Eric Kandel was born on November 7, 1929, in Vienna, Austria, to a Jewish family. His mother was well-educated, while his father came from a modest background and operated a toy store in the city. As the Nazi regime escalated its persecution of Jews during World War II, the Kandel family faced increasing danger. In 1939, they fled Austria and immigrated to the United States to escape the rising tide of anti-Semitic violence.
Upon arriving in the United States, Kandel attended Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn, New York. He also studied Judaic traditions while living with his grandfather. During these formative years, he developed an early interest in history and was captivated by historical events and their effects on civilizations. Intent on pursuing a career in history, he enrolled at Harvard University as an undergraduate student.
However, during his time at Harvard, Kandel's intellectual focus shifted. His curiosity about memory and the brain's learning mechanisms led him toward neurobiology. He began studying neurology and expanded his interest to include psychology and behavioral science.
In 1952, Kandel entered New York University Medical School to specialize in neurology. His early work involved examining marine invertebrates and studying individual neurons, which offered valuable insights due to their relatively simple nervous systems. This approach allowed him to isolate and study specific memory-related processes at the cellular level.
By 1957, Kandel had joined the Laboratory of Neurophysiology at the National Institutes of Health. There, he conducted studies on patients with memory deficits, laying the groundwork for future explorations into the biological basis of memory. His innovative research earned him a position on the faculty at New York University Medical School, where he eventually became a professor.
| Birth Date: | 7 Nov, 1929 |
| Age: | 90 yrs |
| Citizenship: | United States of America |
| Birth Place: | Vienna |
| Gender: | Male |
| Description: | American neuropsychiatrist |
| Spouse: | Denise Kandel |
| Net Worth 2021: | 16 million |
