Assoc. Prof. of Marketing Ann Kronrod is developing a tool to help consumers and businesses know whether or not the authors of online reviews actually tried the products.

A year of change. That sums up 2022 at UMass Lowell.

Nearly two dozen UML staff members received Performance Recognition Program awards from the commonwealth for their contributions to public service.

Catnap, a device designed to alert parents when their sleeping child is having an asthma attack, won the ninth annual DifferenceMaker Francis College of Engineering Prototyping Competition, held recently at University Crossing.

Prof. Meg Sobkowicz-Kline and Asst. Teaching Prof. Akshay Kokil were awarded funding totaling $1 million by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute of Standards and Technology for projects that aim to reduce the amount of plastic that ends up in landfills and the environment each year.

Nineteen UMass Lowell students participated in the William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition - the most prestigious math competition in North America.

Students taking the newly launched Climate Crisis and Society course worked in partnership with the city of Lowell on a climate resilience project. The work inspired them to develop their own climate projects.

The Grow Your Own pathway program is designed to help students at Lowell High School figure out early if they want to teach – while earning college credit.

Solar Crowdfund, a platform that would let people invest money to fund large-scale solar projects, won the 10th annual DifferenceMaker Innovation Contest, sponsored by Digital Federal Credit Union and the Manning School of Business.

During a class field trip to the State House, public health majors learned how advocates can impact policies that effect health.

Three students and three faculty members traveled to Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, for COP27, the United Nations climate summit, where they were the only delegation from a public university in Massachusetts.

Student well-being leaders are helping to promote a culture of wellness at UML by connecting students in need with on-campus resources through a new initiative launched by the Office of Student Life and Well-being.

Prof. Ramaswamy Nagarajan of the Department of Plastics Engineering, a highly regarded researcher and teacher, has been named Distinguished University Professor, the top accolade bestowed on a UMass Lowell faculty member.

Veronica Maksymenko is on track to earn her bachelor's degree in exercise science in three years, paving the way for her to begin the doctor of physical therapy program next summer at the age of 17.

Under a National Institute of General Medical Sciences grant, Biological Sciences Prof. Hwai-Chen Guo and five undergraduates are analyzing a group of enzymes found in the human immune system that could potentially act as targets for drugs used to treat serious diseases.

The Rist Institute of Sustainability and Energy kicked off the newly launched Indoor Winter Farmers Market, featuring Lowell-based vendors.

Three members of the same extended family in Washington, D.C. — Tyson Minor, Ayinde Hikim and De’Andre Gore — are all pursuing degrees from the Manning School of Business, thanks in no small part to UMass Lowell’s DC-CAP Scholars Program.

Accounting faculty in the Manning School of Business are finding new ways to attract students to the field, from incorporating data analytics into the curriculum to teaching fundamentals through a game of “Monopoly Accounting.”

Funded by a three-year, $2.14 million National Science Foundation grant, a research team led by Asst. Prof. Nicolai Konow will work to develop a deeper understanding of how muscles function.

A community-based project led by Civil and Environmental Engineering Prof. Pradeep Kurup to test and monitor the quality and safety of drinking water for thousands of Merrimack Valley residents has been awarded a research grant totaling nearly $2.5 million by the National Science Foundation.

A new study led by Assoc. Prof. Comfort Enah is evaluating whether a system that was designed to improve maternal and newborn health in rural America decades ago can bring similar benefits to Cameroon in central Africa.

The Fulbright Scholars bring scientific expertise and different cultural perspectives to the Kennedy College of Sciences.

The Tsongas Industrial History Center, a partnership between the university’s School of Education and Lowell National Historical Park, has welcomed more than 1.4 million students and teachers from around New England for hands-on lessons about Lowell’s history, technology and environment since its founding in 1991. 

Assoc. Prof. of Finance William Johnson debated Prof. Emeritus Jack Wilson on the pros and cons of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology during an event hosted by the Global Entrepreneurship Exchange program and the Jack M. Wilson Center for Entrepreneurship.

