Glass Family Faculty Innovation Fellows

Next Call for Applications: Fall 2026

The Riccio College of Engineering is pleased to announce the launch of the Glass Family Faculty Innovation Fellows program—an exciting new initiative designed to champion faculty-led innovation, foster entrepreneurial thinking, and accelerate the translation of research into real-world impact.

Each year, we anticipate supporting 2–3 faculty members who demonstrate a bold vision for innovation and a commitment to advancing the college’s mission through creative, interdisciplinary approaches.

These awards are supported by the Robert and Sandra Glass Innovation Fund.

Program Goals:

• Support faculty in transforming research ideas into startups, products, or public impact initiatives
• Connect Fellows with training programs, funding opportunities, and campus resources
• Showcase faculty innovation through public presentations and collaborative workshops
• Cultivate a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship across the Riccio College of Engineering

Fellowship Experience:

Selected Fellows—and a member of their research group (graduate student or postdoctoral fellow)—will: 

• Participate in the I-Corps @ UMass Amherst Training Program or a regional short course offered by the New England I-Corps Hub
• Engage with a cohort of innovators across disciplines (I-Corps @ UMass Amherst, Accelerating Research Translation @ UMass Amherst, Tech Transfer Office, Maroon Venture Partners Fund, Berthiaume Center for Entrepreneurship Institute for Applied Life Sciences, etc.)
• Attend and share a slide about their work at the annual Riccio College of Engineering Innovation Day
• Receive up to $6,000 to support ideation, product development, and/or commercialization

Eligibility & Application:

All full-time faculty within the Riccio College of Engineering are eligible to apply.

The application includes:

• A brief statement of the nominee’s innovative work or vision (maximum 500 words)
• A description of how the nominee’s efforts align with the goals of the fellowship (maximum 250 words)
• A high-level budget and explanation of how funds will be used (maximum half a page)