Sunney Chan, Caltech’s George Grant Hoag Professor of Biophysical Chemistry, Emeritus, passed away on May 5. He reached the age of 88.
Chan was born in San Francisco on October 5, 1936, to immigrant, working-class parents. He spent his formative years in what he characterized as a “culturally disadvantaged” surroundings. “There was not an ounce of academic lineage in my veins,” he once remarked. However, he later pursued a fascination with mathematics and science, sparked by educators at a Jesuit institution in Hong Kong, ultimately becoming the first in his family to attend university and subsequently obtain his doctorate. He earned his PhD from UC Berkeley in 1961.
He began his tenure at Caltech as an assistant professor of chemical physics in 1963 and achieved tenured faculty status in 1968. In 1992, he was appointed the George Grant Hoag Professor of Biophysical Chemistry.
Chan’s research progressed from basic investigations in chemical physics to employing nuclear magnetic resonance to study biological molecules, such as the base stacking of nucleic acids, the dynamic configurations of membranes, and the roles of membrane proteins. In his projects, he extensively utilized nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), a non-invasive, highly sensitive technique that harnesses the magnetic traits of atomic nuclei. When specific nuclei, such as hydrogen or nitrogen, are exposed to a magnetic field, they absorb and re-emit electromagnetic waves at distinct frequencies. These signals can reveal information about the local environment of the nitrogen, carbon, and hydrogen atoms in compounds such as nucleic acids and proteins, enabling scientists to infer their structures and compositions both in solution and under dynamic scenarios.
Chan was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1968 and was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2010. He was also a fellow of the American Physical Society. In 1988, he became a member of Academia Sinica, Taiwan’s national academy. Chan retired from Caltech in 1997 and was granted emeritus status by the Institute in 2002. During his years at Caltech, Chan held the position of executive officer for chemistry from 1978 to 1980 and again from 1989 to 1994. He also served as master of student residences from 1980 to 1983.
He was vice president of Academia Sinica from 1999 to 2003. In recognition of Chan’s contributions there, Academia Sinica established a lecture in his honor in 2003. The lecture website describes Chan as, “He has been notably inspiring to young scientists, and the generosity with which he has shared his chemistry, insights into science, wisdom about life, and knowledge regarding wine, food, gourmet dining, and restaurants is widely acknowledged throughout the community here.”
In 2009, Chan authored a review article in the Annual Review of Biophysics, wherein he reflected on the path of his career and the progression of his work. He noted that he “gleaned much” from his numerous (over 200 at the time) students, postdocs, and colleagues, adding that many of his peers at Caltech had proven to be motivating.
“Many of my former students and postdocs have ventured into new scientific realms and even pioneered new areas of inquiry,” he stated. “I take pride in them. But that is how it should be. Looking back, I like to believe that my approach to student training is effective. The most crucial aspect of conducting science is posing questions, and I instructed my students on how to inquire and formulate questions. Without questions, whether good or bad, there are no challenges to tackle.”
A viewing and symposium are being arranged in Taiwan, followed by a service and interment in San Francisco.
A comprehensive obituary will be released at a later date.