collection 1989 - Arthur M. Zimmerman fonds

Dr. Arthur Zimmerman, a renown cell biologist, first came to the University of Toronto’s Department of Zoology in 1964 where he accepted an appointment of Professor. Previous to this, he had received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from New York University and had held an Associate Professorship in the Department of Pharmacology at the State University of New York. Dr. Zimmerman retired in 1999 and throughout his lengthy service to the University held many administrative positions including Graduate Secretary (1970-1975) and Associate Chairman (1975-1978) in the Department of Zoology, Associate Director of the School of Graduate Studies (1978-1981) and Acting Director of the Institute of Immunology (1980-81).

Dr. Zimmerman has also shown leadership within his profession holding several appointments in professional associations and as editor of several journals. From early in his career, he has been an active member of the Bermuda Biological Station and the Marine Biological Laboratories at Woods Hole, Massachusetts. He was president or director of several associations including Ontario Society of Biologist (1968), Canadian Society for Cell Biology (1970-71, 1976-77), International Cell Cycle Society (1986-88) and International Federation for Cell Biology (1996-2000). He also acted as Treasurer for the American Society of Cell Biology (1974-1980) and was Chair of their Publications Committee for their Methods in Cell Biology Series. He was co-president and founding member of the International Group on High Pressure Biology. His editorial activities include: consulting editor for Cytobios (1969 –), Microbios (1971 - ), Senior Editor for Marcell Decker Inc. (1974-1978), Academic Press Cell Biology Series (1978 – 1996), Associate Editor for Canadian Journal of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (1980-84), Editor for Experimental Cell Research (1983-1992), Biochemistry and Cell Biology (1984-1993) and Western Hemisphere, Cell Biology International Reports (1985- present).

By far, Dr. Zimmerman’s most important contribution has been his research in the field of cellular biology and physiology for which he is internationally recognized. He has contributed much to the understanding of the cell cycle, the mechanism of cell division and has done pioneering work on the effects of hydrostatic pressure and drugs on various cellular processes. He has authored over 100 research and review articles and chapters in books. He has been editor of eight books and presented over 150 papers and lectures at meetings of professional associations and seminar groups. His research has been supported by numerous grants from the National Research Council of Canada, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council and the Medical Research Council. As a teacher and mentor, he has supervised 21 doctorate students, many of whom are themselves holding influential positions in academic institutions and industry. His role as consultant to the U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse (1975-1987) and as a witness to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Internal Security (1974, 1980) recognizes that his expertise transcends his own scientific community.