Charles Pence Slichter
Charles Pence Slichter (January 21, 1924 – February 19, 2018) was an American physicist, best known for his work on nuclear magnetic resonance and superconductivity. He was awarded the 2007 National Medal of Science "for establishing nuclear magnetic resonance as a powerful tool to reveal the fundamental molecular properties of liquids and solids. His inspired teaching has led generations of physicists and chemists to develop a host of modern technologies in condensed matter physics, chemistry, biology and medicine." Birth and education Slichter was born in 1924 in Ithaca, New York. He attended Harvard University, where in 1949 received his Ph.D. under the supervision of Edward Purcell. Career Slichter was a professor of physics and chemistry at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign from 1949 until his retirement in 2006. He spent one sabbatical semester (Spring 1961) as Morris Loeb Lecturer at Harvard University. The lectures he gave there formed the nucleus of his book "Principles of Magnetic Resonance". Slichter served as a member of the National Science Board from 1976–1984; as a member and vice-chair of the President's Science Advisory Committee from 1965–1969; as a member of the President's Committee on the National Medal of Science, 1969–1974; and as a