Dr. Herman Lichstein

Dr. Herman Lichstein

Dr. Herman Lichstein was born January 14, 1918 in New York City. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from NYU in 1939, a Master of Science in Public Health from the University of Michigan in 1940, and a Doctor of Science in Bacteriology in 1943 from the University of Michigan. Dr. Lichstein began his professional career as an Instructor at the University of Wisconsin (1943-1946), moved to the University of Tennessee (1947-1950), then to the University of Minnesota as a Professor from 1950 to 1961. He was then recruited to the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine as Chair of the Department of Microbiology, where he served as chair until 1978. He remained on the faculty after retirement – serving as friend and advisor to both faculty and students. Dr. Lichstein was given emeritus status at UC in 1984.

In 1987 Dr. Jerome Birnbaum, a former student of Dr. Lichstein’s, and Merck, Sharpe & Dohme laboratories endowed a Distinguished Lectureship for individuals with an international reputation for excellence in microbiology, microbial physiology, biochemistry and/or genetics. Dr. Lichstein studied how vitamins B6 and biotin function in biological systems and utilized bacteria as models for the functioning of higher organisms. He published over 130 papers, reviews and books and held offices in several national societies, including service on the editorial board of the Journal of Bacteriology and as chair of the Board of Governors of the American Academy of Microbiology.

He transformed the microbiology department at UC College of Medicine into a nationally recognized department for the study of microbiology. 

Dr. Lichstein passed away in 1995.

Generous sponsorship is provided by Herman Lichstein Endowment and through a gift from Drs. Judith Heiny and Piotr Chomczynski. We look forward to celebrating the Cryo-EM center and kickstarting this new structural biology initiative as part of Research2030 – UC’s 10-year strategic research plan.