John Tooze facts for kids

John Tooze (May 16, 1938 – May 19, 2021) was an important British scientist. He was known for his research and for helping to manage science organizations. He was also a science writer and editor.

John Tooze was a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS). This is a very high honor for scientists in the UK. He worked at places like the EMBO and Cancer Research UK. He also held a senior position at Rockefeller University.

Early Life and School

John Tooze was born in Birmingham, England, in 1938. He grew up in a house on Thornbury Road. He went to Thornbury Road Primary school.

After his second try, he passed an exam to get into Handsworth Grammar School. In 1955, he won scholarships to attend Jesus College, Cambridge. Before starting college, he worked for six months at a brewery.

He then spent two years in the military, serving in the Royal Army Educational Corps. He became a sergeant. After his military service, he went to University of Cambridge. He later earned his PhD in biophysics from King's College London in 1965. He studied in the same department where famous scientists like Maurice Wilkins worked.

Science Work and Career

Early Research Discoveries

After getting his PhD, John Tooze moved to the United States. He spent two years at Harvard University. There, he worked with James Watson, a scientist famous for discovering the structure of DNA. Tooze studied Bacteriophage genetics, which is about tiny viruses that infect bacteria.

He then returned to the UK and became a lecturer at King's College London. He made important discoveries about how cells move things in and out. This process is called exocytosis and endocytosis. He studied these pathways in nerve cells and gland cells. He also showed how some animal viruses, like vaccinia, use these cell pathways to spread. He found that viruses use parts of the cell's outer layer, called endocytic membranes, to form new virus particles.

Working for Nature Journal

Starting in 1966, John Tooze began writing for the scientific journal Nature. He wrote a regular column about cell biology. From 1968 to 1969, he worked full-time as an assistant editor. He later became the deputy editor of the journal.

Leading Science Organizations

John Tooze spent more than 20 years as the executive secretary of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO). This organization helps molecular biologists in Europe. He also led the European Molecular Biology Conference (EMBC).

In 1982, he started The EMBO Journal. This is an important scientific journal that publishes new research. He also worked at the Cancer Research UK London Research Institute. Later, he became a vice president at Rockefeller University in New York. In these roles, he helped manage and support scientific research.

Awards and Honors

John Tooze received many awards for his contributions to science.

• In 1986, he became a member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO).
• Also in 1986, he won the EMBO Gold Medal. This award recognized his work in promoting molecular biology in Europe.
• In 1993, he was elected a member of Academia Europaea.
• In 1994, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) in the UK. This is one of the highest honors for a scientist.
• In 2016, he received an honorary Doctor of Science degree. This was from the Watson School of Biological Sciences.

Timeline of John Tooze's Life

• 1938: Born in Birmingham, England.
• 1949–1955: Attended Handsworth Grammar School.
• 1955: Won State and Open scholarships for Jesus College, Cambridge.
• 1956–1958: Served in the British Army, reaching the rank of sergeant.
• 1958–1961: Studied at Jesus College, Cambridge University.
• 1965: Earned his PhD in biophysics from the University of London.
• 1965–1967: Worked as a postdoctoral fellow with James Watson at Harvard University.
• 1963–1968: Lecturer at King's College, University of London.
• 1968–1969: Deputy editor of Nature journal.
• 1973–1994: Executive Secretary of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO).
• 1982–2003: Executive editor of The EMBO Journal.
• 1994–2002: Director of support services at Imperial Cancer Research Fund (ICRF).
• 2003–2005: Director of research services at Cancer Research UK.
• 2005–2013: Vice president at The Rockefeller University in New York.
• 2014: Retired from his full-time roles.