Cather Simpson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cather Simpson
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KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards, June 2016
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| Other names | Miriam Cather Simpson |
| Alma mater | University of Virginia, University of New Mexico School of Medicine |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | Sandia National Laboratories, Case Western Reserve University, University of Auckland, MacDiarmid Institute, Dodd-Walls Centre |
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Miriam Cather Simpson is a scientist and business leader from New Zealand and America. She is a professor at the University of Auckland, teaching both physics and chemistry. She started the Photon Factory, a special laser lab at the university. She is also the chief science officer for two companies, Engender Technologies and Orbis Diagnostics. These companies use her research to create new products.
Cather Simpson is also involved with the Dodd-Walls Centre for Photonic and Quantum Technologies and the MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology. In 2019, she received the Pickering Medal from the Royal Society Te Apārangi. She loves teaching, helping young scientists, and sharing science with everyone. She also speaks out about making science fair for everyone, especially for women.
Contents
Early Life and Moving Around
Cather Simpson was born in Germany because her father was a US military officer stationed there. Her family moved 16 more times before she finished high school. She believes this helped her become very good at adapting to new situations as an adult. Her parents studied art history and English, so there were no scientists in her family. Even though she was a smart student, people encouraged her to study subjects like Latin or literature, or to become a doctor or lawyer.
Her Journey in Science
University Studies and Early Research
In 1983, Cather Simpson received a special Echols scholarship at the University of Virginia. This program lets students explore many different subjects and think critically. She first planned to study medicine. However, the Echols program allowed her to take classes in history, culture, and literature.
In her first year, she took an advanced biology course. Her teacher, Professor Richard Rodewald, invited her to work in his cell biology lab during the summer. Professor Rodewald became her first science mentor. Her experience in his lab convinced her to become a scientist. She studied how newborn rats get important immune molecules from their mother's milk. She learned to design experiments and use tools like electron microscopes. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1986.
Cather Simpson then pursued her PhD in Medical Sciences at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. She was a Howard Hughes Predoctoral Fellow. She started her PhD studying how immune cells release chemicals during allergic reactions. She also looked at how cells change shape during these reactions.
Later in her PhD, she moved to a different lab in the chemistry department. She wanted to learn more about the math behind physical chemistry to better understand cell biology. She also needed a break from a difficult situation in her old lab. During this time, she became fascinated with laser spectroscopy. This is a way to study how light and molecules interact. She planned to return to medical school, but she loved laser research so much that she stayed.
Her PhD research then focused on how heme proteins (molecules that carry oxygen in blood) react to light. She developed a method to study molecules in the first picosecond (a tiny fraction of a second) after a laser hits them. She compared it to stop-motion photography. You hit a molecule with a super-fast laser pulse. Then, you take many quick "snapshots" to see what the molecule does with the energy. Using this, she found that heme molecules turn light energy into vibrations, like tiny bits of heat. She earned her PhD in 1994. Since then, her research has focused on how molecules change light into other forms of energy.
Starting Her Own Lab
After a special fellowship at Sandia National Laboratories, Cather Simpson became a professor at Case Western Reserve University in 1997. She set up a laser lab to study how molecules convert energy very quickly. She and Professor Mary Barkley were the first two women hired in the Chemistry Department there. She became an Associate Professor and started the Center for Chemical Dynamics.
Her research program was very successful and received funding from important US science groups. Her studies helped improve light-based treatments, tiny electronic parts, and understanding how light-sensitive systems work. She also led a program for chemistry students and was a Glennan Fellow. Besides her laser research, she worked to improve teaching, support women in science, and promote good ethics in research.
In 2007, Cather Simpson moved to New Zealand. She became a professor of physics and chemical sciences at the University of Auckland. She said the university made her a great job offer. After moving, her research focus changed from basic science to more practical, commercial work. She needed to raise money for expensive lasers. However, she soon realized how valuable applied research could be for society. In 2015, she helped start the Science Scholars Program at the University of Auckland.
