A man who was 89 earned a Ph.D. (Physics) to realize his childhood dream.
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Manfred Steiner was a highly productive doctor who helped generations of students to learn about hematology. He had always felt he should be studying physics. He has now achieved his dream by earning his Ph.D. from Brown University in Physics at the age of 89.
It's my third doctorate but I treasure this one very much. Steiner, who is just weeks away from turning 90, said that he made it and did it at this time.
Steiner stated that he was "really on top of the universe" in a college news release, as it announced the successful defense of his dissertation. Title: "Corrections To the Geometrical Interpretation of Bosonization".
At an early age, a love for physics was ingrained in me
Steiner said to NPR, "I have always had this dream: Gee! Someday I would love to be a physicist."
Steiner was born in Vienna, and his Austrian accent has stayed with Steiner. He noted that Brown students often said to him, "He talks like the Terminator." He noted, "My students at Brown often said, 'He talks like the Terminator.'
Steiner was just a teenager at the end of World War II. He was fascinated by physics at that time. He decided to follow a career in medicine instead, following the advice of his family. However, physics was still a strong interest during his studies at Vienna.
He said that he used to sneak into the physical institution as a medical student in early 1950s to listen to talks because he was so fascinated in quantum physics and particularly quantum physics at the time.
Steiner quickly replied to a question about what he liked most about physics: precision.
He said, "I was always amazed at the laws that apply to the quantum area, which you talk about distances from femtometers" (or quadrillionthsof a meter) also apply to Astronomy with measures of lightyears.
He said that the physical laws were identical, holding for both extremes, but that this precision always fascinated him. Mathematical was my favorite subject, and it is a language that I have always loved.
Steiner said that he is happy to have spent so much time in academic medicine. Steiner adds, "But in medicine there are too many variables, and, you know. too much imprecision."
Steiner's career as a physician blossomed in America.
Steiner, who had moved to the U.S. permanently from Vienna, specialized in medicine and hematology. He received training at Tufts University, MIT, and Tufts University. After becoming a Brown professor, he headed the hematology department in the university's medical college.
Steiner's 2000 retirement from medicine meant that he could finally pursue physics. He began taking classes at MIT.
He said that he had to take a lot of physics classes in MIT before he was allowed to begin graduate studies. To reduce his commute, he transferred to Brown.
Steiner was slow to complete his dissertation. He is a grandfather who loves to spend time with his family. Steiner soon had his eye on another Ph.D.
He said, "You know it took a while." "There were many medical issues in between that were very serious. These problems were not serious, but I am now here and have overcome them.
The Brown website has more information about Steiner's dissertation regarding a tricky problem in theoretical Physics: Expanding the Understanding of Bosonization.
The newly-minted physicist looks back
Steiner said that despite fulfilling his long-held goal of becoming a physicist Steiner doesn't regret spending the majority of his life in academic medical.
"I had to accept the fact that I couldn’t do physics. I made the best of my medicine and tried to do the best I could with it, which was to do research. Research was something I enjoyed."
He also had some words of wisdom to share: "All young people, if you have a dream, pursue it." Do not give up on your dream. He said that if it doesn't work out they can always try again.
"First, follow your dreams."
Steiner's latest accomplishment is both encouraging and affirming, according to the physicists who were part of his team. Steiner, for his part is currently working to publish a revised version of his dissertation (it covers more than 150 pages) and wants to continue his research.
He said, "I would love to continue with it so long as my mind says OK. I'm going for some studies in theoretical physics." I don't require a lab. I only need a computer and paper and pencil.
