Max Delbrück Autograph

Profession:
(1906-1981) German–American biophysicist, helped launch the molecular biology research program in the late 1930s. He shared the 1969 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

Year of Birth: 1906

Max Delbrück was a German-American biophysicist and Nobel laureate who made significant contributions to the field of molecular biology. He was born on September 4, 1906, in Berlin, Germany, to a family of intellectuals. Delbrück grew up in an environment that fostered his love for science and research.

He obtained his Ph.D. in physics from the University of Göttingen in 1930 and then went on to study at the California Institute of Technology. It was during his time in the United States that Delbrück began to focus on the study of genetics and microbiology, areas that would become the foundation of his groundbreaking research.

Delbrück's most notable work was in the field of bacteriophage genetics, a topic that he explored in collaboration with fellow scientists Alfred Hershey and Salvador Luria. Their research laid the groundwork for the understanding of viral replication and mutation, revolutionizing the study of genetics.

In 1969, Delbrück shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Hershey and Luria for their work on the replication mechanism and genetic structure of viruses. This prestigious award solidified Delbrück's status as a pioneer in the field of molecular biology.

Throughout his career, Delbrück mentored and inspired countless young scientists, leaving a lasting impact on the scientific community. He passed away on March 9, 1981, leaving behind a legacy of groundbreaking research and innovation in the field of molecular biology.