Eric Adelberger, BS 1960, PhD 1967; Professor of Physics, Emeritus at University of Washington; member of National Academy of Sciences and fellow of American Academy of Arts and Sciences; co-recipient of 2021 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics[2]
Eugene Chiang, PhD 2000; Professor of Astronomy and Earth and Planetary Sciences at UC Berkeley; fellow of American Academy of Arts and Sciences[3]
John Clauser, BS 1964; Wolf Prize winner and co-recipient of 2022 Nobel Prize in Physics "for experiments with entangled photons, establishing the violation of Bell inequalities and pioneering quantum information science"
William A. Fowler, PhD 1936, faculty; Nobel laureate in physics (1983) "for his theoretical and experimental studies of the nuclear reactions of importance in the formation of the chemical elements in the universe"; National Medal of Science recipient
Andrea M. Ghez, PhD 1992; Crafoord Prize Laureate in Astronomy, 2012; Sackler Prize winner; awarded MacArthur Fellowship; co-recipient of 2020 Nobel Prize in Physics "for the discovery of a supermassive compact object at the centre of our galaxy"
Donald A. Glaser, PhD 1950; Nobel laureate in physics (1960) "for the invention of the bubble chamber"
Arthur B. McDonald, PhD 1969; Nobel laureate in physics (2015) "for the discovery of neutrino oscillations, which shows that neutrinos have mass"; Breakthrough Prize laureate
Leo James Rainwater, BS 1939; Nobel laureate in physics (1975) "for the discovery of the connection between collective motion and particle motion in atomic nuclei and the development of the theory of the structure of the atomic nucleus based on this connection"
Mark J. Reid, PhD 1975; Senior Radio Astronomer at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, part of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics; world leading astronomer in development and application of Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) in galactic structure imaging and measurements; member of National Academy of Sciences[7]
Stephen A. Shectman, PhD 1973; staff member, Observatories of the Carnegie Institution for Science; member of National Academy of Sciences and fellow of American Academy of Arts and Sciences[8]
Kip Thorne, BS 1962; faculty; Richard P. Feynman Professor of Theoretical Physics, Emeritus at Caltech; Shaw Prize laureate; Kavli Prize laureate; Breakthrough Prize laureate; Gruber Prize in Cosmology winner; Harvey Prize recipient; co-recipient of 2017 Nobel Prize in Physics "for decisive contributions to the LIGO detector and the observation of gravitational waves"
Charles H. Townes, PhD 1939; Nobel laureate in physics (1964) "for fundamental work in the field of quantum electronics, which has led to the construction of oscillators and amplifiers based on the maser-laser principle"; National Medal of Science recipient
George Trilling, BS 1951, PhD 1955; Professor and Chair of Physics at UC Berkeley, Emeritus; temporary President of American Physical Society; Director of Physics Division at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab; member of National Academy of Sciences[9]
William Ward, PhD 1973, Institute scientist in Department of Space Studies at Southwest Research Institute; elected member of National Academy of Sciences; known for major contributions to planetary science and satellite dynamics[10]
Kenneth G. Wilson, PhD 1961; Wolf Prize laureate (1980), Nobel laureate in physics (1982) "for his theory for critical phenomena in connection with phase transitions"
David T. Allen, PhD 1983; Melvin H. Gertz Regents Chair in Chemical Engineering at University of Texas, Austin; known for contributions to improving air quality and for developments in sustainable engineering education and practice; elected member of National Academy of Engineering[11]
Fred C. Anson, BS 1954, former faculty; Elizabeth W. Gilloon Professor of Chemistry, Emeritus at Caltech; member of National Academy of Sciences; known for pioneering work on the electrochemistry of polymers, catalysis of electrode reactions, and electrochemical reactions that involve ultrathin coating of molecules on electrode surfaces[12]
Richard G. Brewer, BS 1951; pioneer in quantum optics and nonlinear laser spectroscopy, particularly advanced techniques in the study of laser induced steady state and transient phenomena; researcher at IBM Almaden research laboratories; IBM fellow, elected member of National Academy of Sciences[13]
Douglas S. Clark, PhD 1983; Gilbert Newton Lewis Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Dean of College of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley; known for advances in biocatalyst and bioreaction engineering for drug discovery, drug screening, and bioprocessing; elected member of National Academy of Engineering[14]
William H. Corcoran BS 1941, PhD 1948; former faculty, Institute Professor of Chemical Engineering at Caltech; known for research in biomedical engineering (particularly fluid flow and design of artificial heart valves), chemical engineering kinetics, engineering design, pharmaceutical process engineering and development design, rocketry, and transport processes; member of National Academy of Engineering[15]
Gary Felsenfeld, PhD 1955, Distinguished Investigator and Chief of the section on physical chemistry in the Laboratory of Molecular Biology at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases at the National Institutes of Health; known for research on the physical chemistry of nucleic acids and proteins and their interactions with each other and with small molecules; structure of DNA and synthetic polynucleotides; structure and function of chromatin, particularly as it relates to eukaryotic gene expression; and regulation of globin gene expression during development; member of National Academy of Sciences[16]
Neil Garg, PhD 2005; Professor & Kenneth N. Trueblood Endowed Chair at UCLA; awarded Robert Foster Cherry Award (2018), California Professor of the Year (2015), and American Chemical Society's EJ Corey Award (2017)
Jeff Gelles, PhD 1986; Aron and Imre Tauber Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology at Brandeis University; leading researcher in single-molecule biophysical imaging and study of molecular motors and assemblies involved in DNA, RNA, and protein assembly, transcription, and modification; fellow of American Academy of Arts and Sciences[17]
