Jessie Isabelle Price
Personal Information
Born: 1930
Died: 2015
Country of Birth: USA
Nationality: USA
Ethnicity: Black
Education
Cornell University BS Microbiology 1953. MS Veterinary Bacteriology Pathology & Parasitology 1958 PhD Microbiology 1959
Professional Life
Field of Study: Veterinary microbiology
Institution/Corporation: Cornell University; Long Island University; National Wildlife Health Center of the National Biological Service
Degrees & Memberships: Member: American Association for the Advancement of Science Association for Women in Science Committee on the Status of Microbiologists Committee on the Status of Women Microbiologists Graduate Women in Science American Society for Microbiology
Awards & Achievements
Awards: none
Achievements: isolated and reproduced the cause of the most common life-threatening disease in duck farming in the 1950s; 2 of her vaccines have been commercially used in US & Canada; never applied for a patent
1950s, isolated & reproduced the most common life-threatening disease in duck farming; developed vaccines for it & other avian diseases
Raised by a single-mother during difficult financial times
Was the only African-American in her classes; there were only 2 other African-Americans in her entire school
Wanted to be a doctor but couldn't afford medical school
Had to periodically take breaks from her education in order to work & save money for additional classes; condinued to work throughout school to support herself
Worked at the Cornell Duck Research Lab 1959-1977
1966, was awarded an NSF travel grant so she could present her findings at the International Congress for Microbiology in Moscow
1977, moved to USGS National Wildlife Health Center in Madison, WIto study environmental contaminants & diseases in wildlife, especially water fowl
Was a dog-lover & breeder; had a prize winning Corgi in the 1960s
Two of her vaccines are still commercially used in the US & Canada