Martin Gibbs

Martin Gibbs (November 11, 1922 – July 24, 2006) was an American biochemist and educator who worked in the field of carbon metabolism. The Martin Gibbs Medal, an award honoring individuals in plant sciences, is named in his honor.

Career
Gibbs was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and educated at the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy. He obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois in 1947. Gibbs went on to work as a scientist at the Brookhaven National Laboratory that same year.

In 1957, he returned to academia as professor of biochemistry at Cornell University. In 1962, in the midst of his research, he accepted the role as editor-in-chief of Plant Physiology. As editor he focused his strong inclination toward biochemistry on journal manuscripts and was able to significantly grow the journal. He eventually moved on to Brandeis University becoming the Abraham S. and Gertrude Berg Professor of Biology and served as chair of the Department of Biology for three years.

In 1993, the Martin Gibbs Medal, awarded to those who have provided significant contributions in the field of plant sciences, was created by the American Society of Plant Biologists to honor his retirement.

Career related

 * Consultant National Science Foundation, 1961–64, 1969–1972
 * National Institutes of Health, 1966–69
 * Cosmos Club, 1984
 * Marine Biological Laboratory, 1970
 * RESA lecturer, 1969
 * NATO consultant fellowship board, 1968–70
 * Council International Exchange of Scholars, 1976–82
 * Chairman of selection committee, Fulbright Scholars for Eastern Europe
 * Adjunct professor Botanical Institute, University Munster, Federal Republic of Germany, 1978, 1980, 1987
 * Adjunct professor department botany University California, Riverside, 1979-1989.

Author

 * Structure and Function of Chloroplasts, 1970
 * Crop Productivity-Research Imperatives, 1975
 * Crassulacean Acid Metabolism, 1982
 * Crassulacean Acid Biosynthesis and Function of Plant Lipids, 1983
 * Crop Productivity-Research Imperative, Revisited, 1985
 * Hungarian-USA Binational Symposium on Photosynthesis, 1986

Editor-in-chief

 * Plant Physiology, 1963—92

Associate editor

 * Physiologie Vegetale, 1966—1976
 * Annual Review of Plant Physiology, 1966—1971

Awards

 * Recipient Charles Reid Barnes award, 1984
 * Alexander von Humboldt Fellow, 1987
 * Adolph E. Gude award, 1993
 * Martin Gibbs medal, 1993
 * University Illinois Achievement award, 1996
 * Bulgarian Academy Sciences gold medal
 * Recognized as a Pioneer Member of the American Society of Plant Biologists.