Nature Network Boston bloggers talk about their most beloved scientist and their thoughts of careers outside of science.
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Who’s your favorite scientist (dead or alive) and why?
Hari Jayaram, postdoctoral associate, protein biochemist, Brandeis University
Max Perutz. He was the first to solve the structure of a protein (hemoglobin) using X-ray crystallography in 1953. Despite personal hardships during World War II, he went on to a great scientific career, founding the Medical Research Council Unit for Molecular Biology at Cambridge University, mentoring James Watson and Francis Crick, and winning the Nobel Prize for chemistry in 1962. (Editor’s note: Reviews of two new books about Perutz appear in the September 13, 2007 issue of Nature.)
Joanne Clark, postdoctoral fellow, neuroscientist, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Charles Darwin. When I was much younger I was preoccupied with the questions ‘Where did we come from’ and ‘Why are we all different?’ Learning about evolution allowed me to reconcile these questions with scientific facts in a way that made sense to me. Darwinism definitely spawned my interest in genetics. Also, from a historical, almost romantic perspective, I’m hugely inspired by the notion of a scientist literally setting sail for a voyage of discovery.
Anna Kushnir, virology graduate student, Harvard Medical School
Don Wiley’s work on the crystal structures of influenza hemagglutinin (a glycoprotein on the surface of the influenza virus) in 1981 and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) proteins (which present antigens on the surface of cells) in 1987 opened the door to new avenues of research in virology and immunology. He laid the foundation for dissecting the mechanism of enveloped virus entry into cells, which in turn led to the development of anti-viral peptides and drugs for HIV and influenza. My mentor in my undergraduate research lab, Judith White, was Don Wiley’s first graduate student. It is a comforting, albeit grandiose thought that I, like Judy, am continuing his work.
Willy Lensch, stem cell scientist, Children’s Hospital Boston/Harvard Stem Cell Institute
Florence Sabin. She was the first woman to become a full professor at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and in 1925, was the first woman elected to the National Academy of Sciences. Her work on the blood and lymphatic system was wonderfully elegant. Considering the time in which she was active (mostly prior to 1930) and how heavily dominated science and medicine were by men at the time (much, much worse than today, though a problem still), she stands out as a giant among giants.
Deanne Taylor, Harvard School of Public Health research scientist, program chair of Brandeis’s graduate bioinformatics program,
I don’t know if I have one favorite historical scientist. I admire many scientists for their contributions to their fields. I’ve regretted my misfortune at never meeting Stephen Jay Gould, Lise Meitner, the Curies, Isaac Newton, Feynman, Hans Bethe, and many, many others.
If you could have another job or career outside of science, what would it be and why?
Hari Jayaram
Music or theatre. I am deeply envious of creative people and wish I could be like them.
Joanne Clark
An aid worker or a teacher. Despite the lack of monetary reward in such occupations, I have a preference for careers that I consider ‘worthwhile’ in a humanitarian sense. I would love to undertake aid work overseas as it would be immensely rewarding to be able to make a positive difference in someone’s life.
Also, since such a small proportion of postdocs actually ‘make it’ in academia, it’s highly possible that I may be considering an alternative career such as teaching in the future.
Anna Kushnir
Food writing would be a dream come true and science writing the realization of a long held goal.
Willy Lensch
I would write books, lots of books. The written word means a great deal to me. Fiction and non-fiction alike. It is truly a way to leave one’s mark on the world for better (e.g. Kafka, Paley, Sontag) or worse (no point in throwing mud). I would live someplace close to a lake full of fish and write.
Deanne Taylor
Currently, I have roles to play outside of ‘science’ as a teacher, a computer programmer, an amateur mathematician, an artist, a writer, and a musician. If I could have any other career, and would have to pick one of those, it would probably be music on most days, writing on others.
How would you answer these questions? What other questions should NNB ask in the next installment of “Reflections”? And who should we ask? Post your comments here.