Jacqueline G. Gish, PhD 1976; Northrop Grumman Technology Fellow; recognized for significant contributions to the development of high-energy lasers, development of diagnostics for plasma and laser programs, and leadership of efforts on chemical lasers and solid state lasers; member of National Academy of Engineering[18]
Wilson Ho, BS/MS 1975; Donald Bren Professor of Physics & Astronomy and Chemistry, University of California, Irvine; physical chemist known for development of single-molecule scanning tunneling microscopy methods and instrumentation and investigation of nanoscale materials, surfaces, and phenomena; member of National Academy of Sciences[19]
Julia A. Kornfield, BS 1983; faculty; Professor of Chemical Engineering at Caltech; researcher in field of polymer chemistry and physics; elected member of National Academy of Engineering for developing megasupramolecules for antimisting fuel additives and light-adjustable intraocular lenses to improve cataract surgery outcomes
Nathan Lewis, BS/MS 1977; faculty; George L. Argyros Professor of Chemistry at Caltech
William Lipscomb, PhD 1946; Nobel laureate in chemistry (1976) "for his studies on the structure of boranes illuminating problems of chemical bonding"
James Mayer, PhD 1982; Charlotte Fitch Roberts Professor of Chemistry at Yale University; pioneering chemist known for work in coupled transfers of protons and electrons in catalysis and bioinorganic chemistry; elected member of American Academy of Arts and Sciences[21]
Liviu M. Mirica, BS 2005; William H. and Janet G. Lycan Professor of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Kurt Mislow, PhD 1947; Professor Emeritus of chemistry at Princeton University; known for major contributions to physical organic chemistry; member of National Academy of Sciences
Milan Mrksich, PhD 1994; Henry Wade Rodgers Professor in Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry, and Cell and Molecular Biology at Northwestern University and Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator[22]
Linus Pauling, PhD 1925; former faculty, two-time sole recipient of Nobel Prize in Chemistry (1954) "for his research into the nature of the chemical bond and its application to the elucidation of the structure of complex substances" and Nobel Peace Prize (1962) for his work on nuclear disarmament and his contributions to the Partial Test Ban Treaty; National Medal of Science recipient
Cornelius J. Pings, BS 1951, PhD 1955; former faculty in chemical engineering and chemical physics; former provost and professor of chemical engineering at University of Southern California; former president of Association of American Universities (AAU); member of National Academy of Engineering[23]
Dana Powers, BS 1970, PhD 1975; senior scientist, nuclear energy and fuel cycle programs, Sandia National Laboratories; member of National Academy of Engineering; known for contributions to commercial nuclear power plant safety worldwide and to radioactive source-term processes[24]
Warren G. Schlinger, BS 1944, PhD 1949; philanthropist and former chemical engineer at Texaco, Inc. noted for over 60 patents and decades of work on chemical processes involving syngas and cleaner energy recovery from fossil fuels; elected member of National Academy of Engineering[25]
Joe Mauk Smith, BS 1937; Professor of Chemical Engineering, Emeritus at University of California, Davis; elected member of National Academy of Engineering; known for leadership in chemical reaction kinetics and thermodynamics, and teaching in those subjects; author of several influential textbooks[26]
Shannon Stahl, PhD 1997; Steenbock Professor of Chemical Sciences at University of Wisconsin, Madison; recognized for research in chemical catalysis and elected fellow of American Academy of Arts and Sciences and National Academy of Sciences[27]
Yongkui Sun, PhD 1990; Executive Director of Business Development and Licensing at Merck & Co.; known for contributions to green, economical processes for pharmaceuticals and for developing business strategies in emerging markets; member of National Academy of Engineering[28]
Patricia Thiel, PhD 1981; Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Materials Science and Engineering at Iowa State University and senior scientist at Ames Laboratory; known for leading research on the formation and evolution of nanostructures on surfaces, surface properties and structures of quasicrystals, and thin-film nucleation and growth; fellow of American Academy of Arts and Sciences[29]
Margaret A. Tolbert, PhD 1986; Distinguished Professor of Chemistry at University of Colorado, Boulder; member of National Academy of Sciences; prominent researcher in field of atmospheric chemistry[30]
Yushan Yan, PhD 1997; Henry Belin du Pont Chair in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Delaware; elected fellow of National Academy of Inventors and National Academy of Engineering for "creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship in separation membranes and electrochemical reaction engineering, catalysis and materials"
Ajit Yoganathan, PhD 1978; Regents' Professor, Wallace H. Coulter Distinguished Faculty Chair in Biomedical Engineering, and director, Center for Innovative Cardiovascular Technologies, Georgia Tech; member of National Academy of Engineering; known for improvements in the biomechanics of prosthetic heart valves and the development of heart repair devices[31]
Don Merlin Lee Yost, PhD 1926; faculty; former professor of chemistry at Caltech; pioneering physical chemist who worked on nuclear magnetic resonance, electron spin resonance, and the microwave spectroscopy of gases; member of National Academy of Sciences[32]
Frank Brink, MS 1935; former professor and President of Rockefeller University; made major contributions to the understanding of neuronal activity through his targeted research on the cycle of excitation, response, and recovery in nerve fibers; member of National Academy of Sciences[33]
Edward M. Callaway, PhD 1988; Audrey Geisel Chair in Biomedical Science and Professor in Systems Neurobiology Laboratories at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies; pioneered novel molecular, genetic, and viral tools for revealing the detailed structure and function of neural circuits including a method that allows the tracing of a single neuron's connections to its neighbors, particularly in the visual cortex as it relates to perception and behavior; fellow of American Academy of Arts and Sciences; member of National Academy of Sciences[34]
