Philip Jason Clark (January 28, 1920 – December 24, 1964) was an American ecologist and zoologist. He taught at the University of Oklahoma and at Michigan State University.^[1] His expertise made serious contributions to human genetics, physical anthropology and community ecology.^[1] Those contributions are most reflected in journals such as Ecology, Science, Human Biology, Eugenics Quarterly, American Journal of Physical Anthropology, Animal Behavior and American Journal of Human Genetics.^[1] He died on December 24, 1964, when he was hit by a pickup truck while walking home from his office at Michigan State University.^[2]

Life and work

Philip Clark was born on January 28, 1920, in Takoma Park, Maryland.^[1] He spent most of his childhood growing up in Chicago near Lake Michigan. Clark attended the University of Chicago and graduated in 1948 after serving a year and half in the U.S. Navy.^[1] Under the supervision of Dr. Lee R. Dice, Clark underwent his graduate studies. His efforts paid off and was award a M.S. degree in 1950 and a Ph.D. degree in 1953.^[1] Still at the University of Chicago, Clark went to the Institute of Human Biology till 1955 and work as a Junior Biologist. Soon after, he got a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Statistics. A year later, he started teaching at the University of Oklahoma.^[1] In 1957, Clark transferred to Michigan State University and joined their faculty.^[1] The department of Zoology recognized his talents and research and was soon promoted to a professor after 4 years.^[1] The National Science Foundation granted Clark to hold a Science Faculty Fellowship at the University of North Carolina and taught in the department of Biostatistics. He returned to Michigan State University due to a year's sabbatical leave.^[1]

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