John E. Dowling is an American neuroscientist and Gordon and Llura Gund Research Professor of Neurosciences at

Harvard University Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of higher le ...

. He is best known for his seminal work in

vision science Vision science is the scientific study of visual perception. Researchers in vision science can be called vision scientists, especially if their research spans some of the science's many disciplines. Vision science encompasses all studies of vision ...

, having elucidated the biochemistry of

rhodopsin Rhodopsin, also known as visual purple, is a protein encoded by the RHO gene and a G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR). It is the opsin of the rod cells in the retina and a light-sensitive receptor protein that triggers visual phototransduction ...

and development of the vertebrate

retina The retina (from la, rete "net") is the innermost, light-sensitive layer of tissue of the eye of most vertebrates and some molluscs. The optics of the eye create a focused two-dimensional image of the visual world on the retina, which then ...

, as well as diseases that affect vision such as

vitamin A deficiency Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) or hypovitaminosis A is a lack of vitamin A in blood and tissues. It is common in poorer countries, especially among children and women of reproductive age, but is rarely seen in more developed countries. Nyctalopia (ni ...

and

retinitis pigmentosa Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a genetic disorder of the eyes that causes loss of vision. Symptoms include trouble seeing at night and decreasing peripheral vision (side and upper or lower visual field). As peripheral vision worsens, people may ...

. He was elected to the

American Academy of Arts and Sciences The American Academy of Arts and Sciences (abbreviation: AAA&S) is one of the oldest learned societies in the United States. It was founded in 1780 during the American Revolution by John Adams, John Hancock, James Bowdoin, Andrew Oliver, and ...

in 1972, the

National Academy of Sciences The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) is a United States nonprofit, non-governmental organization. NAS is part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, along with the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) and the Nati ...

in 1976, and the

American Philosophical Society The American Philosophical Society (APS), founded in 1743 in Philadelphia, is a scholarly organization that promotes knowledge in the sciences and humanities through research, professional meetings, publications, library resources, and communit ...

in 1992.

Education

Dowling earned his Ph.D. at Harvard University under the direction of

George Wald George Wald (November 18, 1906 – April 12, 1997) was an American scientist who studied pigments in the retina. He won a share of the 1967 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Haldan Keffer Hartline and Ragnar Granit. In 1970, Wald pred ...

. He also received a bachelor's degree at Harvard and attended

Harvard Medical School Harvard Medical School (HMS) is the graduate medical school of Harvard University and is located in the Longwood Medical Area of Boston, Massachusetts. Founded in 1782, HMS is one of the oldest medical schools in the United States and is consi ...

Career

In 1961, Dowling became an Instructor of the Department of Biology at Harvard University. From 1961 to 1964 he was Assistant Professor of Biology at Harvard. Upon completion, he was Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at

Johns Hopkins University Johns Hopkins University (Johns Hopkins, Hopkins, or JHU) is a private university, private research university in Baltimore, Maryland. Founded in 1876, Johns Hopkins is the oldest research university in the United States and in the western hem ...

from 1964 to 1966 and Associate Professor of Ophthalmology and Biophysics from 1966 to 1971. From 1961 to 1971 and 1991 he was a Lecturer of the Lancaster Course in Ophthalmology, co-director of a neurobiology course, Marine Biological Laboratory (1970-1974 and 1998), Professor of Biology at Harvard University (1971-1987), Chairman of the Department of Biology at Harvard University (1975-1978), Overseas Fellow of Churchill College, Cambridge, England (1978-1979), Acting Master of North House, Harvard University (1979-1980), Associate Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Harvard University (1980-1984), Master of Leverett House, Harvard University (1981-1998). Dowling has served as an Associate Editor for ''Cellular Neurobiology'', Journal of Neuroscience (1989-1994), Council of Society of Neuroscience Member (1980-1984), Governing Board of National Research Council Member (1985-1988 and 1994-1997), Commission on Life Sciences National Research Council chairman (1985-1988), Scientific Advisory Board member of the Whitney Marine Laboratory (1986-1991), Executive Committee member of the Marine Biology Laboratory (1974-1976 and 1988-1990), Council member of the National Eye Institute (1986-1990), Medical Advisory Board member of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (1989-1992), Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology trustee (1991-1998), FASEB Summer Conference on Biology, Chemistry and Modeling Vision chairman, (1992), Council of Faculty of Arts and Sciences member, Harvard University (1993-1995), National Academy of Sciences member (1993-1996), and President of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (1996-1997). Since 1986, Dowling has been Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary trustee, a member on the Scientific Advisory Board of the Foundation for Fighting Blindness (1971–present), member of the Scientific Advisory Board of Research to Prevent Blindness (1991–present), member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Knights Templar Research Foundation (1991–present), member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the McLean Hospital (1991–present), member of the Educational Advisory Board of the John S. Guggenheim Memorial Foundation (1991–present), member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Center for Neural Science, New York University (1992–present), member of the Board of Directors of the Harvard University Press (1997–present), and President of the Corporation of Marine Biological Laboratory (1998–present).

