Massachusetts Undergraduate Research Conference (MassURC)

YOUR SUPPORT TEAM

A faculty sponsor is a faculty member who assists students with all aspects of preparation for the Massachusetts Undergraduate Research Conference (MassURC). In order to present, students must have a faculty sponsor.

Faculty Sponsor’s Responsibilities:

Assist students with the research, writing, abstract submission, and presentation components of the MassURC. NOTE: The MassURC abstract limit is 250 words.
Communicate with the student about their projects leading up to the submission of their abstract.
Remind students of the abstract submission deadline.
Register to create a user account in the MassURC system for abstract review and approval.
Review initial abstract submission and mark it “Approved” or “Needs Revision.”
Remind students of the deadline to resubmit their abstract if it was not approved upon initial review.
Submit the final approval of the student’s abstract. Abstracts marked “Needs Revision” will not be accepted for inclusion at the conference.
Make sure students are aware that they will receive notification from the MassURC conference coordinator that their abstract has been accepted.
Support students with preparations for the conference and review the final presentation material in advance.

Once a student submits their abstract for your review

You will immediately receive an automatic email notification
To review, provide feedback, and/or approve the student’s abstract, click on the ‘Review’ button for this abstract in your list of Sponsored Abstracts.
Update the student’s abstract status from ‘Under Review’ to either ‘Approved’, ‘Needs Revision’, or ‘Not Approved’ by the final abstract approval deadline: Friday, March 13, 2026

Faculty Guide for Reviewing and Approving Student Abstracts in MASSURC Hub.pdf

CAMPUS CONTACT

A campus contact is the “go-to” person for undergraduate student presenters and faculty who have questions about the Massachusetts Undergraduate Research Conference. Each of the 28 schools included in the MassURC has at least one campus contact who acts as a liaison between their campus and the conference coordinator at UMass Amherst.

Campus Contact Responsibilities:

Publicize the MassURC on their campus
Monitor the status of students’ abstracts on their campus
Contact presenters and their faculty sponsors if an abstract is late for submission or approval
Provide presenters with information about how to write abstracts and give poster and oral presentations, as well as answer other questions students may have
Communicate with the conference coordinator on behalf of their presenters and faculty to share relevant information and to ask questions as needed
Assist presenters with coordination of transportation to the conference.

Find my Campus Contact:

Berkshire Community College: Chris Laney
Bridgewater State University: Jenny Shanahan
Bristol Community College: Kimberly Newton
Bunker Hill Community College: Donica O'Malley
Cape Cod Community College: Kate Martin
Fitchburg State University: Emma Downs
Framingham State University: Becka Carr
Greenfield Community College: Liza Harrington, Claire Lobdell
Holyoke Community College: Jessica Hill
Massachusetts Bay Community College: Clarissa Codrington
Massachusetts College of Art and Design: Jennie-Rebecca Falcetta
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts: Whitney Gecker, Clio Stearns
Massachusetts Maritime Academy: Elaine Craghead
Massasoit Community College: Panteha Sanati
Middlesex Community College: Binnur Ercem
Mount Wachusett Community College: Kara Roche
North Shore Community College: Billy Jackson
Northern Essex Community College: Ginger Hurajt
Quinsigamond Community College: Jean Kennedy
Roxbury Community College: Sheila Victorin
Salem State University: Ny Mia Tran
Springfield Technical Community College: John Diffley, Reena Randhir
UMass Amherst: Nina Prenosil
UMass Boston: Jason Roush
UMass Dartmouth: Anupama Arora
UMass Lowell: Wendy Hyatt
Westfield State University: Misty Woodbury
Worcester State University: Laura Reynolds