For their outstanding contributions to research and development in the state of New Jersey, Robert
Essner, Chairman, President and CEO of Wyeth and Shirley M. Tilghman, President, Princeton University,
were awarded the Research & Development Council of New Jersey's 2003 Science/Technology Medal and
Educator of the Year Awards, respectively. The presentation was made at the Council's 43rd Annual
Dinner held November 6, 2003 at Liberty State Science Center.
For his extraordinary management in bringing innovations to the marketplace, Robert Essner, Chairman,
President and CEO of Wyeth, is this year's winner of the Science/Technology Medal. Shirley M.
Tilghman, President of Princeton University, is the winner of the Educator of the Year Award, for her
tireless support of academic/industry/government interactions.
In making the announcement, R&D Council Chairman, Robert Schaffhauser said, "These awards were
created to honor those outstanding leaders in industry and education who are committed to supporting
and promoting research and development in New Jersey. Robert Essner and Shirley Tilghman were chosen
for their unwavering dedication to insure that New Jersey continues to be an innovative force in
research and development."
Robert Essner joined Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories in 1989 as Senior Vice President of Sales and
Marketing. He rose through the ranks and in 1997 was named President of Wyeth-Ayerst Global
Pharmaceuticals and was elected to the Board of Directors at Wyeth. In 2000 he was elected
President and COO, in 2001 became CEO and was named Chairman of Wyeth in January 2003.
Mr. Essner is currently serving as Chairman of the Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers of America,
Chairman of the Children's Health Fund Corporate Council, as well as a member of the Business
Roundtable and Business Council. In addition, he is a member of the Board of Directors of
Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company and the Board of Trustees of Penn Medicine, the
governing body of the University of Pennsylvania's School of Medicine and the University of
Pennsylvania Health System.
World-renowned scholar and leader in the field of molecular biology, Shirley M. Tilghman served
on Princeton's faculty for 15 years before being named President of the University in May 2001.
After earning her Ph.D. in biochemistry at Temple University, Tilghman made a number of
ground-breaking discoveries while participating in cloning the first mammalian gene. She was a
member of the National Research Council's Committee that set the blueprint for the Human Genome
Project and was one of the founding members of the National Advisory Council of the Human Genome
Project Initiative for the National Institutes of Health.
In 2002, Tilghman was one of five winners of the L'Oreal-UNESCO International for Women in Science
Award and in 2003 received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society of Developmental Biology.
In 2003 she was also selected by Governor James McGreevey to co-chair the state's new Commission of
Jobs Growth and Economic Development.
For additional information on the Research & Development Council of New Jersey's Annual Awards
Dinner, please contact the R&D Council office.
