List of famous computer scientists

Computer scientists specialize in the scientific study of computation and computer technology, hardware and software. They work in the field of computer science, i.e. the study of the theoretical and practical aspects of computing and computers. Computer scientists work alongside with other research professionals like computer programmers, information technology specialists, electrical engineers, etc. in order to develop new computer technology and design hardware and software. Their research helps to improve the performance of existing computer systems. The field of theoretical computer science deals with the theory of computation and other topics focused on logical, mathematical and abstract aspects of computing. Applied computer science, on the other hand, deals with issues like Artificial Intelligence, computer graphics, and computer security which can be put to practical use in real-life situations. Computer scientists may work in software development that involves designing of games, search engines, operating systems and web browsers. Those who work on computer hardware are dedicated to the development of higher processing speed. Some computer scientists work with engineers to design robotics that are used in the manufacturing sector. These professionals also teach in universities or work with government agencies. What follows is a collection of the biographies, timelines, trivia and other information about the professional and personal lives of some of the world’s most famous computer scientists.

Alan Kay
Alan Curtis Kay is an American computer scientist best known for his pioneering work on object-oriented programming and windowing graphical user ...

Judea Pearl
Judea Pearl is a noted computer scientist and philosopher, who gained international reputation for his work in the field of artificial ...

Tim Berners-Lee
Sir Tim Berners-Lee is a British computer scientist who invented what is undoubtedly one of the most revolutionary inventions of the 20th ...

List of famous biochemists

Biochemists study the structure, composition, chemical processes and chemical reactions in living organisms. They analyze the chemical reactions in the cells and tissues of living things, study the expression of genes, and research on the effects of food, medicine and other substances on living tissues. Biochemistry is an interdisciplinary field and encompasses elements of molecular biology, molecular genetics, microbiology, and organic and inorganic chemistry. Pure research in biochemistry is conducted to further human knowledge of the subject while applied research is conducted to solve practical problems. The work of biochemists is applicable to a variety of fields like medicine, food science, agriculture and industry. In human and veterinary medicine, biochemists analyze drug function and mechanism, and help in the development of new drugs. Biochemists engaged in agriculture and food science determine the chemical composition of foods to explore different sources of nutritious food, and study the effects of herbicides and other chemicals on crop plants. They use advanced tools and techniques like radioactive isotopes, spectrophotometers, centrifuges, electron microscopes and specialized software to perform experiments. Browse this section to explore about the life and works of various famous biochemists from all over the world.

Charles Best
Charles Herbert Best was an American-Canadian scientist who is remembered as the co-discoverer of insulin, one of the most important milestones ...

Har Gobind Khorana
The man who formed a part of the team which successfully deciphered the genetic code—the mother of all codes—Har Gobind Khorana was an ...

Isaac Asimov
Isaac Asimov is best known as the most successful writer of science fiction and popular science books. Asimov opened the doors for the new age ...

Linus Pauling
One of the greatest scientists of the 20th century and the most influential chemist in history, Linus Pauling is the only person to have been ...

Louis Pasteur
Pasteurization (a process of toning and treating milk free of damage causing microbes) is the most common reference to the great chemist and ...

List of famous chemists

Chemists are the scientists who specialize in the field of chemistry. They investigate the chemical nature of substances and how they behave under different conditions to search for new knowledge. Compounds, both organic and inorganic, are examined to determine their chemical and physical properties, composition, structure, and reactivity. Chemists try to decode the details of the chemical molecules and their component atoms. The knowledge gained through research is used to understand the composition and properties of unknown substances, and is used in practical applications in industries. Since chemicals play a vital role in virtually all types of industries, chemists are employed in various industrial establishments, especially those dealing in plastics, medicines, pharmaceuticals, and chemical industries. They also work in research and in university teaching positions. Newer discoveries and findings in the field of chemistry lead to the development of better products, processes and analytical methods. Chemistry is a vast field divided into several overlapping sub-branches: analytical chemistry, biochemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, etc. Chemists primarily work in laboratories and use a variety of techniques in their research like spectroscopy, chromatography, and spectrophotometry. Read on to discover about the life and works of various famous chemists, through their biographies and timelines, from all over the world.

