Mildred Dresselhaus
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Closing Plenary
BIO
Dresselhaus began her career in 1960 as a member of the research staff at the MIT Lincoln Laboratory, after earning her Ph.D. at the University of Chicago and a two-year post-doctorate at Cornell University. Her research led to her appointment as an MIT faculty member and eventually as a professor in the departments of physics and electrical engineering. She served as the director of the Office of Science at the U.S. Department of Energy in 2000-01, and has been an officer in many national organizations in physics, engineering, and related areas. Honors and awards include 31 honorary doctorates worldwide, and the National Medal of Science, the Nicholson Medal for Humanitarian Service, the Compton Award, the Fermi Prize, and the Kavli Prize.

Dresselhaus co-chaired a Department of Energy study on "Basic Research Needs for the Hydrogen Economy" in 2003 and more recently co-chaired the National Academy Decadal Study of Condensed Matter and Materials Physics. She has co-authored more than 1,600 publications including books, book chapters, invited review articles, and peer-reviewed journal articles. Dresselhaus is involved in various activities that promote the increased participation of women in science and engineering.