Cutting-edge Innovation in Polymer and Materials Science & Engineering

Molly Shoichet ’92 PhD, a 2026 CNS Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, earned her doctorate in PSE working with Professor Thomas McCarthy. Her research at UMass laid the foundation for an internationally recognized career at the intersection of polymer science, engineering, and medicine. Today, she is a University Professor and the Pamela & Paul Austin Chair in Precision & Regenerative Medicine at the University of Toronto, where her pioneering research in biomaterials and drug delivery is advancing new approaches to treating spinal cord injury, stroke, cancer, and other diseases. A prolific inventor, entrepreneur, and leader in science policy, Shoichet is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering, a Fellow of the Royal Society (UK), and an Officer of the Order of Canada. Reflecting on her time at UMass, she shared, “At UMass, I had the opportunity to grow, learn, and explore. In the McCarthy lab, we worked together to achieve success. Tom let me forge my own path and explore new areas of science that ultimately led me to a career at the intersection of polymer chemistry, engineering, and medicine.”

The extended PSE community mourns the loss of Frank Erwin Karasz, Silvio O. Conte Professor Emeritus of Polymer Science and Engineering, who died in Amherst on June 21, 2026. A pioneering polymer scientist and influential member of the PSE community for nearly six decades, Karasz helped shape the department during its formative years and made lasting contributions to polymer science through his research, scholarship, collaborations, and mentorship. He remained an active and familiar presence in PSE long after his formal retirement in 2004. Read more about the life and legacy of Professor Frank Erwin Karasz.