Ada Yonath
Ada Yonath is one of the most revered global scientific personalities, who dedicated her life towards the study of the structure of ribosome. ...

Alfred Nobel
Alfred Bernhard Nobel was a Swedish inventor, engineer and industrialist who had obtained a total of 355 patents in his lifetime. He was most ...

Dan Shechtman
Dan Shechtman is an Israeli scientist, who was bestowed with the highly-esteemed Nobel Prize for his discovery of quasiperiodic crystals. Born ...

John Cornforth
Sir John Warcup Cornforth Jr. was an Australian-British chemist who won the 1975 Nobel Prize in Chemistry along with Vladimir Prelog. He was ...

Linus Pauling
One of the greatest scientists of the 20th century and the most influential chemist in history, Linus Pauling is the only person to have been ...

Louis Pasteur
Pasteurization (a process of toning and treating milk free of damage causing microbes) is the most common reference to the great chemist and ...

Marie Curie
Marie Curie has a number of ‘firsts’ and ‘only’ to her credit – she was the first woman ever to win a Nobel Prize, the first female ...

Michael Faraday
Michael Faraday was one of the most prolific scientists of the 19th century. A British physicist and chemist, Faraday is best known for his ...

Robert Boyle
Robert Boyle was an Anglo-Irish natural philosopher, chemist and physicist. As one of the early pioneers of modern experimental scientific ...

Shanti Swaroop Bhatnagar...
Shanti Swaroop Bhatnagar was an Indian scientist, famously dubbed as the ‘Father of research laboratories’. He was the first ...

List of famous virologists

Virologists study the structure, classification, and evolution of viruses, and analyze how they infect host cells and cause disease. Viruses are submicroscopic parasitic particles that exploit host cells to reproduce quickly. Virology is a field of microbiology. Virologists classify the viruses either according to the host cell they infect (animal viruses, plant viruses) or the shape of the virus structure. Studying viruses is of immense significance to the field of medicine as they cause several dangerous diseases like hepatitis, AIDS, influenza and even some types of cancer. Virologists work alongside with medical professionals to determine how some viruses cause diseases and how these can be prevented or treated. Their research is instrumental in the development of vaccines and drugs. , Even though viruses are primarily known to be disease causing, some viruses are being used as gene vectors in gene therapy to treat genetic disorders. Virologists the world over are engaged in research to find more uses for viruses in the medical field. Virologists use highly sophisticated tools and techniques like electron microscopy, X-ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy for their research. Virologists primarily work in laboratories and are required to take precautionary measures to protect them from harmful viruses during the course of their work. Browse this section to explore about the life and works of various famous virologists from all over the world.

Frank Fenner
Australian scientist Frank John Fenner is one of the most distinguished names in the field of virology across the globe. Bestowed with several ...

List of famous physiologists

Physiologists study the functions of living organisms. Physiology is the science of understanding the mechanical, physical and biochemical functioning in a living system. The organs, organ systems, cells, and bio-chemical molecules that constitute the living organism are analyzed to understand the physical and chemical functions that take place within the organism. The field of physiology is closely related to anatomy and the two sciences are often studied in tandem. Physiologists conduct research on the organ system and cellular structure of animals and plants. They study processes like respiration, growth, movement, digestion, reproduction, excretion and other functions of living organisms under different conditions. They determine the effects of external environmental factors like presence of pollutants and carcinogens on their life processes and functions. Physiologists may work in hospitals and help in the development of new and improved treatment regimes for patients. One very popular job option is that of exercise physiologist. They study how the body responds to training and exercises and help athletes and sports people to follow a scientifically designed food and exercise schedule. Physiologists may specialize in human physiology, animal physiology, plant physiology, or the sub-branches under any of these fields. This section gives you information about the life and works of various famous physiologists from all over the world.

Charles Best
Charles Herbert Best was an American-Canadian scientist who is remembered as the co-discoverer of insulin, one of the most important milestones ...