Thomas Clandinin, PhD 1998; Shooter Family Professor of Neurobiology at Stanford University; elected member of American Academy of Arts and Sciences[35]
David A. Clayton, PhD 1970; former professor at Stanford University and former Vice President for Science Development of Howard Hughes Medical Institute; known for significant research contributions to understanding of mitochondrial genes and interplay between mitochondrial genetic mutation and human genetic disease; member of National Academy of Medicine[36]
David P. Corey, PhD 1980; Bertarelli Professor of Translational Medical Science and director of Bertarelli Program in Translational Neuroscience and Neuroengineering at Harvard Medical School; renowned for research into molecular and biophysical basis of sensory transduction in the inner ear, basic processes of mechanosensation in biology, leading to better understanding and treatment of hereditary deafness; Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator; fellow of American Academy of Arts and Sciences[37]
Horace W. Davenport, BS 1935, PhD 1939; William Beaumont Professor Emeritus of Physiology at the University of Michigan; pioneered the study of gastroenterology and laid a foundation for more effective ulcer treatments by revealing how gastric acid works in digestion without consuming the stomach itself; member of National Academy of Sciences[38]
Gerald D. Fasman, PhD 1952; Rosenfield Professor of Biochemistry, Brandeis University; major contributor to fundamental studies of protein structure-function relationships; member of National Academy of Sciences[39]
Edwin Furshpan, PhD 1955; Robert Henry Pfeiffer Professor of Neurobiology (Emeritus) at Harvard Medical School; member of National Academy of Sciences[40]
Jack Griffith, PhD 1969; Kenan Distinguished Professor of Microbiology and Immunology and of Biochemistry and Biophysics at University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill School of Medicine; known for extensive work in visualizing and understanding DNA-protein interactions, particularly as they relate to cancer and other diseases; elected fellow of American Academy of Arts and Sciences and of National Academy of Sciences[41]
Stephen F. Heinemann, BS 1962, former Professor of Neuroscience at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies; former President of the Society for Neuroscience; known for major contributions to study of molecular neurotransmission between synapses; member of National Academy of Sciences and National Academy of Medicine[42]
Steven A. Hillyard, BS 1964; Professor (Emeritus) of Neuroscience at UC San Diego School of Medicine; known for investigations in the area of human cognitive processes; leading figure in the electrophysiological study of human attention using the event-related potential technique; fellow of American Academy of Arts and Sciences[43]
Monty Krieger, PhD 1976; Whitehead Professor of Molecular Genetics at MIT; member of National Academy of Sciences[45]
Quynh-Thu Le, BS 1989, Katharine Dexter McCormick and Stanley McCormick Memorial Professor and Chair, Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine; medical doctor known for research on the management of head and neck cancers; elected member of National Academy of Medicine[46]
Edward B. Lewis, PhD 1942; former faculty; Nobel laureate in physiology or medicine (1995) "for their discoveries concerning the genetic control of early embryonic development"; Lasker Award winner; Wolf Prize winner; National Medal of Science recipient
Richard S. Lewis, PhD 1985; Professor of Molecular and Cellular Physiology at Stanford University School of Medicine; elected member of National Academy of Sciences for fundamental contributions to understanding of cellular store-operated calcium ion channels and connections to immunology[47]
Richard D. Mooney, PhD 1991; George Barth Geller Professor of Neurobiology at Duke University; elected member of American Academy of Arts and Sciences[48]
Ardem Patapoutian, PhD 1996; co-recipient of 2020 Kavli Prize in Neuroscience[49] and 2021 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine "for their discoveries of receptors for temperature and touch"
Charles M. Rice, PhD 1981; Albert Lasker award recipient (2016); co-recipient of 2020 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine "for the discovery of Hepatitis C virus"
Donald C. Shreffler, PhD 1962; former professor and Chairman of Department of Genetics at Washington University in St. Louis, Washington University School of Medicine; known for contributions to immunogenetics, paving the way for detailed studies of MHC genes; elected member of National Academy of Medicine and member of National Academy of Sciences[50]
Frederick J. Sigworth, BS 1974; Professor of Cellular and Molecular Physiology and of Biomedical Engineering at Yale University School of Medicine; member of National Academy of Sciences[51]
Howard M. Temin, PhD 1959; co-recipient of 1975 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine "for their discoveries concerning the interaction between tumour viruses and the genetic material of the cell"; Lasker Award winner; National Medal of Science recipient
Doris Tsao, BS 1996; Professor of Biology at Caltech; MacArthur fellow
David C. Van Essen, BS 1967; former faculty; Alumni Professor of Neurobiology, Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis; former editor-in-chief of the Journal of Neuroscience; founding chair of the Organization for Human Brain Mapping; former President of the Society for Neuroscience; elected member of National Academy of Sciences[52]
Sue VandeWoude, BS 1982; Professor of Comparative Medicine and Associate Dean for Research in the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at Colorado State University; leading animal virologist and veterinarian; elected member of National Academy of Sciences[53]
Christopher S. Bretherton, BS 1980; Professor of Applied Mathematics and Atmospheric Science at University of Washington; leading researcher in cloud formation and turbulence and computer modeling of global climate and weather forecasting; elected member of National Academy of Sciences[54]
Tsutomu Shimomura, undergraduate studies, computational physicist and computer security expert; tracked down and helped the FBI arrest hacker Kevin Mitnick
