Born April 24 1925 in Paris (17th arrondissement), French nationality. Married, three children. Died February 18, 2022.
Education and professional career
- 1942-1944 : Toulouse Faculty of Science
- 1944-1945 : Paris Faculty of Science
- 1945-1946 : Research intern at CNRS
- 1953-1955 : Rockefeller Fellow : Bacteriology Laboratory (University of Illinois) and Rockefeller Institute
- 1957-1962 : Senior researcher at CNRS
- 1962-1968 : Director of Research, CNRS
- 1968-1972 : Professor, Paris Faculty of Science (Chair of Molecular Biology)
- 1972-1995 : Professor at the Institut Pasteur, Head of the Biochemistry Department
- 1973-1996 : Professor at the Collège de France, Chair of Cellular Biochemistry
- 1976-1981 : Director General, Institut Pasteur
- 1982 : Honorary Director, Institut Pasteur
Positions and responsibilities in advisory bodies for teaching and research
- 1969 : President of the Biochemistry EBU, Université Paris-VII
- 1971 : Chairman of the CNRS Cell Biology Commission
- 1972 : Member of the Scientific Council of the European Molecular Biology Organization (ENMO)
- 1976 : Member of the CNRS Board of Directors
- 1991 : Permanent Secretary of the French Academy of Sciences
Learned societies and academies
- Member of the American Academy of Arts and Science
- Member of the American Society of Biological Chemists
- Member of the Paris Academy of Sciences
- Associate member of the Academy of Athens
- Associate member of the Royal Academy of Belgium
- Member of the Indian National Science Academy
- Foreign Corresponding Member of the Venezuelan Academy of Physical, Mathematical and Natural Sciences
Awards and honours
- 1964 : Gold Medal of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences
- 1967 : Knight of the National Order of Merit
- 1968 : Fondation Lacassagne Prize
- 1969 : Charles Léopold Mayer Prize from the French Academy of Sciences
- 1976 : Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur
- 1978 : Officer of the National Order of Merit
- 1985 : Officer of the Legion of Honor
- 1989 : Commandeur de l'ordre national du Mérite
- 1991 : Commandeur de la Légion d'honneur
- 1998 : Commander of the Order of the Rising Sun (Japan)
- 1999 : Jawahalral NEHRU Medal (awarded by the Indian National Science Academy)