Distinguished by its academic rigor, experiential focus and research excellence, the science at Amherst program has a distinguished history of advancing scientific understanding. That legacy continues today, as faculty pursue research in topics ranging from the quantum behavior of molecular nanomagnets, to brain circuitry, to fish evolution, to disease transmission and genomics.

Student-Faculty Collaboration

Amherst students are taught by and collaborate with renowned scientists. Forty percent of Amherst students conduct independent honors work that is often similar in scope and depth to graduate-level work. In fact, it’s not unusual for Amherst students to be listed as co-authors of scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals and to present findings at national conferences.

At Amherst, undergraduate students work directly with faculty on empirical scientific research that matters. As an undergraduate at Stanford, I worked with graduate students on research, but at Amherst, my students work directly with me!”  
—Catherine Sanderson, Manwell Family Professor in Life Sciences
People working in a lab in the Amherst College Science Center

The Incubator Program

The STEM Incubator is a new cohort program designed to support and train students who are underrepresented in STEM disciplines, including Black, Latinx, Indigenous, first-generation and low-income students. 

Three students in a classroom studying on computers

Data Science Initiative

The Data Science Initiative is a campus-wide tent for all faculty to learn and exchange ideas about Data Science. Many of its events are open to the public.

Moss Qualtitative Center

The Moss Quantitative Center

More and more, the world needs people who can analyze data or take quantitative concepts and apply them to answer important questions. The Moss Center is here to help you develop these skills, regardless of your quantitative background. 

group of students in a lab

Being Human in STEM

The Being Human in Stem (HSTEM) Initiative fosters an inclusive, supportive community by helping students, faculty, and staff understand and navigate diverse identities.

When a Course Turns Into a Book

Sarah Bunnell, Sheila Jaswal and Megan Lyster

April 28, 2023

“Being Human in STEM: Partnering with Students to Shape Inclusive Practices and Communities,” by Sarah Bunnell, Sheila Jaswal, and Megan Lyster, provides readers with a roadmap for creating their own version of the popular Amherst “HSTEM” course.

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