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Nobel Award Winners from WashU
Several Nobel Prize winners have an association with WashU.
Further biographical information about these distinguished persons is linked with each name below. Names marked with an * indicates the individual did a significant portion of award-winning work while at WashU. As of October 10, 2022, there are total of 26 people associated with Washington University who have received a Nobel Prize. (See note at bottom of page for further information)
Four Washington University Nobel Prize winners.
From left: Dr. Carl Cori, Dr. Joseph Erlanger, Dr. Gerty Cori, Dr. Arthur Holly Compton (photo by Herb Weitman)
More information about the Prize and past winners can be found at the web site of the Nobel Foundation or by consulting the materials listed under "Additional Resources" on this page.
Chemistry
- 1970: Luis F. Leloir, MDFaculty of Medicine, 1944
- 1980: Paul Berg, MD.Faculty of Medicine 1954-1959
- 2012: Brian K. Kobilka, M.D.Medical Resident at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine, 1981-84
Economic Science
- 2022: Philip H. DybvigFaculty of Olin Business School, 1990-
Literature
- 1948: T.S. EliotT.S. (Thomas Stearns) Eliot (1888-1965), a native of St. Louis and grandson of the co-founder of Washington University - William Greenleaf Eliot, earned a diploma in 1905 from Smith Academy, the boys college preparatory division of Washington University. Eliot earned a bachelors degree from Harvard University in 1909 and a masters degree from Harvard in 1910.
Physics
- *1927: Arthur H. ComptonFaculty of Arts and Sciences 1920-1923 and 1945-1962, Chancellor 1945-1953
Physiology or Medicine
- 1959: Severo OchoaFaculty of Medicine 1940-1942
- 1971: Earl Sutherland, M.D.School of Medicine graduate 1942, Resident in Internal Medicine 1943-1945, Faculty of Medicine, 1945-1953
- 1974: Christian de DuveFaculty of Medicine 1946-1947
- 1978: Hamilton O. SmithWashington University Medical Service 1956-1957
- 1980: George D. SnellFaculty of Arts & Sciences 1933-1934
- 1986: *Rita Levi-MontalciniFaculty of Arts & Sciences, 1948-1977
- 1992: Edwin G. KrebsM.D., School of Medicine 1943, Resident in Internal Medicine and Research Fellow in Biological Chemistry 1945-1948
- 1998: Robert F. Furchgott, Ph.DFaculty of Medicine, 1949-1956; honorary degree recipient 2001
- 2020: *Charles M. Rice, Ph.D.Faculty of Medicine 1986-2001
Books and additional resources
- Nobel Foundation Web Site
More information on the Nobel Prize and past winners can be found at the web site of the Nobel Foundation.
Bringing Distinction: Nobel Prize Laureates & Washington University in St. Louis by Call Number: full-text onlinePublication Date: Summer 2003
The Who's Who of Nobel Prize Winners, 1901-2000 by Call Number: AS911.N9 W53 2002 (West Campus)ISBN: 1573564141Publication Date: 2001
Nobel Prize Women in Science by Call Number: Q141 .M358 1998 (Olin)ISBN: 0806520256Publication Date: 1998
Note: official number awardees at WashU
The official number of Nobel Prize winners who were either faculty or graduates of Washington University is 26. While Thomas Stearns (T.S.) Eliot did graduate from the WashU-run preparatory school, Smith Academy, when reporting official statistics of the University he is not counted, since this was a high school diploma.