"This extraordinary group of leaders in the sciences, engineering, business and government is rarely assembled in one place, and their participation is a testament to what the Rensselaer community has accomplished in a few short years," said Rensselaer President Shirley Ann Jackson. "By establishing the Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, we have created a gathering place where scientists and engineers from various disciplines will explore at the intersection of the life sciences, with engineering and the physical and information sciences, thereby accelerating discovery and ultimately enhancing the quality of life for all people."

Rensselaer's new center ranks among the world's most advanced research facilities focused on the application of engineering and the physical and information sciences to the life sciences. The Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies is a 218,000-square-foot, $100 million facility (including $80 million for construction). With its high-tech laboratories and expansive atrium, it provides a platform for collaboration among many diverse academic and research disciplines to enhance discovery and encourage innovation.

The Center is designed to foster the multidisciplinary nature of biotechnology. It is organized around "constellations" of research Biocomputation and Bioin
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