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The University of Chicago Institute for Molecular Engineering

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Professor Steven Sibener discusses the forthcoming William Eckhardt Research Center, which will house the Institute for Molecular Engineering and the Physical Sciences Division.

electronics
Health Care
Quasicrystals

Major Gifts

Eckhardt Research Center

The William Eckhardt Research Center, which will house the institute and portions of the Physical Sciences Division, is named for Chicago futures trader and alumnus William Eckhardt, SM'70, in recognition of his $20 million gift in support of advanced science at the University. Eckhardt, the chairman and CEO of Eckhardt Trading Company, holds two mathematics degrees, a master's from UChicago (1970), and a bachelor's from DePaul University (1969). As a graduate student at UChicago, Eckhardt worked closely with the late Saunders Mac Lane, the Max Mason Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus in Mathematics. He drew on his background in the history of scientific methods and mathematical statistics to develop his trading program. He established Eckhardt Trading Company in 1991.

Pritzker Directorship

A $10 million gift from the Pritzker Foundation supports the directorship held by Matthew Tirrell and named in the foundation's honor. This major gift of the Pritzker family adds to the family's long history of support of the University of Chicago. Thomas J. Pritzker is a Trustee of the University.

Support the Institute

The Institute for Molecular Engineering is poised to make great discoveries, solve major problems, spur economic development for Chicago and the Midwest, and train new generations of modern engineers.