The Photon Factory and New Discoveries
In 2010, Cather Simpson started the Photon Factory. This is a laser research center at the University of Auckland that many scientists can use. Its main goal is to help all New Zealand scientists. It uses advanced lasers to study how light interacts with materials and to shape them. Cather wanted to turn the Photon Factory from a university lab into a place that creates new ideas and helps the economy.
The Photon Factory has a team of experts from different fields like physics, chemistry, engineering, and biology. They work together on many types of research, from basic science to practical inventions. Working with companies is very important for funding the lab.
The Photon Factory uses extremely short (femtosecond) laser pulses to solve problems. A femtosecond is one millionth of one billionth of a second! They use these lasers for micro-machining (cutting and shaping tiny materials). They also study molecules in the tiny moments after they absorb light. They were the first in the world to control the "shapes" of these super-short laser pulses. They have used this for many things, including improving bone surgery and creating air-quality sensor chips. They have also studied why colors fade in art, explored light-based cancer treatments, and developed a handheld device to check suspicious skin spots. Cather Simpson led the research team from 2010 until 2019. Then she focused more on her business roles.
Cather Simpson's work is known around the world. She helps us understand how molecules and materials turn light into useful energy. She applies this knowledge to exciting new areas. She and her students use ultrafast laser spectroscopy to study molecules as they quickly change light into other forms of energy.
She has won many national and international awards for her research and companies. In 2016, she was the first woman to win the top award at the KiwiNet Researcher Commercialisation Awards. In 2019, she received the Royal Society of New Zealand's Pickering Medal. She became a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand in 2018 and the New Zealand Institute of Chemistry in 2016. She was also the President of the New Zealand Institute of Physics. In 2023, she became a Fellow of SPIE (the International Society for Optics and Photonics). She is also a leader in the Dodd-Walls Centre and the MacDiarmid Institute. She is also part of the Commission on Laser Physics and Photonics for the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics.
Helping Farmers with Technology
Cather Simpson is very interested in using light-based technologies to make farming better and more sustainable. She has given talks and written articles about this. In 2016, she hosted Chinese government officials at the Photon Factory who wanted to improve farming. She has started two companies in the "Agtech" (agriculture technology) field, based on research from the Photon Factory.
Engender Technologies
Cather Simpson co-founded Engender Technologies in 2011. This company developed a new way to choose the sex of calves. This helps farmers have more control over their herds and reduces the number of unwanted calves.
In 2016, Engender won the Agtech category of the Silicon Valley Forum Tech World Cup. It was the first time a company from Australia or New Zealand won this award. In November 2018, a large genetics company called CRV-Ambreed bought Engender. Cather Simpson now works full-time for CRV-Ambreed to continue developing this technology in New Zealand.
Orbis Diagnostics: Milk and Health Tests
Cather Simpson is also a founder and director on the board of her second company, Orbis Diagnostics. This company first received money to develop technology that analyzes milk right in the milking shed. This "point of cow" technology uses a CD-sized disk and advanced lasers. It measures fat, protein, progesterone, and other important things in milk. This helps farmers know about a cow's health, how well it can reproduce, and its nutrition. The first research was funded by the University of Auckland's company, UniServices. Then, Orbis Diagnostics was formed with new investment.
After the COVID-19 outbreak, Orbis Diagnostics changed its focus. They adapted their "lab-on-a-disk" technology to detect COVID-19 antibodies. Their goal is to create a strong, disposable disk that can give accurate medical lab results quickly. This test would use a finger prick of blood. It would show if a person has immunity to the virus, not if they are currently infected. This could help identify people who are safe to move around in society. The company raised NZ$5.2 million to develop this.
Sharing Science and Teaching
From early in her career, Cather Simpson has focused on the people side of science. She strongly emphasizes teaching, mentoring, ethics, and talking about science with the public. At Case Western Reserve University, she helped improve teaching for college students. She also supported women in science and promoted good ethics in education and research. The Mortar Board Society at the university gave her the "Top Prof" award.
