Rensselaer recently announced that Thomas and Constance D'Ambra have made a $3 million commitment to endow a faculty chair in synthetic organic chemistry, in support of biotechnology initiatives at the Institute.

"We are grateful for the foresight and commitment of Connie and Tom D'Ambra," said President Shirley Ann Jackson. "Biotechnology research — particularly basic research — holds great promise for the world, and is one of the top growth industries of the 21st century. Their support of a faculty chair in synthetic organic chemistry will bolster the position of Rensselaer in biotechnology research and development."

D'Ambra is co-founder, chairman, president, and chief executive officer of Albany Molecular Research Inc. (AMRI), a company that got its start in 1991 at the Rensselaer Incubator. D'Ambra credits Rensselaer for its support of AMRI in its infancy, including making its resources readily available to the company. The endowment recognizes that key components of that support came from the chemistry department.

"Connie and I are grateful for the contributions Rensselaer made in AMRI's early stages. Without question, my company would not be where it is today without the support we received. Furthermore, we strongly believe in the direction Rensselaer is taking as it builds groundbreaking, interdisciplinary programs in the basic sciences," D'Ambra said. "I applaud Dr. Jackson's leadership. We hope that our investment will not only help Rensselaer build a stronger synthetic chemistry focus, but that it will encourage others to invest as well."

The D'Ambras' gift allows Rensselaer to recruit a top-ranked teacher, mentor, and researcher to join its growing faculty in the department of chemistry and chemical biology.

D'Ambra serves as a member of the Presidential Advisors group at Rensselaer, and this gift commitment supports the $1 billion Renaissance at Rensselaer: The Campaign for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

About the Campaign
The $1 billion Renaissance at Rensselaer: The Campaign for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, launched in 2004, fuels the Institute's strategic Rensselaer Plan, and supports groundbreaking interdisciplinary programs that have at their core the technologies driving innovations in the 21st century: biotechnology, nanotechnology, information technology, and experimental media. The campaign aims to build the Institute unrestricted endowment, and also seeks funds for endowed scholarships and fellowships, faculty positions, curriculum support, student life programs, and athletic programs and facilities. To date, the effort has raised $650 million, more than three times the amount raised in Rensselaer's previous campaign that ended in 1993.

Published August 15, 2005