Contents
Don Craig Wiley
Revealing structures involved in viral infection and immune recognition.
Viral entry · Antigen presentation
- Born
- 21 October 1944
- Birthplace
- Akron
- Died
- November 2001
More people
Don Craig Wiley
Don Craig Wiley was an American structural biologist who used crystallography to investigate biological molecules.
Early life
Physics to biophysics
Grew up in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, graduated in physics from Tufts in 1966 and completed a Harvard biophysics doctorate under William Lipscomb in 1971.
Career
- 1971
Harvard faculty
Became an assistant professor of biochemistry and molecular biology.
- 1975–1979
Academic advancement
Promoted to associate professor in 1975 and professor of biochemistry in 1979.
- 1995–1999
Recognition with Strominger
Shared the Lasker award in 1995 and Japan Prize in 1999 for immune-system research.
Contributions
Viral entry
Examined how viral proteins attach to cells and help viruses evade immune responses.
Antigen presentation
Investigated molecular structures through which cells display antigens to the immune system.
Beyond work
Family and mentorship
Had four children, two with his wife Katrin and two from an earlier marriage. Colleagues remembered his generosity toward students and fellow researchers.
Sources & photo credit
Biography and career ↗Biographical references ↗Family and mentorship — biographical source ↗Original photograph. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
Photo: Unknown. Fair use · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.