Historic Gift Advances the Future of the Yang Institute
March 13, 2026
Dear Stony Brook Community,
I am thrilled to share exciting news that alumnus Jack Yongfeng Zhang, PhD '87 and Mary Zi-Ping Luo, PhD, have made a transformative $12 million endowment gift to the C.N. Yang Institute for Theoretical Physics (YITP). This exceptional commitment marks a historic milestone for the Institute, ensuring its long-term strength and distinction as it continues its role in shaping the future of theoretical physics research – and honoring the brilliant legacy of Nobel laureate Chen-Ning (C.N.) Yang, whose profound intellect and generous spirit elevated our institution to global prominence in theoretical physics.
Their gift will be matched through the New York State Endowment Match program, creating an $18 million Institute endowment, and again through the Simons Infinity Investment, adding $18 million in unrestricted endowment funds. The total extraordinary impact on our university is $36 million.
This remarkable gift comes at a poignant time. Yesterday, we celebrated the life and enduring legacy of C.N. Yang with a symposium that brought together family members, colleagues, former students and friends whose lives and careers were shaped by his notable influence. Jack and Mary were among those who were deeply inspired by Dr. Yang's accomplishments, leadership and friendship. In fact, Jack was recommended and sponsored by Yang for his doctoral studies in chemistry here at Stony Brook.
Jack and Mary are both incredibly accomplished chemists and entrepreneurs. Together, they built Amphastar Pharmaceuticals, a leading developer of biopharmaceutical products. Their decision to make this gift was shaped by the opportunities Stony Brook made possible early in Jack’s career and by the lasting influence of C.N. Yang on their journey.
The impact of this gift cannot be overstated. The endowment will provide perpetual support for recruiting globally eminent faculty, supporting promising graduate students and early career scholars, and maintaining the Institute's position at the forefront of theoretical physics research. I invite you to learn more about the impact of Jack and Mary’s generosity in this news story published in SB Matters.
Please join me in expressing our gratitude to Jack and Mary for their visionary commitment to the Yang Institute and for honoring C.N. Yang's enduring legacy. Through this endowment, they are anchoring Stony Brook's place as a world-class leader in theoretical physics and ensuring future visionaries and researchers have the resources to pursue bold ideas that honor Yang's vision.
Sincerely,
Andrea Goldsmith
President