NOV 2 1962
HARVARD UNIVERSITY
THE BIOLOGICAL LABORATORIES
16 DIVINITY AVENUE
CAMBRIDGE 38, MASSACHUSETTS

November 27, 1962 \ wy
y

Professor Joshua Lederberg A.
School of Medicine oo)
Stanford University

Palo Alto, California

Dear Josh:

I have a position that I would like to fill with
one of the brightest young men in the country. So
far as teaching duties are concerned, it involves join-
ing our group which is giving the new introductory biol-
egy course. That course is now in its third year but
is still, I am glad to say, highly experimental. The
other persons on the staff are: Johns Hopkins, origin-
ally from Rockefeller, Beter Albersheim, originally from
Cal. Tech., and John Dowling, who took his degree here
with me.

As far as teaching goes, this is probably about as
interesting and challenging an experience as I can im-
agine. The laboratories are already well organized and
running smoothly, though we like to try new experiments
out in them from time to time. My three younger associ-
ates are now doing about half the lectures. The new man
would come in pretty much on a share~and-share basis. It
is important that our man have a lively, communicative
personality, and the gift of clarity in exposition. Our
students are young, bright, and eager; and the livelier
the man, the better it all goes.

in (re

Tf I were to mention a field in which I should es-
pecially like to find a man, it would be development and
differentiation ~- of course with everything new that
might be anticipated in that direction. I would, how-
ever, be glad to settle for a very bright person whatever
his field.
With this go excellent facilities for research and
plenty of time in which to do it. The teaching does not
make demands that ought to interfere seriously with the
man's experimental work. I should say that all of it
throughout the year boils down to about one one-semester
course. There need not be any time in which the man has
to stop his experiments.

I would like best to make this appointment on the
level of instructor, which normally means three annual
appointments, after which a decision is made whether the
man goes to an assistant professorship. On the other
hand, just the right man, and with a little more experi-
ence, might be ready at once for an assistant professor-
ship. The other three men in the course were made into
assistant professors after one year as instructors. The
going salaries are: instructor, $7000; assistant professor,
$8000, with $300 increments annually. This is esclusive
of summer salaries on funds.

AS you see, I am asking for a paragon. So is every-
one else, of course. I guess it is really up to the man.
If you know a paragon who might like to work at Harvard
and who in addition might like to take part in our course,
here is a job for him.

This is already unfortunately late in the year to
make such inquiries, and I would be most grateful if you
would write me your suggestions soon. We hope to have
this pretty well decided by’ the first of the year.

With all regards and good wishes,

    
 

-
a ) Ce Cc
George Wald (

GW:b