Bruce Alberts, PhD
Professor Emeritus
Biochemistry and Biophysics
School of Medicine

Alberts is now the Chancellor’s Leadership Chair in Biochemistry and Biophysics for Science and Education at the University of California, San Francisco, to which he returned after serving two six-year terms as the president of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS).

During his tenure at the NAS, Alberts was instrumental in developing the landmark National Science Education standards that have been implemented in school systems nationwide. The type of “science as inquiry” teaching we need, says Alberts, emphasizes “logical, hands-on problem solving, and it insists on having evidence for claims that can be confirmed by others. It requires work in cooperative groups, where those with different types of talents can discover them – developing self confidence and an ability to communicate effectively with others.”

Alberts is also noted as one of the original authors of The Molecular Biology of the Cell, a preeminent textbook in the field soon to be in its sixth edition. For the period 2000 to 2009, he served as the co-chair of the InterAcademy Council, a new organization in Amsterdam governed by the presidents of 15 national academies of sciences and established to provide scientific advice to the world.

Committed in his international work to the promotion of the “creativity, openness and tolerance that are inherent to science,” Alberts believes that “scientists all around the world must now band together to help create more rational, scientifically-based societies that find dogmatism intolerable.”

Widely recognized for his work in the fields of biochemistry and molecular biology, Alberts has earned many honors and awards, including 16 honorary degrees. He currently serves on the advisory boards of more than 25 non-profit institutions, including the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.

