Giving

Friends, family, and colleagues of John Majors, PhD, have expressed a wish to establish a fund to honor him and recognize his extraordinary impact on the field of molecular biology and the Washington University School of Medicine. With your help, we will be able to continue Dr. Majors’ inspiring tradition of excellence.

Dr. Majors was known for key contributions to the field of molecular biology, particularly work involving the expression of genes in yeast and viruses. He worked with a team led by Harold E. Varmus, MD, and J. Michael Bishop, MD, whose research revealing how viruses can cause cancer was honored with the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1989.

According to colleagues, Dr. Majors was deeply committed to mentorship and training, putting students at the center of his work. He served on the doctoral thesis committees of more than 100 graduate students in the university’s Division of Biology & Biomedical Sciences (DBBS). In 2013, he was one of 10 DBBS faculty named to “The One Hundred Club,” honoring this achievement. Many of his former trainees have gone on to become leaders in their fields.

The colleagues, friends and trainees of Dr. Elliot L. Elson have expressed a wish to establish an endowed education and training fund to honor him and his extraordinary impact on both the Washington University School of Medicine and the field of molecular biophysics. His teaching and research contributions have been far-reaching and numerous.

The Elliot L. Elson Education Training Endowment will be used to support opportunities for students and the very best post-doctoral trainees in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics-the focus of Elliot’s long research career.