# |

DEPARTMENT OF BACTERIOLOGY AND IMMUNOLOGY
HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL
25 SHATTUCK STREET

BOSTON 15, MASSACHUSETTS

April 8, 1960

Dr. Joshua Lederberg
Department of Genetics
Stanford University
Medical School

Palo Alto, California

Dear Joshua:

When I receive a Tong and complex letter I usually file it for
reconsideration at a later time, which may never come. I'm therefore
writing you a sepazte letter on a separate point.

We have a vacancy in this department for a young staff member
who has reached tt stage of being ready to start a career as an
independent investigator. The specific area of his investigation is
not too important provided it is really digging into some significant
aspect of what we might vaguely call cell physiology. He would have
to carry his share of the teaching in the medical bacteriology course,
and there would be an opportunity to supervise graduate students as
interested ones came along.

I was very much impressed by the brilliant seminar that Nossal
gave here a few months ago, and Al Coons and I have been wondering whether
he might be in the market for a job in the next year or the year after.

I wonder whether you could answer this question, or whether you think I
ought to write him directly. In addition, if he is a possible candidate
I would appreciate your evaluation of his potentialities. It was clear
from his seminar that he has a very quick and a well-organized mind; I
wonder what kind of an experimenter he is, and how well he is likely to
do on his own, We also got a favorable impression of his personality,
but it would be helpful to have your evaluation on this poit too.

Sincerely,

(eee

Bernard D. Davis

Vy: Bert :