Dr. William “Bill” Snell

WILLIAM J. “BILL” SNELL, Ph.D. Class of 1964 After graduation from Ottawa Township High School as salutatorian, Bill Snell received a full scholarship to the University of Illinois where he received his bachelor’s degree in 1968. He received a National Science Foundation Fellowship for Yale University and graduated there in 1969 with a master’s degree in philosophy, and then also a Ph.D. in 1974. While at Yale he began his research in the blue green algae chlamydomonas that is found in local ponds. Dr. Snell continued postdoctoral studies at Johns Hopkins University from 1975-1977, then received the National Institute of Health Postdoctoral Fellowship and worked with Dr. Saul Roseman continuing his algae research. In 1977 he accepted a position as Associate Professor at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, becoming a full professor in 1990, and remained there until 2016. During his years of research on chlamydomonas his work was centered around cell to cell interaction, leading to studies relating to a vaccine for malaria. Dr. Snell has traveled to Europe to collaborate with scientists there as well as give presentations. He has been published numerous times in scientific journals and has presented many seminars both domestically and abroad.