Israelachvili, Jacob Nissim (1944 - 2018)

Summary

Jacob Israelachvili was a chemical engineer and physicist who developed original and ground-breaking techniques for measuring intermolecular forces. This led to the discovery and elucidation of fundamental molecular interactions in complex colloidal and biological systems and at interfaces; and to applications such as the creation of biocompatible surfaces, development of new types of structured materials and soft biomaterials, and diagnosis of pathological membranes and tissues. He was the inventor of the Surforce measuring device. In 1986, after 12 years at the Institute of Advanced Studies, Australian National University, Israelachvili was appointed Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley

Details

Chronology

1962 - 1965

Career position - National Service in Israel

1962 - 1965

Education - Bachelor of Arts (BA), Christ's College, University of Cambridge, UK

1968 - 1971

Education - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Cambridge

1971 - 1972

Career position - Postdoctoral Researcher at the Surface Physics Laboratory, University of Cambridge (eleven months)

1972 - 1974

Career position - European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) Research Fellow at the Biophysics Institute, University of Stockholm and at the Karolinska Institute, Sweden

1974 - 1977

Career position - Research Fellow then Fellow in the Research School of Physical Science and the Research School of Biological Sciences at the Institute of Advanced Studies, Australian National University in Canberra

1977

Award - Pawsey Medal, Australian Academy of Science

1977 - 1986

Career position - Senior Fellow then Professorial Fellow in the Department of Applied Mathematics and Department of Neurobiology at the Institute of Advanced Studies, Australian National University in Canberra

1982 - 1986

Career position - Councillor of the International Association of Colloid and Interface Scientists

1982 - 2018

Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Science (FAA)

1983

Award - David Syme Research Prize, University of Melbourne

1984 - 1985

Career position - Head of the Department of Applied Mathematics at the Research School of Physical Sciences at the Institute of Advanced Studies

1986

Award - Matthew Flinders Medal and Lecture, Australian Academy of Science

1986 - 1988

Career position - Vice-President of the International Association of Colloid and Interface Scientists

1986 - 2017

Career position - Professor of Chemical Engineering in the Materials Department in the Materials Research Laboratory (MRL), and in the Biomolecular Science and Engineering (BMSE) Program, University of California, Berkeley, USA

1988 -

Award - Fellow, The Royal Society, London (FRS)

1991

Award - Alpha Chi Sigma Award, American Institute of Chemical Engineers

1993

Career position - Associate Director of the Materials Research Laboratory (MRL), University of California

1996 -

Career position - Foreign Associate of the US National Academy of Engineering (NAE)

2004 - 2018

Career position - Member, National Academy of Sciences, U.S.A.

Related entries

Published resources

Journal Articles

• Anon, 'Professor Emeritus Jacob Israelachvili FAA FRS NAE NAS 19 August 1944 to 20 September 2018', Australian Academy of Science newsletter, 121 (2018), 12-3. Details

Resources

• 'Israelachvili, Jacob Nissim (19440819-)', Trove, National Library of Australia, 2009, https://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1476333. Details