Historic $12 Million Gift From Jack Yongfeng Zhang, PhD ’87 and Mary Zi-Ping Luo, PhD Propels Yang Institute Into the Future

STONY BROOK, NY-March 12, 2026-The C.N. Yang Institute for Theoretical Physics (YITP) at the State University of New York at Stony Brook has received a historic $12 million endowment gift from alumnus Jack Yongfeng Zhang, PhD '87, and his wife, Mary Zi-Ping Luo, PhD. Their commitment marks a milestone moment for the Institute, ensuring its long-term strength and distinction as it continues its global role in shaping the future of theoretical physics research. The Drs. Jack Zhang and Mary Luo Endowed Fund for the C.N. Yang Institute for Theoretical Physics also honors the legacy of Chen-Ning (C.N.) Yang, the Nobel laureate whose vision and leadership elevated Stony Brook to global prominence in the field. Coming shortly after Yang's passing, this gift stands as a powerful tribute to his legacy and secures the future of the Institute he founded.

The couple's (Jack and Mary) gift will earn a 50 percent match through the New York State Endowment Match program, creating an $18 million endowment for the Institute. It will be further matched through the Simons Infinity Investment and New York State Endowment Match program, creating an additional $18 million in unrestricted endowment funds for the university - yielding a transformational $36 million impact at Stony Brook. Zhang and Luo's vision and generosity will not only advance the Institute's work but also reinforce Stony Brook's broader mission to drive discovery, expand opportunity and elevate scientific excellence across the university.

"Jack and Mary's investment in Stony Brook ensures that the next generation of visionaries and researchers can thrive," said Stony Brook University President Andrea Goldsmith. "Their extraordinary generosity reflects a deep commitment to Professor Yang's legacy and strengthens the future of our university. We are honored to celebrate this enduring gift on our campus and excited for the groundbreaking discoveries it will make possible."

Zhang was recommended and sponsored by Yang for his doctoral studies in chemistry at Stony Brook. He later met his wife, Mary, while they were postdoctoral fellows at California Institute of Technology. Together, they co-founded Amphastar Pharmaceuticals in 1996, where Zhang serves as CEO, president and chief scientific officer, and Luo as COO and chief scientist. Amphastar has grown into a leading pharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures and markets biopharmaceutical injectable, intranasal and inhalation products.

"For Mary and me, this gift is about giving back to the institution that gave me the foundation for everything we've been able to accomplish and supporting the next generation of scholars," said Zhang. "In doing so, we also honor Professor Yang, whose vision made Stony Brook a place where bold ideas could thrive and boundaries could be redefined."

Yang, a renowned theoretical physicist who received the 1957 Nobel Prize in Physics, was invited to Stony Brook in 1966, where he founded what is now known as the C.N. Yang Institute for Theoretical Physics (YITP). Former University President John Toll envisioned a public university unrivaled in the sciences, and Yang's recruitment and subsequent contributions to the field were essential catalysts to achieve that aim. His groundbreaking work revolutionized particle physics, and his impact on our understanding of the universe has been compared to that of Einstein, Dirac and other giants of the field. The Yang-Mills theory, developed with Robert Mills, reshaped the trajectory of physics and modern geometry in the second half of the 20th century. Today, Yang-Mills-Higgs equations remain central to describing particle interactions.

Yang, who passed away in October 2025, served as the Institute's director until 1999. It currently has 12 faculty members, 30 graduate students and seven postdoctoral fellows and maintains close collaborations with the Departments of Mathematics and Physics and Astronomy, as well as the Simons Center for Geometry and Physics. Now led by its third director, George Sterman, who was recruited and mentored by Yang, YITP continues to advance the frontiers of theoretical physics. Sterman is widely recognized for his pioneering work in quantum chromodynamics, including the development of theorems that interpret high-energy collisions.

"Jack and Mary's gift gives the Yang Institute the strength to expand its leadership in theoretical physics," said Sterman. "With enhanced support for faculty, students and pioneering research, the Institute can accelerate discoveries and pursue bold new directions in fundamental science."

Since its inception, the Institute has been highly successful in attracting federal and foundation funding. For nearly two decades, its work has also been sustained by the generous support of Yang's colleague and friend, Jim Simons, through the Simons Foundation. Yang and Simons formed a close friendship and collaborative partnership grounded in their shared interest in the interrelations of Yang-Mills theories and modern geometry, a connection that helped bring mathematics and physics together and reshaped our understanding of the universe.

Now, the Drs. Jack Zhang and Mary Luo Endowed Fund for the C.N. Yang Institute for Theoretical Physics will secure YITP's global distinction at the forefront of discovery in theoretical physics in perpetuity. With a continuous stream of flexible resources, YITP can invest in students, faculty, new programs and promising research areas. This support will help accelerate discoveries, attract additional grant funding and strengthen YITP's ability to compete for and retain top scholars, empowering the Institute to think bigger and reach higher as theoretical physics evolves.

In recognition of their extraordinary gift, the soon-to-be-renovated plaza between the Mathematics and Physics buildings on the Stony Brook campus will be renamed the Drs. Zhang and Luo Courtyard, a lasting tribute to their generosity, their connection to Stony Brook and their enduring link to Yang's legacy.

"Jack and Mary's historic gift to endow the Yang Institute for Theoretical Physics secures vital resources for generations of students and faculty to pursue world-class research, learning and mentoring," said Scott Barrett, interim vice president for Advancement. "Their generosity strengthens Stony Brook's future and honors Professor Yang's historic legacy."

For more information, visit stonybrook.edu/endowments. If you have interest in or questions about endowments or the match opportunities, contact Scott Barrett at (631) 632-9128 or [email protected].

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