Plastics are said to be the most versatile materials on Earth

"UMass Lowell is among the nation's leading centers for plastics technology, and its Plastics Engineering program...is helping to push new boundaries of how these versatile materials are used, produced and processed." - The Boston Globe

UMass Lowell offers the first and largest ABET* accredited Plastics Engineering program in the U.S. and a research-oriented graduate program.

The Plastics Engineering Department is an internationally recognized leader in plastics engineering education. Founded in 1954, we offer the first and largest ABET* accredited Plastics Engineering program in the U.S. More than 3,000 graduates are working in the plastics industry, some with their own entrepreneurial businesses (see video), in leadership positions worldwide. Learn more.

Plastics Profiles

Greg Reimonn works on equipment in lab
Greg Reimonn
Plastics Engineering

Greg Reimonn found a faculty mentor to help him research microplastics in waterways, thanks to an honors fellowship.

Read More About Greg Reimonn 
Abby Mastromonaco working with equipment in a plastics engineering lab at UMass Lowell
Abby Mastromonaco
Plastics Engineering

Abby Mastromonaco’s passion for sustainability led to a Rist Institute for Sustainability and Energy fellowship and research experience in a plastics engineering lab.

Read More About Abby Mastromonaco 
Paul and Cheryl Katen and their pet dogs
Cheryl and Paul Katen
Plastics Technology; Physics

Cheryl and Paul Katen are funding a scholarship to give diverse students “a leg up.”

Read More About Cheryl and Paul Katen 
UMass Lowell Plastics Engineering student Patrick McCallum interns at Wittmann Battenfeld
Patrick McCallum
Plastics Engineering

Patrick McCallum got a leg up on his plastics engineering career with an internship at Wittmann Battenfeld, where he worked alongside the company's president, alum David Preusse '85.

Read More About Patrick McCallum 
UMass Lowell Image
Chris & Paula White
Engineering

The founders of what has become a multimillion dollar premium, all-natural cookie dough and ice cream sandwich company hold degrees in engineering.

Read More About Chris & Paula White 
Kraig Scharn in front of Perry Hall
Kraig Scharn
Plastics Engineering

Thanks to his internship and co-op experiences, plastics engineering major Kraig Scharn ’20 discovered that sales was the right career path for him. He is now a junior technical service engineer for Entec Polymers in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Read More About Kraig Scharn 
Society of Black Engineers group photo
Yrvanie Joseph
Plastics Engineering

Yrvanie Joseph is grateful for alumni scholarships because they confirm the value of her hard work and academic achievements.

Read More About Yrvanie Joseph 
Plastics engineering student Evan Yu poses in front of a sign with "Commonwealth Honors: UMass Lowell Living-Learning Community"
Evan Yu
Plastics Engineering

Evan Yu didn’t know much about plastics engineering coming into college. He graduates with a deep appreciation for its role in helping the planet.

Read More About Evan Yu 
Leo Montagna Jr. Plastics Engineering UMass Lowell
Leo Montagna
Plastics Engineering

Plastics Engineering alumnus Leo Montagna Jr. '70, '76 says he wouldn't be where is is today with the University. He is a devoted UMass Lowell donor and supporter of the Plastics Engineering Department.

Read More About Leo Montagna 
Molly Tecce in her office with 3D Printer
Molly Tecce
Plastics Engineering

Plastics Engineering major Molly Tecce and partners from the 3D Club leapt into action to make PPE when the pandemic struck.

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Joey Mead
Joey Mead
Plastics Engineering

For most of her professional life, Prof. Joey Mead has been interested in plastics.

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Brianna Atwood volunteering at St. Patrick's School in Lowell
Brianna Atwood
Plastics Engineering

Brianna Atwood came to UMass Lowell to study plastics engineering – but she’s done so much more. The honors student started a volunteer program that connects UML students with a local school. She has also participated in the professional co-op program, working on fire-resistant seals for airplanes.

Read More About Brianna Atwood 
UMass-Lowell-Alumni-Donor-Mark-Saab
Mark Saab
Plastics Engineering

Alumni donor Mark Saab's UMass Lowell education provided the foundation for a successful career. His gratitude to the plastics engineering program is expressed through the generous donations he's bestowed upon the University.

Read More About Mark Saab 
Sid Iyer stands in the lab with two other students holding a piece of smart fabric
Sid Iyer
Plastics Engineering

Sid Iyer has taken advantage of internships, research opportunities, the DifferenceMaker program and more to pursue his goal: a career in biomedical research and development.

Read More About Sid Iyer 
Madison Reed and Ram Nagarajan
Madison Reed
Plastics Engineering

Madison Reed works as a research assistant with Plastics Engineering Prof. Ramaswamy Nagarajan in the UML Fabric Discovery Center.

Read More About Madison Reed 
  • A man in a gray T-shirt mixes waffle batter in a silver bowl in a kitchen.

    Batter Up: Alumni Create Gluten-Free Waffle Business

    Proven Provisions, a business started by health sciences alum Christianto Putra ’16, ’21 and his wife, plastics engineering alumna Raissa Yona ’15, recently introduced its first gluten-free, high-protein waffle mix.
    Featured Story
  • A man in a T-shirt works on an electronic device at a bench in a shop

    Engineering Alum Building a Better Lobster Trap

    Plastics engineering alum Cormac Hondros-McCarthy ’15 is developing a ropeless lobster fishing system, LiftLabs, to protect the endangered North American right whale and prevent the loss of fishing gear.
    Featured Story
  • Eight people pose for a group photo on a factory floor

    Plastics Engineering Students, Alumni Right at Home in ‘The Big Easy’

    Intralox, a leading conveyor belt manufacturer based in New Orleans, has developed a strong relationship with UMass Lowell’s plastics engineering program. More than 20 students have worked as interns or co-ops at the company since 2016, and there are seven alumni now working there full time.
    Featured Story
  • Rist fellow Caralyn Conrad

    Sustainability Projects Take Shape on Campus

    The Rist Institute for Sustainability and Energy granted fellowships to mechanical engineering major Caralyn Conrad, industrial engineering Ph.D. student Mahsa Ghandi and Art and Design Assoc. Prof. Kirsten Swenson.