Members of Computer Science Prof. Fred Martin’s lab traveled to Sweden to present their research projects at an international conference.

Assoc. Prof. of Marketing, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Michael Ciuchta received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award to research the Spanish entrepreneurial ecosystem while teaching at a university in Madrid.

“Honor Yourself Week,” a new initiative co-sponsored by the Honors College and UMatter2, provides students with tips and resources for incorporating wellness into their daily routines.

Future teachers at UMass Lowell and Lowell High School were celebrated at the fall 2022 Education Symposium, where researchers, educators and activists talked about the need for "radical innovation" to address inequities.

With the help of a student research team, Transene Company is offering etching solutions to its semiconductor customers that don't contain the toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

As guest editor for the MIT Sloan Management Review “Future of the Workforce” Big Ideas research initiative, Assoc. Prof. of Management Elizabeth Altman explores workforce ecosystem. The research has led to a forthcoming book, “Workforce Ecosystems: Reaching Strategic Goals with People, Partners and Technologies.”

A research team led by Biomedical Engineering Asst. Prof. Bryan James Black is developing a way to screen non-opioid drugs for use in treating chronic pain.

The city of Lowell is working in partnership with university researchers to get people with opioid use disorder into services and out of the criminal justice system. New grants are expanding the city’s diversion efforts, including for police calls involving people experiencing a mental health crisis.

UMass Lowell researchers have teamed up with local organizations in search of effective strategies that will encourage underserved communities to participate in energy efficiency programs.

Racial equity and inclusion are the focus of a new concentration for sociology majors. It’s supported by several recently hired faculty who study race and ethnicity, opening up new research opportunities for students.

A group of UMass Lowell students and faculty created educational signs across campus to spread community awareness and knowledge of Indigenous peoples who were originally settled on the local land.

After two earlier attempts were canceled due to high winds, UMass Lowell researchers successfully launched a planet-finding telescope, called PICTURE-C, to the edge of the atmosphere from a NASA balloon facility in Fort Sumner, New Mexico.

Civil engineering alum Julie Eaton Ernst ’14, ’17 spoke about her work to make Boston’s waterfront more climate-resilient at the inaugural James B. Francis Lecture on the Built Environment.

Chemistry Asst. Prof. Manos Gkikas and his former student, Frances Skinner ’19, developed new anti-microbial drugs to fight multidrug-resistant bacteria that can cause infections in critically ill patients.

Psychology Assoc. Prof. Urmitapa Dutta and her students do community action research together with Miya people in Northeast India who are being stripped of citizenship by the government.

The Rist Institute for Sustainability and Energy awarded fellowships to plastics engineering major Abby Mastromonaco, entrepreneurship Ph.D. student William Zhou and Chemistry Asst. Prof. Juan Artes Vivancos.

A new study led by Prof. of Public Health Wenjun Li, with funding from a $4 million, five-year grant from the National Institute on Aging, will analyze how older people move and use the outdoor space in their communities.

The Learning in Retirement Association, a UML partner organization that offers educational courses and social events to retired and semi-retired people, has embraced a hybrid learning model that has allowed it to reach more members and guest speakers.

The River Hawk Scholars Academy’s new Pathways to Career program helps first-generation college students in their junior year take advantage of resources available to them in the Career and Co-op Center.

Biological Sciences Asst. Prof. Natalie Steinel co-authored a research paper published in Science that shows how the immune response of threespine stickleback fish to tapeworms can negatively affect the fish’s fertility.

Mechanical engineering majors Giancarlos Jaime-Guzman and Chris Jorge-Rosario competed against teams from across the country in the annual Lowell Kinetic Sculpture Race, a carnival-like spectacle that blends science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics.

The National Science Foundation-funded project Cool Science hosted its 10th annual Extreme Weather Art Competition for students in grades kindergarten through 12th. The winning posters are now displayed on transit buses in the Merrimack Valley and Worcester areas.

