Mildred Dresselhaus

Mildred Dresselhaus, born Mildred Spiewak in Brooklyn, ascended from humble beginnings to become one of the most influential materials scientists of her time. Her journey began not with a silver spoon, but with a scholarship from Hunter College and a knack for making breakthroughs where others saw mere graphite. It was a path less traveled, especially for a woman in 20th-century physics, but Mildred was never one to shy from a challenge, or from redefining an entire field.

Her work on carbon, particularly nanostructures like carbon nanotubes and graphene, earned her the moniker 'Queen of Carbon Science' — a title far more prestigious than 'Duchess of Diamond Dust.' She received numerous accolades, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Kavli Prize, effectively ensuring that anyone else working with carbon would forever be in her shadow, admiring her atomic-level mastery.

While her Jewish identity wasn't a central theme of her public persona, her work ethic and intellectual prowess certainly brought a particular kind of nachas to anyone who appreciates a good brain. Mildred proved that true brilliance isn't about how you start, but how many fundamental scientific paradigms you manage to shift during your lifetime.