Millennium Magazine_3rdEd

43 Millennium - A Marquis Who’s Who Magazine EDUCATION D r. Walter Gilbert always desired to be a scientist from a young age. Attending Harvard University, he received a Bachelor of Arts in chemistry and physics in 1953 and Master of Arts in physics in 1954. From there, he earned a PhD in mathematics from the University of Cambridge in England in 1957. At the inception of his career, he was a National Science Foundation postdoctoral fellow at Harvard University for one year before being hired by his alma mater as a physics lecturer in 1958. Remaining with the university for the duration of his career, he subsequently served in myriad roles, including assistant professor of physics, associate professor of biophysics, professor of biochemistry, American Cancer Society professor of molecular biology, professor of biology, H.H. Timken professor of science, Carl M. Loeb university professor, and chair of the Department of Cellular and Developmental Biology. He attained emeritus status in 2005. Alongside his teaching appointments, Dr. Gilbert has been a managing partner of BioVentures Investors since 2001 and co-founder and chairman of Paratek Pharmaceuticals, Inc., since 1996. Sitting on the board of scientific governors at the Scripps Research Institute since 1994, he has also been a founding scientist and vice chairman of the board of directors of Myriad Genetics, Inc. since 1992. Among the highlights of his career, Dr. Gilbert is most renowned for being involved in the discovery of messenger RNA. He determined the control mechanism, the lactose repressor, which was one of the first controlled proteins ever identified. This discovery has led to the method of DNA sequencing, for which he received the Nobel Prize in 1980. As a testament to his success, Dr. Gilbert received honorary DSc degrees from the University of Chicago, Columbia University, the University of Rochester and Yeshiva University. He was also presented with the New England Entrepreneur of the Year Award, the Gairdner Foundation International Award, the Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award, the Columbia University Louisa Gross Horwitz Prize, and the Harvard University Ledlie Prize. Looking toward the future, he intends to become involved in new companies. WALTER GILBERT, PHD BIOCHEMIST, MOLECULAR BIOLOGIST, PROFESSOR EMERITUS Harvard University Cambridge, MA Millennium Magazine Featured Listee