Role Models

Empower

Kang-Kuen Ni

Field
Quantum
Institution
Harvard Boston, United-States
Known for
Her work on ultra-cold, near-quantum-degenerate gas of polar molecules

Gemma De les Coves

Field
Quantum computer
Institution
Pompeu Fabra University Barcelona
Known for
Her work on mathematical quantum physics and notions of universality in physics, computer science and beyond

Caroline Champenois

Field
Quantum sensing & metrology
Institution
CNRS
Known for
Trapped ions, optical frequency metrology
Advocacy for women in physics with Femmes et physique

Marilu Chiofalo

Field
Quantum simulation, sensing & metrology
Institution
University of Pisa
Known for
High-temperature superconductivity, quantum degenerate Fermi and Bose atomic gases with tunable interactions and density and spin effects, also in reduced dimensions, application of the physics of quantum degenerate gases to fundamental physics and to technological devices.
Former Deputy-mayor of Pisa
Advocacy for women in physics
Distinctions
Italian Physical Society prize for young researchers

Shirley Ann Jackson

Field
Theoritical physics
Institution
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, United-States
Known for
Electronic and optical properties of two-dimensional systems
Distinctions
First African-American woman to earn a doctorate degree (nucelar physics) from the MIT (second in the US), 1973
Appointed as chairman of the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 1995
First woman to be president of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 1999

 

Claudine Hermann

Timeline
1945-2021
Field
Solid-state physics
Institution
École normale supérieure de Sèvres, France
Femme & Sciences
European Platform of Women Scientists EPWS
Known for
Optical properties of solids, in particular the photo-emission of polarised electrons
Advocacy for women in physics
First women to be appointed Professor at École polytechnique

Mildred Dresselhaus

Timeline
1930-2017
Field
Applied physics
Institution
Cornell University, United-States
MIT, United-States
Known for
Carbon nanotubes
Distinctions
National Medal of Science,1990
IEEE Founders Medal, 2004
Heinz Award in Technology, Economy, and Employment, 2005
Harold Pender Award, 2006
Oliver E. Buckley Condensed Matter Prize, 2008
Oersted Medal, 2008
Vannevar Bush Award, 2009
Enrico Fermi Award, 2012
Kavli Prize in Nanoscience, 2012
Presidential Medal of Freedom, 2014
 

Audrey Stuckes

Timeline
1923-2006
Field
Thermal and electrical conductivity
Institution
University of Salford, England
Metropolitan-Vickers
Known for
Contributions to the theory of the Johnsen–Rahbek effect
The electrical and thermal conductivity of semiconductors
The thermal resistance of building insulation
Distinction
Pfeiffer scholarship, 1942

Leona Woods

Timeline
1919-1986
Field
Nuclear Physics
Institutions
University of Chicago, United-States
Known for
The Manhattan Project
Leona Woods participated in building the first nuclear reactor and the first atomic bomb

Chien-Shiung Wu

Timeline
1912-1997
Field
Particule and experimental physics
Institution
Institute of Physics, Academia Sinica, Taiwan
University of California, Berkeley, United-States
Smith College, United-States
Princeton University, United-States
Columbia University, United-States
Zhejiang University, China
Known for
The Manhattan Project
Contributions in the fields of nuclear and particle physics
Chien-Shiung Wu participated in developing the process for separating uranium into uranium-235 and uranium-238 isotopes by gaseous diffusion
Distinctions
Nominations for the Nobel Prizes in Physics and in Chemistry
Comstock Prize in Physics, 1963
Bonner Prize, 1975
National Medal of Science, 1975
Wolf Prize in Physics, 1978

 

Berta Karlik

Timeline
1904-1990
Field
Radioactivity
Institution
University of Vienna, Austria
Known for
The discovery of astatine in natural decay processes products
Distinctions
Haitinger Prize, 1925
City of Vienna Prize for Natural Sciences, 1951
Wilhelm Exner Medal, 1954
Erwin-Schrödinger Prize, 1967

 

