroon and molecule background.

UMass Chemistry @umasschemistry.bsky.social · Apr 18

Join us for Chemistry's 21st Annual Undergraduate Poster Session, Friday, April 25th from 11:30am-1:00pm in the ISB atrium. The Dr. Uche Anyanwu Memorial Fund supports prizes for the top three posters.

UG poster session photo with white text on maroon background "Chemistry’s 21st Annual Undergraduate Poster Session April 25th, 11:30-1:00, ISB Atrium"

UMass Chemistry @umasschemistry.bsky.social · Apr 16

Seminar Tomorrow! Thursday 4/17 at 11:30am in LGRT 1681, Prof. Ryan Julian will present "Site-Specific Photodissociation Of Peptide Bonds: A New Tool For Top-Down Proteomics.”

Seminar Announcement for Prof. Ryan Julian on April 17th on maroon and molecule background.

UMass Chemistry @umasschemistry.bsky.social · Apr 9

Seminar Tomorrow! Thursday 4/10 at 11:30am in LGRT 1681, Prof. Dunwei Wang will present "Immobilizing Molecular Catalysts for Solar Fuel Synthesis and Beyond.”

seminar announcement for Prof. Dunwei Wang, April 10th, 11:30am in LGRT 1681, on maroon and molecule background.

1