Jump to content

JS Chiao

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Jiaofan (talk | contribs) at 15:05, 22 May 2011 (this major revision was contributed by Dr. Arny Demain, Former Professor of Industrial Microbiology Department, MIT Member of the National Academy of Sciences, Drew University Founder, and former Head of Fermentation Microbilogy at Merck). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

JS Chiao Professor J. S. Chiao[1], 9/13/1918 - 12/22/2009, one of the leading microbiologists in the world, from the Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology of the Chinese Academia of Sciences, and an honorable member of the American Society for Microbiology, died at 15:50 on December 22, 2009 in the East China Hospital in Shanghai, China, at the age of 91[2]. Professor Chiao spent 60 years in research on Microbiology and was one of the world’s leading scientists on its progress and application to the field of biotechnology.

Early Years

Born on September 13, 1918, a native of Pingshan County, Hebei Province, he was the first one in his family to receive a formal education. In September 1936, he achieved excellent test scores in the nation-wide college entrance examinations. He began his studies in the Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, with the noble ideal of promoting science in China. In July 1941, he completed his B.Sc. degree at the National Southwestern Associated University (NSAU), which consisted of Tsinghua, Nankai, and Beijing universities, and relocated to Kunming during the Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945). Later, he was appointed as a Research Assistant in the Department of Chemistry at NSAU[3]. In September 1947, he received a Washington State University Scholarship in the United States to study organic chemistry, and obtained his Master's degree there in organic chemistry in March 1949. He continued his education at the University of Wisconsin, Madison and received MS, and Ph.D degrees in the field of Microbiology in 1950 and March 1953, respectively[4].

Wonderful Research Career

In March 1953, Dr. Chiao became a senior researcher in Research & Development of micro-organisms at the Grain Processing Company in Muscatine, Iowa. After learning that the New China needed scientists, he desired and was determined to contribute to the newly founded country. Thus, he gave up his good job and comfortable living in the USA, overcame countless obstacles, and returned to the motherland in March 1955[5]. From March 1955 to August 2004, Prof. Chiao served as Associate Research Staff, Research Staff and Director of Research at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology (formerly the CAS Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology). He was also the Chairman of the Chinese Society for Microbiology, President of the Shanghai Society of Microbiology[6], Biotechnology Consultant of the State Science and Technology Development Center of Biotechnology, and Vice Chairman of the Committee of Experts of the Chinese Academy[7]. Dr. Chiao also served as Chairman of the Chinese Society of Microbiology, was the founder and Editor of the journal "Biological Engineering News", and Editor of the "Micro Projects" at the Chinese Society of Microbiology. He successfully organized the Tenth International Actinomycete Biology Conference in 1997. This international symposium greatly improved the standing of the Chinese Society of Microbiology in the International Union of Microbiological Societies (IUMS), and won much praise from Chinese microbial academia. Because of his outstanding contributions to research in Microbiology, he was elected by the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) as Honorary Member. Furthermore, he was selected as representative of the Shanghai Municipal People's Congress for two successive terms[8]. During the cultural revolution between 1966 to 1976, Professor Chiao was erroneously and unfortunately accused of being a CIA Spy, and was put into a semi-prison. He was badly beaten when he attempted an unsuccessful escape. His health degraded dramatically in this period of time, and he was not allowed to participate in any research work.

Public Notability

Professor Chiao made significant contributions to (i) microbial physiology and biochemistry, (ii) bio-engineering and basic research for the development of microbiology, (iii) modern biotechnology, and (iv) personnel training in China. He paid attention to advances in microbiology and biotechnology, provided timely guidance to Chinese microbiology research in the use of microbial physiology to enhance the promotion of industrial technology. He also advocated work on the genomes of uncultured microorganisms and the strengthening of research and development to seize upon important opportunities, and to advance development. For decades, he targeted industrial applications, as well as basic research carried out to obtain fruitful results, and promoted the industrial development of microbial technology in China. He also promoted further studies on the basic theory of Microbiology[9].

JS Chiao, September, 2008

Over the years, Professor Chiao won numerable research rewards and prizes, including the National Natural Science Award, the Chinese Academy of Science and Technology Progress Award, the National Invention Award, and the major scientific and technological achievements of Shanghai and Shanghai Science and Technology Progress Award. He trained Master and Ph.D. students and postdoctoral research fellows, and guided the growth of a group of outstanding young scientists. Even after retirement, he continued to work for the development of national scientific research, and provided leadership for various research proposals until early 2009. Both the Chinese and international microbiological communities already miss his presence and influence in the development of the booming field of biotechnology.

Notes

  1. ^ Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences,http://www.im.ac.cn/journals/swgc/jiaoruisheng.htm
  2. ^ JS Chiao's biography,http://baike.baidu.com/view/318571.htm
  3. ^ JS Chiao's biography,http://baike.baidu.com/view/318571.htm
  4. ^ JS Chiao's biography,http://baike.baidu.com/view/318571.htm
  5. ^ JS Chiao's biography,http://baike.baidu.com/view/318571.htm
  6. ^ Shanghai Society of Microbiology, http://www.siobp.com/SSM/stru.html
  7. ^ JS Chiao's biography,http://baike.baidu.com/view/318571.htm
  8. ^ JS Chiao's biography,http://baike.baidu.com/view/318571.htm
  9. ^ JS Chiao's biography,http://baike.baidu.com/view/318571.htm

References

  • [article version 5/21/2011 was provided by Dr.Arny Demain, PhD Fellow, Charles A. Dana Research Institute, Drew University Founder and former Head of Fermentation Microbiology at Merck & Co.Former Professor of Industrial Microbiology Department, MIT Member of the National Academy of Sciences]
  • [Some of JS Chiao's writing about learning farming from his father, http://xschina.org/auth_list.php?author=%BD%B9%C8%F0%C9%ED]

Selected Publications



Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=JS_Chiao&oldid=430356930"