Pioneering Women in Los Alamos
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The Pioneering Women in Los Alamos project was launched in 2020 in conjunction with Los Alamos ScienceFest in honor of the centennial anniversary of women's right to vote. Each panel highlights a Los Alamos woman who made important contributions in their respective fields. This list is not complete, but representative of the many contributions of women in Los Alamos. The text for these posters was created by Emily Holmes as part of a Girl Scout Gold Award.
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Photo courtesy of Los Alamos Historical Society Archives
Elda Anderson
Manhattan Project physicist
Elda Anderson was an American physicist recruited to work in Los Alamos during the Manhattan Project. She was a key player in the creation of the atomic bomb and she created the first sample of uranium-235 at Los Alamos National Laboratory. After the war, Elda established the Health Physics Division at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and played a pivotal role in developing the field. She served as President of the Health Physics Society and chairwoman of the American Board of Health Physics. She is the namesake of the Elda E. Anderson Award, given annually to an outstanding health physicist.
Manhattan Project physicist
Elda Anderson was an American physicist recruited to work in Los Alamos during the Manhattan Project. She was a key player in the creation of the atomic bomb and she created the first sample of uranium-235 at Los Alamos National Laboratory. After the war, Elda established the Health Physics Division at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and played a pivotal role in developing the field. She served as President of the Health Physics Society and chairwoman of the American Board of Health Physics. She is the namesake of the Elda E. Anderson Award, given annually to an outstanding health physicist.
Photo courtesy of Los Alamos Historical Society Archives
Marjorie Bell-Chambers
Historian, educator, and politician
Marjorie Bell-Chambers served as the national president of the American Association of University Women from 1975-1979. She was a Los Alamos County Councilor, an original UNM-Los Alamos faculty member, and she served as president of two colleges.
As the first woman to run for Lieutenant Governor in New Mexico, Marjorie went on to serve ten New Mexico governors and four U.S. presidents. She was chairwoman of President Gerald Ford's National Advisory Council on Women's Educational Programs and acting chairwoman of President Jimmy Carter's Committee for Women. In 2003, she was awarded a Governor’s Award for Outstanding Women. She has a scenic marker in her honor located at Ashley Pond Park.
Historian, educator, and politician
Marjorie Bell-Chambers served as the national president of the American Association of University Women from 1975-1979. She was a Los Alamos County Councilor, an original UNM-Los Alamos faculty member, and she served as president of two colleges.
As the first woman to run for Lieutenant Governor in New Mexico, Marjorie went on to serve ten New Mexico governors and four U.S. presidents. She was chairwoman of President Gerald Ford's National Advisory Council on Women's Educational Programs and acting chairwoman of President Jimmy Carter's Committee for Women. In 2003, she was awarded a Governor’s Award for Outstanding Women. She has a scenic marker in her honor located at Ashley Pond Park.
Photo courtesy of Los Alamos Historical Society Archives
Cassy Brook
Early homesteader who named Los Alamos
Katherine “Cassy” Brook was a homesteader on the Pajarito Plateau. Born in Santa Fe, she received her education both in Santa Fe and San Francisco. In 1911 she met Harold Brook, an upcoming businessman and homesteader. She suggested that Harold name his homestead “Los Alamos Ranch,” after nearby Los Alamos Canyon. The Brook homestead was on land in today’s downtown historic district.
An adventurous woman, Cassy once stayed overnight in a cave on a dare, armed with a pistol to ward off predators. In 1917, after moving away from the Plateau, she gave birth to twin daughters. Harold died of tuberculosis seven years later, and Cassy raised her children on her own.
Early homesteader who named Los Alamos
Katherine “Cassy” Brook was a homesteader on the Pajarito Plateau. Born in Santa Fe, she received her education both in Santa Fe and San Francisco. In 1911 she met Harold Brook, an upcoming businessman and homesteader. She suggested that Harold name his homestead “Los Alamos Ranch,” after nearby Los Alamos Canyon. The Brook homestead was on land in today’s downtown historic district.
