Brief Chronology

  • 1914 --Born on December 14th in New York City, to Max and Eva Spiegelman
  • 1933 --Entered the College of the City of New York, majoring in math and physics
  • 1936-37 --Took time off from college to work as researcher in the Richard Morton Koster Research laboratory at Crown Heights Hospital in Brooklyn; published first research paper, analyzing the mutation of Salmonella aertrycke bacteria
  • 1939 --Received BS from City College in physics and mathematics
  • 1940 --Began graduate work in cellular physiology at Columbia University
  • 1942 --Received MS from Columbia University; followed graduate mentor H. B. Steinbach to Washington University in St. Louis; lecturer in physics and mathematics
  • 1944 --Received PhD in cellular physiology from Washington University
  • 1945-46 --Instructor in Bacteriology, Washington University School of Medicine
  • 1946-48 --Assistant Professor in Bacteriology, Washington University School of Medicine
  • 1948-49 --U.S. Public Health Service fellowship at University of Minnesota
  • 1949-69 --Professor of Microbiology at University of Illinois
  • 1955-61 --Discovered DNA-RNA hybridization in bacterial viruses, and developed the technique for use in molecular biology research (working with Benjamin D. Hall)
  • 1963 --Discovered RNA replicating enzyme for the Q-beta bacterial virus
  • 1965 --Working with Ichiro Haruna, synthesized a self-replicating viral RNA; elected to National Academy of Sciences
  • 1969 --Awarded patent for self-replicating viral RNA; one of first genetic patents
  • 1969-83 --Director of the Institute of Cancer Research; University Professor; Professor of Human Genetics and Development at College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University
  • 1973 --Developed Simultaneous Detection Test for presence of viral RNA in cancerous tissues
  • 1974 --Received Lasker Award for development of molecular hybridization and the test-tube synthesis of a viral nucleic acid
  • 1981 --Received Antonio Feltrinelli International Prize in Biology
  • 1980-83 --Director of Cancer Center, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University
  • 1983 --Died January 21st in New York