Joel Flaks, emeritus professor of biochemistry and biophysics at the University of Pennsylvania, died November 27. He was 92.

Dr. Flaks focused his research on biosynthesis and metabolism of purines. He graduated from City University of New York–Brooklyn College with a degree in chemistry in 1950 and earned his PhD from Penn in 1957. He began his teaching career here that same year as an instructor in biochemistry in the medical school. Later in 1957, he became faculty. 

In 1962, Dr. Flaks was promoted to assistant professor in biochemistry and in 1973, he became full professor. He received funding in 1974 for Metabolism of Normal and Bacteriophage-Infected E. Coli. Together with Harvey Rubin, professor of medicine, microbiology and computer science, Dr. Flaks was awarded a Research Foundation Award in 1987 for Regulation of DNA Synthesis in P. Falciparum (Almanac May 12, 1987). He took an early retirement in 1994 and earned emeritus status at that time. In 1997 he was given the School of Medicine’s Basic Science Teaching Award; as one of two directors of the biochemistry course, he “played a crucial role in creating this innovative course for medical students” (Almanac April 15, 1997). 

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