INDIANA UNIVERSITY
- BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA

DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY

220 Jordan Hall

December 16, 1961

Professor Joshua Lederberg

Department of Genetics

Stanford University School of hedicine
300 Pasteur Drive

Palo Alto, Calif.

Dear Josh;

I am hesitant to encroach upon your time for I know how busy you are, but
my colleagues and I need your counsel and wisdom in a matter of utmost importance
to uSe As you may know, Professor Cleland retires in 1963 and rrofessor Muller
the following year. Obviously these retirements will cut deeply into our present
strength in Cytology and Genetics here at Indiana University. They also present
us with a tremendous challenge in our search for new faculty which will include,
in addition, at. least one major appointment in molecular biology.

because the men selected for these three positions will strongly influence
the future of biology at this institution, we seek your advice both as to fields
to be represented and es to potential candidates. At present we are inclined to
try to build a balanced program in which classical areas and modern molecular
biolory are both adequately represented. You probably know, at least in @ general
way, the present composition of our biological departments (Bacteriology, Botany
and Zoology, which are now closely integrated) and the research interests of our
staff. What areas of research do you think should be represented by the three
or more appointments to be made within the next few years? (For purely administrative
purposes, the Cleland replacement will be in the Botany Department, the Muller
replecement in the Zoology Department, and the molecular biologist wherever he
vist best fits.) We would particularly appreciate having you name especially promising
spo eae young men who give promise of leadership in developing fields which might come to
the fore in the next decade or so. The level of the appointments | is flexible and
would be adjusted to the status of the candidates. *

You may think we are asking the impossible of you. Perhaps we are. Never-
theless, whatever comments or suggestions you offer will be greatly appreciated
by all of us. I would be grateful if you would pass this letter around to some
of your colleagues, especially to Melvin Cohn, Kornberg, Perkins“and Yanofsky.—
we would much appreciate having the separate and combined wisdom of the Stanford
galaxy of stars. FYerhaps to save some effort, one of you would be willing to
respond for all.

With much thanks and best regards to you and Esther and to your colleagues,
* De yar Anse, Aa Ting for He Cordially,
benny - Crh - Corgi. Hien ?

“4S mz ' fT. M. nneborn