(Microbial Genetics]

August 1, 1955

Dr. Abraham White

Albert Einstein College of Medicine
1710 Newport Avene

New York 61, N.Y.

Dear Dr. White:

I have just received your letter of July 29, and feel that I owe you
the couréésy of an immediate acknowledgment if I cannot give a considered
reply. Your suggestion that I consider, and be considered for, the posi-
tion in your bacterlology department has so many implications that I would
not want to give an offhand answer even at this preliminary stage; it would
be a wasteful burden to both of us even to begin fruitless discussions.

Unfortunately, while I was east in May and in June, Sndmamather tied
down by other commitments, and had not planned to make any other trips during
the next few weeks. If I can complete my backlog of writing and squeeze in
one or two other journeys already comnitted, I might manage it som time after
mid-September, or sooner if extremlgp urgent.

It is impossible not to admire the zeal with which the vision of this
new college has been fired, and the consequent success of its accomplishment.
The most intriguing aspect of the appointment in microblology would be the
opportunity to bring a spirit in the teaching of the subject that was sadly
lacking, I fear, in my own experience as a medical student at Columbia. How
ever my experience so far has been almost exclusively in research rather
than teaching and admingstration, and I would be the first to want to seruti-
nize my qualifications for the added responsibility. It would be of some help
ig I could learn, in general terms, just what the scope of the department
would be-—- what the anticipated staff would encompass; who, if anyone already
holds an appointment in the department; the extent of research support from
the College, I realize these are the kinds of question that could be explored
better in personal conversation, but it might help my bearings tc have some
information -~ the counterpart of the vital summary enclosed, By the way, you
can probably get a more complete dossier with photo, ete., from the News Bureau
of this university.

With best regards,

Yours sincerely,

Joshua Lederberg

Professor of Genetics