School of Medicine Professor Emeritus Lubert Stryer will journey to the White House tomorrow to receive the 2006 National Medal of Science from President Bush — the nation’s highest honor for scientific achievement.

Stryer, who studies neurobiology and cell biology, is one of eight scientists to receive an award. Psychology Prof. Gordon Bower and Statistics Prof. Bradley Efron M.S. ‘62, National Medal of Science winners for 2005, will join Stryer at the White House ceremony honoring the 2005 and 2006 laureates.

35 Stanford scholars have won the award. Since its establishment by Congress in 1959, the National Medal of Science has recognized individuals studying the physical, biological, mathematical, engineering, social, and behaviorial sciences.

Medical School Dean Philip Pizzo was quick to praise Stryer’s accomplishment.

“We were all thrilled when Dr. Lubert Stryer was named as one of the 2006 awardees,” he said. “First, for Dr. Stryer who has had a remarkably productive career and who is most worthy of this honor and recognition and second, for the further distinction that this honor brings to the School of Medicine and Stanford University.”

Stryer is best known for the development of a DNA chip used in genetic analysis. Stryer developed a light-directed method of generating microarray “gene chips” during his 1989 leave from Stanford. The method is currently used by Affymetrix, the Santa Clara Company at which Stryer serves as the chair of the scientific advisory board.

Stryer has also researched how the retina processes light. He has pioneered techniques like fluorescence spectroscopy to study proteins on the molecular level, and is the author of the textbook “Biochemistry.”

“He is highly intelligent, broadly educated and naturally curious,” Pizzo said. “Importantly he has been willing and able to address big problems and questions — which is why his research has had such an impact.”

Stryer’s former postdoctoral student, Chemical and Systems Biology Prof. Tobias Meyer celebrated Stryer’s well-rounded intellectualism.

“I think an understanding of Lubert is incomplete without mentioning his deep interest in music, art, and the outdoors,” he said. “I believe that he got much of his inspiration for his research while hiking in the mountains, listening to music or contemplating art.”