George Smith

Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2018

Nobel co-recipients: Frances H. Arnold, Sir Gregory P. Winter

Award: “for the phage display of peptides and antibodies.”

Aziz Sancar

Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2015

Nobel co-recipients: Tomas Lindahl, Paul Modrich

Award: “for mechanistic studies of DNA repair.”

Robert J. Lefkowitz MD

Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2012
National Medal of Science – Biological Sciences 2007 USA

Nobel co-recipient Brian K. Kobilka

Physician- Cardiologist, Scientist. G-protein-coupled receptors;
approximately half of all medicines used today use this kind of receptor.

“Strong family history of coronary artery disease … at age 50 I had quadruple bypass surgery [1994]. I minimize my risk factors with daily physical exercise, a vegetarian diet and appropriate medications”.

Dan Shechtman

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2011

Award: “for the discovery of quasicrystals.”

Richard F. Heck Ph.D.

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2010

Nobel co-recipients: Ei-ichi Negishi, Akira Suzuki

Physical organic chemist. Palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction. Sole author – 7 consecutive papers. Heck reaction: important concept, tool for organic and medicinal chemists; fuorescence labeling of DNA bases – sequencing DNA/Genome. Thinner computer screens in future. “Great art in test tube.”

Growing orchids in early teens lead to passion for chemistry.

Ei-ichi Negishi

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2010

Nobel Co recipients Richard F. Heck, Akira Suzuki

Organic Chemist. Inventor of organozinc variant of the palladium catalyzed cross-coupling reaction. Read voraciously including “how to …” publications. Dreamt of Nobel half century prior to being awarded prize. Upon arriving in US and discovering Nobelists visiting UPenn, realized that being awarded the Nobel could happen to anybody including himself.

Akira Suzuki Ph.D.

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2010

Nobel Co recipients Richard F. Heck, Ei-ichi Negishi

Organic chemist. Inventor of boron version of palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction. Investigated stereochemistry of hydroboration reaction. Suzuki reaction kept evolving. Became interested in organic chemistry after reading textbook.

“There were difficult and joyful periods. Memories of tough, trying experiences tend to fade with time. Now I think mainly about fun things.”

Venkatraman Ramakrishnan

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2009

Nobel co-recipients: Thomas A. Steitz, Ada E. Yonath

Award: “for studies of the structure and function of the ribosome.”

Ertl Gerhard

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2007

Award: “for his studies of chemical processes on solid surfaces.”

Roger Kornberg

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2006

Award: “for his studies of the molecular basis of eukaryotic transcription.”

Robert Grubbs

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2005

Nobel co-recipients: Yves Chauvin, Richard R. Schrock

Award: “for the development of the metathesis method in organic synthesis.”

Kurt Wuthrich

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2002

Nobel co-recipients: John B. Fenn, Koichi Tanaka

Award: “for his development of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy for determining the three-dimensional structure of biological macromolecules in solution.”

William Knowles

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2001

Nobel co-recipients: Ryoji Noyori, Barry Sharpless

Award: “for their work on chirally catalysed hydrogenation reactions.”

Walter Kohn

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1998
The National Medal of Science – Physical Sciences 1988

Award: “for his development of the density-functional theory”

Elias James Corey Ph.D.

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1990

Organic Chemist – Interested in application of organic chemistry to human health. His groups have achieved a multitude of total syntheses of complex molecules. Originator of retrosynthetic analysis. Recognized as “Most Cited Author in Chemistry” by American Chemical Society in 2002.

“Organic chemistry was especially fascinating with its intrinsic beauty and its great relevance to human health.”

Jean-Marie Lehn Ph.D.

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1987

Nobel co-recepients Donald J. Cram, Charles J. Pedersen

Chemist. Interests: Supramolecular chemistry, Self-assembly and self-organization, Constitutional dynamic chemistry; Music, Philosophy.

Founding director, ‘Chemistry, a European Journal’. Gave starting impetus to other European journals, rare manifestation of European spirit and supranationality bridging historical divides!

