Robert Alfred Gross

Background

Gross, Robert Alfred was born on October 31, 1927 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Son of John and Esther (Schwartz) Gross.

Education

Bachelor of Science, University Pennsylvania, 1949; Master of Science, Harvard University, 1950; Doctor of Philosophy, Harvard University, 1952.

Career

Chief research engineer, Fairchild Engine & Airplane Company, 1954-1959; member of faculty, Columbia University, New York City, since 1960; professor engineering science, Columbia University, 1960-1978; professor applied physics, Columbia University, since 1978; Vera and Percy Hudson professor, Columbia University, since 1980; dean School Engineering and Applied Science, Columbia University, 1982-1990. Founder Plasma Physics Laboratory, 1961, chairman plasma physics program, 1960-1970, chairman mechanic engineering department, 1970-1976, department chairman applied physicsand nuclear engineering, 1978-1982. Professor International School Physics, Enrico-Fermi-Varenna, Italy, 1969.

Director Fairfield Technology, 1962-1966, Samson Fund, 1963-1970, Fundamatic Investors, Inc., 1970-1971, Timeplex Inc., 1985-1988. Senior visiting fellow Australian Academy Sciences, United States-Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics exchange scientist, 1967. Visiting professor Sydney (Australia) U., 1974, 79, 89, Stanford University, 1987-1988.

Consultant industrial, government agencies, since 1950. Member of national committee fluidmechanics films National Science Foundation, 1964-1970. Member review committee, mechanics division National Bureau Standards, 1971-1976.

Member fusion power coordinating committee United States Dept.Energy, 1980-1982, member magnetic fusion advising committee, 1982-1985. Chairman American Physics Society Ramo award committee, 1992. Member Fulbright-Hayes advisory screening committee Council International Exchange Scholars, 1976-1978.

Member visiting com.Brookhaven National Laboratory, 1979-1985, Lehigh University, 1982-1990, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, since 1989. Member senior research advisory board Florida Institute Technology, since 1991, Princeton University advising committee for TFTR, since 1991.

Achievements

• Robert Alfred Gross has been listed as a noteworthy Engineering and physics educator by Marquis Who's Who.

Membership

Served with Army of the United States, 1945-1946. Fellow American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (vice president 1965-1966, editor-in-chief selected reprint series 1968-1977, Pendray award 1967), American Physical Society (chairman of the executive committee fluid dynamics division 1970-1971, Executive Committee plasma physics division 1974-1975). Member Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, American Association for the Advancement of Science, University Fusion Association (Executive Committee 1980-1982), Sigma Xi, Tau BetaPi. M C.

Connections

Married Elee B. Kauffmann, November 21, 1952. Children: David Andrew, John Henry.

Father:

John Gross

Mother:

Esther (Schwartz) Gross

Spouse:

Elee B. Kauffmann

child:

David Andrew Gross

child:

John Henry Gross