School of Science

A research study led jointly by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s (RPI) Gaetano Montelione, Ph.D., Professor and Constellation Endowed Chair of Chemistry and Chemical Biology; and David Baker, Ph.D., professor of biochemistry, HHMI investigator, and the director of the Institute for Protein Design (IPD) at the University of Washington School of Medicine; describes a systematic high-throughput design approach for virtual screening and creation of novel polypeptide-based molecules that form regular secondary structures that can be used in biology or materials science research. Baker was recently named a co-recipient of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for developing the emerging field of de novo protein design.

As Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute celebrates its Bicentennial, we reflect on the many great minds, pioneers, entrepreneurs, and game-changers who are Rensselaer alumni. In 1995, the Rensselaer Alumni Association, with the full endorsement of the Institute Board of Trustees, created the Rensselaer Alumni Hall of Fame to preserve and celebrate the exceptional heritage of alumni accomplishments throughout the years. Honorees are chosen by a selection committee based on reputation, professional achievements, service and career contributions, and uniqueness. Etched glass windows located centrally on the Rensselaer campus honor their accomplishments.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s Christopher Cioffi, Ph.D., Thomas and Constance D'Ambra Professor in Organic Chemistry, has been collaborating with Konstantin Petrukhin, Ph.D., Professor of Ophthalmic Science at Columbia University, to develop compounds to treat dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and Stargardt disease — both blindness-causing diseases.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) has been awarded two grants by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) to train graduate students on Alzheimer’s disease (AD) research and commercialization. NIA is one of the National Institutes of Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and is the primary federal agency supporting and conducting AD research.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s Peter J. Bonitatibus Jr., Ph.D., associate professor of chemistry and chemical biology, has been honored with the Anders Gustaf Ekeberg Tantalum Prize for excellence in tantalum research and innovation. Bonitatibus was presented the award by the Tantalum-Niobium International Study Center (T.I.C.) based out of Belgium at T.I.C.'s 65th General Assembly held in Tokyo, Japan.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has long been at the forefront of space exploration and discovery. On September 30, that storied legacy met the future at RPI’s Space Science and Technology Day.As part of RPI’s yearlong Bicentennial celebration honoring RPI’s rich history and the promising years to come, this event invited the Capital Region community to hear from alumni, students, and researchers propelling humanity’s space endeavors.