Biography
Selman Abraham Waksman was born on July 22, 1888, in Nova Pryluka, a small town then part of the Russian Empire, now Ukraine. Coming from a Jewish family in rural Ukraine, he received his early education locally before moving to the United States in 1910 at age 22. Once in America, Waksman went to Rutgers University, where he got his bachelor's degree in agriculture in 1915 and finished his master's degree in 1916, the same year he became an American citizen. He continued his education at the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned his Ph.D. in biochemistry in 1918.
Returning to Rutgers University, Waksman joined the faculty and spent forty years as a professor of biochemistry and microbiology. His research was focused on soil microorganisms and their role in breaking down organic matter, which turned out to be groundbreaking for medical science. In the 1940s, Waksman and his team studied thousands of soil microbes and discovered several antibiotics. Most significantly, his lab isolated streptomycin in 1943, which was the first effective treatment for tuberculosis, a disease that had caused millions of deaths.
Waksman's work went beyond individual discoveries to the wider field of antibiotic research. He gave the modern definition of the term "antibiotic" and developed systematic procedures for identifying and testing antimicrobial compounds. His lab eventually identified over 15 different antibiotics, changing the way bacterial infections were treated. The success of his patents, especially for streptomycin, brought in substantial royalties, which he used to set up a foundation for microbiological research.
Waksman's efforts gained widespread recognition in 1952 when he received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. However, his Nobel Prize was later embroiled in controversy when Albert Schatz, one of his former Ph.D. students who had played a key role in the discovery of streptomycin, sued, claiming Waksman had downplayed his contributions. The case was settled out of court, with Schatz being acknowledged as a co-discoverer and receiving a share of the royalties. Waksman continued his research and administrative work until retiring, passing away on August 16, 1973, in Woods Hole, Massachusetts.
Before Fame
Growing up in Nova Pryluka, Waksman faced the difficulties that many Jewish families encountered in rural Ukraine during the late Russian Empire. His interest in agriculture and natural sciences was encouraged by local educational opportunities, although the limited opportunities for Jewish students in higher education pushed him to move to America. In the early 20th century, there was significant Jewish migration from Eastern Europe to the United States due to economic opportunities and the need to escape growing antisemitic policies.
Waksman's journey to scientific fame started with his studies in agriculture at Rutgers University, where he was introduced to soil microbiology. This field was quite new then, with scientists just starting to understand the complex world of microorganisms in soil. His doctoral work at Berkeley focused on the biochemical processes of soil bacteria, laying the groundwork for his later research on antibiotics at a time when bacterial infections were major killers and effective treatments were urgently needed.
Key Achievements
- Discovered streptomycin, the first effective treatment for tuberculosis
- Isolated over 15 different antibiotics and coined the modern use of the term 'antibiotic'
- Won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1952
- Established the Waksman Institute of Microbiology through patent royalties
- Received the ACS National Historic Chemical Landmark designation in 2005
Did You Know?
- 01.Waksman discovered streptomycin by testing over 10,000 different soil microorganisms in his laboratory
- 02.He held patents for 18 different antibiotics, making him one of the most prolific antibiotic discoverers in history
- 03.The Waksman Institute of Microbiology at Rutgers University was funded entirely by royalties from his antibiotic patents
- 04.Before his antibiotic research, Waksman spent 25 years studying how organic matter decomposes in soil
- 05.He received honorary doctorates from universities in five different countries across three continents
Family & Personal Life
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine | 1952 | for his discovery of streptomycin, the first antibiotic effective against tuberculosis |
| Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research | 1948 | — |
| Leeuwenhoek Medal | 1950 | — |
| John Scott Award | 1949 | — |
| honorary doctor of the University of Madrid Complutense | 1950 | — |
| honorary doctor of the University of Toulouse | 1950 | — |
| Grand Cross of the Order of Civil Health | 1954 | — |
| honorary doctor of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem | 1958 | — |
| honorary doctorate from the University of Strasbourg | 1958 | — |
| honorary doctor of Caen University | 1966 | — |
| National Inventors Hall of Fame | 2005 | — |
| Amory Prize | 1947 | — |