Vitaly Vodyanoy, MS, PhD

June 2, 1941 - January 28, 2023

Dr. Vodyanoy was born to Jacob and Vera (Resnik) Vodyanoy in Kiev, Ukraine, on June 2, 1941. He married Galina (Rubin) Vodyanoy on April 22, 1967.

He graduated from Moscow Physical Engineering Institute, USSR, with a Master of Science in Physics in 1964, earned a Ph.D. in Biophysics from the Agrophysical Research Institute, Leningrad, USSR, in 1973. He served as a faculty of the USSR Academy of Sciences until 1979, when like as many other Soviet Jews, he emigrated to the USA and arrived in New York City with his family.

In the USA, he held positions as a Senior Research Scientist at New York University (1979-1982) and a Research Associate at the University of California, Irvine (1982-1989). He then joined the Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology department at Auburn University, where he made it his home for the remainder of his extraordinary career as an accomplished Alumni Professor.

Dr. Vodyanoy's career was nothing short of brilliant. He was an outstanding scientist who made innumerable contributions to olfaction, biosensors, and microscopy research. Dr. Vodyanoy trained 59 Ph.D. and M.S. students and eight postdoctoral fellows throughout his tenure. He published more than 140 refereed publications and 13 book chapters, had 11 USA patents commercialized, three commercial products marketed, and applied for another 62 Patents (25 USA, 37 foreign).

The wonder of discovery moved Dr. Vodyanoy, and he would go long ways to find things out. If there was something he couldn't do with what was available, he invented it. He was elected to the rank of National Academy of Inventors Fellow in 2013 and the recipient of the Distinguished Fellow Medal by the National Academy of Inventors in 2014. He has been the inventor of numerous devices and methods. As highlights, he invented the high-resolution microscope Cytoviva, the simultaneous observation of darkfield images and fluorescence using filters and diaphragms, processes for isolating protein nucleation centers from a biological sample, methods for detecting misfolded proteins in biological samples, and an apparatus and method for measurement of the aerodynamics of olfaction in animals and humankind, among others. And yet, as asked in the numerous interviews he has given, he remained modest about his discovery: "I don't look at this as an invention; it's really just a tool," "It's a real workhorse," he would say.

His exceptional accomplishments were recognized by his fellows and evident in the many awards and honors Dr. Vodyanoy received, from teaching to research: Pfizer Award for Research Excellence, 2000; Auburn University Creative Research Award, 2005; Auburn University Distinguished Graduate Faculty Lecturer, 2005; Auburn University Alumni Professor, 2007; Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship Award, 2008; Auburn University B.F. Hoerlein Research Award, 2011; Named Super Professor by Faculty Row in 2012, among others; and finally, the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award, 2018. Dr. Vodyanoy was also the recipient of several grants throughout his career.

Beyond all the tangible professional accomplishments, Dr. Vodyanoy was a lover of dogs and was fascinated by their extraordinary olfactory sense. He also found time to develop his hobby of studying plant and herbal remedies for his personal use, which began in his native Russia. As a renaissance man, he was also passionate about arts and music.

He was also a wonderful colleague, mentor, and friend to all who knew him. His kind spirit will always be with us, and "as long as we live, they too will live, for they are now a part of us as We remember them." Dr. Vodyanoy is survived by his daughters.

A Memorial Service will be held at 3:00PM Friday February 3, 2023 at Town Creek Cemetery.

Frederick-Dean Funeral Home is handling all arrangements.