William Dale Phillips
Encyclopedia
William Dale Phillips was a chemist, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopist, federal science policy advisor and member of the National Academy of Sciences
. He was born October 10, 1925, in Kansas City
, Missouri
and died in St. Louis, Missouri, on December 15, 1993.
program in 1943. He studied mechanical engineering at the University of Texas, was commissioned, and left active duty in 1946. Phillips completed a Bachelors degree in chemistry in 1948 at the University of Kansas
and obtained a PhD in physical chemistry
at MIT under the direction of Richard C. Lord
studying the vibrational spectra of organic molecules.
. He held positions starting with Research Chemist, rising to Research Supervisor, Manager and Assistant and Associate Director. Phillips began to explore the nascent field of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR
). His initial interest was in molecular motion in organic systems. Together with Earl Muetterties
, he also explored molecular dynamics in inorganic systems. DuPont's strength in organofluorine chemistry and cyanocarbon chemistry led to investigation of those systems. His work on paramagnetic molecules was the foundation of modern paramagnetic shift reagents and MRI imaging.
Phillips' interests then turned toward the biological. His particular interests were ferredoxins, and lysozyme
. He also had a strong interest in the NMR and ESR of nucleic acids and other biological macromlecules.
To further his understanding of biochemistry, he took a DuPont Industrial Postdoctoral in 1962 to go to MIT in biochemistry. In 1973 he was on assignment from DuPont to ICI
as liaison to their program to produce protein for animal feed from methane
through fermentation
microbiology
. Retiring from DuPont Central Research
in 1978, Phillips assumed the positions of Chair and Charles Allen Thomas Professor of Chemistry at Washington University.
In 1984 he joined Mallinckrodt
, Inc. as Senior Vice-President for research and development. He accepted a role on the Bush
administration’s Science Advisory Board. He chaired the National Critical Technologies Panel thru the National Academy of Sciences
. He served on the editorial boards of several scientific journals and on the boards of directors of Mallinckrodt
, Sigma-Aldrich
, the Missouri Corporation for Science and Technology, the St. Louis Science Center
, the St. Louis Technology Center, and Celgene Corporation.
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
. He was born October 10, 1925, in Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
and died in St. Louis, Missouri, on December 15, 1993.
Training
Phillips graduated from public high school and immediately entered the U.S. Navy V-12V-12 Navy College Training Program
The V-12 Navy College Training Program was designed to supplement the force of commissioned officers in the United States Navy during World War II...
program in 1943. He studied mechanical engineering at the University of Texas, was commissioned, and left active duty in 1946. Phillips completed a Bachelors degree in chemistry in 1948 at the University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
and obtained a PhD in physical chemistry
Physical chemistry
Physical chemistry is the study of macroscopic, atomic, subatomic, and particulate phenomena in chemical systems in terms of physical laws and concepts...
at MIT under the direction of Richard C. Lord
Richard c. lord
Professor Richard Collins Lord was born in Louisville, Kentucky. He received the Ph.D. degree in physical chemistry from Johns Hopkins University in 1936...
studying the vibrational spectra of organic molecules.
Career
In 1951, Phillips joined DuPont Central ResearchDuPont Central Research
In 1957, the research organization of the Chemicals Department of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company was renamed Central Research Department, beginning the history of the premier scientific organization within DuPont and one of the foremost industrial laboratories devoted to basic science...
. He held positions starting with Research Chemist, rising to Research Supervisor, Manager and Assistant and Associate Director. Phillips began to explore the nascent field of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR
NMR
NMR may refer to:Applications of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance:* Nuclear magnetic resonance* NMR spectroscopy* Solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance* Protein nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy* Proton NMR* Carbon-13 NMR...
). His initial interest was in molecular motion in organic systems. Together with Earl Muetterties
Earl Muetterties
Earl Muetterties , was an American inorganic chemist born in Illinois, who is known for his experimental work with boranes, homogeneous catalysis, heterogeneous catalysis, and fluxional processes in organometallic complexes.- Training :...
