Adele Wolfson Recognized for Her Work to Advance the Careers of Women in Biochemistry/Molecular Biology

Adele J. Wolfson, a professor emerita of chemistry and natural and physical sciences at Wellesley College in Massachusetts, received the Sustained Leadership Award from the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. The award honors an individual “with a strong commitment to advancing the careers of women in biochemistry and molecular biology along with demonstrated excellence in research and/or service.” Dr. Wolfon will be honored and give a lecture at the society’s 2024 annual meeting, in San Antonio in March.

A member of the society since 1986, Dr. Wolfson served as co-chair of what was formerly the ASBMB Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women. She also organized the society’s first women’s mentoring session at the annual meeting.

During her many years at Wellesley, she advocated for women and other historically marginalized groups in order to diversify the STEM workforce. She taught every biochemistry course in the curiculum at Wellesley, in addition to introductory chemistry, writing, and a course on women in science.

Dr. Wolfson is a graduate of Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. She earned a Ph.D. at Columbia University and did postdoctoral work at the University of Paris. Her research is focused on protein biochemistry.