| Administrative History | Kosterlitz spent the winter semester of 1954 (1 September 1953 - 31 January 1954) on a research sabbatical at Harvard University Medical School, where he worked with Professor Otto Krayer, on the effects of preganglionic and postganglionic denervation on the responses of the nictitating membrane and the heart to adrenaline, noradrenaline and other sympathomimetics. He received an honorarium from Harvard in connection with lecturing duties undertaken during this time (his job title was officially 'Visiting Lecturer in Pharmacology'), in addition to a Carnegie Trust grant and a Fulbright travel grant. His wife and son also moved to New York with him. |
| Description | Correspondence with Professor Otto Krayer, Department of Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, principally regarding plans for Kosterlitz's research sabbatical in Harvard, the results of experiments conducted whilst there, preparation of publications and lectures on the same, and follow - up research in Aberdeen, November 1950 - August 1964. Includes detailed discussions of research results and techniques.
The correspondence also contains some interesting references to Kosterlitz's career, including:
His application to the vacant Chair of Physiology in the University of Sydney. In a revealing letter of 21 July 1954, Kosterlitz states 'I feel I have to make an attempt to find something of my own before Professor Cruickshank retires, even if it means uprooting myself again. My colleagues are of the opinion that there would be little doubt I would succeed to the Aberdeen Chair; however, there are so many imponderables in such an appointment that nobody can be sure of the outcome. This is one of two decisions I have arrived at during the last few weeks. The other concerns my research. I no longer have any intention of resuming my work on the liver except perhaps in an advisory capacity. Thus I shall be able to concentrate on the line of work which I started a few years ago and which received quite a fillip during my much too brief stay in your laboratory'.
His unsuccessful application to the Chair of Physiology in Aberdeen (see his letter of 6 November 1957).
His application to a post (probably, a Chair) in Pharmacology in 1959, for which Krayer was acting as a referee and over which he obviously had some misgivings. In his letter of 15 October 1959 Krayer states 'There is no doubt in my mind that though you are not an orthodox pharmacologist, you have a lot to contribute to pharmacology. While I would be willing to act as a referee I have some misgivings because of the previous disappointments you had in the field of physiology and also- and more particularly - because of the appointments in pharmacology which have been made in Britain in recent years. If you have reached the philosophical state in which one more setback will not be detrimental to your scientific activity and productivity you might try so as not to have to reproach yourself for having passed up a possible chance. If, on the other hand, you can foresee that another unsuccessful attempt will be a great blow to you, I doubt the wisdom of entering the competition.'
Other more general topics of discussion include attendance at international conferences and meetings, Krayer's visit to Aberdeen, c 1954/55 and Krayer's Fetschrift (see his letter of 21 August 1964). |