Contributions of David Mauzerall to photosynthesis research - celebrating his 95th birthday

Abstract

We honor here Professor David Mauzerall, a pioneer in the fields of photochemistry and photobiology of porphyrins and chlorophylls in vitro and in vivo, on the occasion of his 95th birthday. Throughout his career at The Rockefeller University, he refined our understanding of how chlorophyll converts light energy into chemical energy. He exploited top-of-the-line laser technology in developing photoacoustics and a variety of other innovative experimental approaches. His experimental work and conceptual insights contributed greatly to our understanding of photosynthesis and the possible role of photosynthesis in the origin of life. His contributions include many landmark single-authored and collaborative papers, and his legacy includes the training of others who have become authorities themselves. After providing a brief description of his research accomplishments, we include tributes from several of his coworkers and his daughters highlighting their valuable experiences with David Mauzerall on this milestone birthday.

Keywords

• chlorophyll
• chlorophyll a fluorescence
• cyanobacteria
• excitation energy transfer
• frank henry westheimer
• photoacoustics
• photosynthetic bacteria
• porphyrins
• samuel granick
• the rockefeller university
• university of chicago