The Biological Sciences Department at RPI was founded in 1925, when Professors Archie Bray and R.H. Luce were hired to support the education of pre-medical students. Since these original hires our department has grown to include 33 Tenure/Tenure Track, Teaching, and Affiliated Faculty, with around 400 students split between five undergraduate majors and two Ph.D. programs.
This 2025-2026 academic year, we will celebrate our centennial with a yearlong celebration of our alums and current students, including a reunion for Biological Sciences Alums during Homecoming 2025, a panel on future careers in the biological sciences, the Centennial Speaker Series, and the inaugural Bray Day! We cannot wait to celebrate with you!
Dr. Jennifer Hurley - Department Head and Professor of Biological Sciences
Centennial Celebration Events - Reunion & Homecoming Weekend 2025
Please join us for a special Centennial Celebration event during Homecoming Weekend, featuring distinguished alumni from the Department of Biological Sciences.
Howard Iserman ’42 Auditorium, RPI Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies (CBIS)
This engaging session will feature seasoned leaders from diverse disciplines, offering real-world insights into their professional journeys and reflections on how their education prepared them for success. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore the many possibilities an education in the biological sciences can offer and to connect with alumni who have leveraged their Rensselaer education to make a difference in the world.
To RSVP or if you have any questions regarding either of the events noted above, please contact Lauren Hartman at biology@rpi.edu.
Please join us for a special Centennial Celebration Friends gathering event during Homecoming Weekend.
RPI Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies (CBIS) Atrium
Enjoy refreshments and conversation as you reconnect with fellow alumni, meet the current faculty and students, and explore the exciting innovations happening on campus. Guests will have the opportunity to tour state-of-the-art laboratories, hear from current students about their research, and engage in informal exchanges that showcase the collaborative spirit and future promise of the Department of Biological Sciences.
To RSVP or if you have any questions regarding either of the events noted above, please contact Lauren Hartman at biology@rpi.edu.
RPI Houston Field House
Show your RPI pride with fellow alumni, students, and faculty in a reserved Biological Sciences section (5). Discounted tickets are available for our departmental community!
To purchase your tickets as part of the “Bio100” block ($12/each), please visit: https://rpiathletics.universitytickets.com/ and note Bio100, or call (518) 276-6262 to purchase tickets by phone.
