The University lost an outstanding teacher, research scientist,
and administrator with the death on November 1, 2003, of Paul
Gottlieb, professor of molecular genetics and microbiology and
director of the School of Biological Sciences. Paul was born
December 4, 1943, in New Brunswick, New Jersey, the son of Arthur
and Beatrice Gottlieb. His early interest in biology led to his
receiving a B.A. in biochemical sciences from Princeton University
in 1965. This was followed by graduate study at The Rockefeller
University, where he was a student of Gerald Edelman. It was
at Rockefeller that he met his future wife Nell, also a graduate
student. They were married in December 1969. After receiving
a Ph.D. in 1971, Paul worked at Rockefeller for a short period
as a postdoctoral fellow, followed by postdoctoral study at Stanford
University from 1971-73.
Paul’s first faculty appointment was in 1973 as assistant
professor in the Department of Biology and the Center for Cancer
Research at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In 1977, he
was promoted to associate professor. In 1980, he was persuaded
to move to The University of Texas at Austin as professor of
microbiology, a position he continued to hold at the time of
his death.
Paul was recognized internationally as a major contributor to
understanding of the immune system. He authored or co-authored
over seventy publications describing his research on the nature
of the immune response, working primarily with mice as models
for other mammalian systems. His earlier studies focused on the
structure and function of antibodies. These studies helped lay
the groundwork for understanding the process of allelic exclusion,
a phenomenon that occurs in immune cells and in other rare instances
but is contrary to classical Mendelian predictions. His research
focus eventually turned to the understanding of how the T cells
of the immune system work, particularly the cytotoxic (“killer”)
cells that recognize and destroy other cells of the body that
are infected with foreign agents such as viruses. During the
course of these studies, Paul discovered a new gene that is important
not only for T-cell function but also for development of the
cardiovascular system in mouse embryos and, by extension, in
humans as well.
Paul’s common sense, affable personality, and understanding
of and concern for others led inevitably to his being asked to
assume administrative duties. In 1997, he became chair of the
Department of Microbiology and continued as chair of the Section
of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology when the biological sciences
were reorganized in 1999. In 2001, he became director of the
School of Biological Sciences, which includes all the sections
of biology and is especially responsible for instruction of lower
level biology courses. As director of the school, he had a real
vision for the biological sciences at the University. Paul worked
unceasingly to maintain and improve instruction in the biology
classrooms and laboratories. He expanded programs and helped
increase funding for biological research and for graduate and
undergraduate education. As such, his legacy to the University
and science will be enduring. His own dedication to teaching
led to his receiving a College of Natural Sciences Teaching Excellence
Award in 2001. He excelled also as a mentor for many undergraduates,
graduate students, and post doctoral fellows.
Paul’s strong interest in academics did not prevent his
being very active in other areas. His slight build belied the
fact that he was active in sports: lacrosse, soccer, and basketball
in high school; soccer at Princeton; softball and soccer on UT
departmental teams; golf; sailing, especially around Wood’s
Hole; skiing; and in later years windsurfing and snowboarding.
He was a coach of his daughter’s youth soccer team. Paul
liked music and was reputed to know the words to every Gilbert
and Sullivan opera. He was rather gregarious and promoted departmental
parties, in which he was a conspicuous participant. When he became
director of the School of Biological Sciences, he began a series
of Wednesday afternoon “teas,” to which all faculty
and eventually all graduate students were invited, thus encouraging
people from different sections and buildings to get together
and learn more about other areas of research on campus. He was
also an active participant in Town and Gown, an organization
of academic and nonacademic Austinites who get together for presentations
and discussions of a variety of intellectual topics.
Paul’s death at age 59 from liver cancer, diagnosed only
five months earlier, was a shock and loss for everyone who knew
him and especially for his graduate students and the UT community.
Paul was survived by his wife, Dr. Nell Gottlieb; by his mother,
Beatrice Gottlieb; his brother, Dr. Michael Gottlieb; and by
his daughter, Dr. Erin Gottlieb, and her husband, Dr. Eric A.
Bedell. He was very gratified to learn shortly before his death
that he was to become the grandfather of Julia Paige Bedell,
who was born on June 2, 2004.
<signed>
Larry R. Faulkner, President
The University of Texas at Austin
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Sue Alexander Greninger, Secretary
The General Faculty
