Selman Abraham Waksman

A Ukrainian-born scientist, Selman Waksman was a professor of microbiology as well as the head the department at Rutgers University, and researched microorganisms in soil, plant and animal waste decomposition, role of bacteria in the ocean, and more. “He was invited to organize a division of Marine Bacteriology at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in 1931; he was also appointed marine bacteriologist at the same institution, where he served until 1942. He was then elected as a Trustee, and later a Life Trustee.” He also isolated many antibiotics, including streptomycin, for which he received the Nobel Prize in 1952.