Daniel N. Hebert was a professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at UMass for 27 years, where he inspired countless students with his enthusiasm for science and dedication to teaching. He passed away on December 8, 2024 after a 7-year battle with cancer – all the while maintaining his work at the highest level as the true scholar he was. His scientific contributions are characterized by their biochemical rigor and reflect his boldness in tackling important but challenging biological problems. His passion for science, his devotion to critical thinking and his strict interpretation of well-designed experiments were passed on to his trainees. They were very lucky to have had such a caring and disciplined mentor guide their early careers. He has been a pillar in the Molecular and Cellular Biology graduate program (MCB), supervising 37 doctoral students, leaving a lasting impact on the field and the UMass community.
In his memory, we are establishing the Daniel N. Hebert Scholarship to honor his legacy. This scholarship will be awarded to an MCB student who exemplifies Daniel’s passion for science, demonstrates strong rigor, and dedication to scientific excellence. He will be profoundly missed by his colleagues, students, and all who had the privilege of knowing him.
*Our objective is to establish an endowed scholarship and therefore gifts will be directed to a pre-endowment fund. If we do not achieve the minimum threshold to endow ($25K) the scholarship will be distributed for a term of years rather than in perpetuity.