Ivan Sutherland, MS 1960; computer scientist and internet pioneer; recipient of the 1988 Turing Award for the invention of Sketchpad, an early predecessor to the graphical user interface; former faculty; Kyoto Prize laureate
Peter Szolovits, BS 1970, PhD 1975; Professor of Computer Science and Engineering and Health Sciences and Technology at MIT; known for work on application of AI methods to problems of medical decision making and design of information systems for health care institutions and patients; elected member of National Academy of Medicine[55]
Robert Tarjan, BS 1969; recipient of the 1986 Turing Award
Allan Acosta, BS 1945, PhD 1952; former faculty; engineer; Richard L. and Dorothy M. Hayman Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Emeritus at Caltech
Mihran S. Agbabian, MS 1948; Professor Emeritus of Engineering at the University of Southern California (USC) and President Emeritus of the American University of Armenia; member of National Academy of Engineering; known for fundamental contributions to the application of advanced methods of applied mechanics to structural design, and contributions to the field of structural response to blast and shock and the reduction of seismic hazards to existing structures[56]
George E. Apostolakis, PhD 1973, engineer; Korea Electric Power Corporation Professor of Nuclear Science and Engineering, and Professor of Engineering Systems Emeritus, at Massachusetts Institute of Technology; former Commissioner of Nuclear Regulatory Commission; known for innovations in the theory and practice of probabilistic risk assessment and risk management, particularly with regards to nuclear safety; member of National Academy of Engineering[57]
Irving L. Ashkenas, BS, MS 1939; distinguished aerospace engineer and cofounder of Systems Technology, Inc.; elected member of National Academy of Engineering; known for leadership in flying qualities theory and practice, and for contributions to flight control systems and aerospace vehicle system design[58]
Mary Baker, PhD 1972; Chairman and President of ATA Engineering Inc.; elected member of National Academy of Engineering for computer simulation methods for structural mechanics problems and engineering leadership[59][60]
Michael I. Baskes, BS 1965, PhD 1970; member of National Academy of Engineering; materials engineer known for contributions to the embedded atom method for predicting the structure and properties of metals and alloys[61]
James E. Broadwell, MS 1944; research scientist in aeronautical engineering; elected member of National Academy of Engineering for contributions to the understanding and management of turbulent mixing with application to chemical laser design[62]
Norman H. Brooks, PhD 1954; former faculty; James Irvine Professor of Environmental and Civil Engineering, Emeritus at Caltech; member of National Academy of Sciences and National Academy of Engineering; expert in hydraulic engineering, environmental fluid mechanics, and water resources and technology[63]
Brian J. Cantwell, PhD 1976; Edward C. Wells Professor of Engineering (Aeronautics and Astronautics) at Stanford University; member of National Academy of Engineering; known for studies of the space-time structure of turbulent flows and for the development of fast-burning fuels for hybrid propulsion[64]
Francis H. Clauser, BS 1934, PhD 1937; former faculty; Clark Blanchard Millikan Professor of Engineering, Emeritus at Caltech; pioneer in the study of boundary layer theory, turbulent flows, guided missiles, spacecraft, magnetohydrodynamics, and partial differential equations; member of National Academy of Engineering[65]
Donald E. Coles, PhD 1953; former faculty; Professor of Aeronautics, Emeritus at Caltech; contributed to study of supersonic and turbulent boundary layer flows, Couette flows, and fluid flow instrumentation design; member of National Academy of Engineering[66]
Robert Conn, PhD 1968; President of the Kavli Foundation and Zable Professor and Dean, Emeritus, of the Jacobs School of Engineering at UC San Diego; leading researcher in plasma physics, fusion energy, energy policy and materials science; member of National Academy of Engineering and recipient of E.O. Lawrence award from Department of Energy[67]
Slobodan Ćuk, PhD 1977; inventor of Ćuk switched-mode DC-to-DC voltage converter; former professor of Electrical Engineering at Caltech
John Dabiri, PhD 2005, Centennial Chair Professor of Aeronautics and Mechanical Engineering at Caltech; awarded MacArthur Fellowship
James Wallace Daily, PhD 1945, Professor of Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulic Engineering Emeritus, at University of Michigan; former professor at MIT; known for contributions to fluid mechanics and hydraulic engineering, especially in the areas of cavitation, hydraulic machinery, the flow of suspensions, and the design of fluid-mechanics laboratories; member of National Academy of Engineering[68]
Frank W. Davis, BS 1936; engineer, test pilot, and executive with Convair and General Dynamics; elected member of National Academy of Engineering; known for design, development, and testing of supersonic aircraft and missile systems[69]
Paul Dimotakis, BS 1968, PhD 1973; faculty; John K. Northrop Professor of Aeronautics and Professor of Applied Physics at Caltech and senior research scientist at JPL; former chief technologist at JPL; known for contributions to the fluid mechanics of jet propulsion and other processes involving turbulence, mixing, and transport; member of National Academy of Engineering[70]
Dean B. Edwards, PhD 1977; Professor of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Emeritus at University of Idaho; noted researcher in electric vehicle battery research; elected member of National Academy of Inventors
Morteza Gharib, PhD 1983; faculty; Vice Provost for Research and Hans W. Liepmann Professor of Aeronautics and Bioinspired Engineering at Caltech
Edward Gibson, MS 1960, PhD 1964, NASA astronaut, flew on Skylab 4
Roy W. Gould, BS 1949, PhD 1956, former faculty; Simon Ramo Professor of Engineering, Emeritus at Caltech; made several important contributions to field of plasma physics; member of National Academy of Sciences and National Academy of Engineering[71]
R. Richard Heppe, A.Eng (Degree of Aeronautical Engineer) 1947; retired vice president at Lockheed Corporation; elected member of National Academy of Engineering; known for significant contributions to aerodynamics, design, and disciplined technical management of numerous military and commercial aircraft developments[72]
