Biography

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)