Teaching focus, interdisciplinary study contribute to U. researchers winning Nobel prizes
Andie AyalaThere are 40 current and previous members of the University, including faculty, staff and alumni, that have won the Nobel Prize since the prize was founded in 1901, according to the University’s websiteon the Nobel Prize. One University-affiliated individual has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, two in physiology or medicine, three in literature, four in chemistry, twelve in economics and eighteen in physics. Three scholars associated with the University were awarded the Nobel Prize this year — former postdoctoral researcher Tomas Lindahl in chemistry, economics professor Angus Deaton in economics and former physics professor Arthur McDonald in physics. A total of eleven laureates were granted the prize in the fields of physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature and peace this year. Neither Harvard nor Yale had affiliated Nobel laureates this year. Dean for Research Pablo Debenedetti noted how the University has traditionally been very strong in the quality of research it produces. “Princeton has been prosperous and keeps on getting better,” he said. While numbers show that the department with the most Nobel prizes is the physics department, Debenedetti said the University has top scholars and top researchers across the board.