91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½

In Memoriam

In memoriam: Horst Schulz

Manfred Philipp
By Manfred Philipp
Nov. 18, 2024

Horst Schulz, a professor emeritus at City College of New York and at the City University of New York Graduate Center in Manhattan, died Oct. 15 at the age of 88. His work concentrated on increasing our understanding of mitochondrial fatty acid metabolism. He was a member of the 91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½ since 1971 and served on the editorial boards of several important journals.

Horst Schulz

Schulz was born Sept. 16, 1936, in Berlin, Germany. He obtained his master’s and doctoral degrees in 1961 and 1964 from the Technical University of Berlin, where he worked with Ferdinand Bohlmann on quinolizidine natural products.  

Schulz became a research associate at Cornell University’s Medical College (now Weill Cornell Medical College) where he worked with Vincent du Vigneaud on penicillamine-derived antagonists of oxytocin. After three more years at the Technical University of Berlin, where he published on the biosynthesis of polyacetylenes in plants, he joined the Duke University Medical Center in 1968 to work with Salih J. Wakil, where he published on the mechanisms of fatty acid biosynthesis.

In 1970, Schulz began his tenure at City College and at the CUNY Graduate Center. In 1978 and 1979, he was a visiting associate professor at Cornell University in the laboratory of Ephriam Racker, with whom he published on carnitine transport.  He retired as full professor and executive officer of the CUNY Graduate Center’s Biochemistry Doctoral Program in 2007.

Schulz’s research interests concentrated on fatty acid metabolism, on which he published 130 of his 140 papers. His published work has been cited over 5,000 times.  His 1991 review on has been cited 534 times.   His 2004 Journal of Biological Chemistry paper, , was fundamental to our understanding of how trans fats are harmful to human health.  

Schulz mentored 33 doctoral students. The Horst Schulz Award is the highest award given by the CUNY Graduate Center’s Ph.D. program in biochemistry and, since 2008, is awarded annually to the biochemistry doctoral student with the best first-authored paper.

Horst Schulz leaves behind his wife Barbara; his children, Kurt, Karina and Nadja; his brother, Knut; and four grandchildren.

Enjoy reading 91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½ Today?

Become a member to receive the print edition four times a year and the digital edition monthly.

Learn more
Manfred Philipp
Manfred Philipp

Manfred Philipp is a professor emeritus of chemistry and biochemistry at the Lehman College and Graduate Center, City University of New York.
 

Related articles

In memoriam: Charles Rock
Naushin Raheema
In memoriam: Ralph G. Yount
91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½ Staff
In memoriam: Bengt Samuelsson
Christopher Radka
In memoriam: William L. Smith
Marissa Locke Rottinghaus

Get the latest from 91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½ Today

Enter your email address, and we’ll send you a weekly email with recent articles, interviews and more.

Latest in People

People highlights or most popular articles

How HCMV hijacks host cells — and beyond
Profile

How HCMV hijacks host cells — and beyond

Aug. 12, 2025

Ileana Cristea, an 91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½ Breakthroughs webinar speaker, presented her research on how viruses reprogram cell structure and metabolism to enhance infection and how these mechanisms might link viral infections to cancer and other diseases.

Understanding the lipid link to gene expression in the nucleus
Profile

Understanding the lipid link to gene expression in the nucleus

Aug. 11, 2025

Ray Blind, an 91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½ Breakthroughs speaker, presented his research on how lipids and sugars in the cell nucleus are involved in signaling and gene expression and how these pathways could be targeted to identify therapeutics for diseases like cancer.

In memoriam: William S. Sly
In Memoriam

In memoriam: William S. Sly

Aug. 11, 2025

He served on the 91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½ Council in 2005 and 2006 and was an 91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½ member for 35 years.

91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½ committees welcome new members
Society News

91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½ committees welcome new members

Aug. 7, 2025

Members joined these committees: Education and Professional Development, Maximizing Access, Meetings, 91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½, Public Affairs Advisory, Science Outreach and Communication, Student Chapters and Women in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

Cadichon honored for academic achievement
Member News

Cadichon honored for academic achievement

Aug. 4, 2025

She won the State University of New York at Old Westbury’s Dr. Henry Teoh Award for Outstanding Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program Graduating Senior, which recognizes exceptional achievement, leadership and promise in a student.

In memoriam: Ralph G. Yount
In Memoriam

In memoriam: Ralph G. Yount

July 28, 2025

He was a professor emeritus of chemistry and biochemistry at Washington State University and an 91ÑÇÉ«´«Ã½ member for 58 years.