An adventurous woman, Cassy once stayed overnight in a cave on a dare, armed with a pistol to ward off predators. In 1917, after moving away from the Plateau, she gave birth to twin daughters. Harold died of tuberculosis seven years later, and Cassy raised her children on her own.
Photo courtesy of Los Alamos Historical Society Archives
Peggy Pond Church
Author and poet
Born Margaret Hallett Pond in Valmora, NM, Peggy was a “child of the frontier.” Her father founded the Los Alamos Ranch School in 1917, and after attending college and marrying a Ranch School master, she returned to the plateau in 1924. When her family was uprooted to Taos during the Manhattan Project, Peggy continued to write in appreciation of New Mexico’s natural beauty. Her many published works, including a volume of poetry, “Ultimatum for Man,” are full of observations about the natural world. She was awarded the Governor’s Award for Excellence and Achievement in the Arts for literature in 1984. In 2010, a New Mexico Women’s Historic Marker was placed at Ashley Pond Park in her honor.
Author and poet
Born Margaret Hallett Pond in Valmora, NM, Peggy was a “child of the frontier.” Her father founded the Los Alamos Ranch School in 1917, and after attending college and marrying a Ranch School master, she returned to the plateau in 1924. When her family was uprooted to Taos during the Manhattan Project, Peggy continued to write in appreciation of New Mexico’s natural beauty. Her many published works, including a volume of poetry, “Ultimatum for Man,” are full of observations about the natural world. She was awarded the Governor’s Award for Excellence and Achievement in the Arts for literature in 1984. In 2010, a New Mexico Women’s Historic Marker was placed at Ashley Pond Park in her honor.
Photo courtesy of Dana Dattelbaum
Dana Dattelbaum
Los Alamos National Laboratory Detonation Physicist
Dr. Dana Dattelbaum currently serves as program manager for the Lab’s Dynamic Materials Properties Campaign (C2), part of a National Nuclear Security Administration program, where she oversees research into the behavior of materials in extreme environments relevant to nuclear weapons physics to improve predictive physics-based weapon models. Her technical expertise is in shock and detonation physics.
In 2014, she was named a Fellow of the American Physical Society, and she currently serves on their Committee on Careers and Professional Development. She is a recipient of the Lab’s Fellows’ Prize for Leadership, and in 2019, she became a Los Alamos National Laboratory Fellow.
Los Alamos National Laboratory Detonation Physicist
Dr. Dana Dattelbaum currently serves as program manager for the Lab’s Dynamic Materials Properties Campaign (C2), part of a National Nuclear Security Administration program, where she oversees research into the behavior of materials in extreme environments relevant to nuclear weapons physics to improve predictive physics-based weapon models. Her technical expertise is in shock and detonation physics.
In 2014, she was named a Fellow of the American Physical Society, and she currently serves on their Committee on Careers and Professional Development. She is a recipient of the Lab’s Fellows’ Prize for Leadership, and in 2019, she became a Los Alamos National Laboratory Fellow.
Photo courtesy of Sara Del Valle
Sara Del Valle
Los Alamos National Laboratory mathematical epidemiologist
As a deputy group leader at Los Alamos National Laboratory, Sara Del Valle works on modeling infectious diseases and the impact of intervention strategies. Sara and her team have more recently studied human behavior during major pandemics, such as H1N1 and COVID-19, by analyzing Internet data streams. She hopes to use social media to understand human behavior and predict the spread of infectious diseases.
Sara and her team won an R&D 100 award in 2018 as well as a DOE Secretary Appreciation Award for work on Ebola. She is a life-time member of the Society for the Advancement of Hispanics and Native Americans in Science.
Los Alamos National Laboratory mathematical epidemiologist
As a deputy group leader at Los Alamos National Laboratory, Sara Del Valle works on modeling infectious diseases and the impact of intervention strategies. Sara and her team have more recently studied human behavior during major pandemics, such as H1N1 and COVID-19, by analyzing Internet data streams. She hopes to use social media to understand human behavior and predict the spread of infectious diseases.
Sara and her team won an R&D 100 award in 2018 as well as a DOE Secretary Appreciation Award for work on Ebola. She is a life-time member of the Society for the Advancement of Hispanics and Native Americans in Science.
