President Neil L. Rudenstine said in an interview last week that he has narrowed his list of provost candidates to less than a dozen names.

Rudenstine said the search for a University-wide academic officer is moving ahead and that he hopes to make an appointment by the end of the month.

The president's short list is said to include Rotch Professor of Atmospheric Science Michael B. McElroy, Dillon Professor of International Affairs Joseph S. Nye Jr. and Professor of Government Dennis F. Thompson.

University insiders, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Wells Professor of Political Economy Jerry R. Green, Pforzheimer University Professor Sidney Verba '53 and Mallinckrodt Professor of Chemistry George M. Whitesides '60 are also under consideration.

Dean of the Business School John H. McArthur and Dean of the Medical School Daniel C. Tosteson '44 are also said to be candidates for the position.

Stephen G. Breyer, chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the first circuit, and Gaiser Professor of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology Christopher T. Walsh Jr. '65 are said to be on the short list as well.

In addition, Cabot Professor of Medical Biophysics Stanley J. Adelstein and Watts Professor of Health Care Policy Barbara J. McNeil are considered likely candidates for the post.

February Appointment

Rudenstine said he has been consulting frequently with the deans of the various faculties and that his desire to appoint a provost by the end of February is "still a reasonable hope."

Rudenstine added that names are regularly added to and taken off the list of candidates.

Faculty members who are reportedly under consideration declined to comment to The Crimson on the search process.

All those contacted by The Crimson said they had not yet been approached by Rudenstine about the job.

Asked if they were interested in the post, some candidates interviewed said they were interested in their research and teaching. But none said they would definitely turn down the job. As one candidate said, "Neil Rudenstine can be very persuasive."

The candidates range in age from Green, the youngest at age 45, to Tosteson, the oldest at age 67.

Thompson, who directs the University Program in Ethics and the Professions, is considered a strong candidate because of his experience with different parts of the University.

In addition to his appointment with the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS), Thompson, 51, is Whitehead professor of political philosophy on the faculty of the Kennedy School of Government. He is also a personal friend of Rudenstine, according to University insiders.

Nye, who also has a joint appointment with FAS and the Kennedy School, was on the medium list during last year's presidential search. He is director of the Center for Interna- tional Affairs and is a FAS associate dean.

Nye, 55, is familiar with the realm ofgovernment and politics and spearheaded FASinternationalization plans. He was mentionedwidely as a top contender for the FAS and KennedySchool deanships.

McElroy, 52, chair of the Earth and PlanetarySciences Department, was one of eight finalcandidates for the University presidency and wasthe runner-up for the FAS deanship.

He has advised Congress on a number ofenvironmental matters and is in the thick ofefforts to put together a University-wideenvironmental studies program.

Sole Economist

Green is the only economist said to be underconsideration. He was recently appointed to chaira faculty committee on retirement and is fiveyears younger than the next youngest candidate.

Verba was recently named to chair afaculty-student committee on the Reserve OfficersTraining Corps and Chaired a committee onaffirmative action in the late 80s. An activefaculty member, he demonstrated his administrativeand fundraising skills during a stint asUniversity librarian.

Whitesides, an associate dean of FAS, was acentral player in developing the faculty'sfundraising plans and was a serious candidateduring both the presidential search and the FASdean search.

Strong Fundraisers

McArthur, 57, and Tosteson are known to bestrong fundraisers for their schools, and theprovost will play a significant role in the $2billion-plus capital campaign, which is expectedto kick off in the 1993-94 academic year. TheBusiness School and Medical School are among thelargest and most respected schools of their kindin the nation.

Walsh, who has a joint appointment at FAS andthe Medical School, was recently appointedpresident of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Breyer, currently a Law School lecturer, wasone of eight final contenders for the Harvardpresidency. Before his appointment to the bench,he served on the Law School and Kennedy Schoolfaculties. He is 53.

Adelstein is executive dean for academicprograms at the Medical School and is respected inthe medical community. At age 64, he is the secondoldest candidate.

McNeil, an eminent radiologist, is the onlywoman said to be currently under consideration.She is 50