Oh, hands down, I’m most proud of the people that I’ve trained and the people that have come from my work — I mean from my lab. I think that when I look at these younger people who are now working in their own right, running research laboratories, doing great work, teaching their students, making new discoveries, that’s what I’m proudest of. That legacy of science that stemmed from — originally — just me opening up my shop at Yale University back in 1994.

Yes, and that gives me incredible pride, and the fact that Ruvkun is the other awardee, is incredible, because Gary is such a good friend. I mean you ask me what my first sense was, it’s surprise, and secondly of course it’s a kind of muted joy because, you know, whenever this kind of thing happens to basic scientists, especially scientists working on the nematode, I think it’s a wonderful thing for everybody doing this kind of work.

I think I'm trying to be as normal as possible, as authentic as possible, and I always try to stay the same way for as long as possible,

Keeping my children’s feet on the ground. It’s challenging as you become wealthier and wealthier in life, and you see how money very often — third or fourth generation — destroys people. Their inability to appreciate it, understand it, not abuse it. I think I’ve equipped my children well.