Photo courtesy of Los Alamos Historical Society Archives
Frances Dunne
Aircraft mechanic and explosives supervisor
Frances Dunne worked as an explosive technician in Los Alamos during the Manhattan Project. She worked as an aircraft mechanic at three different airfields, and in 1944, while working at Kirtland Air Force Base, Frances was recruited to work with the Explosives Assembly Group at Project Y. Her mechanical aptitude and small hands gave her an advantage over her male counterparts--she was able to get her hands down into the mockups of the bomb and set the final trigger. She was the only woman working in her group, and Frances worked as part of the Trinity Test assembly crew. After World War II, she joined the FBI.
Aircraft mechanic and explosives supervisor
Frances Dunne worked as an explosive technician in Los Alamos during the Manhattan Project. She worked as an aircraft mechanic at three different airfields, and in 1944, while working at Kirtland Air Force Base, Frances was recruited to work with the Explosives Assembly Group at Project Y. Her mechanical aptitude and small hands gave her an advantage over her male counterparts--she was able to get her hands down into the mockups of the bomb and set the final trigger. She was the only woman working in her group, and Frances worked as part of the Trinity Test assembly crew. After World War II, she joined the FBI.
Photo courtesy of Los Alamos Historical Society Archives
Mary Frankel
Psychologist, mathematician, computer, and programmer
Mary Frankel was a “human computer” working on the Manhattan Project at Los Alamos. She moved to Los Alamos with her husband in 1943 with degrees in both psychology and mathematics. Mary supervised the women operating the desk calculators and became an expert in using numerical methods to solve physical equations. She was in charge of formulating the problems to run on the desk calculators.
Mary took her job very seriously and encouraged her peers to study math after work. She placed all of the problems she formulated in a basket labeled, “Free—take one.” After the war, she helped program the ENIAC computer.
Psychologist, mathematician, computer, and programmer
Mary Frankel was a “human computer” working on the Manhattan Project at Los Alamos. She moved to Los Alamos with her husband in 1943 with degrees in both psychology and mathematics. Mary supervised the women operating the desk calculators and became an expert in using numerical methods to solve physical equations. She was in charge of formulating the problems to run on the desk calculators.
Mary took her job very seriously and encouraged her peers to study math after work. She placed all of the problems she formulated in a basket labeled, “Free—take one.” After the war, she helped program the ENIAC computer.
Photo courtesy of Los Alamos Historical Society Archives
Elizabeth Riddle Graves
Manhattan Project nuclear physicist
In 1943, after Elizabeth “Diz” Riddle Graves received a Ph.D. in physics from the University of Chicago, she moved to Los Alamos with her husband. Applying her expertise with neutron-scattering research, she studied how neutron reflectors surrounded the core of the atomic bomb.
Since Elizabeth was pregnant during the Trinity Test, she and her husband stayed in a cabin 50 miles away from the test site to measure and observe the aftermath of the explosion, including the spread of radiation. After the war, she remained in Los Alamos to continue her research in experimental nuclear physics.
Manhattan Project nuclear physicist
In 1943, after Elizabeth “Diz” Riddle Graves received a Ph.D. in physics from the University of Chicago, she moved to Los Alamos with her husband. Applying her expertise with neutron-scattering research, she studied how neutron reflectors surrounded the core of the atomic bomb.
Since Elizabeth was pregnant during the Trinity Test, she and her husband stayed in a cabin 50 miles away from the test site to measure and observe the aftermath of the explosion, including the spread of radiation. After the war, she remained in Los Alamos to continue her research in experimental nuclear physics.
Photo courtesy of Los Alamos Historical Society Archives
Norma Gross
Manhattan Project chemist and WAC
Norma Gross was an American chemist who lived in Los Alamos as part of the Women’s Army Corps (WAC). With a master’s degree in chemistry from Bryn Mawr College, she joined the Women’s Army Corps in 1944 and was assigned to Los Alamos. Her husband, an Army lieutenant, was also stationed in Los Alamos, though the two were not permitted to live together. She contributed to the Manhattan Project specifically through her work with the RaLa experiments done in Bayo Canyon with Gearhardt Friedlander, studying how to achieve the spherical implosion necessary for the detonation of the atomic bomb using radioactive lanthanum-140 (thus the name RaLa).
