William Jacob Robbins (1890-1978, APS 1941) was a botanist and physiologist. From 1937 to 1957 he was director of the New York Botanical Garden. His research focused on culture methods of plants in relation to biochemistry and nutrition, especially on the synthetic abilities of fungi. His studies paralleled the scientific agenda of the Rockefeller Foundation, an agency with which he was closely associated for years as adviser and trustee. He was perhaps the most influential botanist in the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) during the early postwar era, and a principal participant in the plans for the global reconstruction of science. Robbins served as president of the American Philosophical Society from 1956 to 1959.

Working on the Army Epidemiological Board in the 1940s, Joseph Stokes, Jr. discovered the value of gamma globulin for the prevention of epidemic hepatitis. His subsequent research included immunization against influenza, protection against poliomyelitis by gamma globulin, antigenic difference between epidemic and serum hepatitis, immunization procedures in mumps, development of a vaccine against measles. His clinical focus was on the causes and prevention of childhood infectious diseases. His administrative work includes the transformation of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania, School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics. His community work consists of public health and environment control issues.