Samuel F. Conti Faculty Fellowship Awards College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, UMass Amherst Samuel F. Conti was the campus's first Vice Chancellor for Research and played a key role in establishing the University as a major research institution of international reputation. He also helped establish the fellowship awards, renamed for him in 1998. Nominations for fellowships are made by department heads to their respective deans, with final selections made by a committee of the Research Council of the Faculty Senate.
Selection is based on outstanding accomplishments and potential for continued excellence.