Working with prominent men, Gross’s work was frequently overlooked. Writers often wrote her name as “Norman Gross” after mistakenly assuming that she was a man. After the war, Norma and her family moved to New York City where she taught chemistry at Queens College for many years.
Manhattan Project chemist and WAC
Norma Gross was an American chemist who lived in Los Alamos as part of the Women’s Army Corps (WAC). With a master’s degree in chemistry from Bryn Mawr College, she joined the Women’s Army Corps in 1944 and was assigned to Los Alamos. Her husband, an Army lieutenant, was also stationed in Los Alamos, though the two were not permitted to live together. She contributed to the Manhattan Project specifically through her work with the RaLa experiments done in Bayo Canyon with Gearhardt Friedlander, studying how to achieve the spherical implosion necessary for the detonation of the atomic bomb using radioactive lanthanum-140 (thus the name RaLa).
Working with prominent men, Gross’s work was frequently overlooked. Writers often wrote her name as “Norman Gross” after mistakenly assuming that she was a man. After the war, Norma and her family moved to New York City where she taught chemistry at Queens College for many years.
Photo courtesy of Los Alamos Historical Society Archives
Jane Hall
Manhattan Project physicist and influential leader
Jane Hall was a physicist in Hanford, WA, during the Manhattan Project who later worked in Los Alamos. While working at Hanford, she studied the effects of plutonium inhalation on the human body. After World War II, Jane and her husband moved to Los Alamos, where she became assistant director of Los Alamos National Laboratory in 1958. In 1966, she was named the first female member of the General Advisory Committee for the Atomic Energy Commission by President Lyndon Johnson. She is the namesake of the Jane Hall Conference Center at Technical Area-55, the center of plutonium research in Los Alamos.
Manhattan Project physicist and influential leader
Jane Hall was a physicist in Hanford, WA, during the Manhattan Project who later worked in Los Alamos. While working at Hanford, she studied the effects of plutonium inhalation on the human body. After World War II, Jane and her husband moved to Los Alamos, where she became assistant director of Los Alamos National Laboratory in 1958. In 1966, she was named the first female member of the General Advisory Committee for the Atomic Energy Commission by President Lyndon Johnson. She is the namesake of the Jane Hall Conference Center at Technical Area-55, the center of plutonium research in Los Alamos.
Photo courtesy of Los Alamos Historical Society Archives
Julia Hardin
Los Alamos biochemist and administrator
Julia Hardin was a scientist and administrator with Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory. After working as a technical administrator for the Atomic Energy Commission, she moved to Los Alamos in 1964 to study genetic mutations related to radiation.
Julia once said, “I’ve probably been a statistic here in Los Alamos, but I’ve never felt like one. With a personality and attitude like mine, you overcome color and people become people.” She directed the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Education Program and recruited African-American science and engineering students for internships. She procured scientific equipment, computer hardware, and professional assistance from the Laboratory for Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Los Alamos biochemist and administrator
Julia Hardin was a scientist and administrator with Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory. After working as a technical administrator for the Atomic Energy Commission, she moved to Los Alamos in 1964 to study genetic mutations related to radiation.
Julia once said, “I’ve probably been a statistic here in Los Alamos, but I’ve never felt like one. With a personality and attitude like mine, you overcome color and people become people.” She directed the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Education Program and recruited African-American science and engineering students for internships. She procured scientific equipment, computer hardware, and professional assistance from the Laboratory for Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Photo courtesy of Los Alamos Arts Council
Rosalie Heller
Musician, teacher, and radio host
With a passion for classical music, Rosalie Heller moved to Los Alamos in 1956 and taught piano for more than 60 years, teaching over 300 students from ages 4 to 95. In 1979, together with professional musicians, she formed the "Musicians Cooperative". Throughout her life, she was a strong supporter of women in music.
