Jinks, John Leonard, 1929-

John Leonard Jinks, 1929-1987, geneticist. Jinks was educated at Longton High School, Stoke-on-Trent before winning a state studentship to University of Birmingham where he obtained a first class degree in Botany in 1950. He became an Agricultural Research Council Scholar (ARC) in the Department of Genetics, gaining his doctorate in 1952, followed by a D.Sc in 1964. Jinks spent most of his career at the University of Birmingham working in the ARC Unit of Biometrical Genetics as Scientific Officer, 1953-1959 and Principal Scientific Officer, 1960-1965. He was appointed honorary lecturer in the Department of Genetics 1960, reader 1962 and professor and head of department in 1965 in succession to Sir Kenneth Mather. From 1972-1975 Jinks served as Dean of the Science and Engineering Faculty and was Pro-Vice-Chancellor, 1981-1985. Throughout his career Jinks retained a close relationship with the ARC (now the Agricultural and Food Research Council), serving on the Council 1979-1985 and as Secretary and Deputy Chairman from 1985. He also served as a member of the Science Research Council 1975-1979

During his lifetime, Jinks received a number of honours in recognition of his work in microbial, biometrical and behavioural genetics. These included Fellowship of the Institute of Biology 1968, Fellowship of the Royal Society 1970 and the Commander of the Order of the British Empire 1984.

Reference: Peter Harper and Timothy E. Powell, Catalogue for the Papers and Correspondence of John Leonard Jinks (National Cataloguing Unit for the Archives of Contemporary Scientists, University of Bath, 1988).

For further reading about the University of Birmingham see: Eric Ives, Diane Drummond, Leonard Schwarz The First Civic University: Birmingham 1880-1980 An Introductory History (The University of University of Birmingham Press. 2000).

From the guide to the University of Birmingham Staff Papers: Papers of John Leonard Jinks, 1952-1988, (University of Birmingham Information Services, Special Collections Department)