Background
Polk, Charles was born on January 15, 1920 in Vienna, Austria. Son of Heinrich and Amalie (Canar) Polk. came to the United States, 1940, naturalized, 1943.
biophysicist educator electrical engineer
Polk, Charles was born on January 15, 1920 in Vienna, Austria. Son of Heinrich and Amalie (Canar) Polk. came to the United States, 1940, naturalized, 1943.
Student, University Paris-Sorbonne, 1939; Bachelor of Science, Washington University, 1948; Master of Science, University of Pennsylvania, 1953; Doctor of Philosophy, University of Pennsylvania, 1956.
Engineer, Radio Corporation of America Victor division, Camden, New Jersey, 1948-1952;
research and teaching associate, University of Pennsylvania, 1952-1957;
professor electrical engineering, Drexel Institute Technology, Philadelphia, 1957-1959;
technical staff, Radio Corporation of America laboratories, Princeton, New Jersey, 1957-1959;
professor electrical engineering, U. Rhode Island, 1959-1990;
professor emeritus, U. Rhode Island, since 1990;
department chairman, U. Rhode Island, 1959-1979;
head electrical science and analysis section engineering division, National Science Foundation, Washington, 1975-1976;
acting director engineering division, National Science Foundation, 1976-1977. Visiting professor electrical engineering Stanford University, 1968-1969, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1983-1984. Consultant Oak Ridge National Laboratory, since 1993, National Institute Environmental Health Sciences, 1998.
Science advisor to Min. Public Utilities Commission, since 1994.
Member Rhode Island Legislation Commission on Electricity Rates, 1974-1975. With Army of the United States, 1943-1946. Fellow Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (chairman Philadelphia chapter professional group antennas and propagation 1954-1955, chairman Providence section 1964-1965, member administration committee, committee on man and radiation 1987-1996, chair subcommittee biological effects of power frequency fields 1989-1996, engineering in medical and biology society, national disting lecturer 1994-2000).
Member American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Association of University Professors, American Geophysical Union (national committee on space electricity 1974-1975), American Society for Engineering Education, New York Academy of Sciences, International Science Radio Union, Biolelectromagnetics Society (president 1988-1989), Bioelec. Repair and Growth Society (council member 1990-1992), Sigma Xi, Tau Beta Pi.
Married Dorothy R. Lemp, April 27, 1946. Children: Dean F., Gerald W.