Awards

Dowling was awarded the Friedenwald Medal by the

Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (abbreviated ARVO) is an American learned society dedicated to ophthalmology and other vision-related topics. As of 2019, it has almost 12,000 members from 75 different countries. It was est ...

in 1970. He was elected to the

in 1976. In 1978, he was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship. Dowling received an honorary MD from

Lund University , motto = Ad utrumque , mottoeng = Prepared for both , established = , type = Public research university , budget = SEK 9 billion Subsequently, he was awarded an Alcon Research Institute Award in 1986; the

American Academy of Optometry The American Academy of Optometry (AAO) is an organization of optometrists based in Orlando, Florida. Its goal is to maintain and enhance excellence in optometric practice, by both promoting research and the dissemination of knowledge. The AAO hold ...

Prentice Medal in 1991; and the ARVO Von Sallman Prize in 1992. He was the New England Ophthalmological Society's Taylor Smith Orator in 1993.

Bibliography

Books

* Dowling, J. E. "The Retina: An Approachable Part of the Brain, "Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA (1987) * Dowling, J.E. "Neurons and Networks: An Introduction to Neuroscience, "Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA (1992) * Dowling, J.E. "Creating Mind: How the Brain Works, "W. W. Norton & Co., New York, NY (1998). * Dowling, J.E. "Understanding the Brain: From Cells to Behavior to Cognition", W. W. Norton & Co., New York. NY (2018)

Edited volumes

* Shipley, T. and Dowling, J.E. (eds.), "Visual Processes in Vertebrates, "Vision Research Supplement, Volume 11, Pergamon Press, Oxford (1971) * Landers, M.B., Wolbarsht, J. L., Dowling, J.E. and Laties, A.M. (eds.) "Retinitis Pigmentosa: Clinical Implications of Current Research, "Plenum Press, New York (1977) * Poppel, E., Held, R., and Dowling, J.E. (eds.) "Neuronal Mechanisms in Visual Perceptions," Neuroscience Research Program Bulletin, Volume 15, M.I.T. Press, Cambridge, MA (1977) * Cone, R.A. and Dowling, J.E. (eds.): "Membrane Transduction Mechanisms, "Society of General Physiologists, Raven Press, New York (1979) * Dowling, J.E., Proenza, L.M. and Atwell, C.W. (eds.): "Nutrition Pharmacology and Vision" Proceedings of a Symposium sponsored by the Committee on Vision of the National Research Council of Retina, Volume 2, pp. 231–380 (1982) * Dowling, J.E., Kolb, H., Miller, R. and Tomita, T. (eds.): "Retinal Neurocircuitry with Special Reference to Synaptic Transmission, "Proceedings of the 4th Taniguchi International Symposium on Visual Science, Vision Research, Volume 23, Pergamon Press, Oxford (1983) * Dowling, J.E., Kolb, H. and Waessle, H. (eds.): "Proceedings of the Brian Boycott Festschrift, "Visual Neuroscience, Volume 7 No. 1/2, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, England (1991) * Barlow, R., Dowling, J.E. and Weissmann, G. (eds.): "The Biological Century," Harvard University Press (1992)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dowling, John E Year of birth missing (living people) Living people Harvard University faculty Harvard Medical School alumni Johns Hopkins University faculty American print editors Members of the United States National Academy of Sciences American biologists Members of the American Philosophical Society