Polymer Science and Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Amherst

Overview

The University of Massachusetts Amherst is nationally recognized for its strength in Polymer Science and Engineering (PSE). Consistently ranked as one of the top Polymer programs in the nation, the PSE department is one of the largest academic centers for polymer research in the world. Over 350 Ph.D.s have been awarded in the department's 30 year history, making the campus a top producer of polymer scientists who go on to fill the growing requirements for polymer specialists in industry, government, and education.

Key Research Thrusts

Aqueous Polymer Assembly
Fire-Safe Polymers and Polymer Composites
Green Chemistry, Physics and Engineering of Polymers
Mechanics of Polymers and Composites
Nanostructured Materials and Molecular Architecture
Structural Materials in Supercritical Fluids
Surfaces and Interfaces

Research Support

Approximately $8M in funding was awarded to the campus in FY '05 for polymer-related research*.

Breadth of Research

Strongly interdisciplinary, the University's polymer research involves close cooperation among faculty and students in the many related subfields of polymers, chemistry, and engineering. Close ties have been forged with faculty colleagues in the departments of Physics, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering. Collaborations extend to academic laboratories across the country and to all the leading companies in the polymer industry.

National Rankings

Polymer Science - 2nd in quality of education; 7th in quality of scholarship among all US Materials departments (National Research Council)
Chemical Engineering program - 5th (Institute for Scientific Information)
Chemistry Department: a "Top 25" program in numbers of PhDs awarded (American Chemical Society)

Centers & Institutes

Center for UMass Industry Research on Polymers

The oldest NSF Industrial/University Cooperative Research Center in the nation, CUMIRP stimulates innovation in polymer science and engineering by promoting, coordinating and funding research collaborations between UMass and industry. CUMIRP's three-part structure of team-oriented research clusters, one-on-one research focused on a single industrial problem, and unrestricted funding, is responsive to industry needs. CUMIRP cluster focus on several types of materials research, including biomaterials, fire-safe polymeric materials and nanostructured materials.

Materials Research Science and Engineering Center

An NSF-sponsored center, MRSEC supports fundamental research in polymer science and engineering-related fields. Recognized by industry and academia as one of the world's leading centers for materials education, MRSEC brings together researchers from numerous academic departments to provide an interdisciplinary perspective to define and pursue the most promising opportunities in polymer materials research.

MassNanoTech

MassNanoTech, the research institute for nanotechnology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, coordinates research on nanoscale materials, devices and systems; collaborates with industry; advances nanotechnology commercialization; educates students; and fosters outreach activities. At least 50 faculty investigators from eight departments in three colleges are working in the field of nanotechnology, generating over $26 million in research funding since 1997 from a variety of federal and industry sources.

Center for Hierarchical Manufacturing

The University of Massachusetts Amherst is establishing the Center for Hierarchical Manufacturing (CHM) through a five-year, $16 million grant from the National Science Foundation, with the mission to move nanotechnology from laboratory innovation to manufacturable components and devices. The CHM's research focus is Nanoscale Manufacturing: tools and processes for fabricating engineered nanoscale materials and particles, and assembling and integrating them into larger-scale structures, devices, and systems. Research work by 24 researchers from UMass Amherst and partner institutions will concentrate on nanoelectronics, bionanotechnology, and new materials and processes.

Laboratory Facilities

The campus operates a number of departmental and shared faculities, each being key to the efficient and timely execution of polymer research and education programs. Many facilities are available to external researchers. Facilities include instrumentation for: Characterization, Computing, Electron Microscopy, Mass Spectrometry, Microanalysis, Morphology, Nanostructured Materials Characterization, Optical Microscopy, Rheology, Spectroscopy, Semiconductor Device Fabrication, Nanoimprinting, and Surface Science. For more information on these facilities, search the campus' facilities database at www.umassrefs.info.

Technology Transfer

For licensing opportunities of Polymer Science and Engineering technologies, contact the office of Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property (CVIP) at (413) 545-3606.

*Source: UMass Office of Grants & Contracts Administration

Updated 6/1/06