Professor David B. Collum

BIOGRAPHY - Professor David B. Collum

Betty R. Miller Professor of Chemistry and Chemical Biology Cornell University

David B. Collum received his BS in biology in 1977 from Cornell University majoring in Genetics. Concluding there was nothing left of any importance to be studied in genetics, he moved to Columbia University where he earned his PhD in organic chemistry. He received his PhD in 1980 and returned to Cornell as an assistant professor where he is currently the Betty R. Miller Professor of Chemistry and department chair.

He was an associate editor for the Journal of Organic Chemistry for 20 years and consulted for and collaborated with many pharmaceutical companies, including 20 years with Pfizer and a member of Merck’s five-scientist steering committee. While maintaining a highly active research program, he developed an interest in markets and politics and is best known for his annual review published at Peak Prosperity. He has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Guardian, and Russia Today for stuff that has nothing to do with chemistry whatsoever.