Thelma Estrin
Encyclopedia
Thelma Estrin Professor Emerita, Department of Computer Science, University of California at Los Angeles, is a computer scientist and engineer who has done pioneering work in the fields of expert systems and biomedical engineering. She was one of the first to apply computer technology to healthcare and medical research.
, initially planning to become an accountant. At City College she met Gerald Estrin
in 1941; they were married when she was seventeen. When Gerald Estrin entered the Army during World War II, Thelma took a three-month engineering assistant course at Stevens Institute of Technology
in 1942. She then began working at Radio Receptor Company building electronic devices.
She began to develop an interest in engineering while working at Radio Receptor Company. After the war, Thelma and Gerald Estrin both entered the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where they both earned degrees in Electrical Engineering
. Thelma received her BSc in 1948, her MSc in 1949, and her PhD in 1951.
, in the early 1950s, where Gerald joined the Institute for Advanced Study
at Princeton
and became associated with the group that formed around John von Neumann
. Thelma obtained a research position in the Electroencephalograph Department of the Neurological Institute of New York
at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York City, where she developed an interest in biomedical engineering
.
. Shortly afterwards she and Gerald went to Israel
, where they helped to build the first computer there, the Weizmann Automatic Computer, or WEIZAC, in 1954. After their return, Thelma became associated with the Brain Research Institute at UCLA in 1960, and organized the Institute's Data Processing Laboratory in 1961; she served as Director of the Data Processing Laboratory from 1970 to 1980.
, and as vice president of IEEE.
patterns in epileptics. She received an Outstanding Engineer of the Year Award from the California Institute for the Advancement of Engineering, an Achievement Award from the Society of Women Engineers
(1981), the Haradan Pratt Award (1991), and the Superior Accomplishment Award from the National Science Foundation
. She is a Fellow of IEEE, a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and a founding Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering
.
Dr. Thelma Estrin has three daughters. Margo Estrin is a medical doctor, Deborah Estrin
is a computer scientist, and Judith Estrin
is a corporate executive.
Early life and education
Thelma Austern was born in New York City and attended public schools there. Demonstrating an early aptitude for mathematics, she began her higher education at City College of New YorkCity College of New York
The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...
, initially planning to become an accountant. At City College she met Gerald Estrin
Gerald Estrin
Prof. Gerald Estrin, an IEEE Fellow, a Guggenheim Fellow, and a member of the Board of Governors of the Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel. Estrin received his B.S, M.S. and Ph.D...
in 1941; they were married when she was seventeen. When Gerald Estrin entered the Army during World War II, Thelma took a three-month engineering assistant course at Stevens Institute of Technology
Stevens Institute of Technology
Stevens Institute of Technology is a technological university located on a campus in Hoboken, New Jersey, USA – founded in 1870 with an 1868 bequest from Edwin A. Stevens. It is known for its engineering, science, and technological management curricula.The institute has produced leading...
in 1942. She then began working at Radio Receptor Company building electronic devices.
She began to develop an interest in engineering while working at Radio Receptor Company. After the war, Thelma and Gerald Estrin both entered the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where they both earned degrees in Electrical Engineering
Electrical engineering
Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical...
. Thelma received her BSc in 1948, her MSc in 1949, and her PhD in 1951.
Princeton and Biomedical Engineering Research 1951-1953
They moved to Princeton, New JerseyPrinceton, New Jersey
Princeton is a community located in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. It is best known as the location of Princeton University, which has been sited in the community since 1756...
, in the early 1950s, where Gerald joined the Institute for Advanced Study
Institute for Advanced Study
The Institute for Advanced Study, located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States, is an independent postgraduate center for theoretical research and intellectual inquiry. It was founded in 1930 by Abraham Flexner...
at Princeton
Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton is a community located in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. It is best known as the location of Princeton University, which has been sited in the community since 1756...
and became associated with the group that formed around John von Neumann
John von Neumann
John von Neumann was a Hungarian-American mathematician and polymath who made major contributions to a vast number of fields, including set theory, functional analysis, quantum mechanics, ergodic theory, geometry, fluid dynamics, economics and game theory, computer science, numerical analysis,...
. Thelma obtained a research position in the Electroencephalograph Department of the Neurological Institute of New York
Neurological Institute of New York
The Neurological Institute of New York is located at 710 West 168th Street in New York City in the United States of America. Its current building was constructed in the 1950s...
at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York City, where she developed an interest in biomedical engineering
Biomedical engineering
Biomedical Engineering is the application of engineering principles and design concepts to medicine and biology. This field seeks to close the gap between engineering and medicine: It combines the design and problem solving skills of engineering with medical and biological sciences to improve...
.
Move to UCLA - 1953
Gerald obtained a teaching position at UCLA in 1953 and they moved to Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. Shortly afterwards she and Gerald went to Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, where they helped to build the first computer there, the Weizmann Automatic Computer, or WEIZAC, in 1954. After their return, Thelma became associated with the Brain Research Institute at UCLA in 1960, and organized the Institute's Data Processing Laboratory in 1961; she served as Director of the Data Processing Laboratory from 1970 to 1980.
Professor of Computer Science, UCLA - 1980
In 1980, she accepted a position as professor in the Computer Science Department of the School of Engineering and Applied Science. She has served as president of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology SocietyIEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society
The IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society is an IEEE group dedicated to the study of Biomedical Engineering. Current president is Bin He.- History :...
, and as vice president of IEEE.
Awards and Honors
In 1989 she was awarded the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship at the Weizmann Institute in Israel to study EEGEEG
EEG commonly refers to electroencephalography, a measurement of the electrical activity of the brain.EEG may also refer to:* Emperor Entertainment Group, a Hong Kong-based entertainment company...
patterns in epileptics. She received an Outstanding Engineer of the Year Award from the California Institute for the Advancement of Engineering, an Achievement Award from the Society of Women Engineers
Society of Women Engineers
The Society of Women Engineers , founded in 1950, is a not-for-profit educational and service organization. SWE is the driving force that establishes engineering as a highly desirable career aspiration for women. SWE empowers women to succeed and advance in those aspirations and be recognized for...
(1981), the Haradan Pratt Award (1991), and the Superior Accomplishment Award from the National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health...
. She is a Fellow of IEEE, a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and a founding Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering
American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering
The American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering is an organization of biomedical engineers, which focuses on taking principles of engineering to and applying them to improve the medical and biological engineering fields...
.
Dr. Thelma Estrin has three daughters. Margo Estrin is a medical doctor, Deborah Estrin
Deborah Estrin
Deborah Estrin is a professor of Computer Science at UCLA. She is the daughter of Gerald Estrin, also a UCLA Computer Science professor, and the sister of Judy Estrin. She is a pioneer in the field of embedded network sensing and is the director of the Center for Embedded Networked Sensing at UCLA...
is a computer scientist, and Judith Estrin
Judith Estrin
Judith "Judy" L. Estrin is an American business executive. She is currently the CEO of JLabs , through which she pursues a broad range of advisory activities including sitting on corporate and advisory boards and speaking engagements...
is a corporate executive.