When students arrived back on campus, they were greeted by two colorful murals: a “chrome” hermit crab by internationally known artist “Bikismo” and six endangered species painted by New England muralist Sophy Tuttle. The murals were sponsored by ArtUp Lowell, a citywide coalition that brought nine muralists to the city in August.

Thousands of River Hawks flocked to the Campus Recreation Center for the Engagement Fair, where more than 200 student clubs and organizations continued to rebuild memberships and executive boards following the pandemic.

The UMass Lowell Library is taking steps — including hiring new staff members and introducing additional services — to help the university reach its goal of becoming a top-tier national research institution.

At a dig site at 509 Market St. in Lowell, students from UMass Lowell, UMass Boston and Queen’s University Belfast searched for artifacts from a grocery store and dwelling that was operated by Irish immigrant Patrick Keyes in the mid-1800s.

The university celebrated Lowell’s culture, diversity and history at “September in the City,” a festival that drew hundreds of students, faculty, staff and community members to JFK Plaza for free food, music and more.

Noureddine Melikechi, dean of the Kennedy College of Sciences and professor in the Department of Physics and Applied Physics, is helping to advance the use of laser technology to diagnose serious illnesses, ranging from cancers and COVID-19 to Gulf War illness.

With a new dean in Jenifer Whitten-Woodring and an elegant new home at Allen House, it’s an exciting time of transition for the growing Honors College, which has nearly 2,000 undergraduate students enrolled this fall.

Students didn't have to go far over the summer to gain valuable experience for their future careers — many stayed right here at UML to take advantage of opportunities for research, co-op work and community engagement. Undergraduate Research Opportunities and Collaborations (UROC), a program that is now part of the Career & Co-op Center, helps connect students of every major with experiential learning opportunities — many through the Immersive Scholars program. Here’s what some of the students had to say about their experiences.

New homes for the Honors College, Rist Institute for Sustainability and Energy and Asian American Center for Excellence and Engagement highlight a busy summer of campus improvements by Facilities Management.

Julie Chen welcomed more than 2,500 first-year and transfer students to UMass Lowell during her first Convocation as chancellor.

The university is introducing eight new ADA-compliant buses this fall featuring audio announcements, automatic passenger-counting technology and a more modern exterior design.

The Kennedy College of Sciences partnered with The Calculus Project to offer an advanced mathematics summer program on campus to children of color and those who come from low-income families.

To keep up with the rising demand for data scientists, the Manning School of Business’ Master of Science in business analytics program continues to grow, adding a sixth track in health care business analytics.

Returning River Hawks are offering advice on everything from changing majors to making friends that will help newly arrived students thrive at UMass Lowell.

Field experience courses offered during the summer allowed students to explore New England, Montana and Idaho while gaining new skills in ecology and geology.

Biomedical and Nutritional Sciences Assoc. Prof. Kelsey Mangano has received a three-year $496,885 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to examine whether high consumption of titanium dioxide is related to poor gut health.

Community college students interested in earning a bachelor’s degree in a STEM field took a free course at UMass Lowell over the summer through the STEM Starter Academy.

More than 100 doctoral students in the School of Education’s online Leadership in Schooling Ed.D. program worked on their dissertations, took qualifying exams and built a sense of community with their cohorts as Summer Residency Week returned in-person to campus for the first time in three years.

A team of researchers headed by Electrical and Computer Engineering Prof. Kavitha Chandra is developing interdisciplinary programs that target graduate education and future workforce training in using digital technologies for automotive and manufacturing industries.

Incoming and prospective students interested in chemistry and computer science gained hands-on experience through summer programs.

The National Science Foundation has recognized Mechanical Engineering Asst. Prof. Marianna Maiaru with the agency’s most prestigious faculty early-career development award, for research that could lead to improvements in the performance of everything from booster rockets to sports equipment.

