Two women students work in the wood shot in the John W. Olver Design Building on the UMass Amherst campus.

Innovation with Purpose. Impact at Scale.

The No. 1 public university in New England, UMass Amherst unites academic excellence with our land-grant mission, serving society and strengthening communities across the Commonwealth and beyond through pioneering research, industry partnerships, and breakthroughs that drive real-world solutions.

$282M

Annual Research Expenditures

Public Research University in New England for Non-medical R&D

120+

Industry Partnerships Advancing Applied Science and Technology

490+

Active Patents Driving Commercialization and Workforce Development

$2.9B

Annual Economic Impact on Massachusetts Economy

$7.6 M

in Private Industry Awards

UMass Amherst: National Research Powerhouse

UMass Amherst is home to world-class faculty, cutting-edge facilities, and a culture of curiosity that drives bold, interdisciplinary discovery. As an R1 public flagship, our work not only advances scholarship—it delivers real solutions in health, climate resilience, health equity, AI governance, and global food systems.

Breakthrough Stories

Cancer Research Food Science Ethical AI Agriculture Robotics Environment

We’re attacking cancer with a healthy body of research.

What if cancer could be stopped before it starts? UMass Amherst cancer experts are pushing frontiers, harnessing nanotechnology to activate immune cells that can target and destroy cancer.

Researchers Develop Cancer Vaccine

Improving nutrition whets our appetite for knowledge.

At UMass, our Food Science researchers study the role of nutrition to enhance health and prevent a range of chronic conditions.

Designing a New Generation of Hybrid Protein

We envision AI that’s not just powerful, but responsible.

With more than a dozen patents granted, award-winning researcher Schlomo Zilberstein is dedicated to ethical and socially responsible AI development.

Pioneering Responsible AI

Science that’s working for farmers—and for the future.

From the lab to the field, UMass Amherst researchers are advancing agricultural technologies that make farming more productive, profitable, and resilient—putting innovation to work for the common good.

Driving Smarter Farming

Robotic technology that’s pushing what’s humanly possible.

UMass engineers are expanding the frontiers in areas like gait rehabilitation for stroke survivors. With every step, we create more human impact.

Explore Robotic Care

Keeping cities green, water clean, and families safe.

From helping native plants thrive and growing city trees, to stopping tick- and mosquito-borne diseases before they spread, UMass Amherst researchers are developing solutions for healthier, more resilient communities.

Discover Eco Innovation

A 3D render of a cancer cell being destroyed. Credit: Getty Images

A track runner wears a robotic hip exoskeleton designed by UMass Amherst researchers.

A Landmark Investment in the Future of Engineering

Former Apple executive Dan Riccio's $50 million gift—the largest in UMass Amherst history—will fuel engineering excellence, scholarships, professorships, and future breakthroughs. This catalytic investment will strengthen the university’s research enterprise and accelerate engineering breakthroughs in Massachusetts and beyond.

Research for the Common Good

UMass Amherst is the No. 1 public research university in New England in non-medical R&D expenditures, and holds the highest Carnegie Classification as an R1 university with "Very High Research Spending and Doctorate Production."

Learn More About How UMass Researchers are Changing the World

Students and researchers in the College of Engineering Water Lab

Advancing Impact Across Fields

Across campus, our specialized research centers and institutes work to translate discovery into real-world solutions. Together, they bring bold ideas to life—driving breakthroughs that deliver meaningful change.

Institute for Applied Life Sciences

Accelerating translation from lab discovery to market-ready innovation.

An illustration of big data analytics and high speed communication technology; data flow, data stream, digital information telecommunication, quantum computer qubits and internet concept. Credit: Getty Images

Center for Data Science & Artificial Intelligence

Leading breakthroughs in AI, computational modeling, and algorithmic fairness.

Energy Transition Institute

Advancing clean energy, decarbonization, sustainable infrastructure, and community-engaged solutions.

UMass Amherst College of Nursing Faculty and Student

Elaine Marieb Center for Nursing & Engineering Innovation

Reimagining health care delivery through interdisciplinary design.

NSF CBIKS Pacific Islands Hub voyaging image of boat on ocean

Center for Braiding Indigenous Knowledges & Science

Integrating Indigenous and Western research approaches to drive community-based solutions.

Massachusetts State House Boston November 2016. Attribution: ShareAlike4.0

UMass Donahue Institute

Delivering applied policy research that strengthens the Commonwealth’s economic and civic systems.

The student winners of a $5000 Tech Challenge award for their project, Re-Fresh, pose with Chancellor Javier Reyes, Gregory Thomas and others

Berthiaume Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Turning ideas into impact by connecting students with startups, industry partners, and expert guidance across Massachusetts.

Innovation that Strengthens the Region

UMass Amherst plays a central role in shaping Massachusetts’s innovation economy. Through strategic investment, industry collaboration, startup incubation, and workforce development, we generate $2.9 billion annually in statewide economic impact and fuel growth across Western Massachusetts. Our graduates remain in the region at one of the highest rates in the nation—strengthening communities, industries, and the civic fabric of the Commonwealth.

UMass Amherst locations across Massachusetts.

Driving Massachusetts Forward

7 to 1

Return on State Investment

64%

of Alumni Remain in Massachusetts, Fueling the State's Innovation Economy

1,400

Massachusetts Employers Rely on UMass Amherst's Talent Pipeline

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Explore Research Breakthroughs