Born in Brooklyn in 1930, Mildred Dresselhaus became a foundational figure in nanotechnology and carbon science during a fifty-seven-year tenure at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She served as a professor of physics and electrical engineering, eventually becoming the first female Institute Professor at the university, while simultaneously leading major scientific organizations and government departments.
Early Education and Academic Foundations
Raised in the Bronx, Dresselhaus attended Hunter College High School before entering Hunter College, where she studied liberal arts and graduated in 1951. Encouraged by Rosalyn Yalow to pursue physics, she continued her education through a Fulbright Fellowship at the University of Cambridge and a Master of Arts degree from Radcliffe College. In 1958, she earned her PhD from the University of Chicago, conducting research under the supervision of Enrico Fermi.
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Dresselhaus joined the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she became a visiting professor in 1967 and earned tenure in 1968. Her research focused on the electronic properties of materials, particularly carbon structures. Her work provided the groundwork for identifying the characteristics of graphene and carbon nanotubes. She notably co-authored the Saito-Fujita-Dresselhaus model, which predicted the band structures of carbon nanotubes, and the Hicks-Dresselhaus model, which advanced the field of thermoelectrics.
Leadership and Advocacy
Beyond her research, Dresselhaus held prominent leadership roles, including director of science in the U.S. Department of Energy under the Bill Clinton administration. She served as president of the American Physical Society and as chair of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Throughout her career, she actively worked to increase the participation of women in science, organizing the first Women's Forum at MIT in 1971 and highlighting gender discrimination within the institution.
Recognition and Awards
Her contributions were recognized by numerous honors, including the National Medal of Science in 1990, the Heinz Award in 2005, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2014. She received the Kavli Prize in 2012 and the IEEE Medal of Honor in 2015. Additionally, she held honorary doctorates from Pierre and Marie Curie University and ETH Zürich. Dresselhaus passed away in 2017 at Mount Auburn Hospital.
Fast facts
- Born: 1930, Brooklyn, United States
- Died: 2017, Mount Auburn Hospital
- Education: University of Chicago, Radcliffe College, Cornell University
- Key Roles: Professor of Physics and Electrical Engineering, MIT
- Government Service: Director of Science, U.S. Department of Energy
- Notable Recognition: National Medal of Science (1990)
- Notable Recognition: Presidential Medal of Freedom (2014)
- Burial Site: Mount Auburn Cemetery
Questions readers ask
What were the primary fields of work for Mildred Dresselhaus?
Her primary fields included physics, nanotechnology, electrical engineering, and applied physics.
Which major scientific organizations did she lead?
She served as the president of the American Physical Society, chair of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and treasurer of the National Academy of Sciences.
Achievements
- Affiliated with Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Educated at Harvard University, University of Chicago and Cornell University
- Worked as physicist, engineer and university teacher
