Carline Fermino Do Rosario (Wadsworth/Ross labs) has received the prestigious NSF Soft Materials for Life Sciences National Research Traineeship (SMLS-NRT) for the 2020-2021 academic year! This traineeship engages faculty and students at the University of Massachusetts Amherst in a graduate education model that trains students in T-shaped skills. The vertical bar on the T represents the depth of related skills and expertise in a single field, whereas the horizontal bar is the ability to collaborate across disciplines with experts in other areas and to apply knowledge in areas of expertise other than one's own. The program will provide training breadth across multiple professional and other technical skill areas while developing quality depth in the trainee’s area of specialization. Life scientists, physical scientists and engineers will be brought together to generate dynamic team leadership skills and to catalyze innovation. Congratulations, Carline! Read more

Over the last 20 years, many academic institutions have conducted surveys in STEM disciplines, seeking ways to address and increase awareness of discrimination and racism that are major obstacles to attracting and retaining women – particularly underrepresented minority women – to diversify the STEM workforce.

Now results of a new experiment by researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst suggest that an online mutual-mentoring model called “Amplifying Voices” can create “trusting and supportive environments” among underrepresented minority women in STEM across academic institutions. Details were published online by the journal Innovative Higher Education.

Lead author Sandra Petersen, professor of veterinary and animal sciences, says, “Our research suggests that combining career-focused mentoring found in most academic institutions with empathetic psychosocial mentoring achieved through Amplifying Voices is a more effective strategy for supporting underrepresented minority women in STEM than either strategy alone.” Read more

Tuesday, June 16, 2020
2:00 PM
Zoom link:  Please contact mcb@mcb.umass.edu to be included on the email list for this announcement
Dissertation Title:  "Roles of RecN DNA repair protein and PriA DNA helicase in maintaining genomic integrity of Escherichia coli K-12"
Advisor:  Steve Sandler

Allison Sirois (S. Moore group) was recently awarded an NIH IRACDA Postdoctoral Fellowship at Tufts University to work in the Oudin Lab starting Fall 2020! The IRACDA program combines a traditional mentored postdoctoral research experience with an opportunity to develop academic skills, including teaching, through workshops and mentored teaching assignments at a partner institution. The program is expected to facilitate the progress of postdoctoral candidates toward research and teaching careers in academia. There is only one IRACDA research institution in Massachusetts, and about twenty nationwide. Congratulations, Allison! Read more