Students developed the skills needed to run a successful club during the second annual Summester Leadership Academy.

The Office of Sustainability and the University Library created the Sustainable Publishing Fund to help researchers, like Chemical Engineering Asst. Prof. Fanglin Che, publish their sustainability-related work in open-access journals.

Seven students from the United Arab Emirates took a three-week accelerated digital media course at UML.

Sixteen students joined Visiting Lecturer Lauren Fogle for the History Department’s first study abroad course, “Topics in History,” a two-week trip to England and Scotland.

UMass Lowell remains one of only 15 Division I athletic departments to score a perfect 100 on the Athletic Equality Index, according to the NCAA's yearly update for 2022.

The New England Consortium at UMass Lowell will provide safety training courses for hundreds of students looking to work in the offshore wind industry, thanks to a $300,000 state grant administered by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center.

The National Science Foundation awarded Physics Asst. Prof. Marian Jandel a five-year, $437,984 faculty early-career development (CAREER) grant for his research on alternative cancer treatment.

UMass Lowell was once again designated a Tree Campus by the Arbor Day Foundation — and is on track to become classified as an arboretum this fall by the nonprofit organization ArbNet.

UMass Lowell has been recognized with the first Outstanding Radiation Safety Program award by the Health Physics Society, an international nonprofit organization of more than 5,000 scientists, physicians, engineers and other professionals.

Four University of Versailles students are taking part in a 10-week internship in biology and chemistry labs at UMass Lowell as part of a new Kennedy College of Sciences exchange program.

Biology Asst. Prof. Teresa Lee’s research to understand what information is passed between generations, from parent to child, has been awarded a three-year, $374,000 grant by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Professors in music and psychology are running EcoSonic Playground music camps for children with autism spectrum disorder. UMass Lowell students are getting hands-on teaching. experience, too.

Chemistry Assoc. Teaching Prof. Khalilah Reddie won the Manning Prize for Excellence in Teaching in recognition of her commitment to student success.

Outgoing Chancellor Jacquie Moloney and NBC Celtics reporter and host Abby Chin fired up 300 people at the UMass Lowell Women’s Leadership Conference, the signature event Moloney founded seven years ago.

The Honors College expanded its study abroad options this year with new courses on Shakespeare’s London and the history of Madrid. Honors College Dean Jenifer Whitten-Woodring is looking for faculty partners to offer even more.

What are the best predictors that child sexual abuse cases will be investigated and prosecuted? Professors in psychology and criminology analyzed hundreds of cases and found that support from a child’s parent or other caregiver was the clearest factor. 

Two professors in the School of Education have received a $250,000 grant to partner with the Lowell Public Schools on evaluating and improving schools, using holistic measures that go beyond standardized testing.

Doctor of physical therapy students solve complex patient cases during their final clinical rotations.

Prof. Juliette Rooney-Varga and a team of researchers are looking at ways to empower students to address climate change by advancing their climate literacy and STEM efficacy.

NASA appointed Asst. Research Prof. Christopher Mendillo to its Nancy Grace Roman Technology Fellowship program one month after awarding him a $7 million, five-year grant to develop technology for a high-altitude balloon mission that could lead to the discovery of new planets.

ARTritech Digital Health, a startup that is developing a patch for continuous blood pressure monitoring, won UMass Lowell’s inaugural Sensor Challenge at the Innovation Hub.

Asst. Prof. Christopher Skinner’s research, published in Science and Nature, looks at past changes in climate to help forecast the future.

Music students in the Contemporary Electronic Ensemble and Technology in Music Education class created music videos in Minecraft – and even invented their own instruments. They performed on Twitch and displayed their work in the UMass Lowell “building” at the 2022 Maker Music Festival.

To help students in her Chemistry I and II courses understand the diversity of those working in STEM fields, Asst. Teaching Prof. Suzanne Young has created brief lessons on Black, brown and indigenous scientists not mentioned in their textbook.  

