Faculty Excellence

WORLD-CLASS FACULTY

UMass Amherst is home to over 1,900 faculty members, including 12 of the world's most highly cited researchers (Clarivate Analytics, owner of Web of Science, 2023). They are creative and passionate researchers, teachers, and mentors striving to improve the world and empower the next generation through the pursuit of knowledge and innovation.

FACULTY DISTINCTION

1,900+

Faculty Members, Conducting Cutting-Edge Research in a Wide Range of Fields

of the World's Most Highly Cited Researchers (Clarivate Analytics, 2024)

of the Best Scientists in the World (Research.com, 2023)

Explore More Faculty Awards

Ambassadors of Knowledge

As a Fulbright Top Producing Institution of U.S. Scholars, UMass Amherst is proud to be a leader in the global exchange of knowledge. An exceptionally high number of UMass faculty and administrators are selected to study, teach, and conduct research around the world through this prestigious international academic exchange program of the U.S. government.

Learn More About UMass Amherst's Fulbright Scholars

DISTINGUISHED FACULTY LECTURES

Dating back to the 1970s, many of UMass Amherst's most esteemed and accomplished faculty members have shared their research at the annual Distinguished Faculty Lecture series. From climate change to the ongoing challenges of healthcare and the ethics of advancing technologies, these researchers address some of the most pressing issues of our time.

Explore the Distinguished Faculty Lectures

Flower Power in the Adler Lab

As bee populations decline, Professor of Biology Lynn Adler is leading research on the role of flowers in feeding and protecting the health of bees, and as sites of disease transmission.

Learn More About this Pollinator Research

Investigating the Erosion of Soil in America's Heartland

Associate Professor Isaac Larsen in the Department of Earth, Geographic, and Climate Sciences is studying the effects of agriculture in depleting rich topsoil in the American Midwest, with serious implications for the country's food production and more.

Read About This Research on Soil Erosion

Spotlight Scholar Kathryn Derose: "I strongly believe that addressing health inequalities […] starts with the perspectives and insights of the community most affected by the issues."

Alice Cheung in lab — Spotlight Scholar Alice Y. Cheung: "Every discovery opens up new opportunities for more research questions to explore."

Spotlight Scholar Emiliano Ricciardi: "Digital technology gives new life to this music and poetry. This is what makes working on the Tasso in Music Project so rewarding."

Justin Coles — Spotlight Scholar Justin A. Coles: "How do I create a record of the beauty and brilliance of Black youth life and ability, so that no one can deny their existence?"

Spotlight Scholar Torrey Trust: "A huge goal of mine is to help teachers think more critically about how to use technology in their practice to create more accessible and inclusive learning experiences."

Spotlight Scholar Jonathan Corpus Ong: " If we are to have a future living together, then we need to understand where people are coming from—however strange their beliefs may first seem."

Spotlight Scholar Kathleen Arcaro: "Ultimately, I hope that this research leads to breast milk being used to accurately assess a person’s individual risk of breast cancer, allowing them to make informed decisions and modify their risk."

Spotlight Scholar Michael Constantino: "I’m really interested in applying science to something that is sometimes viewed as more of an art—the work that psychotherapists do to try to help their patients."

Spotlight Scholar Melissa Mueller: "I’m interested in reading Greek literature in ways that can speak to audiences—especially readers new to the study of Classics—today."

Spotlight Scholar Charmaine A. Nelson: "I always say to my students, don't be afraid of the absence of yourself in a discipline because that means your questions haven't been posed yet."

Spotlight Scholar Caitlyn Butler: "I think there's a lot to be learned from sewers in terms of disease dynamics."

Spotlight Scholar Elizabeth Evans: “It’s important to hear the stories of those affected by addiction—the factors they perceive as leading them to begin substance use, and what the experiences of addiction and treatment have felt like over the lifespan.”

Kirby Deckard — Spotlight Scholar Kirby Deater-Deckard: “Each child is so different. The role of parents and caregivers is to provide a foundation of love, security, and knowledge, but also to reinforce the uniquely individual strengths of each child.”

BOLD THINKERS. BRIGHT LEADERS.

The Spotlight Scholars initiative shines a light on faculty working for positive social change through research, scholarship, and creative activity. Learn more about the work of these leading minds.

Meet the Spotlight Scholars

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Academics

Office of the Provost