Tsien Hsue-shen, PhD 1939, "father of China's rocket program"
Donald Hudson, BS 1938, PhD 1942, former faculty; engineer; Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics, Emeritus at Caltech; leader in dynamic measurements in the field of vibrations and experimental stress analysis, general analysis in structural dynamics and vibrations, and analytical and experimental methods in earthquake engineering and engineering seismology; member of National Academy of Engineering[73]
Wilfred D. Iwan, BS 1957, PhD 1961, former faculty; Professor of Applied Mechanics, Emeritus at Caltech; major contributor to theory of vibrations, modeling of structural systems, nonlinear system identification, machinery dynamics and vibration, earthquake response of structures, earthquake response of nonstructural components, engineering seismology, offshore drilling, and public policy for earthquake risk mitigation; member of National Academy of Engineering[74]
Paul C. Jennings, PhD 1963, former faculty; Professor of Civil Engineering and Applied Mechanics, Emeritus at Caltech; authority on earthquake engineering and dynamics of structures, including high-rise buildings, offshore drilling towers, and nuclear power plants; member of National Academy of Engineering and fellow of American Academy of Arts and Science[75]
William L Johnson, PhD 1975, faculty; Ruben F. and Donna Mettler Professor of Engineering and Applied Science at Caltech; made major contributions to study of bulk metallic glasses; member of National Academy of Sciences and National Academy of Engineering[76]
Ann Karagozian, PhD 1982, Distinguished Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA); recognized for important research contributions to combustion and propulsion as well as education and service to profession; elected member of National Academy of Engineering[77]
Leon Keer; BS 1956, MS 1958, Walter P. Murphy Professor of Civil Engineering at Northwestern University; known for research on application of elasticity to design problems involving contact and fracture; member of National Academy of Engineering[78]
Jack Kerrebrock, PhD 1956, Richard Cockburn Maclaurin Professor Emeritus, former head of the Aeronautics and Astronautics Department, and former Dean of School of Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology; known for work on nuclear rockets, space propulsion and power, magneto hydrodynamic generators, and fluid mechanics of turbomachinery for aircraft engines; member of National Academy of Engineering[79]
Tobias J. Kippenberg, PhD 2004. Professor of Physics at EPFL (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, or Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne). Elected member of National Academy of Engineering for "development and commercialization of chip-scale optical frequency combs."
Wolfgang G. Knauss, BS 1958, PhD 1963; former faculty; Theodore von Karman Professor of Aeronautics and Applied Mechanics, Emeritus at Caltech; world leading researcher in fracture mechanics and engineering work on time-dependent fracture of polymers, at interfaces and under dynamic loading; member of National Academy of Engineering (USA) and Russian Academy of Engineering[80]
Thomas L. Koch, PhD 1982, Dean of the College of Optical Sciences and Professor of Optical Sciences and Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Arizona; former senior researcher at Bell Labs; known for contributions to optoelectronic technologies and their implementation in optical communications systems, exploring the fundamental performance limits of lasers used for telecommunications, and for the design and demonstration of semiconductor photonic integrated circuits; member of National Academy of Engineering, fellow of IEEE, and fellow of OSA[81]
Petros Koumoutsakos, PhD 1993, Professor and Chair of Computational Science at ETH Zurich, Switzerland; known for important contributions to computational methods and simulations for fluid mechanics, nanotechnology, and biology; elected member of US National Academy of Engineering[82]
Thomas F. Kuech, PhD 1981, Milton J. and A. Maude Shoemaker and Beckwith-Bascom Professor and Chair, Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison; member of National Academy of Engineering; known for contributions to chemical vapor deposition of compound semiconductors[83]
Mark Kushner, PhD 1979; George I Haddad Collegiate Professor of Engineering at University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; elected member of National Academy of Engineering; known for contributions to low-temperature plasmas for semiconductors, optics, and thin-film manufacturing[84]
Stelios Kyriakides, PhD 1980; Cockrell Family Chair Professor in Engineering, University of Texas-Austin; known for contributions to micro- and macro- mechanical behavior of solids, particularly understanding of propagating instability phenomena in structures and materials and its use for technological applications; member of National Academy of Engineering[85]
Sidney Leibovich, BS 1961, Samuel B. Eckert Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Cornell University; known for seminal contributions to theory and application of stability, wave propagation, vortices, and the ocean surface layer; member of National Academy of Engineering; fellow of American Academy of Arts and Sciences[86]
Anthony E. Leonard, BS 1959, PhD 1963, former faculty; Theodore von Karman Professor of Aeronautics, Emeritus at Caltech; known for contributions to simulation of turbulence, new vortex methods of flow simulation, and understanding of flow-induced vibration; member of National Academy of Engineering[87]
Yiannis Levendis, PhD 1987; Distinguished Professor of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at Northeastern University; elected member of National Academy of Inventors; expert in fuel combustion and pollution analysis
Amable Liñán, A.Eng (Degree of Aeronautical Engineer) 1963
Fred Lindvall, PhD 1928, former faculty; Professor of Electrical Engineering at Caltech and Chair of Division of Engineering & Applied Science; President of Sigma Xi; President of American Society for Engineering Education; member of National Academy of Sciences and National Academy of Engineering; fellow of ASME and fellow of IEEE; known for research and development of equipment for transportation and underwater ordinance[88]
