The campus has established a new fund to advance innovative research at UMass Amherst thanks to the generosity of donors JOHN AND ELIZABETH ARMSTRONG. The Armstrong Fund for Science is a competitive grant program designed to encourage faculty to pursue research that has a significant likelihood of major science or engineering impact. Launched in 2007, the Armstrongs established the endowment with the belief that major scientific advances in society can be achieved by supporting researchers with bold vision, documented credentials, and a passion for results.

Inaugural year awards reflect UMass Amherst's growing capacity in the Life Sciences. Assistant Professor Janice Telfer, Veterinary and Animal Science, received a two year grant to investigate adult stem cells responsible for forming blood and other cells in the immune system. Assistant Professor Harry Bermudez, Polymer Science and Engineering, received a one year grant for his project exploring the modification of tumor cells to avoid immune system responses.

The Armstrongs are active in the UMass Amherst research community. Through John's membership on the College of Engineering's Dean's Advisory Council, he and Elizabeth established a professional development professorship. The Armstrong Professorship supports a junior engineering faculty who is at the beginning of his or her career and has demonstrated substantial achievement and great promise in a specific area of teaching and research. The Armstrongs have also endowed a scholarship in engineering geared towards undergraduate research. Private donations, such as the type the Armstrongs make, greatly expand opportunities for our faculty and students.