Daly becomes first African American woman to earn chemistry Ph.D. in U.S., pioneers research

Despite facing the obstacles of both gender and racial bias, Marie Maynard Daly was an essential part of discoveries regarding heart disease, sugars, and protein and their roles in the human body, according to the Science History Institute Museum and Library. She was also the first African American woman in the United States to receive a Ph.D. in chemistry.

Daly was an avid reader and loved to read about scientists and science adventures from her grandparents’ large library, according to an article by Medical News Today’s. 

Inspired by her father’s love for chemistry, Daly decided to pursue a career in the same field. Daly’s father conducted chemistry research at Cornell University, but was forced to quit due to financial difficulties. Her father’s financial struggles inspired Daly later on to help dissolve financial barriers preventing low-income people of color from succeeding. 

Daly completed her bachelor’s degree in chemistry at Queens College and graduated magna cum laude in 1942. She later completed her master’s degree at New York University the following year, also in chemistry. She then went on to complete her Ph.D. at Columbia University while also teaching and conducting research on how the body’s chemicals help digest food.

Because of her research, scientists gained a greater understanding of the correlation between high cholesterol and clogged arteries, along with practical applications in health and nutrition, according to Columbia University’s “Notable Columbians” page. 

Daly then went on to become a professor at Howard University in Washington, D.C. for two years. Later, she received a grant from the American Cancer Society to conduct research with Alfred E. Mirsky, a renowned scientist in molecular biology, with whom she studied the metabolism of components in the cell nucleus. In 1960, she took up a teaching position at Columbia University in the College of Physicians and Surgeons and stayed there until her retirement in 1986. 

After further researching how compounds affect the digestive system, Daly went on to write her dissertation, titled “A Study of the Products Formed by the Action of Pancreatic Amylase on Corn Starch.” She earned her doctorate degree in 1947 and officially became the first African American woman to accomplish this title, paving the way for many more to come. 

In addition to her passion for chemistry, Daly was dedicated to encouraging minority students to pursue medical school and graduate science programs. This goal inspired her to create a scholarship fund for African American students in honor of her father. 

Not only did Daly contribute to the strides made in the fields of nutrition and health, but she actively defied the stereotypes created for women of color and made an impact on the world that would allow other people of color to succeed in the United States. 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *