Robert Haselkorn

With deep sadness, the Marine Biological Laboratory notes the passing of MBL Trustee Emeritus Robert Haselkorn, 90, on February 10, 2025. A Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus in the Department of Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology at the University of Chicago, Haselkorn made significant contributions to MBL science, education, and governance for more than 50 years. The MBL flag will be lowered in his memory.

Haselkorn first came to MBL as a student in the Physiology course in 1958, while he was completing his PhD in Biochemistry at Harvard University. Three years later, he joined the faculty of the University of Chicago, where his research program focused on the molecular genetics of nitrogen fixation and photosynthesis in cyanobacteria and purple bacteria. He returned to MBL in 1971 as an independent researcher and a staff associate in the Physiology course, and in 1987 he began lecturing or teaching in a number of MBL courses: Cell and Molecular Biology of Plants (1987-88), Marine Ecology (1991), Workshop on Molecular Evolution (1996), and Microbial Diversity (1997, 2006-2010, 2014).

Haselkorn served on the MBL Board of Trustees from 2003-2010 and 2012-2015; in 2015 he received the title of Trustee Emeritus. He was a member of the MBL Society (formerly MBL Corporation) from 1995 to the present year. He played a significant role in establishing the MBL’s Logan Science Journalism Program Endowment in 2004 and the Bay Paul Center Faculty Support Fund. Bob’s far-reaching presence in the MBL community will be missed.

An obituary, provided by his family, is reprinted below.

Robert Haselkorn, Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus in the Department of Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology at the University of Chicago, passed away at home peacefully on February 10, 2025, at age 90. He will be dearly missed by his loving wife of 67 years, Margot, his children Deborah Fine (Larry) of New Rochelle NY, and David Haselkorn (Elizabeth) of Washington DC, his grandchildren Katherine Markiewicz (Graham), Olivia Fine (Christopher), Robert Fine (Daniela), and Sarah Darlington (Michael), and his greatgrandchildren Sterling Markiewicz, Grace Fine, Hazel Markiewicz, and Esther Fine. He was predeceased by his brother Michael Haselkorn.

Bob was born in 1934 in New York City to parents Barney and Mildred Haselkorn. He grew up in Brooklyn and graduated from James Madison High School in 1952. Bob received his AB from Princeton University in 1956, and PhD in biochemistry from Harvard University in 1959. While there, he met Margot Block on a blind date, and they were married in 1957. Bob did his postdoctoral fellowship research in Cambridge, England, at the Agricultural Research Council. There he was influenced and inspired by the work of Crick and Watson and began a lifetime of research and groundbreaking discovery in plant molecular biology that spanned six decades. In 1961 he joined the faculty of the University of Chicago as an assistant professor in the Department of Biophysics. He became an associate professor in 1964, professor in 1967, and later was bestowed the Fanny L. Pritzker Distinguished Service Professorship. Bob held academic appointments in both the Department of Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology, and the Department of Chemistry.

Among his many distinguished scientific honors and achievements, Bob was a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the American Philosophical Society; a recipient of the Gregor Mendel Medal in Biological Science (Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic); and was twice recipient of the University of Chicago’s Quantrell Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching. He retired from the faculty of the University of Chicago in 2009 but continued to maintain an active research laboratory thereafter. For many years, Bob’s research program was focused on studying the molecular genetics of nitrogen fixation and photosynthesis in cyanobacteria and purple bacteria; and also studying genes encoding the enzyme acetyl-CoA carboxylase in plants, parasites, and mammals.

Bob was a visionary in identifying potential applications for his scientific research in industry, population sustainability, and animal and human health. He was co-founder of two biotechnology companies, and scientific advisor to many others. Bob was co-inventor on several patents in the biochemical field.

Bob loved teaching and mentoring. He inspired generations of students at the University of Chicago. He lived for his family and his students and will be greatly missed.

Contributions in Bob’s memory may be made to the National Academies Committee on Human Rights:  https://www.nationalacademies.org/chr