, he also explored molecular dynamics in inorganic systems. DuPont's strength in organofluorine chemistry and cyanocarbon chemistry led to investigation of those systems. His work on paramagnetic molecules was the foundation of modern paramagnetic shift reagents and MRI imaging.
Phillips' interests then turned toward the biological. His particular interests were ferredoxins, and lysozyme
Lysozyme
Lysozyme, also known as muramidase or N-acetylmuramide glycanhydrolase, are glycoside hydrolases, enzymes that damage bacterial cell walls by catalyzing hydrolysis of 1,4-beta-linkages between N-acetylmuramic acid and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine residues in a peptidoglycan and between...
. He also had a strong interest in the NMR and ESR of nucleic acids and other biological macromlecules.
To further his understanding of biochemistry, he took a DuPont Industrial Postdoctoral in 1962 to go to MIT in biochemistry. In 1973 he was on assignment from DuPont to ICI
Imperial Chemical Industries
Imperial Chemical Industries was a British chemical company, taken over by AkzoNobel, a Dutch conglomerate, one of the largest chemical producers in the world. In its heyday, ICI was the largest manufacturing company in the British Empire, and commonly regarded as a "bellwether of the British...
as liaison to their program to produce protein for animal feed from methane
Methane
Methane is a chemical compound with the chemical formula . It is the simplest alkane, the principal component of natural gas, and probably the most abundant organic compound on earth. The relative abundance of methane makes it an attractive fuel...
through fermentation
Industrial fermentation
Industrial fermentation is the intentional use of fermentation by microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi to make products useful to humans. Fermented products have applications as food as well as in general industry.- Food fermentation :...
microbiology
Microbiology
Microbiology is the study of microorganisms, which are defined as any microscopic organism that comprises either a single cell , cell clusters or no cell at all . This includes eukaryotes, such as fungi and protists, and prokaryotes...
. Retiring from DuPont Central Research
DuPont Central Research
In 1957, the research organization of the Chemicals Department of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company was renamed Central Research Department, beginning the history of the premier scientific organization within DuPont and one of the foremost industrial laboratories devoted to basic science...
in 1978, Phillips assumed the positions of Chair and Charles Allen Thomas Professor of Chemistry at Washington University.
In 1984 he joined Mallinckrodt
Mallinckrodt
Mallinckrodt is a set of pharmaceutical, chemical, imaging, and respiratory equipment suppliers based in the St. Louis, Missouri, area. Founded in 1867 when the Mallinckrodt brothers formed G. Mallinckrodt & Company to manufacture pharmaceutical chemicals, Mallinckrodt was purchased by Tyco...
, Inc. as Senior Vice-President for research and development. He accepted a role on the Bush
George H. W. Bush
George Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...
administration’s Science Advisory Board. He chaired the National Critical Technologies Panel thru the National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
. He served on the editorial boards of several scientific journals and on the boards of directors of Mallinckrodt
Mallinckrodt
Mallinckrodt is a set of pharmaceutical, chemical, imaging, and respiratory equipment suppliers based in the St. Louis, Missouri, area. Founded in 1867 when the Mallinckrodt brothers formed G. Mallinckrodt & Company to manufacture pharmaceutical chemicals, Mallinckrodt was purchased by Tyco...
, Sigma-Aldrich
Sigma-Aldrich
Sigma-Aldrich Corporation , is a life science and high technology company with over 7,600 employees and operations in 40 countries. Its chemical and biochemical products and kits are used in scientific research, biotechnology, pharmaceutical development, the diagnosis of disease, and as key...
, the Missouri Corporation for Science and Technology, the St. Louis Science Center
St. Louis Science Center
The Saint Louis Science Center is a collection of buildings including a science museum and planetarium in St. Louis, Missouri, on the southeastern corner of Forest Park. The Planetarium opened in 1963, and it was expanded and renamed as the Saint Louis Science Center in 1983...
, the St. Louis Technology Center, and Celgene Corporation.