Born May 4, 1931, Chicago, IL, USA.
University of Connecticut (B.A., 1952 - Bacteriology). University
of Illinois (M.S., 1955 and Ph.D., 1958 - Dairy Science (Bacteriology). Research: pentose phosphate
metabolic pathways in bacteria. Wrote more than 100 scientific publications.
1958: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, U.S. National Institutes of Health
(NIH): biological isotope fractionation of hydrogen during enzyme activity as well as further
metabolic pathway studies.
1959: National Heart Institute, NIH: rate limiting steps in differentiation of Dictyostelium
discoideum, i.e., role of cyclic-AMP and ring-opening diesterase. Continued at the National
Institute of Dental Research (NIDR), NIH in 1961.
1961-1972: Research in computer and instrument methodology; growth physiology and
metabolism of bacteria of oral cavity. Developed first real-time computer analysis of
chromatographic data, computer algorithms for double-label isotope composition calculations,
algorithms for real-time analysis of gas chromatograph/mass spectrometers and the standardized
method for computer coding of microbiological (bacteria, fungi, protozoa, algae, and, most
recently, viruses) phenotypic data, the RKC Code (published in 1986 and continually updated
since then) coupled with the Microbial Information System (Micro-IS), for data entry,
management, analysis and communication. The Micro-IS is constantly enhanced by taking
advantage of modern computer programming techniques. The combination of the RKC Code and
Micro-IS has found international use in various developed and developing countries.
1973-1992: The following projects are examples incorporating use of the RKC Code and Micro-IS. Collaborations with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on computer network
management and analysis of microbiological data on such studies as toxic shock syndrome and
contamination of foods by Salmonella from FDA's field laboratories and contractors. For FDA,
participated in design and conduct of large scale studies on the diversity and patterns of antibiotic
resistance plasmids and genes in streptococci and coliforms from commercial beef, chicken and
hogs. Collaboration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to collect and analyze
microbiological strain data useful in the regulatory process of Toxic Substances Control Act.
Database design and analysis of taxonomic diversity for International Working Group on
Mycobacterial Taxonomy. Studies of environmental and clinical vibrios from waters and other
sources in Indonesia. Studies of the ecology and taxonomy of the oil-degrading microbial
communities in Alaskan near shore waters of such locations as the Beaufort Sea and Prince
Williams Sound (under Interagency Agreement with National Oceanographic and Atmospheric
Administration). First use of diversity statistics in microbial ecology. Initiated concept and
collaborated in establishing the International Leishmaniasis Network. Panel member on evaluation
of biotechnology contract proposals for discovery of anti-tumor and anti-virus products for
Natural Products Division of the U.S. National Cancer Institute. Studies of environmental and
clinical vibrios from waters and other sources in Indonesia. Studies of the ecology and taxonomy
of the oil-degrading microbial communities in Alaskan near shore waters of such locations as the
Beaufort Sea and Prince Williams Sound under an Interagency Agreement with National
Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA); first use of diversity statistics in
microbial ecology.
Panel member on evaluation of biotechnology contract proposals for discovery of anti-tumor and
anti-virus products for Natural Products Division of the U.S. National Cancer Institute.
Instrumental in establishing collaborative international information systems such as the
CODATA/IUIS Hybridoma Data Bank, the Microbial Strain Data Network (MSDN), and the
UNEP-sponsored Information Resource on Release of Organisms into the Environment (IRRO).
Initiated concept and collaborated in establishing the International Leishmaniasis Network (ILN).
Organizer and faculty member for MSDN courses on "Computers in Microbiology" in such
countries as Guatemala, China, Thailand, Egypt, Kenya, Russia and the USA, and locally
sponsored courses in Russia, Canada, India, Thailand and Brazil. Other regional courses have
been taught by the MSDN in Zambia, South Africa, and Senegal.
