Herbert A. Hauptman

Dr. Hauptman is a world renowned mathematician who pioneered and developed a mathematical method that has changed the whole field of chemistry and opened a new era in research in determination of molecular structures of crystallized materials. Today, Dr. Hauptman's direct methods, which he has continued to improve and refine, are routinely used to solve complicated structures. It was the application of this mathematical method to a wide variety of chemical structures that led the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences to name Dr. Hauptman recipient of the 1985 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

Awards and Titles

In addition to the Nobel Prize, other honors awarded to Dr. Hauptman include election to the National Academy of Sciences in 1988; and receipt of honorary degrees from the University of Maryland in 1985, CCNY in 1986, University of Parma, Italy in 1989, D'Youville College, Buffalo in 1989, Bar-Ilan University, Israel in 1990, Columbia University in 1990, Technical University of Lodz, Poland in 1992 and Queen's University, Kingston, Canada in 1993. Additional honors received include Cooke Award, SUNY, 1987; establishment of the Eccles-Hauptman Student Award, SUNY in 1987; Citizen of the Year Award, Buffalo Evening News, 1986; Norton Medal, SUNY, 1986; Schoellkopf Award, American Chemical Society (Western New York Chapter) 1986; Gold Plate Award, American Academy of Achievement, 1986; the Patterson Award in 1984 given by the American Crystallographic Association ; Scientific Research Society of America, Pure Science Award, Naval Research Laboratory, 1959; Belden Prize in Mathematics, City College of New York, 1936; President, Philosophical Society of Washington, 1969-1970; and President of the Association of Independent Research Institutes, 1979-1980.

Life Work

Prof. Hauptman has authored over 170 publications, including journal articles, research papers, chapters and books. In 1970, Dr. Hauptman joined the crystallographic group of the Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute (formerly the Medical Foundation of Buffalo) of which he became Research Director in 1972. He currently serves as President of the Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute as well as Research Professor in the Department of Biophysical Sciences and Adjunct Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University at Buffalo. Prior to coming to Buffalo, he worked as a mathematician and supervisor in various departments at the Naval Research Laboratory from 1947. He received his B.S. from City College of New York, M.S. from Columbia University and Ph.D. from the University of Maryland.

Further Information

• The Nobel Prize in Chemistry - Laureates: http://nobelprize.org/chemistry/laureates/1985/index.html
• Autobiography: http://nobelprize.org/chemistry/laureates/1985/hauptman-autobio.html
• curriculum vitae: http://www.hwi.buffalo.edu/personnel/Scientist/Hauptman/Hauptman.html