Susan Lindquist elected to Germany’s top scientific academy

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (July 28, 2004) — Whitehead Institute Director Susan Lindquist has been elected a member of Deutsche Akademie Der Naturforscher Leopoldina, the oldest scientific academy in Germany.

Founded in 1652, the academy describes its mission as “exploring nature to the benefit of the human being.” As a result, the academy promotes scientific research in its historical, economic, social, and psychological contexts, covering all disciplines within natural science and medicine. Of the academy’s 1,169 members, approximately one quarter are from non-German speaking countries. Thirty five members are Nobel laureates, and 45 are women.

According to Leopoldina president Volker ter Meulen, “The almost 30 years of outstanding research by Susan Lindquist and her co-workers are documented in an impressive list of publications, most of them in the international top journals of her field,” he says. “In addition, she is a wonderful lecturer and teacher.”

Lindquist, who also is a professor of biology at MIT, will be a member of the genetics, molecular biology, and cell biology section of the academy.

Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research is a nonprofit, independent research and educational institution. Wholly independent in its governance, finances and research programs, Whitehead shares a close affiliation with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology through its faculty, who hold joint MIT appointments.