At the University of Auckland, she has taught over 1200 science and non-science students each year. This includes large classes and even classes that connect physics and poetry. In 2013, she won a national award in New Zealand for excellent teaching. She was praised for her new teaching methods that help students become independent and motivated. These methods include group activities like ‘Convince your neighbour’ and ‘Problem of the Day.’ Students respond well to her teaching, and her classes get great reviews. She encourages college science and engineering students to do advanced research in the Photon Factory.
Since her postgraduate years, Cather Simpson has spoken publicly about ethics and fairness in science. She is very interested in how light technologies can help with big issues like climate change, clean drinking water, and sustainable energy. In October 2019, she signed a public letter against racism at the University of Auckland.
Cather Simpson is a strong supporter of diversity in science. She was one of the first two female chemists hired in the Chemistry Department at Case Western Reserve University. She joined a US program called ACES (Academic Careers in Engineering & Science). This program aimed to help more women participate in science and engineering leadership roles. She says the ACES program helped her recognize unfairness and gave her tools to fight it. She has used these lessons in her leadership roles in New Zealand. She has also worked to encourage Māori and Pasifika people to consider science careers.
Since 2015, sharing science with the public has been a main goal of the Photon Factory. Their outreach efforts started when Cather Simpson became co-chair of the New Zealand International Year of Light Committee in 2015. This event aimed to show how important light and light-based technologies are in our lives.
Cather Simpson and her team received funding from the New Zealand government. They ran art competitions, a logo competition, and worked with the indigenous (Māori) community to translate "International Year of Light." They held activities at eight museums across New Zealand. They also created low-cost science kits for children. These kits contained light-related experiments and were given to tens of thousands of New Zealand children and youth. The activities included things like glowing bacteria and edible optics. The box itself could even be used as a spectroscope. Since 2015, Cather Simpson and her team have actively worked with schools and communities in Auckland and rural New Zealand.
As a main speaker at conferences, Cather Simpson has talked about unfairness in science, new ideas, education, science outreach, and using light for sustainable farming. Her public talks include a TEDx talk. In 2019, she gave two public lectures at the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics. One was about “Farms, Food and Photonics,” and the other was for high school students on "Inspiring Future Women in Science" for International Women's Day.
Cather Simpson is the chair of the Commission on Laser Physics and Photonics (C17) for the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics from 2025 to 2027. She is also a member of its Executive Council.
Awards and Recognitions
- 1983–1986 Echols Scholar at the University of Virginia (USA)
- 1989–1994 Howard Hughes Predoctoral Fellow (USA)
- 1994–1996 Department of Energy Distinguished Postdoctoral Research Fellow (USA)
- 1998 “Top Prof” Award, CWRU Mortar Board Society, Case Western Reserve University (USA)
- 1999–2000 Glennan Fellow Award for Young Teacher Scholars, Case Western Reserve University (USA)
- 1998–2004 F.I.R.S.T Award (R29), National Institutes of Health (USA)
- 2012 The University of Auckland Sustained Excellence in Teaching Award (NZ)
- 2013 Award for Sustained Excellence in Tertiary Teaching, Ako Aotearoa, National Centre for Tertiary Teaching Excellence (NZ)
- 2016 KiwiNet Baldwins Researcher Entrepreneur Award
- 2016 KiwiNet BNZ Supreme Award for overall excellence in all core areas of research commercialisation (Simpson was the first woman to win this award)
- 2016 Elected Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Chemistry
- 2016 Silicon Valley Forum World Cup Tech Challenge 2016 (Simpson's company Engender was the Agtech Winner)
- 2017 Selected by the Royal Society Te Apārangi as one of their 150 women in 150 words.
- 2018 Elected a Fellow of the Royal Society Te Apārangi
- 2018 SPIE Startup Challenge 3rd Place for Simpson's company Orbis Diagnostics
- 2019 Royal Society Te Apārangi Pickering Medal for "her pioneering research and commercialisation of innovative photonic technologies, addressing challenges with a New Zealand focus and global impact"
- 2023 Elected Fellow of SPIE
