Osamu Shimomura (1928-2018)
Organic chemist and marine biologist.
Discovered the green fluorescent protein in Aequorea victoria.
Awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2008.
Background
- 1951
- Graduated from Nagasaki University School of Pharmacy (now Nagasaki University Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences).
- 1960
- Ph.D. in Science from Nagoya University.
- 1951
- Instructor at Nagasaki University Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
- 1959-1963
- Assistant Professor at Nagasaki University Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
- 1960-1963
- Research Fellow at Princeton University (Fulbright Scholar).
- 1963
- Associate Professor at the Water Quality Science Research Facility, Faculty of Science, Nagoya University.
- 1965-1982
- Senior Research Fellow at Princeton University.
- 1981-2000
- Visiting Professor at Boston University.
- 1982
- Senior Research Fellow at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.
- 2001
- Honorary Professor at Boston University.
- 2008
- Special Senior Research Fellow at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.
- 2010
- Honorary Doctorate (Doctor of Science) from Gakushuin University.
- 2014
- Goodwill Ambassador for Fukaya City, Saitama Prefecture.
- 2018
- Passed away at the age of 90.
Awards and Honors
- 2004
- Pearse Prize (Royal Microscopical Society, UK)
- 2005
- Emile Chamot Award (Microscopy Society of Illinois)
- 2007
- Asahi Prize
- 2008
- Nobel Prize in Chemistry
- 2008
- Cultural Merit Award
- 2008
- Order of Culture
- 2013
- Member of the National Academy of Sciences, USA
- 2018
- Junior Third Rank (Japan)
Principal Research Topics and Achievements
・Study of Bioluminescence
・Discovery of Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP)