Shneior Lifson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | March 18, 1914 |
| Died | January 22, 2001 (aged 86) |
| Nationality | Israeli |
| Alma mater | Hebrew University of Jerusalem |
| Known for | Helix-coil transition theory, consistent force field method |
| Spouse(s) | Hanna Lifson, married on April 9, 1946 (three children: Uri, Ilana, and Yaron) |
| Awards | Weizmann Prize (1958) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Chemical Physics |
| Institutions | Weizmann Institute of Science |
Shneior Lifson (Hebrew: שניאור ליפסון; 18 March 1914, in Tel Aviv – 22 January 2001, in Rehovot), was an Israeli chemical physicist, scientific director of the Weizmann Institute of Science, a founder of the Open University of Israel, and laureate of the 1969 Israel Prize in the life sciences. Lifson is best known for his consistent force field method, one of the major theories behind 3-D computer modeling of large molecules.
In 2013, two scientists who early in their career had worked under his guidance at the Weizmann Institute – Arieh Warshel, who was his Ph.D. student, and Michael Levitt – won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. That research focused on the development and applications of the consistent force field method to molecular dynamics of proteins.