My family moved to a small town in Florida (Mount Dora) in 1948, when I was 6 years old. I was educated in the local school where my parents taught.
My undergraduate B.A. degree was from Florida State University (Class of 1964), in bacteriology and chemistry, and my PhD degree was from the University of Chicago (1969) in microbiology. After postdoctoral training in immunology at Rockefeller University, I served on the faculty of the University of Chicago from 1973-1987. In 1986 I was invited to chair the Department of Microbiology-Immunology at the Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University. I served in this position until 2004, and then retired as faculty member and closed my laboratory in 2009.
My research was focused on studies of herpesvirus entry into cells, including identification of cell surface receptors for viral entry, investigation of the roles of multiple receptors in targeting the virus to critical cell types in disease (skin cells, nerve cells and cells of the immune system) and the mechanism of viral entry. I was affiliated with the Lurie Cancer Center, the Immunobiology Center and the Northwestern University Institute for Neuroscience.
In recognition of research achievements, I was elected to the American Academy of Microbiology, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the National Academy of Sciences. I am past president of the American Society for Virology and was elected to several positions in the American Society for Microbiology, including the Board of Governors of the American Academy of Microbiology.
I remained in Chicago for 5 years after retiring, performing volunteer work for the Feinberg School, including leadership of a couple of key search committees and of a task force on status of basic science research at the medical school.
In 2014, I moved back to my home town in Florida, where my sister and brother also live, at least part of each year. I am enjoying retirement and the opportunities to engage in various activities, including environmental advocacy.
p-spear@northwestern.edu