Dr. Susan Hockfield

Professor

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Biography

Susan Hockfield is a Professor of Neuroscience and President Emerita of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). She served as the sixteenth president of the institute from 2004 to 2012, becoming the first woman to hold this position. Hockfield has an illustrious career in advanced scientific research and leadership at premier institutions in science and engineering. As president, she was instrumental in shaping national policies regarding energy technology and manufacturing, advocating for breakthroughs in clean energy and cancer research. Hockfield has played a key role in founding significant initiatives at MIT, including the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research and the MIT Energy Initiative. Her research has been groundbreaking, notably in the use of monoclonal antibody technology to study brain development and identify proteins that regulate neuronal activity. Hockfield is also an author, with her 2019 book, 'The Age of Living Machines,' which explores the intersection of biology and engineering, receiving the 2020 Science Communication Award from the American Institute of Physics. Throughout her career, she has been recognized as a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and has held various leadership roles in scientific and educational organizations.

Research Interests

Experience

President

2004-01-01 — 2012-01-01

Massachusetts Institute of Technology • Cambridge, MA

Served as the first woman president, shaping the direction of the Institute and national science and energy policies.

Faculty Member

1985-01-01 — 2004-01-01

Yale University • New Haven, CT

Engaged in research and teaching in the field of Neurobiology.