Posts Tagged ‘chemical immunology’

In academic circles, there is a recognized path that many follow, but at which almost no one truly excel. There are but a comparative handful of truly memorable minds in every generation, and these are the scientists that change the world. These are the finders of great theories or major paradigms, groundbreaking technology, and life-saving medicine. Dr. Joseph Schlessinger is one such great mind.

In his academic career, he has accomplished more than a dozen other scientists put together. Like most of the world’s leading scientists, he had an impressive start, first obtaining his Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and Physics in 1968 from Hebrew University in Jerusalem, followed by a Masters in Chemistry in 1970 from the same place. The young Schlessinger coasted effortlessly during those early years of academia, graduating magna cum laude both times.

Staying firmly dedicated to his end goal, he was immediately accepted to the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel, where he received his Ph.D. in 1974, after submitting his successful thesis work on “Study of Chemical and Biological Systems by Circular Polarization of Fluorescence.” As a postdoc fellow between 1974 and 1976, he began his research enthusiastically at Cornell’s Department of Chemistry and Applied Physics.

After a exciting postdoc experience at Cornell University, he spent the next several years at increasingly more ambitious pursuits, including a position at the NIH, followed by a long tenure at the Weizmann Institute that ended in his appointment as full professor in the Department of Chemical Immunology.

More articles to come…