UNIVERSITY of PENNSYLVANIA

PHILADELPHIA 4

The College

 

BoranicaL LABORATORY
38th and Woodland Ave.

November 1, 1956

Dr. Joshua Lederberg
Department of Genetics
University of Wisconsin
Madison 6, Wisconsin

Dear Joshua:

Vice-President Topping early informed me of the Wistar Institute's
interest in having you come to the University of Pennsylvania. Though I
do not know the details concerning the Wistar position, I believe that
the University will be able to make some attractive positions at the
Wistar Institute. It is my understanding that there is adequate endowment
to cover salaries and that adequate research space will be available. I
am sure that Dr, Topping is anxious to have men of outstanding ability
who will also hold academic appointments in appropriate departments of
the University.

It is my intention to ask the faculty of this department to elect
Dr. Joshua Lederberg to a professorship of genetics, or of microbiology,
in the Department of Botany. From my discussions with members of the
staff, I have every reason to believe that this election would be made
unanimously. If you should come to the Wistar Institute with a profes-
sorship in this department, we would expect that you would participate
in the formulation of the policies of the department and in its intel-
lectual life. An opportunity would be made available to you to do some
teaching, but this would not be required. You would, of course, have
the opportunity te have graduate students.

Though I do not know exactly what is being planned for the Wistar
Institute, I think that a position there is of sufficient interest that
you should investigate it thoroughly and assure yourself that it would
give you the opportunity for the development of your own research progran
and for the kind of intellectual life which you want in the University.
From what I do know, I think the position is likely te be a very attractive
One e
Dr, Lederberg -2= November 1, 1956

I think I can assure you that many of the biologists in the Medical
School and the College would be delighted if we succeed in having Joshua
lederberg as a colleague at the University of Pemsylvania.

If there is any specific information which I can furnish to you, I
hope that you will not hesitate to write to me again or to call me on the
phone.

With my best regards,
—:
W) pw
David R. Goddard
DRG/rw