Scott Rocklage, PhD ’82 and his wife, Patty

Scott and Patty RocklageDr. Scott Rocklage, PhD ’82, and his wife Patty have recently pledged $250,000 to assist with the costs associated with the renovation of nanochemistry and nanotechnology lab space in Building 2.

Dr. Rocklage carried out his PhD studies in the Department of Chemistry under Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry, Professor Richard R. Schrock.

In an alumnus profile featured in the department’s newsletter, in 2010, Rocklage said, “I had always been a survivalist and accomplishment junkie. Little did I know how much those skills were going to be needed at MIT. I had the good fortune of being accepted into the then-nascent Richard R. Schrock research group that was full of fun guys and gals with big intellects and big dreams. We were led by a combination of Dick’s incredible drive for success and each of our own value systems to overachieve, because plain old achievement wasn’t going to be enough to distinguish you and your work. I was also fortunate to make some great lifelong friends while at MIT – thanks to Howard Turner, Jere Fellman, and Clayton Wood for all the “chelate” activities! However, competition for projects, reagents, glove-box time, and of course Dick’s time, created quite the volatile atmosphere. It was that very atmosphere that brought the best performance out in each of the graduate students.”

“When Sylvia Ceyer approached me about the possibility of contributing to the needs of the department my immediate reaction was absolutely – where do you have the most pressing need?” says Rocklage, “MIT gave me the foundation for my professional life and career and with gratitude toward the Chemistry Department my wife and I offer this gift.”

Dr. Rocklage has over three decades of healthcare management experience with strategic leadership responsibilities that led to FDA approval of three U.S. New Drug Applications (Omniscan™, Teslascan® and Cubicin®). He has entered multiple drug candidates into clinical trials.