Paul M. Doty
Encyclopedia
Paul Mead Doty is an emeritus Harvard Mallinckrodt
Professor of Biochemistry who specialized in the physical properties of macromolecules and has been strongly involved in peace and security policy issues.
Paul Doty was born in Charleston, West Virginia. He graduated from Penn State University in 1941 and took his Doctorate from Columbia University
under Joseph Edward Mayer. From 1943 to 1945 he was at the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn. He joined Harvard University in 1948. In his 42 years at Harvard, he supervised the research of 44 students, 10 of whom have been elected to the National Academy of Sciences
. Doty became a member of the National Academy of Science in 1957. He founded the Department of Biochemistry
and Molecular Biology
and became its first chairman 1968. His scientific work involved the characterization of biopolymers such as DNA
, protein
s and collagen
by optical methods such as circular dichroism
and light scattering.
As a graduate student, he worked on the Manhattan project
, which led to his lifelong involvement in activities aiming to avert nuclear war
. He was a special assistant to the president for national security and member of the President's Science and Arms Control Advisory Committees and in 1973 was a founder and director emeritus of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
at Harvard. He is a member of the board of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
. He was involved for many years in the Pugwash Conferences. After retirement he continued to work on Russian-American scientific relations and was board member of George Soros
' International Science Foundation that provided support to Russian scientists in the 1990s.
Prof. Doty is a member of the Board of Sponsors of The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
http://www.thebulletin.org.
Mallinckrodt
Mallinckrodt is a set of pharmaceutical, chemical, imaging, and respiratory equipment suppliers based in the St. Louis, Missouri, area. Founded in 1867 when the Mallinckrodt brothers formed G. Mallinckrodt & Company to manufacture pharmaceutical chemicals, Mallinckrodt was purchased by Tyco...
Professor of Biochemistry who specialized in the physical properties of macromolecules and has been strongly involved in peace and security policy issues.
Paul Doty was born in Charleston, West Virginia. He graduated from Penn State University in 1941 and took his Doctorate from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
under Joseph Edward Mayer. From 1943 to 1945 he was at the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn. He joined Harvard University in 1948. In his 42 years at Harvard, he supervised the research of 44 students, 10 of whom have been elected to the National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
. Doty became a member of the National Academy of Science in 1957. He founded the Department of Biochemistry
Biochemistry
Biochemistry, sometimes called biological chemistry, is the study of chemical processes in living organisms, including, but not limited to, living matter. Biochemistry governs all living organisms and living processes...
and Molecular Biology
Molecular biology
Molecular biology is the branch of biology that deals with the molecular basis of biological activity. This field overlaps with other areas of biology and chemistry, particularly genetics and biochemistry...
and became its first chairman 1968. His scientific work involved the characterization of biopolymers such as DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
, protein
Protein
Proteins are biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrous form, facilitating a biological function. A polypeptide is a single linear polymer chain of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of...
s and collagen
Collagen
Collagen is a group of naturally occurring proteins found in animals, especially in the flesh and connective tissues of mammals. It is the main component of connective tissue, and is the most abundant protein in mammals, making up about 25% to 35% of the whole-body protein content...
by optical methods such as circular dichroism
Circular dichroism
Circular dichroism refers to the differential absorption of left and right circularly polarized light. This phenomenon was discovered by Jean-Baptiste Biot, Augustin Fresnel, and Aimé Cotton in the first half of the 19th century. It is exhibited in the absorption bands of optically active chiral...
and light scattering.
As a graduate student, he worked on the Manhattan project
Manhattan Project
The Manhattan Project was a research and development program, led by the United States with participation from the United Kingdom and Canada, that produced the first atomic bomb during World War II. From 1942 to 1946, the project was under the direction of Major General Leslie Groves of the US Army...
, which led to his lifelong involvement in activities aiming to avert nuclear war
Nuclear warfare
Nuclear warfare, or atomic warfare, is a military conflict or political strategy in which nuclear weaponry is detonated on an opponent. Compared to conventional warfare, nuclear warfare can be vastly more destructive in range and extent of damage...
. He was a special assistant to the president for national security and member of the President's Science and Arms Control Advisory Committees and in 1973 was a founder and director emeritus of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
The Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs is a permanent research center located within the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. The center's current director is political scientist Graham T. Allison....
at Harvard. He is a member of the board of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists is a nontechnical online magazine that covers global security and public policy issues, especially related to the dangers posed by nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction...
. He was involved for many years in the Pugwash Conferences. After retirement he continued to work on Russian-American scientific relations and was board member of George Soros
George Soros
George Soros is a Hungarian-American business magnate, investor, philosopher, and philanthropist. He is the chairman of Soros Fund Management. Soros supports progressive-liberal causes...
' International Science Foundation that provided support to Russian scientists in the 1990s.
Prof. Doty is a member of the Board of Sponsors of The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists is a nontechnical online magazine that covers global security and public policy issues, especially related to the dangers posed by nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction...
http://www.thebulletin.org.
See also
- Belfer Center http://bcsia.ksg.harvard.edu/person.cfm?order_by=name&program=CORE&ln=full&item_id=148