Grateful UML alumni have stepped up with generous gifts to the university to help create even more opportunities for students now and in the years ahead.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has named Lara Thompson ’03 as one of three recipients of this year's Alan T. Waterman Award, the nation's highest honor for early-career scientists and engineers.

A team of faculty researchers led by Biomedical Engineering Asst. Teaching Prof. Yanfen Li has been awarded a six-year grant totaling nearly $1.5 million by the National Science Foundation to create a diverse and competitive pool of students who could become future faculty candidates in engineering.

Preparations are underway to reopen the Kayak Center for the season with student workers excited to bring water sports to the public.

Biological Sciences Asst. Prof. Christina Kwapich is the curator of a new collection of 15,000 insect specimens that she uses to teach entomology.

More than 20 years after it began, the UMass Lowell String Project is bringing accessible, high-quality music education on violin, viola and cello to Lowell-area schoolchildren – and giving UML music students teaching experience. 

UMass Lowell’s first fully in-person Commencement in three years marked a return to normalcy for the Class of 2022 — the largest in school history — and also the end of an era for Chancellor Jacquie Moloney.

Mill City Consulting, a student-run venture created last fall in the Internship in Entrepreneurship course, helped two Lowell restaurants as they continue to recover from the pandemic.

A 7-year-old dog nicknamed Eleanor the Eviscerator serves as a source of comfort for students at University Suites and around campus.

After 25 years of empowering UMass Lowell students and communities through education and innovation, Julie Chen was unanimously approved as the university’s next chancellor — a move that received sweeping praise from students, faculty, staff and alumni.

UMass Lowell’s Innovation Hub in Haverhill hosted the Digital Equity Challenge, where entrepreneurs and nonprofits pitched their ideas and projects for increasing digital access and literacy in Essex County.

Students in the UTeach program who are getting early teaching experience in high school math, science and engineering classrooms hosted their high school students on North Campus for a day of hands-on activities.

Seven projects led by students, faculty and staff received a share of the university’s annual $50,000 Sustainability Encouragement & Enrichment Development (S.E.E.D.) Fund. 

Asst. Prof. Yuzhang Lin was recently awarded a five-year, $500,000 faculty early-career development grant by the National Science Foundation to conduct a study that will help better predict and visualize power distribution capacity and consumers’ power demand in real time.

Starting this fall, UML will offer a new B.S. in Quantitative Economics. The degree is highly sought after by employers. It also better prepares students for graduate school, Economics Chair Monica Galizzi says.

This year, the Nancy L. Donahue Celebration of the Arts celebrated the Lowell philanthropist’s $2 million donation to renovate Durgin Concert Hall. It is only her latest gift to the university.

UML’s Society of Environmental Scientists teamed up with two local organizations for a cleanup along the riverbank behind LeLacheur Park. Together, they filled more than 30 60-gallon bags with trash.

Quantum physicists and computer scientists have begun to harness the power of quantum computing, which has the potential to reshape computing as we know it. Asst. Prof. of Physics Archana Kamal is leading UML’s quantum research efforts.

With support from a $360,000 Department of Energy Grant, Asst. Profs. Nishant Agarwal and Archana Kamal are investigating the role of quantum fluctuations in the evolution of the universe.

Through a common interest in sports, the campus cluster initiative Sports Collaborative for Open Research and Education (SCORE) is bringing disciplines across UMass Lowell together.

The Kennedy College of Sciences hosted its fourth annual “Spring into Science” showcase, featuring educational and social events to highlight the importance of the field.

U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan and U.S. Sen. Edward Markey visited campus to announce $500,000 in federal funding for the River Hawk Scholars Academy, which serves first-generation college students at the university.

Amara, a social media platform designed to create a more positive experience for users, took top honors at the Rist DifferenceMaker Institute’s 10th annual $50,000 Idea Challenge, held recently at Moloney Hall.

People’s experiences with dogs and cats can influence their decisions as consumers, according to Asst. Prof. of Marketing Lei Jia’s recently published research in the Journal of Marketing.

