Student Research Awards
Award Programs
At UMass Amherst, opportunities abound for students to make meaningful contributions to research, both at the graduate and undergraduate levels, across all academic disciplines. Each year, we celebrate some of the university's most dedicated and accomplished student researchers through two award programs: Rising Researchers for undergraduates, and Groundbreaking Graduate Students for master’s or doctoral students.
These award programs shine a light on those students whose outstanding research, scholarship, and creative activity are making a real-world impact. Typically, these students have been recognized with external grants, honors, and awards; have published their work in peer-reviewed journals or books; have presented or performed in prominent venues; or are taking a leadership role in community outreach efforts related to their research.
Nomination, Eligibility, and Recognition Information
Rising Researchers
The Rising Researcher program recognizes undergraduate students who excel in research, challenge their intellect, and exercise exceptional creativity. Students from a wide variety of majors have received the Rising Researcher award.
Faculty members are encouraged to nominate eligible students whom they advise/mentor. Calls for nominations will be issued twice a year at the beginning of the spring and fall semesters. The nomination period for the UMass Amherst Rising Researcher student award program is now closed.
Fall 2025
The Fall 2025 Rising Researchers have seen first-hand how conducting original research can add profound depth to their educational journeys. As they apply concepts and techniques learned in class to their research practice, they’ve encountered surprising insights, made leaps in understanding, and gained new confidence in themselves. Not only have they contributed to scholarly publications and major conference presentations, but their work is making meaningful advances in quantum computing, communication, and sensing applications; developing new drug delivery platforms to treat neurological diseases; improving crop resilience and yield in the face of extreme weather conditions; and more. These undergraduates are helping to change the world—imagine what they’ll do in the future.
Vy Do ’26 conducts research to develop nanocarriers for therapeutic genetic materials to treat traumatic brain injuries and other neurological conditions.
Eddie Li ’26 studies the grass Brachypodium distachyon as a model for cereal crops such as wheat to seek solutions to improve crop yield, especially in regions with extreme weather conditions.
Robert Kwolek ’26 researches the design and validation of integrated quantum photonic circuits.
Margaret Lepeshkin ’26 uses art to understand the world around her and seek creative solutions to positively transform the impact of our built environment on the natural world.
Nicholle Tan ’26 conducts research to design meat alternatives that are more appealing and nutritious for consumers.
Ramin Gasimli’s [’26] research has implications for fields ranging from microfluids and biotech to underwater robotics and autonomous vehicles.
Heeya Ajwani ’26 studies conditions such as depression and borderline personality disorder to contribute to the development of more equitable, inclusive, and effective treatments.
Spring 2025
The Spring 2025 Rising Researchers are proving that research is hardly confined to the inside of a science lab. The work they are pursuing, with passion and perseverance, holds promise to effect change—in the development of new life-saving drugs, on supermarket shelves, on the pages of major newspapers, on the theater stage, and at schools around the world. In the service of helping others, these undergraduates are learning about themselves, their passions, and their resilience as they tackle complex problems and find novel solutions. Learn more about their impressive accomplishments and the limitless opportunities to make a difference through research at UMass Amherst.
Shuli Rosenfeld’s [’25] research aims to improve the qualities of plant-based meat and dairy alternatives to make them more appealing to consumers.
Shakira Ebian ’25 studies Crithidia bombi, a common gut parasite that infects bumblebees, affecting their foraging behavior and reproductive success.
Chemical engineering major Yaozu Chen '25 creates microfluidics to determine the structure of proteins, a precursor to designing drugs to target certain proteins.
Lindsay Forauer ‘25 marries linguistics and theater research to inform her work as a dialect coach to actors performing in theater at the high school, collegiate, and professional levels.
Evan Owens ’25 conducts linguistics research to uncover the inner workings of languages and studies biases people may hold against certain languages or ways of speaking.
Mia Klotz '25 is helping students around the world gain access to educational information through her research and outreach work with the World Librarians club.
Carlie LaFauci ’25 studies the media’s depiction of trans individuals and gender-affirming care to identify opportunities to improve accuracy and reduce bias.
Groundbreaking Graduate Students
The Groundbreaking Graduate Student award celebrates the exceptional work of master’s or doctoral students at UMass Amherst. This is a new award launching in fall 2025.
The nomination period for the UMass Amherst Groundbreaking Graduate Student award program is now closed.
PhD student Maina Handmaker is studying the behavior of the vulnerable whimbrel bird species and making a concrete impact to protect them.
PhD student Banu Abdikadirova develops wearable robotic systems and studies how they can enhance human performance and aid in rehabilitation.
Contact
Questions? Contact Lauren Rubenstein.