Research
About
Community Engaged Research for the Common Good
As a public land grant institution, we have a responsibility to contribute to the common good outside of our university walls. Community-engaged research promotes mutually beneficial collaboration between UMass and our neighbors in the Springfield metropolitan area. Our research responds directly to community-defined goals and needs, addressing challenges like transportation, food insecurity, and public health. This reciprocal sharing of knowledge and resources promotes education and engagement—leading to better policies, stronger economies, and enriched lives.
Training Opportunities
We collaborate with partners across the UMass Amherst academic network to support faculty development and training that advances community-engaged research work. These opportunities better position researchers to apply for and receive funding for projects that encourage community involvement.
Grant Opportunities
For researchers seeking funding, a variety of internal and external grant opportunities are available. These awards are ideal for scholars participating in research, advisory, or consulting work that engages the community or benefits the public.
Monthly Center Advisory Working Group
The Monthly Center Advisory Working Group is a cohort-based working group where faculty and graduate students collaborate. Our work supports interdisciplinary, place-based scholarship while building a supportive network of researchers across campus.
Space for Community-Engaged Research
Conduct your research in the City of Springfield. The Henry M. Thomas III Center at Springfield has a limited amount of breakout and meeting spaces available for community-based researchers to use, free of charge. For more information or to reserve space, alishar [at] umass [dot] edu (contact Alisha Ross).
In the Spotlight
Transportation is an often overlooked aspect when it comes to racial disparities in maternal health. A multidisciplinary team of engineering, nursing, and public health experts is researching the experiences of Black pregnant women in Western Massachusetts, shedding light on mobility barriers and advocating for inclusive interventions.
Contact
Lidya Rivera-Early
Keisha L. Green, Ph.D