Sixty-five students from Greater Lowell and Shawsheen Valley technical high schools and their teachers got an overview of UML’s computer science and cybersecurity programs and some hands-on experience at the university’s Cyber Range during a recent visit to campus.

With mixers that follow a speed-dating format, the Honors College is matching more honors students with faculty mentors for research opportunities and final honors theses and projects. The college offers $1,500 fellowships to support student researchers, who may also be paid through faculty grants.

To thank faculty members who help save them money by using free or low-cost textbooks and open educational resources in their courses, students hosted the second-annual “OERscar” awards at Moloney Hall.

Soe Myint, this year’s Greeley Scholar for Peace Studies, is co-founder of an independent, Myanmar-based news organization that has operated clandestinely since the military coup last year. He spoke about his country’s struggle for democracy and the role of media in combating disinformation.

Sixteen student EMTs from UMass Lowell Emergency Medical Services recently traveled to Pittsburgh for the National Collegiate EMS Foundation’s annual conference, where they learned the latest in medical and trauma response and networked with peers from across the country.

Art Assoc. Prof. Ingrid Hess is traveling to some of the world’s most beautiful places to make artwork that educates children about the natural world and environmental sustainability. She’s won grants, fellowships and artist residencies to visit national parks in Costa Rica, Australia, the U.S. and more.

Hosted for the first time by UMass Lowell, the Student Sustainability Leaders Symposium brought together more than 100 students from 18 colleges and universities across the Northeast to share their work and explore opportunities for collaboration and partnerships.

The Spring Career Fair returned to the Tsongas Center, where 1,300 students and alumni found 187 employers eager to offer them internships, co-ops and full-time positions in a promising job market.

Research by Assoc. Prof. Jonghan Kim of the Department of Biomedical and Nutritional Sciences in the Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences was recently awarded a $1.2 million grant from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute for a study that will help to better predict the impact of doxorubicin on cancer patients’ hearts.

The Peace and Conflict Studies program hosted a panel discussion on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine featuring four international scholars, including one living through the invasion in the port city of Odesa.

Biology Asst. Prof. Frédéric Chain’s research on gene regulation has been recognized by the National Science Foundation (NSF) with a prestigious national faculty early-career development award.

UMass Lowell student-athletes are taking advantage of the NCAA’s new name, image and likeness policy, which for the first time allows college athletes to make money from endorsements and appearances.

Political Science Prof. Ardeth Thawnghmung won a Fulbright Public Policy Fellowship in 2020 to do research on internal migration in her native Myanmar. When it was postponed due to COVID-19 and then canceled after the 2021 military coup, she pivoted to help a nonprofit target food aid.

Art Asst. Teaching Prof. Pavel Romaniko, who has roots in both countries, is divided by the war between Ukraine and Russia. Yet long before Russia invaded Ukraine, Romaniko was meditating on the diminishment of free artistic and political expression in Russia through his photographs of reconstructed, depopulated spaces.

Four Manning School of Business students are preparing taxes for low-income families as part of a new internship program with Community Teamwork, a Lowell-based nonprofit organization that supports the IRS’ Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program.

If you’re spending more on gas to get to campus, the university has several ways to save money on your commute — while decreasing carbon emissions.

Environmental Science Prof. Mathew Barlow used data from NOAA’s GOES-West satellite to create an animation that demonstrated the intensity of Tonga's volcanic blast.

UML’s new Academic Success Alerts system allows faculty to quickly connect students with support and resources to get them back on track in class.

Three criminology professors have a federal grant to study police who join far-right extremist groups that engage in domestic terrorism, while one has another grant to study former and active-duty military personnel in such groups.

Researchers led by Chemical Engineering Assoc. Prof. Hsi-Wu Wong was recently awarded a three-year, $1.6 million grant by the U.S. Department of Energy to help reduce waste plastic films.

