Plastics are said to be the most versatile materials on Earth

"UMass Lowell is among the nation's leading centers for plastics technology, and its Plastics Engineering program...is helping to push new boundaries of how these versatile materials are used, produced and processed." - The Boston Globe

UMass Lowell offers the first and largest ABET* accredited Plastics Engineering program in the U.S. and a research-oriented graduate program.

The Plastics Engineering Department is an internationally recognized leader in plastics engineering education. Founded in 1954, we offer the first and largest ABET* accredited Plastics Engineering program in the U.S. More than 3,000 graduates are working in the plastics industry, some with their own entrepreneurial businesses (see video), in leadership positions worldwide. Learn more.

Plastics Profiles

Brianna Atwood volunteering at St. Patrick's School in Lowell
Brianna Atwood
Plastics Engineering

Brianna Atwood came to UMass Lowell to study plastics engineering – but she’s done so much more. The honors student started a volunteer program that connects UML students with a local school. She has also participated in the professional co-op program, working on fire-resistant seals for airplanes.

Read More About Brianna Atwood 
Kraig Scharn in front of Perry Hall
Kraig Scharn
Plastics Engineering

Thanks to his internship and co-op experiences, plastics engineering major Kraig Scharn ’20 discovered that sales was the right career path for him. He is now a junior technical service engineer for Entec Polymers in Charlotte, North Carolina.

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Greg Reimonn works on equipment in lab
Greg Reimonn
Plastics Engineering

Greg Reimonn found a faculty mentor to help him research microplastics in waterways, thanks to an honors fellowship.

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Leo Montagna Jr. Plastics Engineering UMass Lowell
Leo Montagna
Plastics Engineering

Plastics Engineering alumnus Leo Montagna Jr. '70, '76 says he wouldn't be where is is today with the University. He is a devoted UMass Lowell donor and supporter of the Plastics Engineering Department.

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Plastics engineering student Evan Yu poses in front of a sign with "Commonwealth Honors: UMass Lowell Living-Learning Community"
Evan Yu
Plastics Engineering

Evan Yu didn’t know much about plastics engineering coming into college. He graduates with a deep appreciation for its role in helping the planet.

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Society of Black Engineers group photo
Yrvanie Joseph
Plastics Engineering

Yrvanie Joseph is grateful for alumni scholarships because they confirm the value of her hard work and academic achievements.

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Paul and Cheryl Katen and their pet dogs
Cheryl and Paul Katen
Plastics Technology; Physics

Cheryl and Paul Katen are funding a scholarship to give diverse students “a leg up.”

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Molly Tecce in her office with 3D Printer
Molly Tecce
Plastics Engineering

Plastics Engineering major Molly Tecce and partners from the 3D Club leapt into action to make PPE when the pandemic struck.

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UMass Lowell Plastics Engineering student Patrick McCallum interns at Wittmann Battenfeld
Patrick McCallum
Plastics Engineering

Patrick McCallum got a leg up on his plastics engineering career with an internship at Wittmann Battenfeld, where he worked alongside the company's president, alum David Preusse '85.

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Joey Mead
Joey Mead
Plastics Engineering

For most of her professional life, Prof. Joey Mead has been interested in plastics.

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Madison Reed and Ram Nagarajan
Madison Reed
Plastics Engineering

Madison Reed works as a research assistant with Plastics Engineering Prof. Ramaswamy Nagarajan in the UML Fabric Discovery Center.

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UMass-Lowell-Alumni-Donor-Mark-Saab
Mark Saab
Plastics Engineering

Alumni donor Mark Saab's UMass Lowell education provided the foundation for a successful career. His gratitude to the plastics engineering program is expressed through the generous donations he's bestowed upon the University.

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Abby Mastromonaco working with equipment in a plastics engineering lab at UMass Lowell
Abby Mastromonaco
Plastics Engineering

Abby Mastromonaco’s passion for sustainability led to a Rist Institute for Sustainability and Energy fellowship and research experience in a plastics engineering lab.

Read More About Abby Mastromonaco 
Sid Iyer stands in the lab with two other students holding a piece of smart fabric
Sid Iyer
Plastics Engineering

Sid Iyer has taken advantage of internships, research opportunities, the DifferenceMaker program and more to pursue his goal: a career in biomedical research and development.

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UMass Lowell Image
Chris & Paula White
Engineering

The founders of what has become a multimillion dollar premium, all-natural cookie dough and ice cream sandwich company hold degrees in engineering.

Read More About Chris & Paula White