ABOVE: © PAUL FETTERS
Purnell Choppin, whose work was integral to understanding viral mechanics, died on July 3, just one day shy of his 92nd birthday, of prostate cancer. He was a founding member of the American Society for Virology and is best known for his time as president of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), which he shaped into one of the world’s largest scientific philanthropic organizations.
Choppin was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 1929. He stayed local for his education, graduating from Louisiana State University in 1949 and earning his medical degree there in 1953. The following year, he joined the United States Air Force and served as a medical officer. Bookending his service, he completed an internship and residency at hospitals in St. Louis, Missouri.
Switching from medical practice to research, Choppin joined the Rockefeller University in 1957 as a postdoc. According to the university’s obituary, ...