Rosalie was Artistic Director of the Los Alamos Concert Association for 17 years and was a founder of the Los Alamos Arts Council. In 1989, she was named a Living Treasure of Santa Fe, and she later helped start the “Living Treasures of Los Alamos”. She was also a radio host with KRSN, recognized by the New Mexico Broadcaster’s Association.
Musician, teacher, and radio host
With a passion for classical music, Rosalie Heller moved to Los Alamos in 1956 and taught piano for more than 60 years, teaching over 300 students from ages 4 to 95. In 1979, together with professional musicians, she formed the "Musicians Cooperative". Throughout her life, she was a strong supporter of women in music.
Rosalie was Artistic Director of the Los Alamos Concert Association for 17 years and was a founder of the Los Alamos Arts Council. In 1989, she was named a Living Treasure of Santa Fe, and she later helped start the “Living Treasures of Los Alamos”. She was also a radio host with KRSN, recognized by the New Mexico Broadcaster’s Association.
Photo courtesy of Los Alamos Historical Society Archives
Jane Heydorn
WAC who went on to a career at Los Alamos
Jane Heydorn enlisted in the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) during World War II and was assigned to Los Alamos. Her first assignment was as a telephone operator, monitoring telegram and teletype communications for leaked information, but she also worked as an electronics technician. After being discharged as a WAC in 1946, Jane remained in Los Alamos as a civilian.
Jane operated the world’s third reactor, designed by Enrico Fermi with the codename “Water Boiler.” She also holds the distinction of being the first and last operator of “Clementine”, the world’s first fast neutron nuclear reactor, used primarily from 1946 to 1950.
WAC who went on to a career at Los Alamos
Jane Heydorn enlisted in the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) during World War II and was assigned to Los Alamos. Her first assignment was as a telephone operator, monitoring telegram and teletype communications for leaked information, but she also worked as an electronics technician. After being discharged as a WAC in 1946, Jane remained in Los Alamos as a civilian.
Jane operated the world’s third reactor, designed by Enrico Fermi with the codename “Water Boiler.” She also holds the distinction of being the first and last operator of “Clementine”, the world’s first fast neutron nuclear reactor, used primarily from 1946 to 1950.
Photo courtesy of National Park Service
Dorothy Hoard
Author, natural historian, and chemist
Dorothy Hoard, once called “Bandelier’s Best Friend,” wrote A Guide to Bandelier National Monument in 1963 after a decade spent hiking Bandelier trails with the Los Alamos Outdoors Association. She founded the Friends of Bandelier in 1987.
Dorothy co-authored Sentinels of Stone with Betty Lilienthal after the two spent a decade cataloging Los Alamos County petroglyphs. Consequently White Rock Canyon was placed on the National Register of Historic Places, and both women received a Governor’s Award for Historic Preservation. Her knowledge of the Pajarito Plateau and its plants, petroglyphs, and geology has enhanced local understanding of Bandelier and Los Alamos trails.
Author, natural historian, and chemist
Dorothy Hoard, once called “Bandelier’s Best Friend,” wrote A Guide to Bandelier National Monument in 1963 after a decade spent hiking Bandelier trails with the Los Alamos Outdoors Association. She founded the Friends of Bandelier in 1987.
Dorothy co-authored Sentinels of Stone with Betty Lilienthal after the two spent a decade cataloging Los Alamos County petroglyphs. Consequently White Rock Canyon was placed on the National Register of Historic Places, and both women received a Governor’s Award for Historic Preservation. Her knowledge of the Pajarito Plateau and its plants, petroglyphs, and geology has enhanced local understanding of Bandelier and Los Alamos trails.
Photo courtesy of Bette Korber
Bette Korber
Los Alamos National Laboratory computational biologist
Bette Korber is helping design a novel mosaic HIV vaccine, now in clinical trials. At the Los Alamos National Laboratory, she oversees the HIV Database and Analysis Project, where her team has compiled a global HIV database. Bette received the 2004 E.O. Lawrence Award, the Department of Energy’s highest scientific honor. In 2018 she also became the first woman at the Laboratory to receive the Feynman Award for Innovation, for her HIV vaccine design.
