He studied physics in several universities in the United States of America, obtaining his Bachelor of Surgery from Loyola University, Chicago, Illinois in 1959, his Master of Surgery from Northwestern University in 1960 and his Doctor of Philosophy, also in physics, from the University of Iowa in 1963.
He was professor of physics as well as professor of philosophy at the University of Notre Dame. He then performed research at the University of Iowa, the Imperial College in London and the Argonne National Laboratory, after which he joined the University of Notre Dame, initially as assistant professor from 1966 to 1969, then advancing to associate professor and, from 1978 onwards, as professor of physics. From 1990 to 1993, he additionally was professor of philosophy at the same university.
Cushing"s main areas of research were the history and philosophy of 20th century physics and the foundations of quantum theory.
He investigated in particular interpretations of quantum mechanics, including the historical reasons for the success of the Copenhagen interpretation over hidden variable theories or the De Broglie–Bohm theory (causal interpretation of quantum mechanics). Since 2004, an annual prize is awarded in honor of Cushing to younger scholars for significant work in the history and philosophical foundations of modern physics.
