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Political scientists release UMass Poll on Senate race

A new political poll directed by Brian Schaffner along with associate directors Ray La Raja, Tatishe Nteta and Maryann Barakso of the Political Science Department, finds that Elizabeth Warren is holding a narrow 48 to 46 percent lead over Republican incumbent U.S. Sen. Scott Brown among likely voters in the race for Senate in Massachusetts. This lead is within the 5 percent margin of error. Warren has a six-point 49 to 43 percent lead among registered voters, the poll says.

The faculty pollsters promoted their work at a televised debate Oct.

Gregory Tew and research team score advance in manipulating T cells

Gregory Tew, professor of Polymer Science and Engineering and colleagues, including immunologist Lisa Minter, have found a way to get inside naïve T cells and to deliver bio-active cargo such as proteins and synthetic molecules across what had been a long-locked cell membrane. They do this by using a new synthetic protein transduction domain (PTD) that mimics natural ones. Tew and colleagues call their new macromolecules “PTD mimics” (PTDMs). They are able to slip through the T cell’s membrane and deliver a payload of therapeutic small interfering RNA (siRNA).

The invention is “something like

New course proposal

The following new course proposal has been submitted to the Faculty Senate Office for review and approval and is listed here for faculty review and comment.  Comments on any new course proposal should be submitted to Ernest May, Secretary of the Faculty Senate, at senate@senate.umass.edu.

EDUC 621A “Higher Education Finance Policy” 3 credits; Instructor:  Ryan Wells; This is an overview of the finance of higher education, with an emphasis on finance policy and current issues at the national, state and institutional levels. 

School of Nursing awarded $892,559 HHS grant to promote diversity in profession

The School of Nursing has received a $892,559 grant to boost an ambitious and wide-ranging three-year program to draw future nurses from minority and disadvantaged communities.
 
The grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Bureau of Health Professions will allow the school to fully implement a program called Achieving Diversity: A Comprehensive Approach to Nursing Workforce Diversity.
 
Program director Jean Swinney said the school has been increasingly active in Springfield and its public schools, promoting and participating in “Nursing Clubs” to introduce students to

Homecoming events scheduled for Oct. 20-28

A wide array of events and activities are planned for Homecoming from Oct. 20-28.
 
The festivities start at Gillette Stadium on Oct. 20 as the Minutemen play Bowling Green.
 
On campus, the celebration continues with the 38th annual Multiband Pops Concert on Friday, Oct. 26 and a 5K road race and the Homecoming Fall Festival on Saturday, Oct. 27. The festival features live music, demonstrations, food, a beer and wine garden and the UMass Iron Chef Competition.
 
 

Program explores 1980s Afro-American spark of Afro-German poetry and culture

Afro-American and Afro-German culture and activism will converge Oct. 10-11 in two programs focusing on the life and work the late Audre Lorde, the influential African-American and lesbian poet who ignited the Afro-German movement in the 1980s, and late poet May Ayim, a founder of the Black German Movement.
 
On Wednesday, Oct. 10, Ika Hügel-Marshall will read from her autobiography “Invisible Woman: Growing up Black in Germany,” which details her childhood, her search for her African-American father, and her close friendship with Lorde.

Economist Barry Bluestone speaks Oct. 16

Barry Bluestone, director of the Dukakis Center for Urban and Regional Policy at Northeastern University, will present a talk on “Economy and Equity: Strategies for Cities and Massachusetts” on Tuesday, Oct. 16 at 4:30 p.m. in 302-304 Gordon Hall.
 
Bluestone is the dean of Northeastern’s School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs. He co-founded the Economic Policy Institute and currently writes a blog called “Economy and Equity” for Boston.com. Along with the late Bennett Harrison, Bluestone is the author of The Deindustrialization of America; The Great U-Turn: Corporate Restructuring and the

Lunch & Learn series looks at iCons Program

The Center for Teaching and Faculty Development's Lunch & Learn series will examine the Integrated Concentration in Science (iCons) Program on Wednesday, Oct. 17 from noon to 1 p.m.
 
In their presentation, "iCons: Marbling Content with Context Through a Case Study Approach to Undergraduate Science Education," Scott Auerbach, iCons director and iCons 2 Energy instructor, Justin Fermann, Chemistry professor and iCons 1 instructor, and Chaz Nielsen, iCons staff team member and iCons 2 Energy co-instructor, will discuss how to motivate  students to think and act like practicing scientists in

Gillum's research is focus of podcast

Research by Tameka L. Gillum, associate professor of Public Health, was the subject of a recent podcast produced by Sage Publications.
 
The study, co-authored by Gloria DiFulvio, assistant professor of Public Health, is titled “‘There’s so much at stake’: Sexual minority youth discuss dating violence” and was published in the July edition of Violence Against Women: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal.
 
In the podcast, Gillum discusses the recent work and the significance of the findings in relation to the health and well-being of sexual minority youth.
 
The study and related

Nominations for Distinguished Alumni Awards due Oct. 15

The Alumni Association is accepting nominations for the Distinguished Alumni Awards, which recognize individuals who have translated their UMass Amherst experience into notable achievement in their fields of endeavor.
 
Alumni, faculty and friends will be honored at a spring ceremony at the State House.
 
Nominations are due by Monday, Oct. 15.

Submit a nomination

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