Outside of her work at Los Alamos, Bette helped found an AIDS orphanage in South Africa and is currently a director of Nurturing Orphans of AIDS for Humanity.
Los Alamos National Laboratory computational biologist
Bette Korber is helping design a novel mosaic HIV vaccine, now in clinical trials. At the Los Alamos National Laboratory, she oversees the HIV Database and Analysis Project, where her team has compiled a global HIV database. Bette received the 2004 E.O. Lawrence Award, the Department of Energy’s highest scientific honor. In 2018 she also became the first woman at the Laboratory to receive the Feynman Award for Innovation, for her HIV vaccine design.
Outside of her work at Los Alamos, Bette helped found an AIDS orphanage in South Africa and is currently a director of Nurturing Orphans of AIDS for Humanity.
Photo courtesy of the Atomic Heritage Foundation
Floy Agnes Lee
Santa Clara Pueblo biologist and Manhattan Project hematologist
Floy Agnes “Aggie” Lee worked as a biologist and technician for the Manhattan Project at Los Alamos National Laboratory. She worked both during and after the war, overcoming racial and gender discrimination both times. Floy was recruited to work in the Laboratory’s hematology lab, where she collected and examined blood samples from scientists. She was one of few Puebloans to work at the Laboratory during the Manhattan Project. After the war, she worked at Argonne National Laboratory and the California Jet Propulsion Laboratory before she eventually returned to Los Alamos as a cytogeneticist, researching the impact of radiation on chromosomes.
Santa Clara Pueblo biologist and Manhattan Project hematologist
Floy Agnes “Aggie” Lee worked as a biologist and technician for the Manhattan Project at Los Alamos National Laboratory. She worked both during and after the war, overcoming racial and gender discrimination both times. Floy was recruited to work in the Laboratory’s hematology lab, where she collected and examined blood samples from scientists. She was one of few Puebloans to work at the Laboratory during the Manhattan Project. After the war, she worked at Argonne National Laboratory and the California Jet Propulsion Laboratory before she eventually returned to Los Alamos as a cytogeneticist, researching the impact of radiation on chromosomes.
Photo courtesy of Los Alamos Historical Society Archives
Naomi Livesay
Manhattan Project mathematician
Naomi Livesay received a Ph.M. in mathematics from the University of Wisconsin in 1939. She moved to Los Alamos in 1944, and though she was initially recruited to work on the gun model for plutonium, that group was soon terminated. She stayed to work in a different theoretical group, calculating the predicted shock-wave from an implosion-type bomb. Livesay had previous experience with the IBM electric calculating machines used by the group, and she supervised the crew that kept the machines running 24 hours a day. She also performed hand calculations to check any mistakes made by the machines.
Manhattan Project mathematician
Naomi Livesay received a Ph.M. in mathematics from the University of Wisconsin in 1939. She moved to Los Alamos in 1944, and though she was initially recruited to work on the gun model for plutonium, that group was soon terminated. She stayed to work in a different theoretical group, calculating the predicted shock-wave from an implosion-type bomb. Livesay had previous experience with the IBM electric calculating machines used by the group, and she supervised the crew that kept the machines running 24 hours a day. She also performed hand calculations to check any mistakes made by the machines.
Photo from Wikipedia public domain
Maria Goeppert Mayer
Nobel Prize-winning physicist
Maria Goeppert Mayer was a German-American theoretical physicist who worked on the Manhattan Project at Columbia University and Los Alamos National Laboratory. After investigating the possibility of separating isotopes through photochemical reactions, she transferred to the Laboratory in 1945 to work with Edward Teller on developing the hydrogen bomb. After the Manhattan Project, Maria continued to work with Teller at the University of Chicago, eventually developing a mathematical model for the structure of nuclear shells. In 1963, Maria Goeppert Mayer was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for proposing her nuclear shell model, the second woman to receive the prize.
