Se & The Arnold and Mabel Beckman Center for the History of Chemistry
ars 3401 Walnut Street » Philadelphia, PA 19104-6228 « USA
Ceara ee ta “, Telephone: (215) 898-4896 + Telefax: (215) 898-3327
SARS TS
AMERICAN ta OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERS Director: Arnold Thackray

4 May 1993 Sr rater tee

Dr. Joshua Lederberg
President Emeritus
Rockefeller University
1230 York Avenue

New York, NY 10021-6399

 

Dear Josh:

The Beckman Center is exploring the possibility of sponsoring a post-
doctoral researcher in the production of a scholarly study of the biotechnolo-
gy industry since 1972. The proposal enclosed here maps out a version of this
proposed study, and we are hoping that you will be able to comment on this
proposal and help us improve it.

As the pages of Science and other professional journals attest, in the
1990s it is difficult to find a molecular biologist who does not have a
financial stake in marketing biotechnology. Our study will explore the
meaning of this professional reality for the community of practicing molecular
biologists. How have corporate interests shaped their work? And how have
public policies and institutional constraints affected their choices? Most
importantly, what can this story tell us about knowledge as property?

We are tentatively planning to submit this proposal to the National
Science Foundation in August. But before we do, we need to determine not
only whether it is a reasonable plan, but also whether a suitable principal
investigator can be recruited to join the Beckman Center's biomolecular
sciences research team and write this historical study. We anticipate bringing
in a post-doctoral researcher for a period up to three years, and we will

obviously appreciate any suggestions you may be able to offer about suitable
candidates.

Thank you in advance for your help. May we hope to hear from you by
11 June?

Sincerely,

AT/c (A. lJ

Enc.