Vice Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Economic Development Answers Questions 杏吧原创 New R1 Classification
Image by Brooke Coupal
Senior Feriel Boudif looks at a bacteria culture in Biological Sciences Professor Hwai-Chen Guo's lab.
02/14/2025
By Brooke Coupal
Hannah Allgood 鈥�23 knew going into college that she wanted to get involved with research. For her, UMass Lowell was the obvious choice.
鈥淚 chose UMass Lowell because of the undergraduate research opportunities,鈥� says Allgood, who received a bachelor鈥檚 degree in exercise science and is now a physical therapy doctoral student at the university. Since Allgood鈥檚 sophomore year, she has been working alongside Yi-Ning Wu, an associate professor in the Department of Physical Therapy and Kinesiology, on technology-assisted rehabilitation research at the UMass Lowell New England Robotics Validation and Experimentation (NERVE) Center.
Allgood鈥檚 experience is just one example of UMass Lowell鈥檚 commitment to research, which recently propelled the university to a Carnegie Research 1 (R1) designation. The prestigious classification is used to identify the nation鈥檚 top research institutions, with only 7% of four-year universities receiving the R1 designation.
R1 is more than a classification for UMass Lowell: It鈥檚 a game changer, says Anne Maglia, vice chancellor for research, innovation and economic development. She recently discussed how R1 benefits the university community and beyond, and what it means for students.
Image by Brooke Coupal
Doctoral student Hannah Allgood '23, left, puts an exoskeleton on the arm of sophomore Shayla Quill, center, with help from sophomore Nathan Johnson, right.
Question: What is R1? And how did UMass Lowell reach this status?
Answer: R1 is the highest research designation awarded by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education to universities in the United States that demonstrate exceptional research activity. To reach R1 status, an institution must spend at least $50 million on research and development and award at least 70 research doctorates on average in a single year. UMass Lowell not only met these requirements, it far exceeded them with research expenditures of more than $120 million and nearly 150 doctoral degrees awarded, most of which are research-based doctorates.
Question: What impact does the R1 designation have on UMass Lowell?
Answer: The R1 classification reinforces UMass Lowell鈥檚 position as a leader in research and innovation. The university is home to 13 research centers and dozens of faculty labs, which are tackling today鈥檚 most pressing challenges in a wide range of fields from robotics to sustainability. The R1 designation makes UMass Lowell more competitive for research grants, which provide the necessary financial support for researchers to conduct groundbreaking work. It also attracts renowned faculty, researchers and postdoctoral scholars by elevating UMass Lowell鈥檚 reputation.
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Plastics engineering Ph.D. student Florence Acha tests the water repellency of a coating free of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
UMass Lowell regularly taps into the expertise of industry partners to further innovation. One such collaborative effort is HEROES (Harnessing Emerging Research Opportunities to Empower Soldiers), a strategic partnership between UMass Lowell and the U.S. Army Development Command Soldier Center (DEVCOM SC) to enhance military members鈥� capabilities and experiences. With R1 status, UMass Lowell is even better positioned to collaborate with top corporations, government agencies and other research institutions.
Question: How does R1 expand career-connected opportunities for students?
Answer: The R1 designation provides students with increased access to research opportunities and stronger industry connections that can lead to internships, co-ops and jobs. Students at UMass Lowell can work alongside faculty on cutting-edge projects, gaining the necessary skills to thrive in their chosen careers. These experiences will grow as faculty gain access to even more competitive grants, thanks to the R1 status. Additionally, the R1 designation allows UMass Lowell to further grow its industry partners, which seek to recruit from high-level research institutions. The R1 classification also enhances the value of a UMass Lowell degree, making students and alumni more sought-after by potential employers.
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Nicholas Sorabella '21, '24 explores space聽using a telescope inside the UMass Lowell Schueller Observatory.
Question: Does this designation benefit the local community?
Answer: Absolutely. The enhanced reputation that comes with the R1 designation boosts regional economic growth as industries seek partnerships with the university. UMass Lowell is currently working with the city of Lowell to dramatically scale up its partnerships through the Lowell Innovation Network Corridor (LINC), a public-private development set to transform the city鈥檚 economic future. We鈥檝e already attracted prestigious partners 鈥� including Draper, Mass General Brigham, Home Base and Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) 鈥� who are co-locating on our campus to be closer to our research activity and our talented students. Research developments like LINC create job opportunities and accelerate innovation and growth across the region.
Question: What鈥檚 next for UMass Lowell now that it has reached R1 status?
Answer: Earning R1 status is a transformative milestone for UMass Lowell, but it鈥檚 just the beginning. With this designation, the university is positioned to expand its research enterprise, strengthen industry and government partnerships, and enhance opportunities for students and faculty.