Nobel Prize-winning physicist
Maria Goeppert Mayer was a German-American theoretical physicist who worked on the Manhattan Project at Columbia University and Los Alamos National Laboratory. After investigating the possibility of separating isotopes through photochemical reactions, she transferred to the Laboratory in 1945 to work with Edward Teller on developing the hydrogen bomb. After the Manhattan Project, Maria continued to work with Teller at the University of Chicago, eventually developing a mathematical model for the structure of nuclear shells. In 1963, Maria Goeppert Mayer was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for proposing her nuclear shell model, the second woman to receive the prize.
Photo courtesy of Los Alamos National Laboratory
Harshini Mukundan
Los Alamos National Laboratory bioscientist
Harshini Mukundan is both the team leader for chemistry for biomedical applications and the deputy group leader of physical chemistry and applied spectroscopy. She has pioneered projects aimed at diagnosing tuberculosis, breast cancer, influenza, traumatic brain injury, toxins, and more.
Harshini has led the effort to discover a way to diagnose all infectious diseases. Termed the Universal Bacterial Sensor, the project received a R&D 100 Award and a Gold Prize for Corporate Social Responsibility, which was awarded to the Lab for the first time.
She is passionate about outreach to women and underrepresented groups in STEM. Harshini is a AAAS IF/THEN science ambassador, recipient of the Women in Technology recognition, and the Laboratory Fellow’s prize for research, among others.
Los Alamos National Laboratory bioscientist
Harshini Mukundan is both the team leader for chemistry for biomedical applications and the deputy group leader of physical chemistry and applied spectroscopy. She has pioneered projects aimed at diagnosing tuberculosis, breast cancer, influenza, traumatic brain injury, toxins, and more.
Harshini has led the effort to discover a way to diagnose all infectious diseases. Termed the Universal Bacterial Sensor, the project received a R&D 100 Award and a Gold Prize for Corporate Social Responsibility, which was awarded to the Lab for the first time.
She is passionate about outreach to women and underrepresented groups in STEM. Harshini is a AAAS IF/THEN science ambassador, recipient of the Women in Technology recognition, and the Laboratory Fellow’s prize for research, among others.
Jane Rasmussen
WAC Switchboard Operator
Jane Keller Rasmussen was stationed in Los Alamos in 1944 as part of the Women’s Army Corps. Because she had previous experience working for Bell Telephone Company, she worked the switchboard. While there were only six pages of phone numbers within Project Y, numerous calls went through the switchboard every day. Jane was working when the call came that the Trinity Test was successful.
After the war, Jane worked the MANIAC II computer, and she continued to work at Los Alamos National Laboratory for 30 years. The Project Y STEM Center in Los Alamos named the robot “Rasmussen” in her honor.
WAC Switchboard Operator
Jane Keller Rasmussen was stationed in Los Alamos in 1944 as part of the Women’s Army Corps. Because she had previous experience working for Bell Telephone Company, she worked the switchboard. While there were only six pages of phone numbers within Project Y, numerous calls went through the switchboard every day. Jane was working when the call came that the Trinity Test was successful.
After the war, Jane worked the MANIAC II computer, and she continued to work at Los Alamos National Laboratory for 30 years. The Project Y STEM Center in Los Alamos named the robot “Rasmussen” in her honor.
Francisquita Romero
Early homesteader of Pajarito Plateau
Francisquita Romero was among the earliest of homestead settlers on the Pajarito
Plateau. In 1893, her husband, David Romero, filed a claim for land that is now part of
Technical Area 55 along Pajarito Road. Francisquita and her family used their land to raise cash crops and livestock. Next to their farm, their son Victor and his family had their own homestead claim and cabin. That cabin has been restored and moved to Los Alamos’ downtown historic district. Francisquita’s and David’s homestead was in Francisquita’s name in 1942 when the plateau was seized by the government for the Manhattan Project.
Early homesteader of Pajarito Plateau
Francisquita Romero was among the earliest of homestead settlers on the Pajarito
Plateau. In 1893, her husband, David Romero, filed a claim for land that is now part of
Technical Area 55 along Pajarito Road. Francisquita and her family used their land to raise cash crops and livestock. Next to their farm, their son Victor and his family had their own homestead claim and cabin. That cabin has been restored and moved to Los Alamos’ downtown historic district. Francisquita’s and David’s homestead was in Francisquita’s name in 1942 when the plateau was seized by the government for the Manhattan Project.