Maria Goeppert-Mayer

Timeline
1906-1972
Field
Theoritical physics, nuclear physics
Institutions
Sarah Lawrence College, Unites-States
Columbia University, Unites-States
Los Alamos Laboratory, Unites-States
Argonne National Laboratory, Unites-States 
University of California, San Diego, Unites-States
University of Chicago, Unites-States 
Known for
The discovery of the nuclear shell model of the atomic nucleus
Distinctions
Nobel Prize in Physics “for their (together with J. Hans D. Jensen) discoveries concerning nuclear shell structure”, 1963
Establishement of the Maria Goeppert-Mayer Award for early-career women physicists in her honor, 1986

Grete Hermann

Timeline
1901-1984
Field
Mathematics, physics, philosophy, education
Institution
University of Göttingen, Germany
Known for
Philosophical work on the foundations of quantum mechanics
Critique of the"no hidden-variables theorem" of John von Neumann

Laura Bassi

Laura Maria Caterina Bassi Veratti

Timeline
1711-1778
Field
Physics, philosophy, anatomy
Institution
University of Bologna, Italy
Known for
Popularising Newtonian mechanics in Italy
First salaried female University Professor
Distinctions
inducted by the Pope to the Benedettini

Emmy Noether

Amalie Emmy Noether

Timeline
1882-1935
Field
Mathematics, theoritical physics
Institutions
University of Göttingen, Germany
Bryn Mawr College, United-States
Known for
The use of nuclear emulsions to detect high energy particles
Abstract algebra
Noether's theorem
Noetherian ring
Lasker–Noether theorem

Lise Meitner

Timeline
1878-1968
Field
Radioactivity
Institution
University of Vienna, Austria
Kaiser Wilhelm Institute, Germany
University of Berlin, Germany
Manne Siegbahn Laboratory, Sweden
University College of Stockholm, Sweden
Known for
The discovery of protactinium and nuclear fission
Distinctions
Lieben Prize, 1925
Max Planck Medal, 1949
Otto Hahn Prize, 1955
ForMemRS, 1955
Wilhelm Exner Medal, 1960
Enrico Fermi Award, 1966
Establishement of the Lise Meitner Prize by the European Physical Society (nuclear physics division) in her honor

 

 

 

Mileva Marić

Timeline
1875-1948
Field
Mathematics, physics, theory of relativity
Institution
Zurich Polytechnic School, Switzerland

Mileva Marić studied with Albert Einstein and eventually married him. We do not know to what extend she participated in his discoveries, but there are some controvertial letters saying that they both worked together so we thought it was important to devote her a few lines in ATOM*INNEN's website. Furthermore one has to admit that few papers were published under women's names at that time. They divorced in 1919 before Einstein got his Nobel Prize "for his services to Theoretical Physics, and especially for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect" (1921). 

Marie Curie

Maria Salomea Skłodowska-Curie

Timeline
1867-1934
Field
Chemistry, physics, radioactivity
Institution
University of Paris (La Sorbonne), France
Curie Institute, France
Known for
The discovery of polunium and radium
Distinctions
Nobel Prize in Physics in recognition of the extraordinary services they have rendered by their joint researches on the radiation phenomena discovered by Professor Henri Becquerel with Pierre Curie, 1903
First woman to win a Nobel Prize
First woman to be professor at the University of Paris (La Sorbonne), 1906
Nobel Prize in Chemistry in recognition of her services to the advancement of chemistry by the discovery of the elements radium and polonium, by the isolation of radium and the study of the nature and compounds of this remarkable element, 1911
First women to have won two Nobel Prizes

Émilie du Châtelet

Gabrielle Émilie Le Tonnelier de Breteuil, marquise du Châtelet

Timeline
1706-1749
Field
Mathematics, physics, philosophy
Institution
The Academy of Sciences of the Bologna Institute, Italie
Stanislas Academy, France
Known for
Foundations of Physics
Newton's Principia translation into French
Natural philosophy which combines Newtonian physics with Leibnizian metaphysics
Advocacy of Newtonian physics