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Thomas Jefferson University Unveils New Thackrah Capital Markets Research Lab

This image shows Dr. Susan Aldridge (center left), John Thackrah (center right), and others cutting the ribbon to open the new Thackrah Capital Markets Research Lab.

Thomas Jefferson University hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the opening of the Thackrah Capital Markets Research Lab on Wednesday, December 10, 2025.

The new $1.8 million research lab was made possible by a donation from alum and philanthropist John Thackrah. Housed in the School of Business, the lab expands access to live market data, financial news, and financial-sector research tools, including 12 Bloomberg terminal data feeds, to help students to make informed financial investments.

“This is the most wonderful time and a new chapter for the School of Business; a dream that has been realized through the extraordinary vision,” Philip Russel, the business school’s dean, said according to WHYY. “We are profoundly grateful for John’s transformational gift, which provides unparalleled educational and technological resources. His generosity equips our students with a vital competitive advantage, empowering them not only to succeed but to soar in today’s data and AI-driven business world.”

This image shows John Thackrah (center) and two others looking at one of the new Bloomberg terminal data feeds in the Thackrah Capital Markets Research Lab.

Thackrah credited Doris, his wife of 67 years before her death five years ago, as well as his father, uncles, and grandfather, who are Jefferson alumni, for making his donation possible. 

“I hope that all the students who go to this new laboratory and take a course in this new laboratory will be better equipped to go out and obtain employment in this incredibly complex capital market that we all live in today,” Thackrah said according to WHYY. “I’ve heard some people say it can take a year to learn how to use one of these machines. I know it’s not easy, and I hope this lab helps them. Just as importantly, I hope they learn about investing because that will serve them well for the rest of their life.”

Thackrah graduated from Philadelphia Textile Institute in 1953 with a BS in Chemistry and Dyeing. The institute evolved into Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science and then Philadelphia University in 1999 and merged with Jefferson in 2017. Following graduation, Thackrah worked for DuPont for over 41 years in the textile dyes, colored pigments and specialty chemicals businesses. He began his career as a textile dyes technical representative and salesman and retired in 1994 as the business director of the Performance Products Business Division.

Read the full story about the Thackrah Capital Markets Research Lab ribbon cutting from WHYY.

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