Jason Altom
Encyclopedia
Jason Altom was a Ph.D.
student working in the research group of Nobel laureate Elias James Corey
at Harvard University
. He committed suicide by taking potassium cyanide
in 1998, citing in his suicide note "abusive research supervisors" as one reason for taking his life. Altom was studying a complex natural product and felt enormous pressure to finish the molecule before starting his academic career.
Altom's suicide highlighted the pressures on Ph.D. students, problems of isolation in graduate school, and sources of tension between graduate mentors and their students. His case prompted many universities to insist that Ph.D. students have an advisory committee in addition to a supervisor, to whom they might turn for support: James Anderson, who became Harvard Chemistry Department Chairman, stated that "Jason's death prompted an examination of the role the department should play in graduate students' lives". Anderson went on to promise that students will also have "confidential and seamless access" to psychological counselling services, paid for by the department.
However, as of 2004, this access was completely terminated. It is unknown whether any vestiges of the department's nine-step plan toward graduate student health and happiness remain, though it was highly-publicized following Altom's suicide. As a general policy, Harvard does not provide regular psychotherapy for its students at any college or department, instead providing 12 sessions of regular outside care, though these costs are usually substantial for most graduate students, totaling about 20 percent of the cost of each session in addition to a 250 dollar copay. As a result, the care provided does not meet the criteria outlined and publicized following Altom's death.
Corey, speaking of the suicide note, states: "[T]hat letter doesn't make sense. At the end, Jason must have been delusion
al or irrational in the extreme." Corey also is on record as stating that he never questioned Mr. Altom's intellectual contributions. "I did my best to guide Jason as a mountain guide would to guide someone climbing a mountain. I did my best every step of the way," Corey states. "My conscience is clear. Everything Jason did came out of our partnership. We never had the slightest disagreement."
The molecule on which Altom was working, aspidophytine
, was subsequently completed by postdoctoral research associates and published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society
in 1999. The article was dedicated to the memory of Jason Altom.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
student working in the research group of Nobel laureate Elias James Corey
Elias James Corey
Elias James Corey is an American organic chemist. In 1990 he won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry "for his development of the theory and methodology of organic synthesis", specifically retrosynthetic analysis...
at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. He committed suicide by taking potassium cyanide
Potassium cyanide
Potassium cyanide is an inorganic compound with the formula KCN. This colorless crystalline compound, similar in appearance to sugar, is highly soluble in water. Most KCN is used in gold mining, organic synthesis, and electroplating. Smaller applications include jewelry for chemical gilding and...
in 1998, citing in his suicide note "abusive research supervisors" as one reason for taking his life. Altom was studying a complex natural product and felt enormous pressure to finish the molecule before starting his academic career.
Altom's suicide highlighted the pressures on Ph.D. students, problems of isolation in graduate school, and sources of tension between graduate mentors and their students. His case prompted many universities to insist that Ph.D. students have an advisory committee in addition to a supervisor, to whom they might turn for support: James Anderson, who became Harvard Chemistry Department Chairman, stated that "Jason's death prompted an examination of the role the department should play in graduate students' lives". Anderson went on to promise that students will also have "confidential and seamless access" to psychological counselling services, paid for by the department.
However, as of 2004, this access was completely terminated. It is unknown whether any vestiges of the department's nine-step plan toward graduate student health and happiness remain, though it was highly-publicized following Altom's suicide. As a general policy, Harvard does not provide regular psychotherapy for its students at any college or department, instead providing 12 sessions of regular outside care, though these costs are usually substantial for most graduate students, totaling about 20 percent of the cost of each session in addition to a 250 dollar copay. As a result, the care provided does not meet the criteria outlined and publicized following Altom's death.
Corey, speaking of the suicide note, states: "[T]hat letter doesn't make sense. At the end, Jason must have been delusion
Delusion
A delusion is a false belief held with absolute conviction despite superior evidence. Unlike hallucinations, delusions are always pathological...
al or irrational in the extreme." Corey also is on record as stating that he never questioned Mr. Altom's intellectual contributions. "I did my best to guide Jason as a mountain guide would to guide someone climbing a mountain. I did my best every step of the way," Corey states. "My conscience is clear. Everything Jason did came out of our partnership. We never had the slightest disagreement."
The molecule on which Altom was working, aspidophytine
Aspidophytine
Aspidophytine is an indole alkaloid that has attracted a lot of attention from synthetic chemists. An extract of the cockroach plant, aspidophytine is an insecticidal substance particularly effective against cockroaches....
, was subsequently completed by postdoctoral research associates and published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society
Journal of the American Chemical Society
The Journal of the American Chemical Society is a weekly peer-reviewed scientific journal that was established in 1879 by the American Chemical Society. The journal has absorbed two other publications in its history, the Journal of Analytical and Applied Chemistry and the American Chemical Journal...
in 1999. The article was dedicated to the memory of Jason Altom.
External links
- Graduate Student Advising and Treatment, Harvard University.