• Concrete steps to diversify the scientific workforce.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2021 Tilghman S, Alberts B, Colón-Ramos D, Dzirasa K, Kimble J, Varmus H
• Two threats to U.S. science.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2019 Alberts B, Narayanamurti V
• In vitro reconstitution of DNA replication initiated by genetic recombination: a T4 bacteriophage model for a type of DNA synthesis important for all cells.
  Molecular biology of the cell 2018 Barry J, Wong ML, Alberts B
• Improving support for young biomedical scientists.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2018 Alberts B, Hyman T, Pickett CL, Tilghman S, Varmus H
• Science for state legislatures.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2018 Maxon ME, Alberts B
• Opinion: How to bring science and technology expertise to state governments.
  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2018 Alberts B, Gold BD, Martin LL, Maxon ME
• Science for life.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2017 Alberts B
• Ensuring an Innovative and Productive Future for the Next Generation of Scientists: The 2016 Lasker-Koshland Special Achievement Award in Medical Science.
  JAMA 2016 Alberts B
• An Addiction to Education at All Levels.
  Cell 2016 Alberts B
• Publishing confirming and non-confirming data.
  F1000Research 2016 Alberts B, Kamb A
• Empowering great teachers.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2016 Alberts B
• SCIENTIFIC INTEGRITY. Self-correction in science at work.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2015 Alberts B, Cicerone RJ, Fienberg SE, Kamb A, McNutt M, Nerem RM, Schekman R, Shiffrin R, Stodden V, Suresh S, Zuber MT, Pope BK, Jamieson KH
• Opinion: Addressing systemic problems in the biomedical research enterprise.
  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2015 Alberts B, Kirschner MW, Tilghman S, Varmus H
• PAUL MEAD DOTY, 1 JUNE 1920 - 5 DECEMBER 2011.
  Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society 2014 Alberts B
• Rescuing US biomedical research from its systemic flaws.
  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2014 Alberts B, Kirschner MW, Tilghman S, Varmus H
• Science demystified.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2013 Alberts B, McNutt M
• Standing up for GMOs.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2013 Alberts B, Beachy R, Baulcombe D, Blobel G, Datta S, Fedoroff N, Kennedy D, Khush GS, Peacock J, Rees M, Sharp P
• After 5 years at Science.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2013 Alberts B
• Impact factor distortions.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2013 Alberts B
• On effective leadership.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2013 Alberts B
• Prioritizing science education.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2013 Alberts B
• Am I wrong?
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2013 Alberts B
• Why national science academies?
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2013 Alberts B
• Designing scientific meetings.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2013 Alberts B
• Improving education standards.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2013 Coffey J, Alberts B
• Reflecting on goals for Science.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2013 Alberts B
• The breakthroughs of 2012.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2012 Alberts B
• Mobilizing scientific societies.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2012 Alberts B
• Failure of skin-deep learning.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2012 Alberts B
• Thriving on common ground.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2012 Alberts B
• The end of "small science"?
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2012 Alberts B
• Planning career paths for Ph.D.s.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2012 Austin J, Alberts B
• H5N1. Introduction.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2012 Alberts B
• Scientist citizen: an interview with Bruce Alberts.
  PLoS genetics 2012 Alberts B
• Creativity at the interface.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2012 Alberts B
• Teaching real science.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2012 Alberts B
• Trivializing science education.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2012 Alberts B
• Voices of the next generation.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2012 Alberts B
• Retraction.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2011 Alberts B
• Science breakthroughs.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2011 Alberts B
• Science adapters wanted.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2011 Alberts B
• Editorial expression of concern.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2011 Alberts B
• Editorial expression of concern.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2011 Alberts B
• Turkey and science academies.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2011 Alberts B
• A grand challenge in biology.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2011 Alberts B
• Getting education right.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2011 Alberts B
• Editorial expression of concern.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2011 Alberts B
• Editor's note.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2011 Alberts B
• Editor's Note.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2011 Alberts B
• The new Egypt.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2011 Alberts B
• The Young Academy movement.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2011 Alberts B
• The challenge of cancer.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2011 Alberts B
• Making data maximally available.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2011 Hanson B, Sugden A, Alberts B
• Lessons from genomics.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2011 Alberts B
• A new college Science prize.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2011 Alberts B
• Model organisms and human health.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2010 Alberts B
• Is the frontier really endless?
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2010 Alberts B
• Policy-making needs science.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2010 Alberts B
• Cell biology: the endless frontier.
  Molecular biology of the cell 2010 Alberts B
• Editorial expression of concern.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2010 Alberts B
• Driving U.S. energy leadership.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2010 Alberts B
• An education that inspires.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2010 Alberts B
• Overbuilding research capacity.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2010 Alberts B
• Reframing science standards.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2010 Alberts B
• Prioritizing science education.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2010 Alberts B
• Science education web sites.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2010 Alberts B
• Promoting scientific standards.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2010 Alberts B
• The breakthroughs of 2009.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2009 Alberts B
• Editorial expression of concern.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2009 Alberts B
• On incentives for innovation.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2009 Alberts B
• On becoming a scientist.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2009 Alberts B
• The art of translation.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2009 Alberts B
• Understanding human origins.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2009 Alberts B
• Redefining cancer research.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2009 Alberts B
• Open access: the sooner the better.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2009 Alberts B
• Retraction.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2009 Alberts B
• Science for science.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2009 Alberts B
• Redefining science education.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2009 Alberts B
• Making a science of education.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2009 Alberts B
• Celebrating a year of Science.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2008 Alberts B
• A scientific approach to policy.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2008 Alberts B
• Bruce Alberts: Education, education, education. [Interview by Ruth Williams].
  The Journal of cell biology 2008 Alberts B
• Scientific publishing standards.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2008 Alberts B
• Reviewing peer review.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2008 Alberts B, Hanson B, Kelner KL
• New career paths for scientists.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2008 Alberts B
• Hybrid vigor in science.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2008 Alberts B
• The promise of cancer research.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2008 Alberts B
• Shortcuts to medical progress?
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2008 Alberts B
• Considering science education.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2008 Alberts B
• A new Editor-in-Chief.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2008 Alberts B
• Editorial expression of concern.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2008 Kennedy D, Alberts B
• Obituary: Daniel Koshland (1920-2007).
  Nature 2007 Alberts B
• Evaluating education effectiveness.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2006 Alberts B
• A wakeup call for science faculty.
  Cell 2005 Alberts B
• Modeling attacks on the food supply.
  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2005 Alberts B
• Election to the National Academy of Sciences: Pathways to membership.
  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2005 Alberts B
• Attention, class: a departing NAS president speaks his mind. Interview by Jeffrey Mervis.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2005 Alberts B
• A wake-up call.
  Nature 2004 Alberts B
• Discovery of antivirals against smallpox.
  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2004 Harrison SC, Alberts B, Ehrenfeld E, Enquist L, Fineberg H, McKnight SL, Moss B, O'Donnell M, Ploegh H, Schmid SL, Walter KP, Theriot J
• Harnessing new science is vital for biodefense and global health.
  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2004 Alberts B, Fineberg HV
• From the National Academies: teaching the science of evolution.
  Cell biology education 2004 Alberts B, Labov JB
• Bio2010 misinterpreted?
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2003 Alberts B
• Walter Kauzmann's contributions to the future of science: a personal recollection.
  Biophysical chemistry 2003 Alberts B
• DNA replication and recombination.
  Nature 2003 Alberts B
• Scientist support for biological weapons controls.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2002 Alberts B, May RM
• Genetics. Please don't call it cloning!
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2002 Vogelstein B, Alberts B, Shine K
• From the National Academies.
  Cell biology education 2002 Alberts B, National Academies