Ainissa Ramirez is a science evangelist and science lecturer, passionate about getting kids of all ages excited about science. She is dedicated to sharing the joy of materials, process, and creativity with students of all ages. At Yale, Ainissa is the founder of the award-winning science lecture series for children called Science Saturdays. She has served as a science advisor to WGBH/NOVA, National Geographic, Time magazine, and the American Film Institute.
Prior to taking on the call to improve science understanding, Ainissa was an associate professor of mechanical engineering and materials science at Yale University, leading a research program in smart materials and nanomaterials. She has published several book chapters, and scores of scientific articles … and she holds nine patents. Her research has been awarded the Sloan Research Fellowship and the NSF CAREER award. Prior to working at Yale, Ainissa was a member of technical staff (MTS) at Bell Laboratories in Murray Hill, New Jersey, where she developed a universal solder (a reactive solder that bonds to glass) for which she was awarded MIT's Technology Review TR100 award. She later founded a company, called Adhera Technologies, which commercializes this invention.
Ainissa received a BS in materials science and engineering from Brown University and a PhD from Stanford University.