Jim Peacock

{{Short description|Australian scientist}}

{{for|those of the same or a similar name|Jim Peacock (footballer)|James Peacock (disambiguation)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}

{{Use Australian English|date=April 2018}}

William James Peacock (born 14 December 1937) is an Australian molecular biologist who was Chief Scientist of Australia (2006–2008),{{cite news | url = http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2006/s1581186.htm | title = New chief scientist makes waves | author = Karen Percy | work = The World Today | date = 1 March 2006 | accessdate = 2007-01-29 }} President of the Australian Academy of Science (2002–2006) and Chief of CSIRO Plant Industry (1978–2003).Virginia Gewin, [http://www.nature.com/naturejobs/2006/060713/full/nj7099-220a.html Jim Peacock, chief scientist, Canberra, Australia], Nature [http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v442/n7099/#Naturejobs Vol 442, No 7099], pg 220, 12 July 2006. Retrieved 2009-11-04.

Peacock was born in Leura, New South Wales{{cite web |url= http://www.eoas.info/biogs/P000699b.htm |title= Peacock, William James (1937 – ) |author1= G.J. McCarthy |author2= Helen Cohn |work= Biographical entry |publisher= Encyclopaedia of Australian Science |date= 12 December 2017 }} and educated at the University of Sydney, where he studied botany and zoology and gained a PhD in genetics. He followed this with post-doctoral positions in genetics at the University of Oregon in Eugene and molecular biology at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee, before returning to Australia to work with the CSIRO.

Peacock is a Member of the Prime Minister's Science, Engineering and Innovation Council (PMSEIC) and the National Innovation Council and has served on the Australian Research Council (ARC) Grants Committee, the Australian Science, Technology and Engineering Council (ASTEC) and the Academy of Science's Committee on Recombinant DNA Molecules (ASCORD). In 2000, Dr Peacock was joint recipient of the inaugural Prime Minister's Prize for Science.

Peacock was appointed Chief Scientist of Australia on a part-time basis in March 2006, and his term concluded on 31 August 2008. Penny Sackett was appointed as his replacement, to take up the position on a full-time basis in November 2008.Davis, Mark: [http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/astronomer-announced-as-new-chief-scientist/2008/09/30/1222651085451.html Astronomer announced as new chief scientist], The Sydney Morning Herald, 1 October 2008.