Students in a sociology research methods class collaborated with the Student Government Association on a survey of undergraduates. The sociology majors got real-world experience – and the SGA is using the results to assess and advocate for student needs.

Electrical engineering major Roman Shepeliev, who emigrated from Ukraine to the U.S. with his mom in 2016, is concerned about family and friends facing a Russian invasion back home.

A competition-based initiative to get students thinking about their residence hall energy usage won the third annual Rist Institute for Sustainability & Energy Climate Mitigation Challenge, which asks students to find ways to reduce CO2 emissions by 10,000 pounds in 10 weeks.

Psychology Assoc. Prof. Rocio Rosales is leading a $914,000 grant that will train UML master’s students in applied behavior analysis and autism studies to collaborate with special education teams – and master’s students in special education at Lasell University to understand applied behavior analysis.

In his newest book, “Whiteness in Plain View,” History Prof. Chad Montrie examines a 200-year history of racism in Minnesota.

“River Hawk Review” classes offer students a second chance to earn a passing grade in some required classes so that they don’t fall behind on their degree pathways. The summer and winter classes in chemistry, business math, computer science and college writing offer lots of individual support.

Exercise Science alumna Caitlin Ciccone is at the Olympic Games working as a physical therapist for the U.S. Men's Alpine Ski Team.

Students gain professional experience and expert education through UMass Lowell’s close partnership with The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars.

Biomedical and Nutritional Sciences worked with faculty to study metabolic dysfunction and the effects of toxins on breast cells.

The Office of National Scholarships, run by Associate Director of Honors Scholarship and Curriculum Rae Mansfield, encourages students to apply for external scholarships for research, academic and international experiences. 

Local college-minded high school students discovered how UMass Lowell supports entrepreneurship, innovation and creative problem-solving during recent campus events hosted by the Rist DifferenceMaker Institute.

With construction work complete on two new canal bridges along Pawtucket Street, students are enjoying shorter trips on two of the university’s busiest bus lines — and improved paths for walking and biking.

For many students, a bond with a professor, an advisor, a coach or another person on campus can make all the difference in their college experience and set them up for future success. We checked in with several River Hawks who talked about their mentors on campus and the impact they’ve had.

Cindi Bigelow, third-generation president and CEO of family-owned Bigelow Tea, shared leadership lessons and inspired students to bring out the best in others during a talk at University Crossing.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded Asst. Prof. James Heiss a $680,000 faculty early-career development award to understand water and chemical exchanges between groundwater and surface water along the land-sea transition zone.

A team of researchers from UMass Lowell, Cornell University and the American Museum of Natural History is examining a family of spiders called Deinopidae to understand how these eight-legged creatures became so adept in detecting and capturing prey.

A new at-home rehabilitation gaming system that simulates a kayaking adventure, combined with therapist counseling on everyday tasks, can help stroke patients regain strength and mobility.

Famed Beat writer Jack Kerouac was born in Lowell a century ago this March. The university, the city and Kerouac’s literary estate will be celebrating with an exhibit at Lowell National Historical Park, a festival and more.

Sociology Asst. Prof. Teresa Gonzales is studying how people of color use public parks and other urban spaces for leisure – and to assert their cultures. Her “Joyful Cities” project, supported by a Ford Foundation fellowship, is teaching students about ethnographic research.

The Manning School of Business continues to provide a pipeline of talent to MFS Investment Management in Boston, where nearly 90 UML students have worked in a variety of co-op positions.

Asst. Prof. Christopher Skinner, who researches atmospheric rivers, explains why the weather phenomenon has been making headlines recently — and why it’s important to understand them.

UMass Lowell, which ranks No. 1 among colleges and universities for well-being and work according to the Sustainable Campus Index, has created an Office of Student Life and Well-being to better integrate wellness across campus.

UML researchers are at the forefront of groundbreaking developments in numerous disciplines, from finding ways to end human trafficking to devising new techniques to detect breast cancer.