Artur Mager, PhD 1953; prominent aerospace executive and former president of American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA); elected member of National Academy of Engineering; known for contributions in turbulent flow aerodynamics and engineering leadership to space and missile programs[89]
Frank E. Marble, PhD 1948, former faculty; Richard L. and Dorothy M. Hayman Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Professor of Jet Propulsion, Emeritus at Caltech
Robert McEliece, BS 1964, PhD 1967, former faculty; Allen E. Puckett Professor of Electrical Engineering, Emeritus at Caltech
Duane T. McRuer, BS 1945, MS 1948; distinguished aerospace engineer, executive, and co-founder of Systems Technology, Inc.; elected member of National Academy of Engineering; known for pioneering application of guidance and control theory and to experimental man-machine interactions[90]
William W. Moore, BS, MS, 1934; distinguished civil and geotechnical engineer who co-founded prominent consulting engineering firm Dames & Moore; elected member of National Academy of Engineering; known for pioneering contributions in the field of geotechnical engineering and to knowledge of earth sciences and soil engineering[91]
Richard M. Murray, BS 1985, engineer; Thomas and Doris Everhart Professor of Control and Dynamical Systems and Bioengineering at Caltech; known for contributions in control theory and networked control systems with applications to aerospace engineering, robotics, autonomy, and biological circuits; member of National Academy of Engineering[92]
Zoya Popovic, PhD 1990; Distinguished Professor and Lockheed Martin Endowed Chair, Electrical Computer and Energy Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder; elected fellow of National Academy of Engineering for "developing high-efficiency microwave transmitters and active antenna arrays for wireless communication systems and for engineering education"
Allen E. Puckett, PhD 1949, contributed greatly to the delta-winged airplane, the guided missile, and the communications satellite; Chairman and CEO of Hughes Aircraft who helped develop its predominance in radar systems and defense electronics during his career; past president of American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics; elected member of National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Sciences; won Lawrence Sperry award of American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics; National Medal of Technology and Innovation recipient[93]
W. Duncan Rannie, PhD 1951; former faculty; Robert H. Goddard Professor of Jet Propulsion, Emeritus at Caltech; known for contributions to three-dimensional flow, stall and distortion in turbomachinery and to turbulent heat transfer; member of National Academy of Engineering[94]
Eli Reshotko, PhD 1960; Kent H. Smith Professor Emeritus of Engineering at Case Western Reserve University; elected member of National Academy of Engineering; known for contributions to the understanding of transition to turbulence in high-speed flows and non-homogeneous flows[95]
Anatol Roshko, PhD 1952, Theodore von Kármán Professor of Aeronautics, Emeritus at Caltech; former faculty
Darrell G. Schlom, BS 1984, Herbert Fisk Johnson Professor of Industrial Chemistry at Cornell University; known for molecular-beam epitaxy "materials-by-design" of complex oxides impacting the integration of high dielectric oxides in semiconductor devices; elected member of National Academy of Engineering
Harris M. Schurmeier, BS, MS, A.Eng (Degree of Aeronautical Engineer) 1949; recipient of NASA Distinguished Service Medal, NASA Exceptional Service Medal, and NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal; aerospace engineer who served in many leadership positions at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and as project manager of several interplanetary missions; elected member of National Academy of Engineering; known for engineering leadership in explorations of the solar system[96]
Richard A. Searfoss, MS 1979, NASA astronaut, flew on STS-58 and STS-76, commander of STS-90
George E. Solomon, PhD 1952; prominent aeronautical engineer who rose up the ranks to become corporate executive vice president and general manager of the Electronics and Defense Sector of TRW, Inc.; elected member of National Academy of Engineering; known for contributions to the design and development of space and weapon systems[97]
Pol Spanos, PhD 1976, engineer; Lewis B. Ryon Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Civil Engineering at Rice University; known for pioneering research into the development of methods of predicting the dynamic behavior and reliability of structural systems in diverse loading environments; research has studied statics, dynamics, and vibrations of systems for aerospace, biomedical, forensic, marine, petroleum, seismic, and structural engineering applications; member of National Academy of Engineering; fellow of American Academy of Arts and Sciences[98]
Hsue-Shen Tsien (as he was known in the US before 1950, or Qian Xuesen as he was known in China after 1950; family name is transliterated as Tsien or as Qian), PhD 1939, co-founder of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and is known as the "Father of Chinese space program" and the "Father of Chinese Rocketry"
Kerry Vahala, BS 1980, MS 1981, PhD 1985, faculty member; the Ted and Ginger Jenkins chair of Information Science and Technology and also serves as the Executive Officer of the Department of Applied Physics and Materials Science at Caltech
Vito Vanoni, BS 1926, PhD 1940, former faculty; Professor of Hydraulics, Emeritus at Caltech; world leader in study of sediment transport in streams and rivers; elected to National Academy of Engineering for leadership in developing the science of hydraulic sedimentation mechanics and applying it to construction and maintenance of engineering structures[99]
Max L. Williams, PhD 1950, former faculty; Professor of Aeronautics at Caltech; leader in fields of fracture mechanics, adhesion, solid propellant rockets; founder of International Journal of Fracture; member of National Academy of Engineering[100]
Vigor Yang, PhD 1984, William R.T. Oakes Professor and Chair of the Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech); member of National Academy of Engineering; known for contributions to combustion physics in propulsion systems and to aerospace engineering education[101]
