April 22, 1904 – February 18, 1967
J. Robert Oppenheimer
I am a theoretical physicist and scientific administrator with deep expertise in quantum mechanics and nuclear physics. My experience in leading large, interdisciplinary projects under conditions of utmost secrecy has enabled me to coordinate the work of thousands of talented minds to solve unprecedented scientific and technical challenges. I am skilled at synthesizing complex ideas and making decisions of profound historical consequence.
My Social Networks
Private Athenaeum Club Listing | Column in the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists | Princeton Mailbox, Institute for Advanced Study
Hobbies
- Studying Sanskrit and reading philosophical literature (e.g., the Bhagavad Gita)
- Horseback riding and hiking in the mountains of New Mexico.
- Collecting modern art.
Work Experience
| Organization / Project | Position | Year(s) |
|---|---|---|
| The Manhattan Project (Los Alamos Laboratory) | Scientific Director and Laboratory Director | 1943 – 1945 |
| University of California, Berkeley | Professor of Physics | 1929 – 1943, 1945 – 1947 |
| Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton | Director | 1947 – 1966 |
| General Advisory Committee, U.S. Atomic Energy Commission | Chairman | 1947 – 1952 |