Celebrating150 Years

Give Now  Our Legacy   Global Impact  Inspiring the Future  Historical Timeline

OUR LEGACY

Historical Firsts & Seminal Contributions

• First atomic structure of a human virus – Unlocking the biology of the common cold and leading discoveries for Zika, Dengue, and Chikungunya that inform vaccine development worldwide (Michael Rossmann, Richard Kuhn).

• Illuminating key biochemical targets for drug development – First structure of a GPCR-GRK complex (John Tesmer).

• Harnessing AI to accurately predict biomolecular structures – Accelerating the paths to novel drug discovery (Daisuke Kihara).

• Identifying an alternative ubiquitination process in bacteria - Revealing novel potential targets for therapies (Zhao-Qing Luo).

• Agrobacterium & gene transfer – A cornerstone of plant biotechnology and genetic engineering (Stan Gelvin).

• Defining the fine structure of a gene – Seminal insights that launched the field of neuro- and behavioral genetics (Seymour Benzer).

• Discovery of adult neurogenesis – Challenging dogma and transforming understanding of brain plasticity (Joseph Altman).

• Founding modern conservation biology – Home to Alton A. Lindsey, visionary ecologist on the first U.S. scientific missions to Antarctica, founder of the Ross Biological Reserve, and influential voice in shaping U.S. environmental policy (Alton A. Lindsey).

"Our past is extraordinary, and our future is even more exciting. We are celebrating 150 years of discovery, innovation, and impact in the life sciences and we are just getting started!"
— Peristera Paschou, Department Head, Purdue Biological Sciences

Purdue Biological Sciences Affiliates in the National Academy of Sciences

Honoring the distinguished scientists connected to our department through groundbreaking contributions across the life sciences.

Structural Biology & Biochemistry

• Michael Rossmann - Pioneer of structural virology. Solved the first atomic structure of a human virus, revolutionizing the field.
• John (Jack) Johnson - Structural virologist. Revealed fundamental mechanisms of virus assembly and symmetry.
• Jue Chen - Membrane protein biochemist. Used structural biology to uncover the function of ABC transporters in health and disease.
• Janet L. Smith - Crystallographer. Advanced structural understanding of enzymes and viral proteins critical to drug design.
• Hao Wu - Structural immunologist. Discovered how immune signaling complexes regulate inflammation.
• Ed Umbarger - Biochemist. Discovered feedback inhibition in amino acid biosynthesis, a core principle in molecular biology.

Genetics, Genomics & Evolution

• Seymour Benzer - Founding figure in neurogenetics. Connected genes to behavior, transforming molecular genetics.
• Daniel Hartl - Population geneticist. Bridged molecular biology and evolutionary theory in genetics education and research.
• Jeffrey Bennetzen - Plant geneticist. Transformed our understanding of plant genome structure and transposable elements.

Cell Biology & Molecular Mechanisms

• Kerry Bloom - Cell biologist. Revealed mechanisms of chromosome segregation and kinetochore dynamics during mitosis.

Microbiology & Environmental Health

• Rita Colwell - Environmental microbiologist and global health leader. Linked environmental factors to cholera outbreaks, saving millions through low-cost public health interventions.