1883-1941 Ernest Everett Just, Biologist

contributed to blackpast.org jan 30, 2007 by: W. GABRIEL SELASSIE I

"Dr. Ernest E. Just was one of the first African Americans to receive worldwide recognition as a scientist… After receiving his degree Just accepted a position at Howard University as an instructor of rhetoric and English and in 1910 later joined the Department of Biology. He was appointed Professor in the Department in 1912. Just worked for many years at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. At the laboratory, Just realized that a doctorate in the sciences was key to his success and he began a program of self-study at the University of Chicago and later earned a doctorate in 1916. After completing his doctorate Just published 50 scientific papers and two influential books, Basic Methods for Experiments on Eggs of Marine Mammals (1922) and Biology of the Cell Surface (1939).

Despite his Ph.D., Just could not find work at any major American university. He moved to Europe and continued his research in Naples, Italy. In 1930, however, Just became the first American to be invited to conduct research at the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute in Berlin, Germany. His research ended when the Nazis took control of Germany in 1933. Just relocated to Paris, France to continue his research."

(xHistory xPOC xBlack xAfricanAmerican xUSA xZoologist xMarine xMammal xSpecies)