Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge

The Chair of Genetics position at Cambridge became vacant due to the retirement of Professor Ronald A Fisher in October 1957. Staff at Cambridge expected that the new Professor in Genetics would reorganise the Department, with the possibility of expanding and improving the research faciltities. Pontecorvo was applying for this position at the same time as considering a move to Harvard and comments on his progress with the Harvard job creep into the correspondence here.

The correspondence demonstrates his close relationships with other notable geneticists and how he valued their thoughts and opinions on whether he should stay at Glasgow or move on to Cambridge or elsewhere. It is clear that he became very frustrated with the lack of progress in agreeing on an adequate salary and accommodation for a new Department of Genetics at Cambridge, and in the end he withdrew his application and decided to stay at Glasgow.

Chronological order.