Mila Pollock interviews Arthur Chovnick [Low level audio coming from second channel at points.]

Preserved in 2020-2022 through a CLIR Recordings at Risk grant. This interview video is available for use under a CC0 1.0 Universal license.

Arthur Chovnick, Drosophilia geneticist, molecular and cell biologist, obtained a Ph.D. in genetics in 1953 from Ohio State University. He came to the Cold Spring Harbor Lab in 1959 to serve as assistant director and shortly after he was promoted to director of the Biological Laboratory. As director of BiLab he set up a pension program for his scientists, established a summer program for undergraduates (URP), and oversaw the expansion and renovation of laboratories, until 1962, when he left to teach at the University of Connecticut.

Chovnick retired in 1994 and is currently an emeritus professor of molecular and cellular biology. He has also served as associate editor of the journal Genetics and as treasurer of the Genetics Society of America.

Chovnick works to explicate the structure and function of genes in higher organisms. He concentrates on fruit fly genetics and is also recognized for his research involving purine metabolism, transposable elements and chromosomal position effects.