Norberg shares prestigious ISMAR Prize

Richard E. Norberg, Ph.D., professor of physics in Arts & Sciences, has been named a co-recipient of the 2004 ISMAR Prize, the highest honor the International Society of Magnetic Resonance awards.

Norberg shares the prize with his former doctoral student Irving J. Lowe, Ph.D., who is now a professor of physics at the University of Pittsburgh.

Richard Norberg
Richard Norberg

Norberg and Lowe will receive the award, which is given every three years to recognize outstanding achievement in magnetic resonance science, during the society’s 15th triennial meeting Oct. 24-28 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

The two join a distinguished group of previous ISMAR Prize recipients, including 1992 co-winners Paul C. Lauterbur and Peter Mansfield, who received the 2003 Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine for their discoveries concerning magnetic resonance imaging.

“I’m doubly delighted that Dick Norberg and one of his former students are being recognized with this prestigious prize,” said Edward S. Macias, Ph.D., executive vice chancellor, dean of Arts & Sciences and the Barbara and David Thomas Distinguished Professor in Arts & Sciences. “Their early work on nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) changed the field in fundamental ways, helping lead the way to NMR becoming a practical analysis tool.

“Dick’s devotion to his research and to his students did not falter while he also served for nearly 30 years as chair of the Department of Physics,” Macias added. “In addition to Irving Lowe, Dick advised close to 50 doctoral students —the most of anyone in the department. His influence is widespread.”

Norberg, who earned a master’s (1947) and doctorate (1951) from the University of Illinois, joined Washington University’s physics faculty in 1955. He was department chair from 1962-1991.

“Dick Norberg has been a pioneer in the development and application of nuclear magnetic resonance as an incisive tool for the study of condensed-matter systems,” said John W. Clark, Ph.D., the Wayman Crow Professor of Physics and current chair.

“His distinguished career is highlighted by numerous contributions to our understanding of amorphous semiconductors, metal-hydrogen systems, quantum fluids and solids, impurities and defects in solids, and biological membranes.”

Lowe, also a noted authority in the field of magnetic resonance, earned a doctorate in 1956 under the direction of both Norberg and George E. Pake, Ph.D., former University provost, trustee, physics professor and department chair.

The International Society of Magnetic Resonance, which represents one of the most active subfields of physics, chemistry and medical imaging, cited Norberg and Lowe for their discovery and demonstration of the Fourier transform method for obtaining NMR spectra in solids and for their contributions to the invention and demonstration of magic-angle spinning. This and other seminal work will be acknowledged at the society’s conference.