List of famous pharmacologists

Pharmacologists are researchers who study the composition, properties, usage and toxicology of drugs, and analyze how the drugs interact with biological systems. The main aim of undertaking research pharmacology is to understand how drugs work and how they can be safely utilized for maximum efficiency. Pharmacologists study the drug design, its molecular and cellular mechanisms, and chemical biology. The two main branches of pharmacology are pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Pharmacokinetics focuses on how the body affects the drug after administration and what chemical changes happen to the substances in the drug after it enters the body. Pharmacodynamics is the study of the effects of the drugs on the body and on the microorganisms present in the body. It analyses the relationship between drug action and effect. Pharmacologists undertake two main types of research: in vitro research that involves using cells or animal tissue, and in vivo research that uses whole animals to predict the effects of specific drugs on human beings. Areas of specialization in this field include clinical pharmacology, neuropharmacology, and regulatory pharmacology. Read on to browse through a list of world famous pharmacologists and read their biographies and timelines.

Howard Florey
Though Sir Alexander Fleming is credited with the discovery of a mould which developed on some germ culture plates, had it not been for Sir ...

List of famous pathologists

Pathologists are medical doctors who specialize in the diagnosis of diseases. They examine tissues, analyze laboratory results and interpret them to provide an accurate and early diagnosis of various diseases. By using a variety of investigative techniques, they identity sources of diseases and facilitate the patient’s treatment. Pathologists also conduct autopsies to determine the cause of death. . Pathology is an interdisciplinary field that encompasses elements of sciences like anatomy, pharmacology, biochemistry, physiology and microbiology. They work in a number of fields. A clinical pathologist supervises the laboratory tests conducted on bodily fluids and works together with clinical lab technicians to ensure that blood and blood fluids meant for usage during surgeries are safe from microorganisms. An anatomic pathologist examines tissues removed during biopsies or surgeries to provide a diagnosis on the disease. The early detection of diseases by the pathologists facilitates timely treatment of the patients. In forensic pathology, pathologists examine a corpse to determine the cause of death. They assist law enforcement officers in investigation of deaths under mysterious conditions, and also help to pinpoint undetermined causes of natural death. Some pathologists may work in research and teach in universities. Read on to browse through a list of world famous pathologosts and read their biographies and timelines.

Howard Florey
Though Sir Alexander Fleming is credited with the discovery of a mould which developed on some germ culture plates, had it not been for Sir ...

Robin Warren
Australian pathologist and Nobel Laureate, Robin Warren, needs no introduction. He won the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 2005 for the discovery of ...

List of famous paleontologists

Paleontologists study the fossils of plants, animals and other organisms in order to understand the forms of life that existed during the prehistoric or geologic times. The work of paleontologists throws light on the earth’s history: catastrophic events, geologic composition, and climate changes. Paleontology is a field intimately related to a number of other sciences like geology, biology, archeology, biochemistry, mathematics, and anatomy among others. Some paleontologists may work on field on sites locating fossil beds and excavating remains. Even though this is an important part of their work, most of the times paleontologists do not have to visit the fossil sites themselves, often specimen discovered by other professionals while working on mining or petroleum sites are sent to the paleontologists for examination. They determine the age of the fossils using sophisticated techniques and observe the features to identify the species. The findings of their research provide vital insight into the earth’s history and evolution of life forms. Paleontologists primarily work in research or in teaching jobs. This section provides you information about the life and works of various famous paleontologists from all over the world.

Stephen Jay Gould
Stephen Jay Gould was a famous paleontologist widely recognized for his contributions to evolutionary theory and history of science. A prolific ...

