Professor Emeritus of Biology

Overview

Frank Rothman, after receiving a Ph.D. in organic chemistry in 1955, switched to the new field of molecular genetics. He joined the faculty of Brown University in 1961, and taught courses in biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology, and aging, winning several teaching awards. Rothman's research on the regulation of gene expression in bacteria and cellular slime molds was funded by nine consecutive grants from the NSF. He chaired the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee, was the founding director of the Graduate Program in Molecular and Cell Biology, and its training grant from NIGMS, now in its 28th year. From 1984 to 1990, as Dean of Biology, he led reform of the introductory biology courses and was Program Director of Brown's grant for Undergraduate Biology from HHMI. From 1990-1995, he served as Provost, a role which involved him in all institutional issues regarding science, mathematics and engineering education, including facilities planning. He returned to faculty duties until he retired in 1997. Since retirement he has been active with the Progeria Research Foundation in research, and with Project Kaleidoscope on undergraduate science education.