President, International Organization for Chemical Sciences in Development, helping chemists in developing countries.

Donald J. Cram Ph.D.

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1987
The President’s National Medal of Science – Chemistry 1993

Co-Nobelists: Jean-Marie Lehn, Charles J. Pedersen

Organic Chemist. Development, use of molecules with structure-specific interactions of high selectivity. Taught himself solid geometry from book, winning scholarship. High emotional intelligence.

When word “research” entered my vocabulary, it had magic ring, suggesting search for new phenomena. Chemical research became my god, and conducting it, my act of prayer.

Robert Merrifield Ph.D.

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1984

Award: “for his development of methodology for chemical synthesis on a solid matrix”

Aaron Klug

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1982

Crystallographic electron microscopy. Biologically important nucleic acid-protein complexes’ structural elucidation. Viruses’ 3D imaging. Zinc fingers.

“Saw Rosalind Franklin’s beautiful tobacco mosaic virus’ X-ray photographs. From then on my fate was sealed.”

“Aaron could see colleagues’ strengths, weaknesses in observations; inspired them to conduct more rigorous, adventurous research.” – Richard Henderson.

Roald Hoffmann Ph.D.

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1981
The President’s National Medel of Sciences – Chemistry – 1983

Nobel co-recipient: Kenichi Fukui

Chemist, Poet, Philosopher, Writer, Chemistry Teacher Text/Television.

Herbert C Brown Ph.D.

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1979
The President’s National Medal of Sciences – Physical Sciences, 1969

Nobel co-recipient Georg Wittig

Organic Chemist. Development of use of boron into important reagents in organic synthesis. School, advanced several times, graduating at 12; refused further advancement, avoiding being sister’s classmate.

Graduating, Depression years, future wife Sarah gave him gift, Stock’s ‘Hydrides of Boron and Silicon’ because cheapest chemistry book! Led to Nobel Prize!

Georg Wittig Ph.D.

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1979

Nobel co-recipient Herbert C. Brown

Organic Chemist. Development of use of phosphorus into important reagents in organic synthesis. Wittig reaction. Mentored 300 graduate students, post-docs; provided close supervision for crucial experiments.

“Chemical research and mountaineering similar. To reach goal/summit, initiative, perseverance required. After hard work, great joy to be at goal/peak with its splendid panorama…”

Paul J. Flory Ph.D.

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1974
National Medal of Sciences – Physical Sciences 1974

Award: “for his fundamental achievements, both theoretical and experimental, in the physical chemistry of the macromolecules”

Stanford Moore Ph.D.

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1972

Co-nobelist Christian Anfinsen, William H. Stein

Award: “for their contribution to the understanding of the connection between chemical structure and catalytic activity of the active centre of the ribonuclease molecule”

William H. Stein Ph.D.

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1972

Co-Nobelists Christian Anfinsen, Stanford Moore

Award: “for their contribution to the understanding of the connection between chemical structure and catalytic activity of the active centre of the ribonuclease molecule”

Lars Onsager Ph.D.

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1968
National Medal of Science – Physical Sciences 1968

Award: “for the discovery of the reciprocal relations bearing his name, which are fundamental for the thermodynamics of irreversible processes”

Robert S. Mulliken Ph.D.

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1966

Award: “for his fundamental work concerning chemical bonds and the electronic structure of molecules by the molecular orbital method”

Robert B. Woodward Ph.D.

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1965
National Medal of Science – Physical Sciences 1964

Award: “for his outstanding achievements in the art of organic synthesis”

Vincent du Vigneaud Ph.D.

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1955

Award: “for his work on biochemically important sulphur compounds, especially for the first synthesis of a polypeptide hormone”

Linus Pauling Ph.D.

