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
PeopleInstitutionsRalph Oliver Simmons
Dates
February 19, 1928 – present
Authorized Form of Name
Simmons, Ralph Oliver
Biography
Abstract
Ralph Simmons is Emeritus Professor of Physics at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (2006-present). His research interests include lattice defects in solid helium, metals, semiconductors and ionic crystals; irradiation damage of solids; thermal, elastic and defect properties of noble gas crystals and other molecular solids; and structure and dynamics of solids and fluids by neutron and x-ray scattering.
Important Dates
February 19, 1928Birth, Kansas.
1950Obtained BA, University of Kansas, Lawrence (Kan.).
1953Obtained BA, Oxford University, Oxford (England).
1957Obtained PhD in Physics, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana (Ill.).
1957Obtained MA, Oxford University, Oxford (England).
1957 – presentResearch Associate (1957-1959); Assistant Professor to Associate Professor (1959-1965); Professor of Physics (1965-2006); Chair, Department of Physics (1970-1986); and Emeritus Professor of Physics (2006-present), University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana (Ill.).
1976 – 1977Chair, Division of Solid State Physics, American Physical Society.
1978 – 1981Office of Physical Science, National Research Council, National Academy of Science.
1978 – 1985Consultant, Argonne National Laboratory.
1985Visiting Scientist, École Normale Supérieure.
1988 – 1989Advisory Committee, Physics Today, American Institute of Physics.
1992Guest Professor, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich.
Occupation
Condensed matter physicist.
Places
Birth
Undergraduate Education
Graduate Education
Employment
Subjects
Relationships
People
Colleagues
Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Anderson, A. C. (Ansel Cochran), 1933-
Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Jackson, John David, 1925-2016
Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Kerst, Donald William, 1911-1993
Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Loomis, F. W. (Francis Wheeler), 1889-1976
Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Schrieffer, J. R. (John Robert), 1931-
Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Both employed at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Institutions
Major Positions
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Department of Physics
Obtained PhD (1957). Research Associate; Assistant Professor to Associate Professor; Professor of Physics; Department Chair; and Emeritus Professor of Physics.
Professional Activities & Affiliations
American Institute of Physics. Physics Today Division
Member, Advisory Committee.
Chair, Division of Solid State Physics.
Consultant.
École normale supérieure (France)
Visiting Scientist.
National Academy of Sciences (U.S.)
Office of Physical Science, National Research Council.
Universität München
Guest Professor.
University of Kansas. Department of Physics and Astronomy
Obtained BA (1950).
University of Oxford. Department of Physics
Obtained BA (1953) and MA (1957).