Jules Alphonse Nicolas Hoffmann is a Luxembourg-born French biologist. During his youth, growing up in Luxembourg, he developed a strong interest in insects under the influence of his father, Jos Hoffmann. This eventually resulted in the younger Hoffmann's dedication to the field of biology using insects as model organisms. He currently holds a faculty position at the University of Strasbourg. He is a research director and member of the board of administrators of the National Center of Scientific Research (CNRS) in Strasbourg, France. He was elected to the positions of Vice-President (2005–2006) and President (2007–2008) of the French Academy of Sciences. Hoffmann and Bruce Beutler were jointly awarded a half share of the 2011 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for "their discoveries concerning the activation of innate immunity,". [More specifically, the work showing increased Drosomycin expression following activation of Toll pathway in microbial infection.]
Hoffmann in 2011
Hoffmann, Göran K. Hansson (chairman of the Nobel Committee for Physiology or Medicine) and Bruce Beutler
Hoffmann and Bruce Beutler
The University of Strasbourg is a public research university located in Strasbourg, France, with over 52,000 students and 3,300 researchers. Founded in the 16th century by Jean Sturm, it was an intellectual hotbed during the Age of Enlightenment.
Palais Universitaire, main building of the former Imperial University of Strasbourg
Johannes Sturm founder of the university, 1539
Grand hall of the University Palace, where the first session of the Council of Europe Assembly took place
The Gallia building, formerly Germania, seat of the Regional Student's Service Centre