DuPont Vice President of Central Research and Development Adds Responsibilities

WILMINGTON, Del.,  December 15, 2004  —  To continue the progress made over the past five years to increase its market-focused science and innovation, DuPont today announced that Uma Chowdhry, vice president – DuPont Central Research and Development (CR&D), will assume responsibility for the company's corporate research programs and the DuPont "APEX" research program, which sets priorities for long-term research and development initiatives.

Since 2000, DuPont has increased the percent of revenue from products introduced within the last five years from 22 percent to 29 percent. DuPont also has increased its number of U.S. patent applications from an average of 900 per year to over 1,300 per year. This is greatly extending the company's ability to provide products and innovations that match the needs of key customers and markets.

"Based on Uma's proven leadership in DuPont businesses and the exceptional leadership she has provided in her current role in Central Research, she is the perfect choice to work with me in leading our science and technology initiatives that are both market and growth focused," said DuPont Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer Thomas M. Connelly. "She has the right combination of leadership skills and technical expertise to meet the goals we have set for DuPont science and innovation."

Chowdhry, 56, currently provides leadership and direction for DuPont's leveraged technologies and services at the DuPont Experimental Station here. Her additional responsibilities will include overseeing research programs in the areas of chemical science and engineering, materials science and engineering, and biochemicals science and engineering.

Chowdhry will also direct the DuPont APEX program. Unique to DuPont, APEX targets longer-term research of technologies new to DuPont and, in many cases, new to the world. APEX programs place priority on a market-back approach to innovation, requiring that the research be connected to marketplace needs.

She joined DuPont in 1977, spending 11 years in research and management roles in CR&D. From 1988-1999, she held various business and technology leadership positions in the company's electronics and chemicals businesses. She also has served as director of engineering technologies.

Born and raised in Mumbai, India, Chowdhry came to the United States in 1968 with a bachelor's degree in physics from the Indian Institute of Science, Mumbai University. She earned her masters of science degree from the California Institute of Technology in 1970, and was awarded her Ph.D. in materials science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1976. For work ranging from catalysts to superconductors, she was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 1996. In 2003 she was elected a Fellow and Foreign Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. She also has served on the advisory boards of engineering schools at MIT, the University of Pennsylvania, Princeton University, and the University of Delaware.

DuPont is a science company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere. Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture, nutrition, electronics, communications, safety and protection, home and construction, transportation and apparel.

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12/15/04

NOTE:A high resolution photo of Dr. Uma Chowdhry can be downloaded at: www1.dupont.com/NASApp/dupontglobal/corp/index.jsp?page=/content/US/en_US/overview/executives/chowdhry.html.