On the surface, Mary E. Brunkow, the 2025 Nobel laureate in Physiology or Medicine, and Amazon chairman Jeff Bezos seem worlds apart—one peering into the microscopic secrets of the human body, the other building a digital empire that touches billions of lives. Yet, their remarkable journeys share a surprising common starting point: Princeton University. From the ivy-lined classrooms of this historic campus, both alumni launched paths that would redefine science, technology, and global innovation—proof that brilliance often begins in the same place, even if it takes radically different forms.
Mary E. Brunkow : Decoding the body’s immune system
Mary E. Brunkow earned her Ph.D. in molecular biology from Princeton in 1991. Her pioneering research on peripheral immune tolerance, a mechanism that prevents the body from attacking itself, has reshaped our understanding of autoimmune diseases, organ transplants, and cancer therapies. The significance of her work was recognised globally when she was awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.Princeton’s laboratories and culture of mentorship gave Brunkow the freedom to explore bold questions and challenge conventional thinking. Her journey illustrates how curiosity, combined with rigorous training, can produce breakthroughs that save lives and redefine entire fields of science.
Jeff Bezos : Engineering a digital empire
Five years before Brunkow completed her Ph.D., Jeff Bezos graduated summa cum laude in 1986 with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering, majoring in electrical engineering and computer science. At the time, the concept of e-commerce was barely imaginable—but Princeton helped shape the analytical thinking and problem-solving skills that would later fuel Bezos’ vision.Bezos went on to found Amazon, transforming it from a small online bookstore into a global technology and retail powerhouse. His path highlights another dimension of Princeton’s impact: cultivating entrepreneurial minds capable of taking ambitious ideas from theory to worldwide influence.
Princeton’s common thread
The link between Brunkow and Bezos is not simply a shared campus or degree—it is the Princeton ethos: fostering curiosity, ambition, and fearless pursuit of excellence. Whether unraveling the mysteries of the immune system or redefining global commerce, both alumni demonstrate how a strong foundation can launch radically different, yet equally transformative, paths.Their stories underscore a universal truth: intelligence, discipline, and vision know no boundaries. Princeton, with its centuries-old tradition of nurturing extraordinary talent, remains a place where some of the world’s most remarkable journeys begin.
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