Robert Oppenheimer

J. Robert Oppenheimer (1904-1967) was an American theoretical physicist most famous for his role as the scientific director of the Manhattan Project during World War II. His leadership at the Los Alamos Laboratory was crucial in the development of the first atomic bombs, which were detonated in July 1945. Oppenheimer's academic career began with a Ph.D. in physics from the University of Göttingen in 1927. He later held professorships at the University of California, Berkeley, and the California Institute of Technology. In 1947, he became the chairman of the General Advisory Committee of the Atomic Energy Commission, where he advised on nuclear weapons policy. Oppenheimer's other notable contributions include his work on quantum mechanics and quantum electrodynamics. His achievements were recognized in 1963 when he received the Enrico Fermi Award.