At first glance, Mary E. Brunkow, the 2025 Nobel laureate in Physiology or Medicine, and Amazon chairman Jeff Bezos appear to inhabit completely different worlds. Brunkow delves into the intricate mysteries of the human body, while Bezos built a digital empire that impacts billions globally. Yet, their extraordinary journeys share an unexpected, foundational starting point: Princeton University.
From the historic campus, both alumni embarked on paths that would ultimately redefine science, technology, and global innovation. Their stories serve as compelling evidence that brilliance often blossoms from the same intellectual soil, even when it manifests in profoundly 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 groundbreaking research on peripheral immune tolerance—a critical mechanism preventing the body from attacking its own tissues—has fundamentally reshaped our understanding of autoimmune diseases, organ transplants, and vital cancer therapies. The global significance of her contributions was recognized with the prestigious 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
Princeton’s state-of-the-art laboratories and a culture that champions mentorship provided Brunkow with the ideal environment to pursue audacious questions and challenge established scientific paradigms. Her impressive career exemplifies how unwavering curiosity, coupled with rigorous academic training, can lead to life-saving breakthroughs and transform entire scientific disciplines.
Jeff Bezos: Engineering a digital empire
Five years before Brunkow completed her doctoral studies, Jeff Bezos graduated summa cum laude from Princeton in 1986. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering, specializing in electrical engineering and computer science. In those days, the very concept of e-commerce was barely a flicker on the horizon, but Princeton played a crucial role in cultivating the analytical thinking and problem-solving skills that would later ignite Bezos’ visionary ambition.
Bezos went on to establish Amazon, meticulously transforming it from a modest online bookstore into a global technology and retail behemoth. His trajectory underscores another facet of Princeton’s profound influence: its ability to cultivate entrepreneurial minds capable of translating ambitious theoretical ideas into worldwide impact.
Princeton’s common thread
The connection between Brunkow and Bezos extends far beyond merely sharing a campus or a degree. It lies in the core Princeton ethos: a commitment to fostering insatiable curiosity, boundless ambition, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. Whether meticulously unraveling the mysteries of the immune system or boldly redefining global commerce, both alumni exemplify how a robust educational foundation can launch radically diverse, yet equally transformative, paths.
Their inspiring narratives highlight a universal truth: intelligence, discipline, and vision know no boundaries. Princeton, with its centuries-old tradition of nurturing extraordinary talent, continues to be a fertile ground where some of the world’s most remarkable journeys begin.