Impact Nano Partners with UMass Icons Program To Bolster Western Mass Economy

Several students from UMass Amherst will engage in summer internships with Impact Nano, a new high-tech company in the Pioneer Valley. Impact Nano has partnered with the UMass iCons Program to provide development opportunities for promising undergraduates majoring in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) through summer internships and part-time work throughout the year.

Starting in May, 2022, UMass iCons students drawn from several different STEM majors will work closely with Impact Nano scientists, engineers, and operations personnel to scale up the new chemical manufacturing operation. The company makes advanced materials that enable breakthrough technologies in the automotive, semiconductor, and pharmaceutical industries. The company’s location in western Massachusetts is strengthening the North American supply chains for these critical materials while also creating local jobs. 

“We were so impressed with the quality of the UMass iCons students that we decided to hire three right off the bat,” said Art Pernsteiner, vice president of operations at Impact Nano. “The students will work from day one solving real-world problems that new manufacturing businesses face, whether related to technology, quality, or operations. They will see how new companies are built while being mentored by experienced professionals.” 

Matthew D. Stephens, the CEO of Impact Nano, said the interns will directly and beneficially impact the local economy in the Pioneer Valley, helping Impact Nano create new manufacturing jobs by deploying new technologies and systems. “The interns from the UMass iCons Program will help move us toward our vision of solving global challenges in computing, the energy transition, and health,” he said.

The UMass iCons students interning at Impact Nano are Jacob Talmer, a junior majoring in mechanical engineering from Pepperell, Massachusetts; Liam Murphy, a junior majoring in chemistry from Burlington, Massachusetts; and Ryanne McKenna, a junior majoring in industrial engineering from Andover, Massachusetts.

Scott Auerbach, the Mahoney Family Sponsored Executive Director of the UMass iCons Program, said that the new relationship with Impact Nano is a win on many levels. “Impact Nano joining the iCons Industry Consortium helps our students gain real-world experience, helps Impact Nano tap into our pipeline of great young talent, and helps bolster the economy of the Pioneer Valley.”

Tricia Canavan, CEO of Tech Foundry and Chairperson of the Board of the Western Mass Economic Development Council said “The partnership between Impact Nano and the UMass iCons Program will be a model for Western Mass and beyond, bringing together the best of industry and academia to boost an economic ecosystem.”