The Resume

(November 18, 1906-April 12, 1997)
Born in Brooklyn, New York
Professor of Biochemistry at Harvard (1948-77)
Studied the pigments in the retina of the eye
Discovered that vitamin A is a component of the retina
Identified pigments that respond to different colors of light
Co-recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1967)

Why he might be annoying:

He changed his college major from pre-law to pre-med to zoology.
He was initially denied a PhD by Columbia because he failed to submit the required number of copies of his thesis to the university library.
After winning the Nobel Prize, he forsook scientific research in favor of political activism.
He declared, 'Civilization will end within 15 to 30 years unless immediate action is taken against the problems facing mankind.' (1970)

Why he might not be annoying:

He graduated high school at age fifteen.
He was named one of America's ten best college teachers by Time (1966).
He was one of the first prominent Western scientists to speak out against routine infant circumcision.
He was a member of Ramsey Clark's unofficial delegation that attempted to negotiate the release of the American hostages in Iran (1980).
While in Moscow to advise the government on environmental issues, he asked Mikhail Gorbachev about the detention of Andrei Sakharov and Yelena Bonner. Shortly after the meeting, the two dissidents were released (1986).

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• 20th Century Scientists
• Born in Brooklyn, New York
• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 92]
• I am a Jewish Atheist
• I am an Atheist
• I Attended Columbia
• I Attended NYU
• I Died in 1997 (Ranked: 90)
• I Earned a Doctorate
• Look at Me, I'm Reading
• Nixon's Enemies List
• Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine (Ranked: 1967)
• Profiles 57251-57500 (Ranked: 57449)
• Scientists

Year In Review:

For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2023, Out of 25 Votes: 52.00% Annoying