Women of Science | U-M WISE

The University of Michigan is proud of the accomplishments of UM women faculty and research scientists. We plan to spotlight these women in this section of our website.

In addition, we also plan to provide practical information about careers in science and engineering, as well as feature stories that celebrate a rich history of women in science.

Please check back for updates. In the meantime: Did you know…

…that chemist Isabella Karle was the first American woman to receive a doctorate in physical chemistry from UM (B.S. 1941, PhD 1944), and the first woman to teach chemistry at the University? To read more about Isabella Karle, please visit the Michigan Today web page to read the full article, an excerpt of which is below:

…Karle graduated from high school in the middle of the year at the age of 16. “I went down to what is now Wayne State and there, by some administrative mix-up, I was put into a chemistry class that was intended for chemical engineers. I was the only girl and there were something like 99 boys. Well, that didn’t faze me a bit! I did very well academically in that class and the professor took and interest in me—his name was Joseph Jasper—and before the semester was over I was awarded a four-year scholarship to the University of Michigan. When I told him I was leaving, he said, ‘The University of Michigan is a good school, and you’ll like it very much, and you will of course go on to graduate school.’ To which I replied, ‘What's that?‘”

…that the first woman plant pathologist hired at USDA was UM graduate Effie A. Southworth, B.S. 1885? To read more about Effie Southworth, please visit the APSnet web page to read the full article, an excerpt of which is below:

…The Department of Agriculture had employed women prior to Southworth’s arrival, but only in technical positions, primarily to mount specimens. It was not unusual for women to take an interest in botany during the 19th century. Some drew and painted beautiful illustrations of plant, fungal, and animal species. Women pursued botanical collecting and filled college classrooms, although these interests rarely translated into a career in science. Many of these women were hobbyists and not paid professionally for their work. This situation began to change in the late 19th and early 20th century.… Southworth holds the distinction of being the first woman researcher hired at the USDA.

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The University of Michigan is proud of the accomplishments of UM women faculty and research scientists. We plan to spotlight these women in this section of our website.

In addition, we also plan to provide practical information about careers in science and engineering, as well as feature stories that celebrate a rich history of women in science.

Please check back for updates. In the meantime: Did you know…

…that chemist Isabella Karle was the first American woman to receive a doctorate in physical chemistry from UM (B.S. 1941, PhD 1944), and the first woman to teach chemistry at the University? To read more about Isabella Karle, please visit the Michigan Today web page to read the full article, an excerpt of which is below:

…Karle graduated from high school in the middle of the year at the age of 16. “I went down to what is now Wayne State and there, by some administrative mix-up, I was put into a chemistry class that was intended for chemical engineers. I was the only girl and there were something like 99 boys. Well, that didn’t faze me a bit! I did very well academically in that class and the professor took and interest in me—his name was Joseph Jasper—and before the semester was over I was awarded a four-year scholarship to the University of Michigan. When I told him I was leaving, he said, ‘The University of Michigan is a good school, and you’ll like it very much, and you will of course go on to graduate school.’ To which I replied, ‘What's that?‘”
…that the first woman plant pathologist hired at USDA was UM graduate Effie A. Southworth, B.S. 1885? To read more about Effie Southworth, please visit the APSnet web page to read the full article, an excerpt of which is below:

…The Department of Agriculture had employed women prior to Southworth’s arrival, but only in technical positions, primarily to mount specimens. It was not unusual for women to take an interest in botany during the 19th century. Some drew and painted beautiful illustrations of plant, fungal, and animal species. Women pursued botanical collecting and filled college classrooms, although these interests rarely translated into a career in science. Many of these women were hobbyists and not paid professionally for their work. This situation began to change in the late 19th and early 20th century.… Southworth holds the distinction of being the first woman researcher hired at the USDA.