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Interview no.: 0222
Date of interview: 1 August 2001
Location: Murray Hill, New Jersey
No. of pages: 55
Interviewer:
David C. Brock
Minutes:
Sponsor: Society of Chemical Industry
Access level: Free Access. Users may view, quote from, cite, or reproduce the oral history with the permission of CHF. Users citing interviews for purposes of publication are obliged under the terms of the CHF Oral History Program to notify CHF of publication and credit CHF using the following format: [Name of interviewee], interview by [name of interviewer] at [interview location], [interview date] (Philadelphia: Chemical Heritage Foundation, Oral History Transcript # [interview number]).
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Elsa Reichmanis begins the interview with a description of her family’s immigration to the United States and her childhood years in Syracuse, New York. Reichmanis developed an interest in chemistry after taking a high school chemistry course. After graduating a year early from high school, she enrolled at Syracuse University. While obtaining her B.S. in chemistry, Reichmanis performed heteroaromatic chemistry research in Apostolos G. Anastassiou’s laboratory. Completing her degree in three years, she decided to remain at Syracuse University for her Ph.D. Upon matriculation, Reichmanis took a technical staff position at AT&T Bell Laboratories, which is currently known as Bell Labs, Lucent Technologies, where she still remains. Reichmanis’ work has focused on deep-UV lithography, such as the creation of 248 nm and 193 nm resist technologies. Currently, she is performing photonic research. While at Bell Labs, Reichmanis has held numerous positions ranging from technical staff to supervisor to director. Elsa Reichmanis concludes the interview with a discussion of Valerie J. Kuck’s research on women in chemistry, the definition of innovation, and the future of chemistry.
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Page No. |
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Childhood and Early Education
Parents. Family. Emigration from Australia to the United States. Growing up in Syracuse, New York. Importance of education. Beulah P. Durr. Budding interest in chemistry. Assessment of current science and mathematics education in public schools. Hobbies. |
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1 |
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College Education
Graduating early from high school. Applying to Syracuse University. Undergraduate research. Apostolos G. Anastassiou. Heteroaromatic chemistry. Finishing college in three years. Decision to stay at Syracuse University for graduate school. Ph.D. dissertation. Weizmann Fellowship. |
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8 |
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Career at Bell Laboratories
The Bell Labs reputation. Reflections on meeting and marrying Francis J. Purcell. Interest in deep-UV lithography. Larry F. Thompson and Murrae J. Bowden. The importance of knowing one’s limitations. Laboratory budgets. Technology-licensing program. Research into deep-UV resists. Edwin A. Chandross and Cletus W. Wilkins, Jr. 248 nm resists. Francis M. Houlihan and Thomas X. Neenan. SEMATECH and Olin Ciba-Geigy Microelectronic Materials, Inc. [now Arch Chemicals, Inc.] contract for the commercialization of 248 nm technologies. Promotion to supervisor, radiation sensitive materials and applications group. Birth of children. 193 nm technology. Promotion to director of polymer and organic chemistry research. Agree Systems, Inc. Photonics. |
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Conclusion
Thoughts on mentoring young scientists. Valerie J. Kuck’s research. Women in chemistry. Definition of innovation. Serendipity and research. The future of chemistry. |
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43 |
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Notes
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49 |
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Index
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51 |
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| 1972 |
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B.S., Chemistry, Syracuse University |
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| 1975 |
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Ph.D., Organic Chemistry, Syracuse University |
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| Syracuse University |
| 1972-1972 |
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Organic Chemistry Teaching Assistant |
| 1973-1975 |
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Research Fellow |
| 1975-1976 |
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Postdoctoral Intern |
| 1976-1978 |
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Dr. Chaim Weizmann Fellow |
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| AT&T Bell Laboratories |
| 1978-1984 |
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Technical Staff, Organic Chemistry Research and Development Department |
| 1984-1994 |
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Supervisor, Radiation Sensitive and Applications Group |
| 1994-1995 |
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Head, Polymer and Organic Materials Research Department |
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| Bell Laboratories, Lucent Technologies |
| 1996-Present |
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Director, Polymer and Organic Materials Research Department |
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| 1992 |
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R&D 100 Award, Research and Development Magazine
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| 1993 |
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Society of Women Engineers Achievement Award
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| 1995 |
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Elected to the National Academy of Engineering
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| 1995 |
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AT&T Bell Laboratories Fellow
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| 1996 |
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ASM International Engineering Materials Achievement Award
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| 1997 |
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Elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
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| 1998 |
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Photopolymer Science and Technology Award
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| 1999 |
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Award in Applied Polymer Science, American Chemical Society
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| 2001 |
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Perkin Medal, Society of Chemical Industry
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| 2001 |
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George Arents Pioneer Medal, Syracuse University
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David C. Brock is a senior research fellow with the Center for Contemporary History and Policy of the Chemical Heritage Foundation. As an historian of science and technology, he specializes in oral history, the history of instrumentation, and the history of semiconductor science, technology, and industry. Brock has studied the philosophy, sociology, and history of science at Brown University, the University of Edinburgh, and Princeton University (respectively and chronologically). His most recent publication is Understanding Moore’s Law: Four Decades of Innovation (Philadelphia: Chemical Heritage Press), 2006, which he edited and to which he contributed.
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