Spotlight Scholars
The UMass Amherst Spotlight Scholars initiative shines a light on faculty working for positive social change through research, scholarship, and creative activity. Learn more about the work of these leading minds.
A call for nominations will be issued once a year at the beginning of fall semester. Find information on the nomination process, eligibility, and recognition.
The nomination period for the 2025–2026 UMass Amherst Spotlight Scholar faculty award program is now open through October 28. Nominate a faculty member by completing this form.
Meet the Spotlight Scholars
Untangling the Long-Term Health Effects of 'Forever Chemicals'
Developmental toxicologist Alicia Timme-Laragy studies how PFAS and other common chemicals affect embryonic development and long-term disease risk.
Gaining Clarity About the World Through the Study of Music
Musicologist Marianna Ritchey explores classical music in contemporary American capitalism through diverse lenses.
Engineering Biologically Inspired Electronics
Jun Yao, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, works at the intersection of electronics and biosystems to develop extraordinary devices, ranging from an air-powered generator to an artificial neuron.
Trailblazing Research to Protect Pollinators
Evolutionary ecologist Lynn Adler’s research is uncovering important new clues about interactions between pollinators, pathogens, and plants.
Research With, By, and For Communities
Sonya Atalay, provost professor of anthropology, leads a global network of scholars dedicated to braiding Indigenous and Western sciences to study crucial, interconnected challenges facing communities.
Studying How AI Can Think and Act in the Real World
UMass Amherst Professor of Computer Science Shlomo Zilberstein’s research seeks to enable artificial intelligence systems that can operate safely and reliably in real-world settings.
Past Spotlight Scholars
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018