Women in Microbiology

Many girls want to become scientists when they grow up, just like many boys do. But for these girls, the struggle to do what they love and to be treated with respect has been much harder because of the discrimination and bias in our society. In Women in Microbiology, we meet women who, despite these obstacles and against tough odds, have become scientific leaders and revered mentors. The women profiled in this collection range from historic figures like Alice Catherine Evans and Ruth Ella Moore to modern heroes like Michele Swanson and Katrina Forest. What binds all of these remarkable women are a passion for their work, a zest for life, a warm devotion to mentoring others—especially younger women—and a sense of justice and fairness that they are willing to fight tirelessly to obtain. Each story is unique, but each woman featured in Women in Microbiology has done so much to expand our knowledge of the natural world while also making it easier for the next generation of scientists to work collaboratively and in an atmosphere where people are judged by their intellect, imagination, skill, and commitment to service regardless of gender or race. Women in Microbiology is a wonderful collection of stories that will inspire everyone, but especially young women and men who are wondering how to find their way in the working world. Some of the names are familiar and some are lesser known, but all of the stories arouse a sense of excitement, driven by tales of new, important scientific insights, stories of overcoming adversity and breaking boundaries, and the inclusion of personal tips and advice from successful careers. These stories are proof that a person can live a balanced and passionate life in science that is rich and rewarding.

Contributors Foreword–Congresswoman Louise Slaughter xv Prefaces From Rachel J. Whitaker xvii From Hazel A. Barton xix About the Editors xxiii 1 The Group Accomplishes More than the Individual 1 Bonnie L. Bassler 2 Exploring the Living Infinite 9 Antje Boetius 3 Oceans of Prochlorococcus 19 Sallie “Penny” Chisholm 4 Catalyst of a Quiet Revolution 29 Margaret Dayhoff 5 A Pioneer Among South American Scientists 37 Johanna Döbereiner 6 A Path of Creativity, Persistence, and Rigorous Testing 49 Diana Downs 7 A Force of Nature 57 Nicole Dubilier 8 A Force in the World of Environmental Microbiology 65 Katrina J. Edwards 9 The Shoulders Upon Which So Many Stand 75 Alice Catherine Evans 10 Groundbreaking Journey of a Microbial Matriarch 87 Mary K. Firestone 11 Turbulence and Triumph 99 Lady Amalia Fleming 12 A Renaissance Woman in Microbiology 105 Katrina T. Forest 13 Unlocking the Genetic Code of Emerging Outbreaks 113 Elodie Ghedin 14 A Woman of Grace and Acerbic Wit 121 Jane Gibson 15 Scarred Pioneer and Protector of the Biosphere 125 Millicent C. Goldschmidt 16 An Exceptional Scientist and Mentor 137 Susan Gottesman 17 Free Spirit 147 Carlyn Halde 18 Adviser, Teacher, Role Model, Friend 159 Jo Handelsman 19 With Grace, Enthusiasm, and True Grit 171 Caroline Harwood 20 Lifelong Mentor 183 Marian Johnson-Thompson 21 Salt of the Earth 193 Carol D. Litchfield 22 The First African-American to Earn a Ph.D. in the Natural Sciences 207 Ruth E. Moore 23 The Winding Path of a Brilliant Scientific Life 213 Nancy A. Moran 24 Ensuring That No Knowledge Is Ever Lost 219 Flora Patterson 25 Creativity through Freedom 233 Felicitas Pfeifer 26 An Early Mycologist 237 Beatrix Potter 27 An Almost Unbeatable Force 243 Abigail Salyers 28 Enthusiasm and Insight in the World of Archaea 253 Christa Schleper 29 An Early Voice for Bacterial Biochemical Experimenters 257 Marjory Stephenson 30 A Rewarding Career and Life in Balance 269 Michele Swanson 31 Broken Vials and Urgency 283 The Legacy of Patricia Ann Webb 32 It’s Never Too Late to Bloom 295 Donna M. Wolk 33 Pioneer in Microbial Genetics 305 Esther Miriam Zimmer Lederberg 34 Women Microbiologists at Rutgers in the Early Golden Age of Antibiotics 317