Chemist no. 295 of 350 · Organic

Percy Julian

1899-1975United States

Synthesis of cortisone precursors; physostigmine

Read

The discovery, explained

Percy Julian's Chemistry: From Calabar Bean to Soybean Steroids

How Percy Julian synthesised physostigmine and made progesterone, testosterone and cortisone precursors from soybean sterols. Exam notes for JAM, NET, GATE.

Publishing soon · 6 min read

Biography

Percy Lavon Julian (1899-1975): The Chemist Who Turned Soybeans into Medicine

Life of Percy Julian (1899-1975): from Alabama to a Vienna PhD, physostigmine, soy steroids, and a lifelong fight against discrimination.

Publishing soon · 5 min read

Academic lineage

Documented doctoral, postdoctoral and teaching links. Dashed chips are teachers outside the 350 chemists listed here.

Teachers: Ernst Späthdoctoral
Students: No documented student link yet