THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE

Madison 6

DEPARTMENT OF GENETICS July 19, 1947

AIRMAIL

Mr. Joshua Lederberg
Osborn Botanical Laboratory
Yale University

New Haven, Connecticut

Dear Mr. Lederberg:

As Dr. Tatum will have told you, we are contemplating an appointment here
in the genetics of microorganisms. You among others have been recommended for
the position. Since the appointment is of major significance we are desirous
of informing ourselves te the fullest possible extent concerning the qualifica~
tions of promising candidates before making a nomination to the Administration.
We would like to know if the opportunity interests you and if so whether you
would be willing te visit the University of Wisconsin for interviews with mem-
bers of our staff. Absence from the campus at other times of some men with
whom you would wish to confer indicates that the period August 20-23 would be
the earliest suitable to us for the visit, or the beginning of September would
be satisfactory. We would like te have you discuss informally some of your re-
search before a group of graduate students and staff. An honorarium would be
paid you for this in lieu of the travel expenses incurred.

Although micrebielogy is extensively developed in other directions at
Wisconsin, the genetical werk will be new. It is our hope to secure a man in-
terested in fundamental research who will develop a core program in genetics
and be willing to cooperate with microbiologists in other departments whose
problems touch on this field. The genetical point of view, as you kmow, is
just new gaining way in microbiology se that the help of a specialist in this
field is certain to be sought sooner or later by seme of our. bacteriologists,
biechemists, and animal and plant patholegists. It is important, in our judg-
ment, that the new man at Wisconsin be ready to give his aid to other staff
members seeking it even though the problems involved may not be of central in-
terest for genetics. The position should provide ample opportunity fer inde-
pendent research aleng genetical lines chosen by the investigator himself but
it is our hepe that the incumbent alse can develop mutually helpful relation-
ships with colleagues in allied fields.

The appointment will probably be as assistant professor at a salary of
$3500 for the academic year (9 months). It hes been common policy for the
Experiment Station to provide opportunity for summer employment in research
also. The additional compensation is 15% of the academic year salary. Opera-~
ting funds from regular University sources will be provided for the work and
the University Research Committee is always on the lookout for established
lines of research that appear worthy of added support from the special funds
which they administer as grants-in-aid. Our greatest current handicap is
laboratory space and facilities. This fall, however, the elementary genetics
, page 2--July 19, 1947 Joshua Lederberg

laboratory work is being moved from the Genetics Building to one of the
"temporary" structures recently erected on the campus. It is planned to
equip a laboratory for the new work in a nart of the space thus released.
The rate at which construction and delivery of furniture and apparatus is
now proceeding gives little promise, however, that the new laboratory will
be in operating condition before 10-12 months. Until a new laboratory is
ready the opportunity for work on the genetics of microorganisms here is
distinctly limited.

The position is being thought of primarily in terms of research. If
and when a demand should arise fer formal instruction in the field, however,
it is expected that the new man would undertake to provide it. Meanwhile the
new appointee's aid in our advanced genetics courses under Dr. Irwin's @irec~
tion, and participated in by several of us, would be welcomed. Research in-
terests in the Genetics Department here are fairly diverse, comprising work
in beth the animal and plant fields. Since we are a part of the Cellege of
Agriculture our applied interests are mainly in animal and plant breeding.
The introductory genetics course is effered jointly with the Department of
Zoology (College of Letters and Science) and, at the graduate level varticu-
larly, there is rather free intercourse between the colleges. Currently, the
Department of Genetics has no work in progress cooperatively with the Medical
School but I know of nothing in particular which would hinder such a develoep-
ment if it seemed desirable. Our first consideration in connection with the
contemplated appointment is to strengthen our position in basic genetic re-
search. The implications of genetics fer various tyves of investigations with
the higher animals and plants are fairly widely recognized within the institu-

tion. It is our hope that the new venture with microerganisms can be at least
as successfully developed.

Looking forward to your revly, I am

Sincerely yours,

R. A. Brink
Professor of Genetics

RAB/s