Anne M. Briscoe (December 1, 1918 – April 16, 2014) was an American biochemist and activist promoting women in science.
She was educated at
Adelphi University
Adelphi University is a private university in Garden City, New York. Adelphi also has centers in Manhattan, Hudson Valley, and Suffolk County. There is also a virtual, online campus for remote students. It is the oldest institution of higher ed ...
and
Vassar College
Vassar College ( ) is a private liberal arts college in Poughkeepsie, New York, United States. Founded in 1861 by Matthew Vassar, it was the second degree-granting institution of higher education for women in the United States, closely follo ...
before receiving her
PhD PHD or PhD may refer to:
* Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), an academic qualification
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* '' PhD: Phantasy Degree'', a Korean comic series
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** Ph.D. (Ph.D. albu ...
in biochemistry in 1949 from
Yale University
Yale University is a private research university in New Haven, Connecticut. Established in 1701 as the Collegiate School, it is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and among the most prestigious in the wo ...
.
Briscoe died at the age of 95 in 2014.
Career
Briscoe was a faculty member and medical researcher in biochemistry, holding positions in a number of departments including
Cornell University
Cornell University is a private statutory land-grant research university based in Ithaca, New York. It is a member of the Ivy League. Founded in 1865 by Ezra Cornell and Andrew Dickson White, Cornell was founded with the intention to teach an ...
and the
Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
The Perelman School of Medicine, commonly known as Penn Med, is the medical school of the University of Pennsylvania, a private research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1765, the Perelman School of Medicine is the oldest medi ...
.
Her primary focus was research, with a focus on the metabolism of
calcium
Calcium is a chemical element with the symbol Ca and atomic number 20. As an alkaline earth metal, calcium is a reactive metal that forms a dark oxide-nitride layer when exposed to air. Its physical and chemical properties are most similar to ...
and
magnesium
Magnesium is a chemical element with the symbol Mg and atomic number 12. It is a shiny gray metal having a low density, low melting point and high chemical reactivity. Like the other alkaline earth metals (group 2 of the periodic ta ...
in humans.
Briscoe was elected a fellow of the
American Institute of Chemists
The American Institute of Chemists (AIC) is an organization founded in 1923 with the goal of advancing the chemistry profession in the United States. The institute is known for its yearly awards recognizing contributions of individuals in this fie ...
and the
New York Academy of Sciences
The New York Academy of Sciences (originally the Lyceum of Natural History) was founded in January 1817 as the Lyceum of Natural History. It is the fourth oldest scientific society in the United States. An independent, nonprofit organization wit ...
and in 1997 received the Wilbur L. Cross Medal from the Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.
Briscoe was also active as an advocate for
women in the sciences; she was a founding member of the
Association for Women in Science The Association for Women in Science (AWIS) was founded in 1971 at the annual Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) meeting. The organization aims to combat job discrimination, lower pay, and professional isolation. The ...
for which she served as president between 1974 and 1976, and published a number of books on women,
feminism
Feminism is a range of socio-political movements and ideologies that aim to define and establish the political, economic, personal, and social equality of the sexes. Feminism incorporates the position that society prioritizes the male po ...
, and science.
Briscoe represented the Association for Women in Science in testifying in favour of a "women in science" bill in 1979.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Briscoe, Anne
1918 births
2014 deaths
American women biochemists
Adelphi University alumni
Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences alumni
Vassar College alumni
20th-century American women scientists
20th-century American chemists
21st-century American women