“I’m excited,” Linhardt said. “I think it’s going to be a lot of work, and I’m prepared for it.”

Lindhardt, currently at the University of Iowa, is well-known for his work in many areas of bioengineering, and particularly for moving the results of that research into clinical and commercial use for direct societal benefit. His research with Dr. Robert Langer of MIT led to the use of polyanhydride-based drug-delivery agents in the treatment of advanced brain cancer.

The constellation is a multidis-ciplinary research team consisting of senior faculty, junior faculty, and graduate students, which will study the use of enzymes to create products with medicinal, agricultural, manufacturing, and other uses. Linhardt is the first of the senior faculty on this team and will be involved in the hiring of more members.

His first task will be “successfully moving a pretty large group from the University of Iowa to Rensselaer,” he said. He will be bringing 14 members of his research team, along with their families. At the same time, he’ll be working on organizing the constellation and finding places for the people he is not bringing along.

Linhardt’s acceptance of the appointment is looked upon favorably by many on campus.

“I’m extremely pleased that we’ve been able to attract someone of Professor Linhardt’s caliber,” said Provost Bud Peterson. “He’ll further strengthen some existing strengths and help us move into new areas.”

Linhardt is already impressed with RPI’s strengths. “I think the biggest challenge to me is going to be strengthening biology at RPI,” he said.

Robert Palazzo, director of the biology department, has no doubts about Linhardt’s capabilities.

“He’s an outstanding academian,” Palazzo said. “He’s been extremely successful in developing programs [at Iowa].”

But the real question still remains: Can he stand up to our frosty winters? This weekend’s storm notwithstanding, Linhardt says he’s prepared to take on the capital region’s blustery climate.