Francis Anthony Dahlen, BS 1964, pioneering theoretical seismologist and professor at Princeton University; member of National Academy of Sciences[102]
R. Lawrence Edwards, PhD 1988, eminent geochemist; Regents, Gunn, & Distinguished McKnight University Professor Chair of Earth Systems Science at University of Minnesota; member of National Academy of Sciences[103]
Stanley R. Hart, MS 1957, Senior Scientist, Department of Geology and Geophysics, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution; former professor of earth, atmospheric, and planetary sciences at MIT; former President of Geochemical Society; member of National Academy of Sciences and fellow of American Academy of Arts and Sciences[104]
Thorne Lay, PhD 1983, prominent seismologist and Distinguished Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at University of California, Santa Cruz; member of National Academy of Sciences and fellow of American Academy of Arts and Sciences[105]
William B. McKinnon, PhD 1981; Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis; elected member of National Academy of Sciences
François M. M. Morel, PhD 1971, prominent geochemist, member of National Academy of Sciences and Albert G. Blanke Professor of Geosciences at Princeton University and director of Princeton Environmental Institute; winner of 2010 ENI environmental award[106]
Hugh P. Taylor, Jr. BS 1954, PhD 1959, former faculty; pioneering geochemist and Robert P. Sharp Professor of Geology, Emeritus Caltech; member of National Academy of Sciences and fellow of American Academy of Arts and Sciences[108]
Leon Thomsen, BS 1964; Research Professor of Geophysics at University of Houston and Chief Scientist, Delta Geophysics, Inc.; elected fellow of National Academy of Engineering for "contributions to seismic anisotropy concepts that produced major advances in subsurface analysis"
Cliff Spiro, PhD 1981; former CTO at Cabot Microelectronics and former VP of R&D at Ondeo-Nalco; elected to National Academy of Engineering for "technical leadership in diverse fields ranging from combustion to microelectronics and medical technologies"[109]
Willard G. Manning, Jr., BS 1968; Professor Emeritus, Irving B. Harris Graduate School of Public Policy Studies, and Department of Health Studies, Biological Science Division/Medical School - University of Chicago; elected member of National Academy of Medicine; distinguished researcher in field of health insurance research and healthcare economics[110]
Robert C. Merton, MS 1967; recipient of Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel (aka Nobel Prize in Economics) (1997) "for a new method to determine the value of derivatives"
Vernon L. Smith, BS 1949; recipient of Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel (aka Nobel Prize in Economics) (2002) "for having established laboratory experiments as a tool in empirical economic analysis, especially in the study of alternative market mechanisms"
France A. Córdova, PhD 1979; 14th Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF); former President of Purdue University and former Chancellor of University of California, Riverside
Richard D. DeLauer, PhD 1953; member of National Academy of Engineering; Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering in President Ronald Reagan's cabinet; Executive Vice President of TRW Inc.[111]
Jessica Mathews, PhD 1973; former Director of the Office of Global Issues of the National Security Council; founding Vice President and former Director of Research of the World Resources Institute; former Senior Fellow at Council on Foreign Relations; former President of Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Raymond L. Orbach, BS 1956; former Chancellor of University of California, Riverside; first Under Secretary for Science and former Director of Office of Science at Department of Energy
Arati Prabhakar, PhD 1984; first woman to head National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and former Director of United States Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
Jose I. Cabezon, BS 1978; XIVth Dalai Lama Professor of Tibetan Buddhism and Cultural Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara; world leading researcher in Tibetan Buddhist philosophy and culture; Guggenheim fellow and elected fellow of American Academy of Arts and Sciences[112]
Barry Barish, co-recipient of 2017 Nobel Prize in Physics "for decisive contributions to the LIGO detector and the observation of gravitational waves". Recipient of National Medal of Science
Richard Feynman, Nobel laureate in physics (1965) "for their fundamental work in quantum electrodynamics, with deep-ploughing consequences for the physics of elementary particles"; National Medal of Science recipient
Murray Gell-Mann, Nobel laureate in physics (1969) "for his contributions and discoveries concerning the classification of elementary particles and their interactions"; co-founder of Santa Fe Institute; recipient of Franklin Medal
Robert A. Millikan, Nobel laureate in physics (1923) "for his work on the elementary charge of electricity and on the photoelectric effect"
Rudolf Mössbauer, Nobel laureate in physics (1961) "for his researches concerning the resonance absorption of gamma radiation and his discovery in this connection of the effect which bears his name"; former faculty
Anthony C. Readhead, Barbara and Stanley Rawn Jr. Professor of Astronomy; member of National Academy of Sciences; fellow of American Academy of Arts and Sciences[117]
Richard Flagan, major contributor to aerosol science and technology and atmospheric chemistry; member of National Academy of Engineering[119]
Sheldon K. Friedlander, former faculty; renowned researcher in aerosol science and technology; later a professor of chemical engineering at UCLA; member of National Academy of Engineering[120]
Barbara Imperiali, Class of 1922, former faculty; Professor of Chemistry and Professor of Biology at Massachusetts Institute of Technology; member of National Academy of Sciences and fellow of American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Doug C. Rees, eminent X-ray crystallographer and structural biochemist specializing in membrane proteins and metalloproteins, especially involved in bioenergetics; HHMI Investigator; member of National Academy of Sciences and fellow of American Academy of Arts and Sciences[122]
