Jenny Rosenthal Bramley facts for kids

Jenny Rosenthal Bramley (born July 31, 1909 – died May 26, 1997) was a brilliant scientist from Russia who became an American physicist. She invented many things related to how light works with electricity, like Electroluminescence and Electro-optics. The IEEE, a big group of engineers, said she was famous for her amazing work with lasers. She was also only the second woman ever chosen to be a 'fellow' of the IEEE, which is a big honor!

Early Life and Education

Jenny Rosenthal was born in Moscow, Russia, on July 31, 1909. Her parents were from Lithuania. Her family left Russia as part of a special exchange between Lithuania and the Soviet Union.

She went to high school in Berlin, Germany. Then, she earned her first college degree from the University of Paris in 1926. She was only 16 years old at the time!

Jenny was very good at languages. She could speak English, Russian, French, and German. She often used her language skills to help translate important technical articles and at professional meetings.

Advanced Degrees

Jenny continued her studies at New York University (NYU). She earned her master's degree in 1927. Then, she received her doctorate (Ph.D.) in 1929 when she was just 19 years old.

Officials at NYU believed she was the very first woman to get a Ph.D. in physics from an American university. However, we now know that at least 26 other women had earned physics doctorates before 1929.

Family Life

Jenny met her husband, Dr. Arthur Bramley, while they both worked as physicists. This was at the United States Army Signal Corps Engineering Laboratory in Belmar, New Jersey.

Jenny Bramley passed away on May 26, 1997, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. She was 87 years old. She had a daughter, a son, eleven grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter.

Her Amazing Career

After finishing her studies at New York University, Jenny Bramley worked as a researcher. She did research at Johns Hopkins University and the University of Michigan. Later, she taught at Brooklyn College and New York University.

Important Discoveries

Jenny Bramley worked with another scientist named Gregory Breit. They were the first to figure out how the size of an atomic nucleus affects something called "hyperfine structure" and "isotopic shift." This discovery is still known today as the Breit-Rosenthal correction.

She also helped in many other areas of science. For example, she found ways to use electroluminescence in new types of displays and storage devices. She also helped create very efficient lasers.

Secret Work and Teaching

During World War II, Jenny Bramley did some secret research. Because it was secret, she couldn't publish her findings at the time.

In the 1950s, she worked at Monmouth Junior College. There, she was the head of the mathematics department.

Awards and Recognitions

Jenny Rosenthal Bramley received many honors for her important work:

• Sarah Berliner Research Fellow, American Association of University Women
• Fellow, American Physical Society
• Fellow, Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers
• Wise Lifetime Achievement Award in 1985, from The InterAgency Committee on Women in Science and Engineering. She was called "the most outstanding woman scientist in the federal government."
• Fellow, Washington Academy of Science

See also

In Spanish: Jenny Rosenthal Bramley para niños