Howard and Woods Hole
After graduating from Dartmouth in 1907, Just taught at Howard University. He began research with Frank Rattray Lillie at the MBL in 1909 and received a Chicago doctorate in 1916, combining academic-year teaching with summer investigations of marine organisms.
Sperm entry and the egg’s response
Just’s 1912 work on Nereis examined the relationship between sperm entry and the first cleavage plane. Subsequent studies followed changes at the egg surface during fertilization. Attention to collecting seasons, seawater and handling helped maintain physiologically suitable material for experiments.
Research and professional barriers
In 1939 Just published The Biology of the Cell Surface and a book on experimental methods for marine eggs. As an African American scientist he faced racial discrimination in employment and access to resources. Research visits to Naples, Berlin and French institutions provided further opportunities to continue his work.