Physics History Network
Over 1000 biographies of physicists and histories of institutions with information pertaining to their lives, careers, and research.
Tip: Search within this page by using Ctrl + F or ⌘ + F
Search Our Catalogs
Archives BooksCollections
Emilio Segré Visual Archives Digital Collections Oral Histories Archival Finding Aids Physics History Network Member Society Portals Ethical Cataloging StatementPreservation and Support
Donating Materials Suggest a Book Purchase Saving Archival Collections Grants to Archives Documentation Projects History NewslettersCenter for History of Physics
Scholarship & OutreachMain Navigation
HomeAboutTopic GuidesFeedbackTable of Contents
Biography
AbstractImportant DatesOccupationPlacesSubjectsRelationships
PeopleInstitutionsResources
Archival as AuthorArchival as SubjectPublished as SubjectAlfred O. Nier
Dates
May 28, 1911 – May 16, 1994
Authorized Form of Name
Nier, Alfred O. (Alfred Otto), 1911-1994
Additional Forms of Names
Nier, A. O. (Alfred Otto), 1911-1994
Nier, Alfred Otto, 1911-1994
Biography
Abstract
Alfred Nier was Emeritus Professor of Physics at the University of Minnesota (1980-1994). His research interests included mass spectrometry, and radioactive decay. One of his significant achievements includes the first uranium isotope separation in history.
Important Dates
May 28, 1911Birth, Saint Paul (Minn.).
1931Obtained BE in Electrical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis (Minn.).
1933Obtained MS in Electrical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis (Minn.).
1936Obtained PhD in Physics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis (Minn.).
1936 – 1938National Research Council (NRC) Fellow, Harvard University.
1938 – 1994Assistant Professor to Associate Professor of Physics (1938-1945); Professor of Physics (1945-1980); Chair, Department of Physics (1953-1965); and Emeritus Professor of Physics (1980-1994), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis (Minn.).
1943 – 1945Physicist, Kellex Corporation.
1950Member, National Academy of Sciences.
May 16, 1994Death, Minneapolis (Minn.).
Occupation
Nuclear physicist.
Places
Birth
Undergraduate Education
Graduate Education
Employment
Death
Subjects
Relationships
People
Advisors & Collaborators
Bainbridge, Kenneth T. (Kenneth Tompkins), 1904-1996
Post-doctoral advisor at Harvard University, and both employed at Harvard University.
Inghram, Mark Gordon, 1919-
Manhattan Project research advised by Nier, University of Chicago.
Tate, John T. (John Torrence), 1889-1950
Advised by Tate and worked together at the University of Minnesota on a mass spectrographic study of the isotopes of argon, potassium, rubidium, zinc, and cadmium.
Colleagues
Both employed at the University of Minnesota and Harvard University.
Bridgman, P. W. (Percy Williams), 1882-1961
Both employed at Harvard University.
Conant, James Bryant, 1893-1978
Both employed at Harvard University.
Fisk, James B. (James Brown), 1910-1981
Both employed at Harvard University.
Furry, W. H. (Wendell Hinkle), 1907-
Both employed at Harvard University.
Both employed at University of Minnesota.
Both employed at Harvard University.
Both employed at University of Minnesota.
Kemble, Edwin C. (Edwin Crawford), 1889-
Both employed at Harvard University.
Both employed at Harvard University.
Both employed at University of Minnesota.
Both employed at University of Minnesota.
Pierce, George Washington, 1872-1956
Both employed at Harvard University.
Both employed at Harvard University.
Saunders, Frederick A. (Frederick Albert), 1875-1963
Both employed at Harvard University.
Both employed at Harvard University.
Both employed at Harvard University.
Van Vleck, J. H. (John Hasbrouck), 1899-1980
Both employed at Harvard University.
Williams, John H. (John Harry), 1908-
Both employed at University of Minnesota.
Both employed at University of Minnesota.
Additional
Beams, Jesse W. (Jesse Wakefield), 1898-1977
Grosse, Aristid von, 1905-1985
Groueff, Stephane
Naugle, John E.
Urey, Harold Clayton, 1893-1981
Institutions
Major Positions
Harvard University. Department of Physics
National Research Council (NRC) Fellow.
Kellex Corporation
Physicist.
University of Minnesota. Department of Physics and Astronomy
Obtained PhD (1936). Assistant Professor to Associate Professor of Physics; Professor of Physics; Emeritus Professor of Physics; and Department Chair.
Professional Activities & Affiliations
National Academy of Sciences (U.S.)
Member.
United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration
University of Minnesota. Department of Electrical Engineering
Obtained BE (1931) and MS (1933).
Resources
Archival Resources
Author
Alfred O. Nier papers, 1930-1966.
University Archives
University of Minnesota
Andersen Library, Minneapolis, MN, USA
Alfred O. Nier; physicist [videorecording]
Walter Library
University of Minnesota
117 Pleasant St. S. E., Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
American Vacuum Society interview collection, 1991-2013.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
An account of the first sample of separated Uranium 235 at the University of Minnesota in 1940, 1954.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Dedication of Tate Laboratory of Physics [sound recording], 1966.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Lecture on stable isotopes from CO2 [videorecording].
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
National Air and Space Museum space astronomy oral history project records, 1981-1986.
Archives Division
Smithsonian Institution. National Air and Space Museum
MRC 322, Washington, DC, 20560, USA
Oral history interview with Alfred O. C. Nier : 1989 April 7 and 8.
The Beckman Center for History of Chemistry
Chemical Heritage Foundation
315 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106-2702, USA
Physics in industry [sound recording] / 1976 November 8-9.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Walker Bleakney Retirement Symposium [sound recording], 1969 May 2.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Subject
American Astronomical Society Historical Astronomy Division addition to records: obituary files, 1995-1998.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Jesse W. Beams papers, 1926-1977.
Alderman Library. Special Collections
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
Oral history interview with Aristid Victor Grosse, 1974 January 11 and April 5.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral History interview with Edward P. Ney, 1984 February 29.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with John E. Naugle, 1980 August 20.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Stephane Groueff papers, 1955-1975
Mugar Library Special Collections
Boston University
771 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
University of Minnesota Department of Physics papers, 1886-1972.
University Archives
University of Minnesota
Andersen Library, Minneapolis, MN, USA
Published Resources
Subject
"Alfred Otto Carl Nier: 1911-1994", Biographical Memoirs of the National Academy of Sciences