October 2nd 2009 The Story of an Academic Giant

In the world of academia, there is a known path that many follow, but at which very few truly excel. There are but a comparative handful of truly great minds in every generation, and these are the people that transform our world. These are the discoverers of fundamental theories or major paradigms, groundbreaking technology, and life-saving medicine. Dr. Joseph Schlessinger is one such great mind.

During his academic career, he has achieved more than a dozen other scientists put together. Like most of the world’s leading scientists, he had an impressive start, first receiving 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 university. The young Schlessinger glided effortlessly during those early years of academia, graduating magna cum laude both times.

Staying firmly dedicated to his aims, he was immediately admitted 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 studies 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 progressively more important pursuits, including a position at the National Institutes of Health, followed by a long tenure at the Weizmann Institute that culminated in his appointment as full professor in the Department of Chemical Immunology.

More articles to come…

Filed under Science

September 29th 2009 Becoming an Academic Giant

In academic circles, there is a known path that a lot of people follow, but at which almost no one truly excel. There are but a comparative handful of truly great minds in every generation, and these are the scientists that make the world a better place. 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 ten other scientists put together. Like most of the world’s leading scientists, he had an impressive start, first receiving 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 university. The young Schlessinger glided easily through those early years of academia, graduating magna cum laude both times.

Staying firmly dedicated to his aims, 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 studies enthusiastically at Cornell’s Department of Chemistry and Applied Physics.

After a exciting post doctoral experience at Cornell, 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…

Filed under Science