In memoriam
Nicolau van Uden (1921 – 1991)
Nicolau van Uden was born in The Netherlands in 1921 and later became a naturalized Portuguese citizen in 1975. He graduated in medicine from the University of Vienna and obtained a PhD in Biology from the University of Coimbra in 1974. In the early seventies, he was invited to pursue an academic career and completed all the traditional Portuguese academic requirements. He earned the highest academic title of “agregado” in Microbiology at the New University of Lisbon and was appointed as the first Full Professor of Microbiology in the Faculty of Sciences and Technology at that university.
Throughout his career, Nicolau van Uden made significant contributions to yeast biology. He was the Director of the Laboratory of Microbiology at the Gulbenkian Institute of Science and published around 200 research papers on various topics related to yeasts. One of his notable achievements was establishing the “Portuguese Yeast Culture Collection–PYCC,” which currently consists of over 2000 strains representing around 450 species. This collection is integrated into a European network of microbial databases and culture collections.
In addition to his research accomplishments, Nicolau van Uden had a strong commitment to education. He created the Oeiras Advanced Studies, where he organized 93 monographic courses of international prestige between 1969 and 1990. He also served as a Professor at the Faculty of Science and Technology at the New University of Lisbon.
Van Uden’s impact on yeast research in Portugal was significant, and his work laid solid foundations for the field. Many researchers have been involved in yeast studies as a result of his contributions. He was recognized for his achievements with a doctorate “honoris causa” from the Orange Free State University in South Africa and received honorary membership in several learned societies. He also represented Portugal in various international councils and panels related to science and microbiology.
Unfortunately, Nicolau van Uden passed away in 1991. His legacy lives on through his research, education efforts, and the influence he had on the biology of his time and modern biology as a whole.
Based on Peinado, J.M. and Leão, C. (2012), Nicolau van Uden, a life with yeasts (1921–1991). IUBMB Life, 64: 556-560. https://doi.org/10.1002/iub.1036