Women's History Month Spotlights
Edith Clarke was born in 1883 and graduated in 1908 from Vassar College with honors in math and astronomy. Clarke became interested in computers while working for AT&T and in 1918 enrolled in MIT's Electrical Engineering program where she earned a master's degree; the first degree of its kind awarded to a woman. In 1947, Clarke became the first female faculty member hired into the College of Engineering at UT Austin.
Clarke focused on developing mathematical methods for the design and operation of electrical power systems and, in 1921, filed for a patent of a "graphical calculator". Clarke was also the first female to present a paper for the American Institute in Electrical Engineering (AIEE).
Combining her interests in biology, chemistry and math, Christine Schmidt decided pursued a career in chemical and biomedical engineering and graduated with high honors from UT Austin in 1988. After conducting postdoctoral research at MIT, Schmidt joined the faculty of UT Austin's Department of Chemical Engineering. Schmidt then transferred to the Department of Biomedical Engineering where she now supervises a research group of graduate and undergraduate students.
Through her research, Schmidt developed a polymer that conducts electricity stimulating new growth in nerves. Schmidt also created a prosthesis for use in bypass heart surgery procedures and, in collaboration with Sulzer Biologics, is developing tissue that will behave like a normal blood vessel once implanted.
