The Howard P. Isermann Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, in partnership with the School of Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), is proud to announce Mattheos Koffas, Ph.D., as the recipient of the inaugural Feltham ReEquip Award.

Koffas, the Dorothy and Fred Chau ’71 Constellation Professor in Biocatalysis and Metabolic Engineering, was selected for this honor in recognition of his groundbreaking research and leadership in the field of metabolic engineering.

The Feltham ReEquip Award was established in 2024 through the generous support of Ned ’62 and Nanci Feltham. It is intended to fund the acquisition or upgrade of key laboratory equipment that enables breakthrough scientific research and fosters educational innovation. The award is further bolstered by additional support from the School of Engineering Dean’s Office and the Office of the Vice President for Research.

Koffas' research focuses on the development of microbial platforms to produce pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and other high-value biochemicals. His pioneering work has resulted in significant advances in synthetic biology and metabolic pathway engineering. He has authored more than 170 peer-reviewed publications, contributed over 12 book chapters, and holds 12 patents. He is a fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering, serves as chair of the Society for Biological Engineering, and holds editorial roles with leading journals in bioengineering. His work has been supported by federal agencies including NIH, ARPA-E, and NSF, by New York State through NYSTEM, and by industrial partners such as Evonik, Firstwave Technologies, and Alcon.

The Koffas Research Group will use the Feltham ReEquip Award to acquire an Eppendorf epMotion 5075t Liquid Handler, an advanced robotic platform that will accelerate genome editing efforts using TALEs and novel HIV integrases. This initiative, led by graduate student William Lawler, will enable the high-throughput generation of DNA sequence libraries for use in gene therapies, including those targeting Alzheimer’s disease, a major area of focus for the lab.

The Feltham ReEquip Award reflects the Felthams’ enduring commitment to RPI and the advancement of chemical and biological engineering. A 1962 chemical engineering graduate of RPI, Ned Feltham and his wife, Nanci, have been generous supporters of the institute. In addition to this award, they have championed the Van Ness Award Lecture Series and have provided support to the Chemical and Biological Engineering Excellence Fund and the Rensselaer Annual Fund.

This inaugural award not only honors a leader in the field but also exemplifies the power of philanthropy to accelerate research that can change the world.