Born in Pittsburgh, PA, in 1911, Joseph Bianculli’s interest in pharmacy began when he worked as a soda jerk in an East Liberty pharmacy. He enrolled in the Pittsburgh College of Pharmacy and graduated in 1935 with a B.S. in Pharmacy. While a student, Bianculli said he was inspired by Professor Clarence Van Meter, who was the best teacher he ever had and who was able to make students really understand chemistry and physics. Bianculli started his career in community drug stores in the towns of Coraopolis and Verona, PA, both near Pittsburgh and continued his education. Between 1936 and 1942 Bianculli was a Graduate Student Assistant in the School of Pharmacy. He received a Ph.D. in organic chemistry in 1941. After receiving his Ph.D., Bianculli worked several years as a research chemist with American Cyanamid Company and several years as a research chemist and assistant director of Chemical Research at Reed and Carnick Company in Jersey City, NJ. Bianculli said he wanted to teach because of people like Professor Van Meter, and in 1948 he accepted the position of assistant professor of Pharmaceutical Chemistry at the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Pharmacy.

In 1950 he became associate professor of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, and in 1955 he became head of the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and professor of Pharmaceutical Chemistry. Bianculli served as acting dean for two years before becoming dean in 1961. Bianculli’s primary goal as dean was to improve all the departments and began by recruiting faculty. In 1967, Bianculli was honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award. After 18 years as dean, Bianculli retired in 1981 yet continues to maintain a strong relationship with the School. Bianculli says that "the greatest reward in his career was when his students learned something new." Dick Lithgow PHA'50, special assistant to the dean for alumni affairs at the School of Pharmacy, remembers Bianculli as, "one of the best teachers he ever had. He was extremely knowledgeable; he would come in the room and have the blackboard filled in 15 seconds." According to Bianculli, "things turned out pretty well" while he was the dean. The many alumni who remember him fondly would most certainly agree.