• How Fungi Make Nutrients Available to the World

    A recent article by the US Department of Energy reviews research and breakthroughs in biotechnology related to the conversion of woody biomass residues to useful bioproducts and biofuels. Professor Barry Goodell’s research in the UMass Microbiology department is discussed along with that of several other leading researchers in the field. Goodell’s work has led to the discovery on a unique, and highly efficient, non-enzymatic mechanism that fungi use to deconstruct wood. Read more »

  • Morita Lab Studies Glycolipid Biosynthesis as a Potential Drug Target

    The American Lung Association recently awarded Dr. Yasu Morita a grant to advance research to identify a protein involved in the production of glycolipids that can be targeted by new drugs. Read more »

  • Applied and Molecular Biotechnology (AMB) Master's Program in its Fifth Year

    The Applied and Molecular Biotechnology Program welcomed its fifth class in Fall 2017. Read more »

  • Holden Studies Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Vents in Northeastern Pacific

    One of the many research projects currently underway in the Holden Laboratory is the study of geomicrobiology of deep-sea hydrothermal vents along the Juan de Fuca Ridge in the northeastern Pacific Ocean. Read more »

  • Derek Lovley

    Lovley Invention Boosts the University's Number of Patents Recorded in One Year

    Derek Lovley, Distinguished University Professor, and Kelly Nevin Lovley, Research Assistant Professor, have developed and licensed a new technology, microbial electrosynthesis, which led the University of Massachusetts to record 62 patents in 2015 which is a record-high for the University. Read more... Read more »

News & Announcements

Sloan Siegrist Winner of ACS Infectious Diseases Young Investigator Award

April 2021:  Sloan Siegrist, Assistant Professor of Microbiology, was one of three individuals who received the American Chemical Society Infectious Diseases Young Investigator Award. Through this program, the ACS Division of Biological Chemistry recognizes outstanding young investigators in the field of infectious diseases. Read more...

Erika Hamilton Named UMass ADVANCE Mentor Award Winner

March 2021: Dr. Erika Hamilton, Senior Lecturer and Directory of Microbiology Teaching Services, has been named one of the UMass ADVANCE Program Faculty Mentor Award winners. This annual award recognizes the critically important work faculty members perform in mentoring and supporting their colleagues' professional development and success. Read more...

COVID Conversations: Q & A on the Microbiology of COVID-19

February 2021: On Tuesday, March 16 at 5:00 p.m., Microbiology faculty members, Drs. Mandy Muller and Wilmore Webley, hosted COVID Conversations to discuss current science on COVID-19 including new virus variants, host response, and vaccine strategies. Listen to the discussion...

Malavika Prithviraj Finalist in Three Minute Thesis Competition

February 2021: Malavika Prithviraj, microbiology Ph.D. candidate, was recently named a finalist in the UMass Graduate School's Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition for her presenation, Blocking the Synthesis of Bacterial Surface Structures. The final competition will be held via Zoom on March 18 from 4:00-5:30 p.m. Read more...

MicrobeBlaster Selected as One of Five Innovation Challenge Finalists

February 2021: Sarah Kaunfer, a microbiology junior, recently competed in The Semifinal of the Innovation Challenge. Sarah Kaunfer and her teammates Simran Jeet, Phoebe Lasic-Ellis and Hayley McIsaac were among 17 teams who gave five-minute pitches describing their venture. MicrobeBlaster, was one of five ventures selected to advance to The Final on April 7, 2021. Sarah Kaunfer, is currently a researcher with Yasu Morita. Read more...

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