Biography
Erwin Goldberg, PhD., ScD. (Hon) I was born in Waterbury, Conn. and grew up in Endicott, New York. My undergraduate degree in Zoology/Chemistry was received in 1951 from Harpur College, State University of New York. I received a PhD in 1956 from the State University of Iowa with a major in Zoology and a minor in Biochemistry. An Honorary Doctor of Science Degree was awarded by the State University of New York in 2005 and I had the pleasure of giving the commencement address to the Harpur College Graduate School class. My tenure began at Northwestern as an Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences in 1963, followed by promotion to Associate Professor in 1974 and to Professor of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Cell Biology (now Molecular Biosciences) in 1981. I was elevated to Emeritus status in 2012. Over the years, research interests have been in male reproduction with emphasis on enzymes and proteins that appear during mammalian spermatogenesis and that are unique to the spermatozoon. I was credited for pioneering studies in the field of immunocontraception. My original report (Science, 1963) about a sperm enzyme was the first demonstration that there were testis specific isozymes and was a foundation for many later studies on testis gene expression that appeared in my approximately 190 publications. I have a long-term goal to develop a non-hormonal contraceptive method for use by men. I hold memberships in the American Society of Andrology (ASA) for which I served as President 2013-2014. ASA named me Distinguished Andrologist in 2012 for “outstanding contributions in the field”. I have been an active member of the Society for the Study of Reproduction, American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and am a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. I am a Consultant and Reviewer on NIH Study Sections and Special Emphasis Panels, a member of Review Boards for the Alzheimer’s Association; the Lalor Foundation; CONRAD; and member of the College of Reviewers of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. My research was supported by The National Science Foundation (1962-65), by a contract with the contraceptive branch, NICHD (1966-68) and by a research grant from the National Institutes of Health for 36 years, consecutively (1974-2010). My scholarly activities at Northwestern include mentoring 20 PhD students, some of whom have gone on to distinguished careers. I taught almost every Biology course during my tenure at Northwestern including a Freshman Seminar on Science, Pseudoscience and Scientific Hoaxes. Some students liked it, others who need more structure in their lives, didn’t. As a member of the Emeriti class I have continued my scholarly activities, reviewing and writing. My wife, Pauline Bentley, and I live in Northwest Evanston and proudly share 4 sons, 1 daughter and 6 grandchildren (from California to Indiana to Illinois). We have had season tickets for NU basketball and football, and enjoy the emeriti lunches and dinners. My hobbies include handicapping thoroughbred horse racing and playing in occasional Texas Hold’em games with a few NU colleagues.
erv@northwestern.edu