Southern Illinois University Edwardsville College of Arts and Sciences Dean Aldemaro Romero today announced that Sigma-Aldrich Corporation has pledged $150,000 over a 5-year period supporting the College’s introduction of a new degree program along with contributing to the new science building on campus. The gift also will result in naming rights for a laboratory in the new facility and support classroom equipment and supplies.

“Sigma-Aldrich is the largest supplier of specialty biochemicals worldwide,” said Robert Dixon, associate professor and chair of the SIUE Department of Chemistry. “When you need chemicals, or biological materials, to perform biochemical research, Sigma-Aldrich is considered the number one vendor. Having this relationship with such a highly regarded company is tremendously beneficial to SIUE and its students.”

One of the new laboratories in the science building, which is scheduled for completion by Oct. 31, 2012, will be named The Sigma-Aldrich Biochemistry Lab. The company’s support also has led to the introduction of a biochemistry degree program, which is designed to meet the requirements of the American Chemical Society. It will help in preparing SIUE graduates for careers in chemistry and life science-focused organizations, including Sigma-Aldrich.

“Our biochemistry degree fits within the profile of employees that Sigma-Aldrich hires,” Dixon said. “With our biochemistry – as well as our chemistry – degrees, many of our students may end up working for this leading organization.”

Dixon says the biochemistry program will help attract new students to SIUE. With chemistry and biochemistry already having nearly 150 students, Dixon predicts that each year up to an additional 50 students will choose SIUE for their chemistry or biochemistry degree as the increased classroom and lab space will provide an attractive learning environment. The funding will help fill the labs with the necessary equipment required to support these students as they pursue their degrees.

“Many students are in biology and chemistry, but mainly biology, because it’s in tune with pre-med and pre-dental,” Dixon said. “This new degree will have more of the students choosing chemistry as a major. It provides better choices for the students.”

Sigma-Aldrich has a history of supporting SIUE by having donated $30,000 over the past decade to sponsor the Probst lecture series, which is named for one of the founding members of the chemistry department.

Romero and directors of development Craig Steiner and Marilyn Marsho worked with Sigma-Aldrich Vice President of Marketing and R&D Deborah Slagle and Site Manufacturing Director Bob Ringering to finalize the donation. Both Ringering and Slagle are SIUE alumni.

Sigma-Aldrich is headquartered in St. Louis and is a leading life science and high technology company. It operates in 40 countries and has 7,600 employees providing service worldwide. Its chemical and biochemical products and kits are used in scientific research, including genomic and proteomic research, biotechnology, pharmaceutical development, the diagnosis of disease and as key components in pharmaceutical, diagnostic and other high technology manufacturing. Sigma-Aldrich is committed to accelerating customers’ success through innovation and leadership in life science, high technology and service.

The Sigma-Aldrich gift contributes to Defining Excellence—the Campaign for SIUE toward reaching its goal to raise $50 million by garnering alumni and community support. To date, $32 million has been raised. Publically launched in March 2011, the major gifts campaign is about taking SIUE to a new level of prominence and performance. For more information, visit siue.edu/definingexcellence.

For more information on SIUE’s College of Arts and Sciences, visit www.siue.edu/artsandsciences.