Photo courtesy of Karissa Sanbonmatsu
Karissa Sanbonmatsu
Los Alamos National Laboratory structural biologist
Principal Investigator at the New Mexico Consortium
Karissa Sanbonmatsu began working at Los Alamos National Laboratory in 1997 as a postdoctoral scholar interested in the distinction between life and matter, and later formed her own group to study non-coding RNA systems. In 2005, she ran the world’s largest simulation in biology, and the first simulation of the ribosome. More recently, her team set the record for the world’s largest published biomolecular simulation at one billion atoms, the first simulation of an entire gene.
In 2006, Karissa was awarded the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, becoming the first female scientist at the Laboratory to receive the award, and she is an advocate for LGBTQ+ people in the sciences.
Los Alamos National Laboratory structural biologist
Principal Investigator at the New Mexico Consortium
Karissa Sanbonmatsu began working at Los Alamos National Laboratory in 1997 as a postdoctoral scholar interested in the distinction between life and matter, and later formed her own group to study non-coding RNA systems. In 2005, she ran the world’s largest simulation in biology, and the first simulation of the ribosome. More recently, her team set the record for the world’s largest published biomolecular simulation at one billion atoms, the first simulation of an entire gene.
In 2006, Karissa was awarded the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, becoming the first female scientist at the Laboratory to receive the award, and she is an advocate for LGBTQ+ people in the sciences.
Photo courtesy of Los Alamos Historical Society Archives
Charlotte Serber
Manhattan Project librarian and group leader, 1911-1967
Charlotte Serber was the Project Y site librarian during the Manhattan Project and only female group leader at that time. After moving to Los Alamos and becoming librarian for Manhattan Project sites, she was in charge of organizing and protecting top secret documents and materials. She helped create a “policing system” of nightly tours through the facilities to ensure the secrecy of top-secret documents, punishing workers who left out documents with either a fee or a shift as a night inspector. When Charlotte first arrived at Los Alamos, there were no books in the technical library—she built up the entire library from scratch.
Manhattan Project librarian and group leader, 1911-1967
Charlotte Serber was the Project Y site librarian during the Manhattan Project and only female group leader at that time. After moving to Los Alamos and becoming librarian for Manhattan Project sites, she was in charge of organizing and protecting top secret documents and materials. She helped create a “policing system” of nightly tours through the facilities to ensure the secrecy of top-secret documents, punishing workers who left out documents with either a fee or a shift as a night inspector. When Charlotte first arrived at Los Alamos, there were no books in the technical library—she built up the entire library from scratch.
Photo courtesy of Merri Wood-Schultz
Merri Wood-Schultz
Los Alamos National Laboratory physicist
Prior to the end of nuclear testing, Merri Wood-Schultz was responsible for the physics and conceptual design for many nuclear tests. She also worked on nuclear intelligence and DETEC (Strategic Defense Initiative) code for simulating defensive structures. During her time at the Laboratory, she held the positions of Team Leader, Project Leader, as well as Project Manager and worked on the Director’s technical staff.
Merri became a Laboratory Fellow in 2001. Since 2006, she has been an active member of the Nuclear Forensics Science Panel under the Department of Homeland Security. Merri is currently a Retired Fellow and Guest Scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Los Alamos National Laboratory physicist
Prior to the end of nuclear testing, Merri Wood-Schultz was responsible for the physics and conceptual design for many nuclear tests. She also worked on nuclear intelligence and DETEC (Strategic Defense Initiative) code for simulating defensive structures. During her time at the Laboratory, she held the positions of Team Leader, Project Leader, as well as Project Manager and worked on the Director’s technical staff.
Merri became a Laboratory Fellow in 2001. Since 2006, she has been an active member of the Nuclear Forensics Science Panel under the Department of Homeland Security. Merri is currently a Retired Fellow and Guest Scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Thank you to everyone who helped make this project a success!