David Baltimore, virologist; Nobel laureate in physiology or medicine (1975) "for their discoveries concerning the interaction between tumour viruses and the genetic material of the cell"; President of Caltech (1997–2006); National Medal of Science recipient; 2021 Lasker Award recipient
George Wells Beadle, geneticist; Nobel laureate in physiology or medicine (1958) "for their discovery that genes act by regulating definite chemical events"; President of the University of Chicago (1961–1968); Lasker Award winner
Max Delbrück, biophysicist and pioneering molecular biologist, Nobel laureate in physiology or medicine (1969) "for their discoveries concerning the replication mechanism and the genetic structure of viruses"
Renato Dulbecco, virologist; Nobel laureate in physiology or medicine (1975) "for their discoveries concerning the interaction between tumour viruses and the genetic material of the cell"; Lasker Award winner
Mel I. Simon, former faculty; Anne P. and Benjamin F. Biaggini Professor of Biological Sciences; pioneering geneticist; member of National Academy of Sciences[124]
Robert L. Sinsheimer, former faculty; distinguished biophysicist and genetic researcher involved in human genome sequencing effort, phage virus genetics; member of National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Medicine, and American Academy of Arts and Sciences; recipient of California Scientist of the Year Award[125]
Roger W. Sperry, neuroscientist, Nobel laureate in physiology or medicine (1981) "for his discoveries concerning the functional specialization of the cerebral hemispheres"; Lasker Award winner; Wolf Prize winner; National Medal of Science recipient
Paul Sternberg, leading C. elegans geneticist; HHMI Investigator; member of National Academy of Sciences and fellow of American Academy of Arts and Sciences; former President of Genetics Society of America[126]
William Barry Wood, former faculty; Distinguished Professor of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Emeritus, at University of Colorado, Boulder; member of National Academy of Sciences[127]
Engineering and applied science
Erik Antonsson, former faculty, former chief technologist at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and former Director of Research and Corporate Director of Technology at Northrop Grumman; elected member of National Academy of Engineering for leadership in the development of aerospace/defense systems, formal methods of engineering design, and active learning in engineering education[128][129]
Harry Atwater, Otis Booth Leadership Chair of the Division of Engineering and Applied Science; pioneer in photovoltaics and solar energy
Lester Lees, former faculty; Professor of Aeronautics, known for pioneering contributions in hypersonic aerodynamics and environmental quality science, notably in boundary layers and heat transfer, flow-over blunt bodies, and the development of reentry vehicles; member of National Academy of Engineering and fellow of American Academy of Arts and Sciences[130]
Mary Lidstrom, former faculty; Jungers Professor of Microbiology and Chemical Engineering, University of Washington; Howard Hughes Medical Investigator; member of National Academy of Sciences[131]
Jack McKee, former faculty; engineer; Professor of Environmental Engineering; leading researcher in fields of water quality and waste treatment, including water quality criteria, sewage disinfection, membrane filtration and analysis, and wastewater disposal and reclamation; member of National Academy of Engineering[132]
James J. Morgan, former faculty; engineer; Marvin Goldberger Professor of Environmental Engineering Science; world leader in chemistry of natural water systems; acid rain; wastewater and drinking water treatment; coagulation processes in aqueous systems; rates of oxidation processes in water; adsorption and surface chemistry; chemistry of water purification; transport of metals and other substances in water; and water quality modeling; member of National Academy of Engineering[133]
Michael Ortiz, engineer; Frank and Ora Lee Marble Professor of Aeronautics and Mechanical Engineering; pioneer in computational mechanics; member of National Academy of Engineering and fellow of American Academy of Arts and Sciences[134]
Fredric Raichlen, former faculty; Professor Emeritus of Mechanical and Civil Engineering; made major contributions to hydraulics and coastal engineering, particularly in the areas of tsunamis, ship dynamics, and breaking waves; member of National Academy of Engineering[135]
Ronald Scott, former faculty; engineer; Dotty and Dick Hayman Professor of Civil Engineering, Emeritus; made major contributions to mechanics of deformation and yielding in soils, soil behavior in earthquakes, the physical chemistry and mechanics of ocean-bottom-soil, and freezing and thawing processes in soils; consultant to several NASA missions; member of National Academy of Engineering[136]
Yu-Chong Tai, Anna L. Rosen Professor of Electrical Engineering and Medical Engineering. Expert in microelectromechanical systems and elected member of National Academy of Engineering for "contributions to microelectromechanical system technologies and parylene-based biomedical microdevices"[137]
John M. Eiler, Robert P. Sharp Professor of Geology and professor of geochemistry; world leading researcher in isotope geochemistry; member of National Academy of Sciences[138]
Chester Stock, former faculty; eminent paleontologist; member of National Academy of Sciences and American Philosophical Society; fellow of American Academy of Arts and Sciences[140]
Ed Stolper, pioneering geochemist specializing in igneous petrology; member of National Academy of Sciences; fellow of American Academy of Arts and Sciences and Royal Society of London[141]
John Ferejohn, former faculty; Samuel Tilden Professor of Law at New York University (formerly a professor at Stanford University and Hoover Institution fellow); member of National Academy of Sciences and fellow of American Academy of Arts and Sciences[142]
Jonathan N. Katz, Kay Sugahara Professor of Social Science and Statistics at Caltech; known for work applying statistics and political theory to various problems in social science; fellow of American Academy of Arts and Sciences[143]
John O. Ledyard, Allen and Lenabelle Davis Professor of Economics and Social Sciences, Emeritus at Caltech; contributed to theory and application of mechanism design in economics and social science; fellow of American Academy of Arts and Sciences[144]