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1954
The Nobel Peace Prize 1962
National Medal of Sciences – Physical Sciences 1974

Award: “for his research into the nature of the chemical bond and its application to the elucidation of the structure of complex substances.”
Also awarded Nobel Peace Prize 1962. As of Sept. 2019, only four persons and two organizations have been awarded the Nobel Prize multiple times.

Glenn T. Seaborg Ph.D.

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1951
National Medal of Science – Chemistry 1991

Nobel co-recipient: Edwin M. McMillan

Nuclear Chemist. Transuranium – Plutonium. Isotopes identification. Actinide concept. Atomic Bomb. Peaceful use of atomic energy. Advisor to 10 US Presidents. Swedish ancestry. Journal since age 8 yrs. Hiking.

Franck Report: “I had joined a committee of scientists who advocated the use of the atomic bomb for demonstration purposes. We hoped the enemy would see the destructive power of this weapon and immediately surrender. In June, 1945, we attempted to deliver our plan, the Franck Report, to President Truman. I don’t know if he ever saw our work…”

Edwin M. McMillan Ph.D.

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1951
National Medal of Science – Physical Sciences 1990

Nobel co-recipient: Glenn T. Seaborg

Award: “for their discoveries in the chemistry of the transuranium elements”

William F. Giauque Ph.D.

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1948

Award: “for his contributions in the field of chemical thermodynamics, particularly concerning the behaviour of substances at extremely low temperatures”

John Northrop Ph.D.

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1946

Co-Nobelists James B. Sumner, Wendell M. Stanley

Award: “for their preparation of enzymes and virus proteins in a pure form”

James B. Sumner Ph.D.

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1946

Co-nobelists John H. Northrop, Wendell M. Stanley

Award: “for his discovery that enzymes can be crystallized”

Peter Debye Ph.D.

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1936
National Medal of Science – Physical Sciences 1966

Award: “for his contributions to our knowledge of molecular structure through his investigations on dipole moments and on the diffraction of X-rays and electrons in gases”

Harold C. Urey Ph.D.

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1934
National Medal of Science – Physical Sciences 1964

Award: “for his discovery of heavy hydrogen”

Irving Langmuir Ph.D.

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1932

Award: “for his discoveries and investigations in surface chemistry”

Theodore Richards Ph.D.

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1914

Award: “in recognition of his accurate determinations of the atomic weight of a large number of chemical elements”

Henri Moissan Doctoral degree

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1906

Chemist – inorganic. Isolated fluorine. Moissan’s electric furnace. Blue perchromic acid formula, crystallized chromic acid. Uncovered silicon carbide, other carbides, borides, silicides. Theorized: from molten iron crystallize carbon under pressure, obtain synthetic diamonds. Meticulous, patient. Articulate lecturer.

“Scientific research is search for truth. Only after discovery, applicability can be considered.”

J William Ramsay KCBE, FRS

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1904

Inorganic, Organic, Physical chemist. Outstanding experimentalist. Discovered inert gaseous elements in air, determined their place in periodic system. Discovered argon, helium, krypton, neon, xenon.
Molecular weights in liquid state. Stoichiometry, thermodynamics. Helium in radium emanations.

“Noblest exercise of mind within doors, and most befitting a person of quality, is study.”

Svante Arrhenius

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1903

Physicist, Physical Chemist. Electrolytic theory of dissociation

“Humanity stands … before a great problem of finding new raw materials, new sources of energy that shall never become exhausted. In the meantime, we must not waste what we have,
but must leave as much as possible for coming generations.” – Arrhenius.

Hermann Fischer

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1902

Sugar, purine syntheses. Produced phenylhydrazine. Artificial sugars. Purines from caffeine.

Businessman father, “Emil too stupid to be business man; better be a student.” Sent him to study chemistry.

“Sciences aren’t abstract constructions, but result of human endeavor; they are connected with personalities and fates of dedicated researchers who developed them.”

Jacobus Hoff

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1901

Prize motivation: “in recognition of the extraordinary services he has rendered by the discovery of the laws of chemical dynamics and osmotic pressure in solutions.”