CNS Centers, Institutes, Labs, and Research Groups are critical elements in maintaining excellence and enhancing the research environment of the University. 

By promoting externally-funded projects and strengthening the collaboration between graduate students and faculty, these research hubs have become essential in fostering innovative scholarship and ground-breaking discovery in a wide range of disciplines.

CNS

Amherst Center for Fundamental Interactions

Amherst Center for Fundamental Interactions advances research in theoretical and experimental physics at the interface of the Energy, Intensity, and Cosmic frontiers.

Center for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment

Center for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment connects individuals, industries, and government agencies with scientists and educators, and provides access to all agricultural expertise on campus.

Center for Applied Mathematics and Mathematical Computation

Center for Applied Mathematics and Mathematical Computation engages faculty and students in research and instruction in applied mathematics and scientific computation.

Center for Evolutionary Materials

Center for Evolutionary Materials develops evolutionary materials research and education.

Center for Biological Physics

Center for Biological Physics facilitates interactions between physicists and life scientists and works to engender physically sophisticated research on biological systems.

Mass NanoTech Institute

MassNanoTech Institute is the University of Massachusetts Amherst’s campus-wide initiative for nanoscale science and engineering.

Center for Neuroendocrine Studies

Center for Neuroendocrine Studies conducts research on the relationships among hormones, the brain, physiology, and behavior.

Center for Research on Families

Center for Research on Families supports natural, social, and behavioral sciences research on issues relevant to families.

Climate System Research Center

Climate System Research Center performs research relating to global climate change.

Experimental Farms

Experimental Farms (totaling over 620 acres)

Fergus M. Clydesdale Center for Foods for Health and Wellness

Fergus M. Clydesdale Center for Foods for Health and Wellness brings together scientists, educators, government agencies, and industry to identify solutions to food-related health issues.

Forest Properties

Forest Properties (totaling over 2,000 acres) Adams Brook Forest; Cadwell Memorial Forest; Knight-Sabin Forest; Savage Hill Forest; Mt. Toby Forest.

The Institute for Applied Life Sciences (IALS)

The Institute for Applied Life Sciences (IALS) provides interdisciplinary, entrepreneurial, and collaborative research through its three life sciences centers:

Institute of Diversity Sciences

Institute of Diversity Sciences

Large Millimeter Telescope (LMT)

Large Millimeter Telescope (LMT) enables dramatic scientific advances in many areas of astronomy using the world's largest single dish telescope operating at millimeter wavelengths; a collaboration between UMass Amherst and Mexico.

Massachusetts Agricultural Experiment Station

Massachusetts Agricultural Experiment Station administers and distributes Federal Experiment Station funds.

Northeast Climate Science Center

Northeast Climate Science Center, housed at UMass Amherst, is a consortium of seven institutions across the Northeast Region (as defined by the USGS), each contributing significant and unique expertise to the Northeast Region's climate challenge.

Water Resource Center

Water Resource Research Center supports interdisciplinary research, education, and outreach efforts on water resources issues of state, regional, and national importance.

Affiliated

Silvio O. Conte Anadromous Fish Laboratory

Silvio E. Conte Anadromous Fish Research Laboratory focuses on the ecology, physiology, and behavior of Atlantic salmon and other anadromous fish species, and on biological and engineering issues of upstream fish passage in the Connecticut River watershed.

Cooperative for Marine Education and Research (CMER)

Cooperative for Marine Education and Research (CMER) fosters collaboration in marine research between NMFS Northeast Marine Fisheries Science Center at Woods Hole and UMass faculty and students, ranging from ecological studies of fish species to food science issues with seafood products to human dimensions of subsistence fishing.

Energy Transition Institute (ETI)

The Energy Transition Institute Transitioning rapidly away from fossil fuels presents a massive opportunity to design and choose equitable pathways to a net-zero energy system. We believe this transformation can lead to new industries, job creation, and broadly shared benefits for all members of society. Our researchers are tackling complex problems arising from the energy transition, using their expertise in physical and life sciences, engineering, social sciences, and the humanities.

Family Forest Research Center (FFRC)

Family Forest Research Center (FFRC) conducts research that helps understand the social and economic dimensions of family forestry to promote sustainable forest management for landowners, communities, and society; a collaborative effort with the Department of Environmental Conservation and the USDA Forest Service.

Harvard Forest

Harvard Forest researches the impact of natural and human-caused disturbances on forests; an NSF Long Term Ecological Research site.

Human Dimensions Research Unit

Human Dimensions Research Unit studies social and policy aspects of natural resource issues.

Institute for Cellular Engineering

Institute for Cellular Engineering coordinates and expands cellular engineering educational and scholarly activities and translational research through strategic industry partnerships.

MassNanoTech

MassNanoTech researches nanoscale materials, devices and systems, advances commercialization and industry partnerships, and fosters education and outreach.

Massachusetts Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit

Massachusetts Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit researches wildlife ecology and management in surburban areas, and develops quantitative approaches for solving natural resource issues.

New England Research Institute for Moose and Forest Dynamics

New England Research Institute for Moose and Forest Dynamics focuses on the ecology and dynamics of moose and forest interactions, especially in central and Western Massachusetts.

Northeast Center for Urban and Community Forestry

Northeast Center for Urban and Community Forestry provides a regional voice for urban forestry initiatives in the Northeast; a cooperative partnership between UMass Amherst, the USDA Forest Service, the Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry, and the seven states of New England and New York.

Pioneer Valley Life Sciences Institute (PVLSI)

Pioneer Valley Life Sciences Institute (PVLSI) connects interdisciplinary biomedical research teams of life and physical scientists, engineers, and physicians through a partnership with UMass Amherst and Baystate Medical Center.

USDA Forest Service - Ozone Biomonitoring Program

USDA Forest Service - Ozone Biomonitoring Program conducts research and monitoring on the impacts of ozone on forest plants throughout the Northeast.

USDA Forest Service - Wildlife Habitat Research Unit

USDA Forest Service - Wildlife Habitat Research Unit focuses on determining the relationships of fish and wildlife species to forest habitat conditions, and developing habitat management techniques to benefit those species.