Krasnow Institute Creates Harold J. Morowitz Fellowship

"Through his outstanding leadership, broad vision, and careful diplomacy, [Morowitz has] taken Shelley Krasnow's dream and created a premier institute for advanced study that now embodies scientific and academic excellence," writes the board of directors in its resolution creating the fellowship. The board notes that it was Morowitz who "conceived the broad outlines [of the institute] and created the programs of interdisciplinary research" that characterize it. The board's directors credit Morowitz with recruiting the institute's core scientific staff and overseeing the construction of the building. In addition, the board credits him with establishing relationships between Krasnow and universities and other research institutes.

"Harold is beloved in the United States and the world as one of the pre-eminent biochemists of our age," says Jim Olds, the Krasnow Institute's current director. In part, he says, the fellowship demonstrates the gratitude the institute feels that "someone with such world stature would invest so much of himself to get the institute off the ground." The board chose to make the award a postdoctoral fellowship, Olds explains, because of the interest Morowitz has always taken in the careers of young people. "Harold recognizes the importance of being nurturing in the early years of a scientist's career," he says.

When Morowitz learned about the fellowship last summer, he admits, he was somewhat embarrassed. As a scientist, Morowitz lives by the philosophy that he "should be a humble seeker after knowledge," not one who seeks prizes and awards. At the same time, he is grateful and happy that his colleagues would choose to recognize him in this way. Demonstrating characteristic modesty, Morowitz believes his greatest accomplishment as director of the Krasnow Institute was in assembling the institute's talented staff.

Olds expects that the institute will begin recruiting for the first Morowitz Fellow in the summer of 2000. A candidate for the fellowship must have recently received an M.D. or a Ph.D. in a field related to the institute's research areas, and he or she must be among the "absolute best and brightest around the world," says Olds.