Jan Martan (1914-1998)

Professor Jan Martan taught at SIUC from 1964 until his retirement in 1984. His research emphasized the cytology and cytochemistry of reproductive systems, especially of various mammals and salamanders. At SIUC, he taught such courses as Histology, Histological Techniques, Histochemistry, and Factors in Animal Reproduction. In the SIUC Obelisk (vol. 59), he was honored in 1973 as an Outstanding Faculty Member. Later, he was the recipient of the 1983-84 Outstanding Teaching Award in the College of Science. Obviously, he was highly respected by his colleagues and students.

Born in Prague, Czechoslovakia, on 13 February 1914, Dr. Martan collected vertebrates for universities and museums in Czechoslovakia from 1933-1946. Subsequently, he emigrated to the USA. He enrolled in the Biological Sciences undergraduate program at the University of Chicago in 1955 and obtained his B.S. degree in 1957. In 1960, he earned his M.S. degree in Zoology from the University of Chicago. Next he moved to the University of Oregon, where he received his Ph.D. degree in Biology in June 1962. Before joining SIU in 1964, he was for one year a post-doctoral fellow in Zoology at the University of Michigan. In approximately 1966, he returned to Czechoslovakia and returned to Illinois with a Czech bride (a long-time friend). Following retirement, Dr. Martan and his wife Mary remained in Carbondale and he continued his research interests. In June 1998, he died after a year-long illness; Mary passed away two years earlier. In his estate plan, Dr. Martan left funds which today provide the Jan Martan Scholarships to worthy students in Zoology.

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Last updated: 30-Jun-06 / ghw