1992 - Present: Chairman of Bionomics International, a Non-Governmental Organization
facilitating international dissemination of biological information through bioinformatics and
communication techniques. Current activities include the following: Affiliate Professor, George
Mason University in the Department of Biology; collaborating on studies of Archea from extreme
salt environments. Collaboration with the International Committee on the Taxonomy of Viruses
(ICTV) on database of descriptions of all known viruses. Principal Investigator of a cooperative
agreement with EPA, "A Modular Public Information Delivery System on Biosafety and Risk
Assessment" (www.bioint.org/biosafety). Under contract with Health Canada, designed and is leading
an international study on "A Cooperative Double Blind Study of Pseudomonads and Related Organisms",
involving laboratories in US, Canada, Peoples Republic of China, Thailand, Spain, UK, and Belgium.
Vice President and President-Elect, U.S. Federation of Culture Collections, July 2000.
In collaboration with Biotec, Thailand, organized a workshop on Biosafety and Risk Assessment,
Bangkok, Jan. 2000. Resource person for UNEP/GEF Pilot Biosafety Enabling Project (CBD
Biosafety Protocol) at regional workshops in Cuba, Kenya and India. In cooperation with Arab
League Educational, Cultural, and Scientific Organization, helped conduct 1999 regional
workshop on Biosafety and Risk Assessment in Damascus, Syria. Faculty Member for IRRO
biosafety workshops sponsored by UNEP in India, Egypt, and Brazil. Faculty member for
UNIDO-sponsored courses on "Biosafety and Environmental Risk Assessment in Release of
Genetically Modified Organisms" in Brazil, Italy and Thailand.
For UNIDO, designed and implemented an international network on research, biotechnology, and
production of mushrooms and other fungi for sustainable business development in developing
nations; and consulted on culture collection informatics in Vietnam and Thailand. Invited to
design a plan, funded by UNIDO at the request of the Government of Vietnam, for a large scale
national plan for submission to the Global Environment Facility of the UN, on microbial ecology,
culture collections, and sustainable development. Serves as an informal consultant to the Ministry
of Science and Technology of Thailand on a national plan for culture collection integration.
Major contributor to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences/National Research Council's 1997
study on: "Bits of Power - Issues in Global Access to Scientific Data". Invited participant in
"Metadiversity--A Call to Action Responding to The Grand Challenge for Biodiversity
Information Management through Metadata", an interactive symposium, November 9-12, 1998,
sponsored by The Biological Resources Division of the U.S. Geological Survey and The National
Federation of Abstracting & Information Services. April 2001, invited Keynote Speaker at the
Kenyan Society for Microbiology regional meeting, "Communication of Microbiology Data: A
basic Component of poverty alleviation in Africa". He is principal investigator for Bionomics
International on a Memorandum of Understanding for a "Science and Development Distance
Learning Initiative" with the WorldSpace Foundation to provide content for digital radio satellite
broadcasts to developing nations.
Active for over 20 years in the International Council of Scientific Union's (ICSU) Committee on
Data for Science and Technology (CODATA). Member (twice) of CODATA International
Program Committee. Member of a number of CODATA Task Groups and a Commission. Past
Delegate to CODATA General Assembly on behalf of the ICSU World Federation for Culture
Collections. Past Member of US National Committee for CODATA. Symposium organizer for
CODATA '98 on "Rice Cultivation: The need for interdisciplinary data", New Delhi, Nov. 1998.
Organized and chaired an International Workshop on Interdisciplinary Harmonization of
Terminology Used in Describing Spore-forming Microorganisms sponsored by UNEP, U.S.
National Science Foundation, and CODATA. Initiated and chaired the ICSU/CODATA Task
Group on Outreach, Education, and Communication (1996-2000). As a result of his CODATA
activities, appointed to U.S. National Research Council Committee for Diversitas, March 2000.
Dr. Krichevsky is continuing his activities in human rights in science with emphasis on
international activities. This area of activity started with his service as the Equal Opportunity
Counselor of the NIDR for which he was given an Award for "Outstanding Contributions to the
Equal Employment Opportunity Program" of the National Institutes of Health in April 1976.
Later, he was a member of the Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women, American Society
of Biological Chemists, 1982-1985, and a member since 1986 of the American Society for
Microbiology's Committee on Status of Women in Microbiology (CSWM). Currently he is a
participant in the CSWM mentoring program for women microbiologists as well as Chair of the
CSWM Ad Hoc Committee on International Outreach.