List of famous neuroscientists

A neuroscientist is a specialist in the study of the brain. Neuroscience is the scientific study of the nervous system that deals with anatomy, physiology and molecular biology of nerves, spinal cord, and nervous tissue. Neuroscience is a very wide field; though considered a part of biology, it is multidisciplinary in nature and encompasses scientific fields like physics and mathematics also. Studying the brain and understanding it’s functioning is critical for many fields as the brain is involved in every endeavour taken up by human beings. Neuroscience in its various forms is applicable to fields like medicine, psychology, engineering, law, and education. The techniques used by neuroscientists includes preparing tissue and cell samples, molecular and cellular studies of individual nerve cells, and imaging of sensory and motor tasks in the brain. Traditional neuroscientists study psychiatric disorders of the brain while others may choose to work for pharmaceutical companies to develop medication for such disorders. Some of the major branches of neuroscience are affective neuroscience, behavioral neuroscience, clinical neuroscience and molecular neuroscience. This collection of biographies, trivia and timelines provides you information about the life and works of various famous neuroscientists from all over the world.

Francis Crick
Francis Harry Compton Crick was an English molecular biologist, biophysicist, and neuroscientist. He is the co-discoverer of the structure of ...

List of famous microbiologists

Microbiologists are the scientists who study microscopic organisms like bacteria, fungi, algae, etc. and their effects on other living organisms. Microbiology, as a separate field of biology focuses on studying the characteristics, growth and development of microorganisms both at the molecular and cellular level. It also involves the study of their ecology and their effects on other living organisms like plants and animals. Microbiologists in the course of their work collect samples from various types of environments like human beings, animal, field locations, etc. and analyze these in the laboratory to identify and monitor the microorganisms present in the samples. Some specializations within this field include bacteriology, immunology, mycology, and phycology. This field of science is closely related with other life sciences like molecular biology and biochemistry. Microbiologists work in a number of fields like medicine, research, and university teaching. They basically work in a laboratory setting and use a variety of tools like microscopes, gas chromatographs, and electrophoresis gels while working with microbes. Their work is also required in industries like pharmaceuticals, food processing, and biotechnology. What follows is a collection of the biographies, timelines, trivia and other information about the professional and personal lives of some of the world’s most famous microbiologists.

Carlo Urbani
Italian epidemiologist Carlo Urbani was the first person who identified SARS as a highly contagious disease. He worked as an infectious disease ...

Francis Crick
Francis Harry Compton Crick was an English molecular biologist, biophysicist, and neuroscientist. He is the co-discoverer of the structure of ...

Louis Pasteur
Pasteurization (a process of toning and treating milk free of damage causing microbes) is the most common reference to the great chemist and ...

List of famous geneticists

Geneticists study genes, heredity, and hereditary transmission. They conduct research on inheritance of genes and how certain characteristics are passed on from one generation to another. They study the origin and transmission of specific inherited traits such as colour of eyes, colour and texture of hair, height, diseases resistance, hereditary diseases, etc. Geneticists need to posses a solid background in sciences like biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics. Their work has application in a variety of fields like academics, medicine, research, agriculture, crime, and industries. Geneticists working in the medical field diagnose hereditary conditions in patients and help them in disease management. They calculate the genetic risk of faulty genes being passed on to potential offsprings, study congenital malformations and conduct mutation analysis. Genetic counselors provide information and advice to families that struggle with hereditary diseases. Agricultural geneticists help in the development of newer varieties of crops that have certain desired characteristics like bigger size of fruits, more nutritive value, seedless fruits, etc. and are more disease resistant than traditional crops. Genetics also has applications in the field of research and development, and university teaching. Read on to discover the life and works of famous geneticists from all over the world through a splendid collection of biographies, timelines and trivia.

Alfred Day Hershey
Alfred Day Hershey was an American bacteriologist and geneticist who won the 1969 Noble Prize in Medicine, which he shared with Max Delbrück ...

Cyril Clarke
Sir Cyril Astley Clarke was a British physicist and scientist known for his pioneering work on prevention of Rh hemolytic disease of the ...

Gregor Mendel
Gregor Mendel, born as Johann Mendel, was an Austrian scientist and monk hailed as the “Father of modern genetics” for his pioneering ...

Norman Borlaug
One of the most prominent biologists of the 20th century, Norman Borlaug is often referred to as “The Man who Saved a Billion Lives” and why ...